3 Reasons Anybody in Auto Repair Training Will Be Excited About the New ‘Hellephant’ V8 Engine
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is one of the top places for aftermarket manufacturers to roll out their newest, shiniest, most-powerful hot-rod accessories. This kind of friendly competition means they have a chance to let their creative flags fly a little more freely. Back in 2018, the showcase featured one astounding reveal: the ‘Hellephant’ Hemi V8 engine.
Re-imagined by Mopar—an auto parts manufacturer that’s worked with the likes of Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, and FIAT—the Hellephant V8 engine has brought the classically supercharged 426-cubic inch “Elephant” engine roaring back with a vengeance. If you’re interested in starting a career in auto repair, read on to find out what you need to know about what it has to offer.
1. The Hellephant Is Bringing Back the Much-Missed 426-Cubic Inch Engine
One of the great features of a supercharged car in days past was the inclusion of a 426-cubic inch engine. As auto enthusiasts and students in auto repair training may know, 426 is the magic number when it comes to supercharged engines, mainly because of its raw power capability, and the fact that it isn’t around all that much to enjoy in today’s cars.
In the 1960’s, Chrysler introduced one of the hallmarks in automotive engine power, soon known worldwide as the Hemi. This kind of engine was built for the purpose of racing, and it delivered more than its share in terms of power. Due to its size, a 426-cubic inch engine had the capability of producing around 425 horsepower, but it proved to be so successful at winning races that NASCAR soon imposed stricter rules. Later emission standards put the cap on the mass-produced 426 in the 1970’s, making the roaring re-introduction almost 50 years later a welcome surprise.
You can see some of that excitement and anticipation in this short teaser:
2. An Inside Look at the Hellephant V8 for Students in Auto Repair Training
After the Hellephant was revealed to the general public at SEMA, Chrysler and Mopar teamed up to celebrate the auto maker’s annual Hemi Day by offering the Hellephant for order.
While the $29,995 sticker price may make the blood pressure rise, reducing it to price per pony makes it an affordable $29.99 per horsepower output. Students in auto repair courses might be more than a little excited if they come across this engine during their career after graduation!
All told, the Hellephant can produce a massive 1,000 horsepower. A stock T-6060 manual six-speed Hellcat transmission delivers a supercharged 950 pound-per-foot of torque to the rear wheels, sending whatever vehicle happens to be housing the Hellephant speeding ahead. The full Hellephant package also includes a water pump, flywheel, front sump oil pan, fuel injectors, and coil packs, as well as additional kits.
3. The Hellephant V8 Engine Looks a Little Different from Its Predecessors
In an effort to bring the Hellephant into the 21st century, Mopar used new technologies and materials to recreate its former glory.
The new block of the Hellephant is made of aluminum, with an improved supercharger on at the top to feed in the air an engine that size needs to keep cool. Its extensive webbing and gusseting also makes it more lightweight without sacrificing a strong core. The Hellephant is also a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster, with parts like its valvetrain and valves borrowed from the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, and valve covers swiped from the Hellcat Redeye.
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