Launched by Dodge in 1974, Direct Connection is the American marque’s exclusive source for performance parts and technical information directly from the manufacturer. Alongside a slew of performance upgrades, Direct Connection also offers a handful of high-power crate engines. And for this year’s SEMA show, the company has now supplemented its existing range of crate motors with two new series of a la carte mills, the new HurriCrate Engine Series and the updated Supercharged Hellephant lineup.
Starting with the all-new range, we have the HurriCrate engine series. Thus far comprised of only two models, the HurriCrate range benefits from numerous advanced features such as high-flow turbochargers, Plasma Transfer Wire Arc cylinder bore coating, and high-pressure direct fuel injection. Good for 420hp and 468ft-lbs of torque, the HurriCrate Cat 1 crate engine is a six-cylinder lump with cast aluminum pistons, two turbochargers, and an engine-mounted water-to-air charge cooler with a dedicated cooling circuit. Cranking out 550hp and 531ft-lbd of torque, the Cat 3 crate engine boasts twin Garrett turbochargers with liquid charge-air cooling, as well as anodized and forged aluminum pistons.
Equipped with 3.0-liter IHI superchargers across the board and available with cast iron or aluminum blocks, the Hellephant series is made up of four new engines. Formally known as the Hellephant 426 Supercharged HEMI, the A30 crate engine is a 7.0-liter, bored and stroked GEN III HEMI aluminum block that boasts 4340 H-beam rods with forged aluminum pistons and a 3.17-inch supercharger pulley that enables it to put down an even 1,000hp. Making 900hp, the C30 crate engine is a 6.2-liter mill with a cast iron block, upgraded pistons and hardware, an up-specced valvetrain. The C170 amps things up with an upgraded fuel system and flex-fuel capability and an output of 1,000hp. The even more potent A170 crate engine is based on the A30 that also features an upgraded fuel system with flex-fuel capability and an additional 100hp — all while sipping E85 fuel — bringing its total output up to 1,100.
Full details such as pricing, availability, and final specs on the Hellephant and HurriCrate series crate engines are scheduled to be announced sometime next year.
