How much horsepower is too much? Conventional wisdom tells us that the concept of "too much of a good thing" always applies, but as gearheads, we're always chasing a little more power and speed. There's nothing quite like the feeling of mashing the gas pedal and getting shoved back in your seat by the overwhelming force of a big V8. That said, the new Mopar Direct Connection 1500 Hemi crate engine — which offers 1,500 horsepower and over 1,000 ft-lbs of torque straight out of the box — is definitely enough power to toe the line between fun and scary.
DSR Performance & Mopar Direct Connection 1500 Hemi
The DSR1500-DC crate engine was created in partnership between Mopar Direct Connection and DSR Performance of Indiana. DSR, which stands for Don Schumacher Racing, is one of the most elite NHRA Drag Racing engine builders of all time, claiming 19 world championships and 366 national event victories. They specialize in 1,200+ horsepower turn-key Hemi engines, so they were the natural choice for an even more extreme Direct Connection crate engine project.
The Direct Connection 1500 engine starts with a cast iron BGE Hemi block with 4-bolt mains. DSR installs an Ultra Billet Steel crank, Ultra I-Beam rods, and billet aluminum pistons to achieve 426ci (7.0L) displacement.
Next, a custom cam and ported 356 billet aluminum heads are installed, along with high-performance valvetrain components and huge 1700cc per minute injectors. But the pièce de résistance is a stage-two ported Whipple Gen 5 3.0L supercharger.
This engine requires E85 ethanol fuel, which should come as no surprise to anyone looking for this much horsepower (at least it's not E100 or methanol). But the real drawback comes in the form of its $59,990 price tag, not to mention the cost of a built transmission and drivetrain that can handle that kind of power and torque.
Direct Connection calls the DSR1500-DC "a reliable engine combination for enthusiasts and racers" and notes that it's compatible with the Hellcrate wiring harness, serving as "a plug and play platform for pre-1976 swaps and custom builds."
As Seen at SEMA: Blazin Rods "Sangria" 1970 Charger
Photos courtesy of Blazin Rods and Larry Chen
Any crate engine is only as good as the car it's installed in, so we were glad to see a builder make good use of the Direct Connection 1500 Hemi at this year's SEMA Show. Blazin Rods unveiled their carbon fiber 1970 Dodge Charger, nicknamed Sangria, which features translucent House of Kolor Wild Cherry paint, Roadster Shop suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, and a sleek gray interior that looks like it belongs in a space ship.
Of course, there's also the DSR1500-DC Hemi under the hood, paired with a Pure Drivetrain Solutions Stage 2 ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, Drive Line Pro carbon fiber driveshaft, and 9-inch independent rear end.
The Charger is currently listed for sale on Hemmings at an $875,000 asking price.
So, what classic car would you put this 1,500hp Hemi engine into? We'd love to see a Challenger or 'Cuda, but there's no shortage of good options in the classic 1960s and 1970s Mopar muscle car lineup.
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