The 1,000-horsepower, 950-lb.-ft.-of-torque, Hellephant A30 426 supercharged crate HEMI engine and the 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine — a crate engine version of the championship-winning powerplant featured in the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection — will be on display in the Mopar SEMA Show exhibit in Las Vegas, along with the Drag Pak and additional crate engines from the Direct Connection lineup.
Does the re-introduction of the hellacious Hellephant put Dodge one step closer to offering in the production Charger or is that wishful thinking on our part? We know the HEMI Charger is coming (we broke this news in April), but how far will Dodge take it?
Direct Connection performance parts are now included within the newly reestablished Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Performance division, which is also responsible for SRT high-performance models and American brand motorsports initiatives, including Dodge competition in NHRA and the Ram brand’s recently announced plans to return to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026.
“The desire for HEMI engine power is stronger than ever, and Direct Connection is ready to supply gearheads the horsepower they crave through two newly upgraded crate HEMI engines,” said Chad Seymour, head of Direct Connection crate engines.
“Direct Connection is keeping the pedal down. With the recent reveal of the all-new Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak race car and the relaunch of the Hellephant and Drag Pak crate engines, the Direct Connection portfolio continues to evolve and expand.”
— Chad Seymour, Direct Connection Crate Engines
Ordering for the Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI engine and the 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine opens on Nov. 4, with SEMA Show attendees able to place orders in person at the Direct Connection section of the Mopar SEMA display. The Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI will begin shipments in November. The 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine is built to order with an expected delivery time of four to six weeks.
Additional ordering information and info on Direct Connection crate engine product details are available at DCPerformance.com.
Direct Connection Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged HEMI
The 1,000-horsepower, with 950 lb.-ft of torque, Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged crate HEMI engine shook the show floor when it debuted at SEMA in 2018. The relaunched version boasts a menu of upgrades:
- Newly designed GEN III aluminum HEMI engine block includes select six-bolt main metal caps for added strength and precision CNC torque plate honed cylinders
- All-new, high-performance, 4340 forged-steel, eight-counterweight crankshaft with gun drilled mains and lightened rod journals
- All-new, high-performance, 4340 forged-steel, H-beam connecting rods, with increased cross-sectional thickness for strength and ARP 2000 bolts
- Upgraded IHI 3.0L twin-screw supercharger
- New Litens high-performance, lightweight billet supercharger belt tensioner
Additional features of the Hellephant engine include:
- 426-cubic-inch displacement
- 4.125-inch bore/4.000-inch stroke
- 3.17-inch diameter supercharger pulley
- Gates supercharger drive belt
- Injector Dynamics 1050 injectors
- 92mm throttle body
- 356 aluminum, HEMI spherical combustion chamber cylinder heads
- Mahle custom forged aluminum pistons
- High-performance hydraulic roller camshaft valve/lift duration @ 0.15 mm
- 54.3 mm intake valve size, 42 mm exhaust valve size
- 9.5:1 compression ratio
- 6,800 peak rpm
- Recommended fuel: Premium
The Direct Connection Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI engine (part number: 5160194AD) is available at a U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $34,995. The Hellephant can be dropped into any race-only or pre-1976 vehicle when paired with an upgraded “plug and play” engine kit (part number: 77072500AE, sold separately), which has been updated with a revised engine calibration to ensure optimal performance and durability.
Direct Connection 354 Supercharged Drag Pack HEMI
Fresh off the reveal of the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak, Direct Connection is offering a crate engine version of the upgraded, championship-winning 354 Supercharged HEMI that will power the first Charger Drag Pak.
The 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine is loaded with new features, including:
- Newly designed GEN III aluminum HEMI engine block includes select six-bolt main metal caps for added strength and precision CNC Torque plate honed cylinders
- All-new race billet eight-counterweight crankshaft machined from 4330V Timken steel with gun drilled mains and custom machined counterweight for reduced windage
- All-new, high-performance, forged-steel, H-beam connecting rods with ARP L19 fasteners
- New Litens high-performance lightweight billet supercharger belt tensioner
Additional features of the Drag Pak engine include:
- Whipple 3.0L twin-screw supercharger
- 3.5-inch supercharger pulley
- Diamond race-designed, forged aluminum pistons
- Mopar spec camshaft with 0.675-inch lift
- Billet timing gears front drive and SFI-approved ATI damper
- Jesel valvetrain for improved rigidity
- PAC Racing dual valve springs
- Billet aluminum, 109mm throttle body
- American Racing headers – 304 stainless with merge collectors
- Moroso billet aluminum oil pan with fabricated aluminum sump
- Installed sensors: Cam and crank position, oil pressure and temperature, intake T-MAP (temperature and pressure)
- Uses Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 (8 qt.) and Mopar oil filter (part number: 05038041AA)
- Recommended fuel: VP C16
The Direct Connection 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI Engine (part number: P5160354AD) is available at a U.S. MSRP of $63,995. Direct Connection also offers an ECU Kit (part number: P5160240AA) and Drag Pak Electrical/Fuel Kit (part number: P5160239AC), both sold separately, for plug-and-play installation.
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