Hellcrate Hemi Engine Arrives with 707 Horsepower

The first Hellcat Hemi crate engine from Mopar debuts this week at the SEMA Show, packing 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque.

Over the past few years, everyone who had a Hellcat-powered project car had to find a wrecked Challenger or Charger from which to extract the supercharged Hemi. That all changes with the arrival of Mopar’s Hellcrate at SEMA – a new 6.2L supercharged Hemi crate engine delivering the same 707 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque as the Hellcat Challenger and Charger. From here on out, those folks building a classic Mopar with the ultimate production road engine can buy one brand new with plug-and-play functionality, making packing Hellcat power into an old school Mopar muscle car a whole lot easier.

“Never before has a supercharged, factory-direct 707-horsepower crate engine kit been offered, and we are proud to be the first to deliver a solution enthusiasts have demanded,” said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA. “This ultimate powertrain option fits the needs of owners and fans who demand iconic performance.”

The Hellcrate Hemi

The Mopar Hellcrate engine assembly is based on the production Hellcat Hemi in the 707 horsepower variants of the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Jeep Grand Cherokee. This supercharged, 6.2L Hemi comes from Mopar with the factory tune, delivering 707 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque at the crankshaft, and this crate engine comes with everything needed to make the engine run – from the throttle body to the exhaust manifolds.

Those folks buying a Hellcrate Hemi can also purchase the Hellcrate Hemi Engine Kit, which includes an unlocked powertrain control module (PCM), the power distribution center, the complete engine wiring harness, the chassis harness, the accelerator pedal assembly, the oxygen sensors, the charge air temperature sensors and the fuel pump control module. When coupled with the Hellcrate Hemi engine, this kit allows you to “easily” install this supercharged monster into any vehicle. The buyer just needs to bolt the engine down, hook up everything from the engine kit, attach the transmission and the Hellcrate will be ready to roar to life.

Big Power and a Big Price

The closest thing to a downside with the Mopar Hellcrate is the price, as while this is one of the most powerful crate engines ever, it is also one of the most expensive that the company has offered. The engine itself has an MSRP of $19,530 while the engine kit adds another $2,195, leading to a total price in the area of $21,725. That is a whole lot of money for a crate engine, but when you consider the output of this engine and the cost of buying the same engine out of a wrecked road car – the Hellcrate is a great chance to add modern Mopar power to a classic Mopar muscle car.

However, for those who don’t mind the price, the Hellcrate can be ordered from Mopar right now. If you act quickly, you could install a Hellcat Hemi in your project car this winter.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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