Gen III costs

I've been interested in the Gen III stuff for a while and the introduction of the Hellcrate has had me thinking about selling all my small block stuff and buying one. 700 reliable, drive anywhere horsepower for $15000, plus a 3 year warranty doesn't sound bad. But.........what could a guy build (gen III) for the same money? It would have to be reliable, run on pump gas, preferably boosted.

I know the Hellcrate will require a controller, wiring, headers and possibly a pan, but any gen III build will need all this stuff so it's a wash as far as costs go.

What do you guys think?

I for one think a 6.4 long block with a tall drag pack intake and quality headers would be a killer "buy it and drop it in" package, MSD ignition and a carb is about as cheap as it could get and it's cheaper than building a 392 stroker 5.7. The SRT 392 is 485 HP in emmisions NVH and MPG choked form, you add a much better intake, tune and exhaust and give it a gross instead of net HP rating and I bet you can find 575 HP at the crank. I know its not 700 hp but it would be a whole barrell of fun for minimal investment. A cam upgrade should be able to put you solidly in the 600 HP range.

Since the budget is $15k
Whipple 2.9 Supercharger with TB and injectors about $7k + whatever long block you can build for $8k= $15K
Probably could build a pretty decent long block for $8K or just get a 6.4 and add the whipple.

Pull-out and junkyard engines are pretty cheap and plentiful now too in case you wanted to get something to "practice" on. I like HotRodDave's idea, you could start out with a stock 6.4 SRT engine and pretty easily mod it incrementally up to 600+ N/A horses, probably for a lot less than $15k. Then add a blower if you need more.

http://www.jegs.com/i/ATK-Engines/059/SP97-B/10002/-1

Find a BGE 6.4 (ram 2500/3500) drop out and add your favorite supercharger. BGE's use Hellcat block, Hellcat heads with a standard bolt pattern, supposedly crank, maybe rods and rumored to have forged pistons. If the pistons aren't forged buy some drop in's and away you go.

I'd put aftermarket forged rods into as well, then they'll truly be drop-ins.

What you guys are missing is the fact that the Hellcat motor is net 700 hp.
Long tube and a tune and it goes up! Add a pulley and your in the 900 HP.
Do what you want but IMO that 15000 is a real good investement.
Matt

Stock Hellcat challengers are running 9:70??? That nothing more than a tune and headers? I'm not talking about the stripped out version either. This is at a 4400 lbs without driver?
Add that to a 1000lbs less car and its even faster.
Matt

I am not familiar with ATK.

What type of reputation do they have?

Bill

This is what I'm getting at. Can I build a reliable, 700 hp boosted Gen III for what the Hellcrate costs? I already have a pump gas small block that is near that and it's a hoot to drive, but it's pretty raunchy. With the Hellcrate just hit the key and it's running, put it in gear and drive off, no worrying about killer pressure valve springs, needle bearings in roller lifters or rockers and checking lash. Just check the oil and have fun.

I’ve seen some hellcat pullouts for 12-13k. I’d buy one of those

What is BGE?

Big Gas Engine, it basically refers to 6.4 Hemi's that come in 2500 and 3500 trucks. Different heads than a 6.4 apache.

BGE heads have the same ports as an Apache, just made out of better material (same stuff as the Hellcat)

If all you're after is 700 at the crank, just put some drop-in pistons/rods in a 2009+ 5.7 and add boost. Simple, cheap, easy.

Those engines have only been out for a few years I don't think they're quite that easy and cheap to come by, yet...

9.60's seems to be the number they run with the pulleys, tune and traction.

Yeah a local guy has one that is full weight with pulleys and a tune and injectors. His problem has been traction, its been 10.0X and 140 mph but won't hook up. The 8 speed finally laid down on him after 300 something runs so he is trying to get that upgraded now.

$9500 core charge, dang

http://www.paramountperformanceproducts....erformance.aspx

In all fairness its probably because there's no HP90's around. All the wrecked hellcats seem to have the drivetrain and electronics sold as a package so it can be swapped into something else.


The 5.7's and 392's use the HP70.