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Dodge Challenger "Hellephant 426" Is Not Your Standard Demon

Do you remember the craze started by Dodge releasing the Hellcat V8 back in 2014? (you know, 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque)? Back then, it might've been difficult to anticipate the carmaker would release the high-output version of the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI in 2017, gifting the Demon with 808 hp and 717 lb-ft of pump gas. Well, one year later, the Mopar people did it again, unleasing the 7.0-liter 426 Hellephant Supercharged HEMI crate engine, rated at 1,000 horsepower and 950 pound-feet of torque.
Dodge Challenger "426 Hellephant" swap 4 photos
Photo: demonology/youtube
Dodge Demon with 426 Hellephant SwapDodge Demon with 426 Hellephant SwapDodge Demon with 426 Hellephant Swap
While Dodge only built 3,300 Demons (3,000 stayed in the U.S. and 300 went to Canda), there's no official number for that 426 monster, with rumors talking about production being limited to just 100 units. Nevertheless, the blown behemoth was sold out in two days, following the preordering process, which kicked off on April 26, 2019 (that would be 4.26, HEMI day). For the record, this came with a price of $29,995, while an installation kit was offered for $2,265.

And while it might seem a bit off to Hellephant-swap a Dodge Demon, this description perfectly fits the machine we have here. Perhaps the owner of the uber-Challenger removed the factory engine and found a new owner for it or maybe the car had lost its motor, there's no way to be certain.

However, the crate-engined Mopar coupe has recently hit the dyno, delivering 944.82 horsepower and 877.46 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels - note that the thing was running on E40, a mix of 40 percent ethanol and 60 percent gasoline. Using the good old 15 percent drivetrain loss for an automatic trany, which may be more or less accurate in the case of the Demon's ZF-supplied eight-speed unit, we end up with a crank number of 1,100 hp and 1,031 lb-ft of torque.

Of course, those are just the top end figures and they can vary according to the dyno used for the shenanigan. However, if you look at the dyno charts showcased at the end of the video, you'll find a super-solid torque curve.

For the record, it looks like the build comes from Hemituner Performance, a specialist based in Long Island, New York.

The clip portraying the Hellephant in the dyno room comes from YouTuber Demonolgy, with this being a sign than the gearhead has beaten the current health crisis (he did have to fight the ilness, as explained on his channel). You should know we're dealing with a drag strip lover who happens to own a modded Demon.

Besides, given the fact that aficionados have extracted similar numbers from smaller HEMIs, we could also see this engine being taken down the aftermarket path. Meanwhile, you can enjoy the sound of its badass cam setup in the vid below.

Oh, and here's to hoping the rumors talking about a second run of Hellepahnt crate engines coming this year, as a result of hefty demand, are true.

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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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