When it comes to representing the classic American muscle, Dodge cars can never disappoint.
Aside from their well-built exterior, Dodge muscle cars also carry extremely powerful engines under their hood.
Some of these engines are so powerful that they’re not exactly intended for production cars. One such engine is MOPAR’s Hellephant.
A Closer Look Into MOPAR’s Hellephant
The Hellephant is an all-aluminum, 426ci, 1,000-hp Hemi crate engine that was unveiled to the public in 2018 during the SEMA Show.
Initially featured in the 1968 Dodge Charger restomod, the Hellephant is a combination of the Hellcat and Elephant, which are both MOPAR-manufactured Hemi engines.
The Dodge Hellcat is globally recognized as the SRT production car that houses the famed Hellcat Hemi engine that’s capable of producing approximately 707 hp.
Meanwhile, the “elephant” name came from the second-generation Hemi engine that debuted in 1964 with a race-only form.
“Elephant” was the nickname given to the second-generation Hemi due to its large size, heavy weight, and immense power.
During the 2022 SEMA Show, a new rendition of the Hellephant made its way to the public eye. The Hellephant crate engine family introduced its 6.2L and 7.0L variants that can churn out power like no other, ranging from 900 to 1,100 horsepower.
How Much Power Does a Hellephant Have?
Combining the Hellcat and Elephant could only mean one thing一ground-shaking power. The Hellephant is recognized as a halo product, but its performance is anything but angelic.
The standard Hellephant crate engine can produce 1,000 horsepower at most and 900 lb-ft. of torque.
The Hellephant is often discussed in the same conversation as the SRT Hellcat due to their similar redline of around 6,200 rpm and architecture.
Still, the Hellephant is certainly more powerful than its predecessor, having an additional 293 horsepower tucked under its belt.
Hellephant Crate Engine Specifications
Below are the specifications for a Hellephant crate engine.
- Exterior: all-aluminum with hemispherical aluminum chamber cylinder heads
- Displacement: 426ci (7.0L)
- Bore: 4.125 in.
- Stroke: 4.00 in.
- Block: cast aluminum with four-bolt main caps
- Crank material: forged steel
- Connecting rods: forged 4340 H-beam with ARP 2000 bolts
- Piston material: forged aluminum
- Camshaft: nodular iron
- Cylinder heads: aluminum
- Intake valve size: 2.13 in.
- Exhaust valve size: 1.65 inches
- Compression ratio: 9.5:1
- Peak RPM: 6,800
How Much Is a Hellephant Engine?
The SRP for a Hellephant engine is approximately $29,995. However, keep in mind that upgrading to a Hellephant engine will also lead to installing new accessories.
These typically include an electronic control module (ECM), gas pedals, accessory drive kit, and A/C kit, among others, racking up the total price to around $34,000.
Hellephant Availability
Only 100 units were made available for the very first version of the Hellephant engine. When it was first introduced in the market, it only took less than two days for all the units to be sold.
Unlike the Hellcat’s 707 hp Hemi, the first version of the Hellephant was not offered in production cars. This meant you had to buy the engine separately and mount it to a vehicle worthy of a mammoth machine.
Hellephant Compatibility
Hellephant engines are compatible with any pre-1976 classic. Any other vehicle produced after that might not be the best fit for a Hellephant due to the revised emissions regulations.
The Hellephant engine is only street-legal when mounted to pre-1976 vehicles. Other vehicles with this engine should only be driven off-road.
Left In the Shadows
With only 100 units produced, the Hellephant engine certainly left enthusiasts longing for another round of production. Unfortunately, the manufacturers stuck to the idea of selling a limited number for a variety of reasons.
According to critics, producing limited Hellephant engines was a marketing ploy to further promote the Dodge brand and Hemi engine.
Going Down In History
The Hellephant went down as the most powerful gasoline-based engine ever produced by Dodge and an iconic representation of the classic American muscle.
Over the years, Dodge and other automakers have begun to explore alternatives to internal combustion engines to reduce emissions.
Today, most automakers have their version of a hybrid or fully electric vehicle, and it’s no secret that Dodge is also headed in the same direction.
Soon, the Hellephant will be a thing of the past, especially with the implementation of the revised emissions regulations throughout the country.
Building a Hot Rod the MOPAR Way
It can be difficult to find a Hellephant engine given that there are only a hundred units made. Still, that shouldn’t get in your way of building the hot rod of your dreams with MOPAR products and accessories.
Hemi engines are widely available online and in stores. Some of the Hemi engines you’ll find include the following:
- Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI® Engine
- Hellephant C170 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI® Engine
- Hellcrate Redeye 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI® Engine
- Hellcrate 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI® Engine
- 392 Crate HEMI® Engine
- 345 Crate HEMI® Engine
Should you want to mount any one of these MOPAR builds, keep in mind that you’ll also need to perform a few mods on your vehicle as well.
You might need to buy an engine kit that contains everything you need to make your vehicle devilishly fast like a true muscle car, as well as a compatible front end accessory drive (FEAD) kit to match.
To complete your build, you might also need to throw in other parts, such as a rear sump oil pan crate, a power steering kit, and an A/C expansion kit, among others.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
