Ditch That Slant Six: Dodge Hellcat Powerplant Is Now Available as a Crate Engine

This should lead to more than a few odd pairings. Mopar, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ performance and aftermarket parts division, will now offer a Dodge SRT Hellcat engine — the company’s 707 horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter V8 — minus the car.

Dubbed the “Hellcrate,” the warranty-backed engine and associated kit was unveiled Monday ahead of this week’s SEMA show in Las Vegas. This means Mopar fans looking to own a 707-hp beast have other options than just visiting an FCA dealer and signing on the dotted line for a new vehicle.

The move is apparently the result of many impassioned pleas from loyal fans.

“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 for Mopar, said in a statement. “This ultimate powertrain option fits the needs of owners and fans who demand iconic performance.”

Uh oh, there’s that word “iconic” again. Does FCA have a trademark on it? Joking aside, the news is a big deal for owners of vintage muscle cars who aren’t satisfied with the status quo.

Buyers of the crate engine will have 707 hp and 650 lb-ft delivered to their door, but they’ll also require the Hellcrate engine kit, which includes a powertrain control module (PCM), power distribution center, engine wiring harness, chassis harness, accelerator pedal, ground jumper, oxygen sensors, charge air temperature sensors, and fuel pump control module. For owners of vehicles built before 1976, Mopar will offer a Front End Accessory Drive Kit, bringing an alternator and power steering pump to the mix, along with belts, pulleys and other essentials.

When purchased together, the crate engine and engine kit comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty from Mopar. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t come cheap. The engine alone carries an MSRP of $19,530, which is over $3,000 more than a 640 hp GM LT4 crate engine. The engine kit, which you’ll need, is another $2,195.

Still, when considering the engine’s brand-new condition and the peace of mind from the factory warranty, it’s a relative bargain compared to motors pulled from wrecked vehicles. Used Hellcat engine prices have reached $25,000 in the past.

Of course, putting all that power to the rear wheels of God-knows-what means having a transmission capable of withstanding it, and for this role Mopar prescribes a manual. Specifically, the brand’s Tremec Magnum transmission kit, a to-order version of the one you’ll find in a factory Hellcat.

Mopar claims there’ll be another interesting bit of product news announced Tuesday afternoon. We’ll keep you posted if it turns out to be something worthwhile.

[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]