Direct Connection is currently putting together the second edition of the modern high performance parts catalog and it looks like the most dramatic addition will be the expansion of the engine program. Starting in the first quarter of 2024, Direct Connection will begin offering a lineup of all of the modern Hemi engines in long block form and the first of the Hellephant crate engines announced last year will formally go on sale.

Direct Connection Hellephant C170 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI® Engine

Hellephant Crate Engine Series
The first big item to become available through the new Direct Connection catalog is the Hellephant C170 crate engine. This is the first of four crate engines from the Hellephant crate engine series to go on sale, with the company introducing a lineup of four similar engines last year during Speed Week. The C170 will eventually be joined by the C30, the A170 and the A30, but starting during the first quarter of 2024, the C170 will be the first that you can actually order from your local Power Broker dealership.

The Hellephant C170 crate engine is closely related to the production engine in the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, with the key difference being that the C170 crate engine is not emission compliant like the Demon 170 engine. Since it isn’t emission compliant, those Mopar owners who live in states with emission testing will not be able to install it in a modern vehicle, but in any classic car, this engine delivers similar power to the 1,025-horsepower Demon 170.

Direct Connection has not announced official power figures for the C170 crate engine, but we know that the emission compliant engine in the Demon 170 delivers 1,025 horsepower and 945 lb-ft of torque when running on E85 ethanol blend. The C170 crate engine is also designed to run on E85, but since it is not required to be emission compliant, it will likely offer more power than the Demon 170.

The Hellephant C170 has an MSRP of $27,695 and that price includes everything on the engine, from the throttle body down to the exhaust manifolds.

Above left: Hellephant C170 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI Long Block (PN P5160620AA) – 1,025 horsepower and 945 lb-ft of torque – $18,995; Above right: Hellcrate Redeye 6.2L Supercharged Crate Hemi Long Block (PN P5160619AA) – 807 horsepower and 717 lb-ft of torque – $12,995

Production-Based Long Blocks
We knew that the Hellephant engine series was coming sometime in 2024, but what we did not expect was a full lineup of the current production Hemi engines from the Dodge lineup for 2023. This includes the 5.7L from the R/T models, the 6.4L from the Scat Packs, the supercharged 6.2L from the Hellcat and Hellcat Redeye and even the Demon 170. For anyone looking to build a production-based engine for their modern Challenger or Charger, these long blocks make that process a whole lot easier while removing the risk of buying a used engine.

Each of these long block assemblies come with the engine block, the rotating assembly, the camshaft and all valvetrain components, the oil pump and pan, and the front timing cover with harmonic balancer. Keep in mind that the power numbers below are based on production intake and exhaust components and a production engine tune. Changing any of the intake or exhaust components, or adding a custom engine tune will yield greater numbers than what is listed below, but for anyone swapping one of these long blocks into a production car with the factory-issued intake, exhaust and tune can expect the official numbers listed below.

Above left: Hellcrate 6.2L Supercharged Crate Hemi Long Block (PN P5160618AA) – 717 horsepower and 656 lb-ft of torque – $9,495; Above right: 392 Crate Hemi Long Block (PN P5160617AA) – 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque – $6,995

Above: 345 Crate Hemi Long Block (PN P5160616AA) – 383 horsepower and 417 lb-ft of torque – $4,495

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Direct Connection Hellephant C170 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI® Engine