Media post: Putting the Famous Chrysler Hemi in Your Car

Do you want to transform your old V8-powered car into a modern muscle car? If so, you have a couple options: you can hop up the existing V8 in the car or you can swap it for a more powerful one. Generally speaking, hopping up the engine in your car is the easiest route because all the engineering (motor mounts, transmission mounts, wiring, etc.) has been done for you. The other option, installing a different engine, is a more complex procedure but can yield a great deal more power if you do something wild -like drop a genuine Chrysler Hemi into it.

In the old days

Not long ago, engine swapping was a common pastime. It wasn’t hard to do, either. All you had to do was remove the old engine, weld in some new motor mounts and then plop the new one in. It was so easy that it was done by thousands of gearheads every day across America.

All this changed, however, when engines got complex. Any recently built engine is covered with electronic sensors and is run by a dedicated computer (ECM). Today, because they are so complex, swapping an engine almost requires that you are a professional mechanic –and a good one at that says Legacy of Island City, a local Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram dealer in Island City, OR.

The Hemi Engine Kit

Chrysler Corporation addressed this dilemma, though. Chrysler, or more accurately Mopar (Chrysler’s parts division), is offering a kit that allows one to mount one of their new Hemi engines in an older car. That’s right, Chrysler engineers have specifically designed a DIY Hemi installation kit! This is a game changer for the DIY hot-rod community and a fabulous marketing move by Chrysler. After all, having thousands of people installing Hemi engines in their cars can only add to the Hemi mystique.

The details

The “Mopar Crate Hemi Engine Kit” works with the 2014 and up 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engines. The kit includes a power distribution block, electronic control module, and a full wiring harness. There’s also a full easy-to-understand installation manual.

So, what are you getting by doing this? When installed, with the 5.7-liter Hemi will put out 383 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque, while the 6.4-liter will crank out 485 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. This is likely a massive upgrade to the power that your existing V8 puts out and you now are driving a genuine muscle car.

Just a few requirements

Mopar claims that a great deal of engineering work went into the Mopar Crate Hemi Engine Kit to make it plug-and-play, but there are a few caveats. First, it is best if the engine is paired with a manual transmission. Chrysler says you can pair it up with an automatic, but it won’t be an optimal installation. (A kit for an automatic transmission installation is in the works.) And for pricing, here’s what you can expect: First, the Mopar Hemi Engine Kit costs $1,795. This may sound expensive but think of the many hours it will save you. Then you need an engine, a 2014-2016 Chrysler Hemi engine, specifically. According to the Chrysler website, the 5.7L Eagle Hemi engine is $6070 and the 6.4 Apache Hemi engine is $9335.

Why do this?

Sure, it’s a lot of money to stuff a Hemi into your car but a Hemi isn’t just an ordinary engine. It’s a world-famous engine with a lot of history behind it. Just imagine the bragging rights you have when you are finished.