Best Muscle Cars
Kevin Hart’s SpeedKore Hellephant 1970 Charger ‘Hellraiser’ Closer Look
By Dave Ashton
A few years back Mopar made a big splash when they announced the predecessor to the original Hellephant V8 engine. A huge Hemi 7L/426ci. V8 which could pump out 1000HP and 950 lb. ft. of torque. Only a hundred units were available which sold out in two days. This led to many Mopar fans wondering how and where these mighty engines may end up. One high-profile car order has come from the actor and comedian Kevin Hart. Who now has the engine wrapped around SpeedKore’s ‘Hellraiser’ 1970 Dodge Charger restomod.
Before we dive into the intricacies of the engine and car build, it’s worth mentioning the extra publicity that a Kevin Hart muscle car can bring to the Mopar platform. High-profile names associated with a car bring in lots of general interest. This should trickle down to the latest models, bringing with it extra sales and heightened interest.
The Hellephant V8 Engine
We documented the initial release of the 1,000-HP Hellephant crate engine back when it was announced at SEMA 2018. The core engine block derives from the Dodge Challenger Drag Pak which ran in the 2018 NHRA Factory Stock Showdown category.
An upgraded supercharger and rotor system made sure that the plug and play kit was the most powerful factory crate engine available. The aluminium block is accompanied by forged aluminium pistons, steel connecting rods, a forged steel crank, and an iron camshaft. The compression ratio comes in at 9.5:1, with an intake valve size of 54.3 mm and a peak RPM of 6,200. Premium fuel is also the drink of choice for the engine.
Being a plug and play unit, everything was supplied with the kit. This included the fuel injectors, oil pan, water pump, coil packs, and flywheel. Control modules, wiring, and sensors were also supplied.
For those wondering, the Hellcrate, which is the crate version of the Hellcat engine is a different proposition. This particular engine kit produces 707HP and 650 pound-feet of torque.
The 1970 Charger ‘Hellraiser’ SpeedKore Hellephant
The custom car builders SpeedKore, Wisconsin managed to get their hands on one of the Hellephant engines. Not long after they released footage of the Hellephant engine being tested on the dyno as you can see below. The rear end of the 1970 Dodge Charger in the video gives some indication of its future application.
The Hellephant engine and the custom car build is now presented in all their glory. The engine itself is mated to a ZF 8HP90 8-speed automatic transmission, with a Ford 9 inch rear end, with the dyno tuning performed by Gearhead Fabrications. The fuel type is 91 octane, using a SpeedKore custom fuel tank.
For stopping performance, the front brakes are 6 piston Brembos, with Brembo 4 piston versions at the rear. The front suspension is a GM C6 Corvette type by Detroit Speed, while the rear suspension is a custom unit by SpeedKore, with the shocks been made by Penske Double. The front wheels come in at 19×9-inches, with the rear wheels being 20×12-inches, using Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 245/35-R19 tires up front and 345/30-R20 versions at the rear.
The chassis comes in as a custom SpeedKore frame, wrapped around a 14 point roll cage. The exterior of the car is mostly exposed weave carbon, covered in a clear coat of BASF Glasurit. The sumptuous interior is made by Gabes, featuring Recaro GT Sportster seats, 4-point Simpson Racing seat belts, gauges by SpeedKore, and a modern climate control AC system.
Cost
While we are all salivating over the sumptuous specs., it’s just as intriguing to wonder how much the final thing cost. SpeedKore hasn’t publicly revealed the cost of Kevin Hart’s Hellraiser. Plus, they don’t exactly put prices on their website. Their vehicles fall into the category of – if you’re seriously interested, you don’t need to know the price.
As a rough estimate, the Hellephant engine alone would have cost around $30,000. Other vehicles they have sold have been knocking on the door of $170,000, which means this build could have been $250,000. The question now is this the ultimate classic Dodge Charger?
Find out more about the SpeedKore Hellraiser here.
0 comments