Driving Line VOLUME V ISSUE 2 | SPRING 2019 | Page 80

MOPAR
$27.62 /HP
While we’re not going to address the Hellephant in the room
(because Mopar hasn’t released an official MSRP for it yet), we’re including
Mopar’s current most-powerful crate engine, the Hellcrate. Also a 6.2L
supercharged format, the Hellcrate is essentially the same engine that
comes in the Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcat. Pushing 707 hp and
650 lb-ft of torque, the Hellcrate doesn’t quite meet the LT5 standard, but
it’s also two years older. Currently being sold for $19,530, the Hellcrate
gets a rating of $27.62 per horsepower. A bit more expensive than the
GM LT5, but the more modern Hellephant may change that once its
official price is released.
MERCURY
$44.00 /HP
We couldn’t leave this crate engine off the list, simply because
its engineering and specifications are so impressive. Engineered and
manufactured by the automotive division of Mercury Racing Engines, a
company known mostly for its marine engines, the SB4 breaks all the
rules. Mercury set the bar high with this DOHC small-block, pushing 750
hp and 559 lb-ft of torque at a staggering 8,000 rpm, all without forced
induction. But all that technology and engineering comes at a price,
specifically $32,995. The SB4 comes complete with wiring harness and
ECU, so you get a little extra for your dollar, but the math comes out to
a spendy $44 per horsepower.
And there you have it! Of course, there are plenty of other factors
that determine why one would pick one engine over another, but from a
purely economic and power output stance, these are our findings. While
Ford’s 5.2L Aluminator may be the crate engine of choice for the Blue
Oval purists, it’s not exactly the most economical choice for big power.
Mopar fans will need to wait until the Hellephant comes to the market
to get their 1,000hp monster crate (likely with a hefty price tag), but until
then, the Hellcrate does a good job for its age and price. Coming in at the
cheapest per-horsepower crate engine is the GM LT5, perhaps proving
once again why the LS platform seems to have an ever-tightening grasp
in the aftermarket performance V8 world. And while we did include the
Mercury SB4, you really have to want to be different to consider spending
$33,000 on a crate engine that brings you LT5 power numbers. Or maybe
you just want your ride to match your boat? We don’t judge here.
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