As of late, the streets around here seem to be almost awash in Dodge Hellcats - one even with a custom license plate that says "my 707 hp" or something similar that is sure to **** off the local law authorities!

I'll be upgrading my old '98 Vert with GMPP CNC heads and a GM Hot Cam over the winter, but this surely isn't enough to even come close to giving one of these a run for their money. I toyed with the idea of turning it into a 383 stroker or adding A&A centrifugal blower set up, but am not sure the early production LS1 bottom end (rod bolts especially) is up to the task...

I have a 3.90 rear end, 6-speed, LS6 intake and B&B cat backs and the heads and cam going in when I get around to it this winter. What additional mods would be recommended for a street only (summer time daily driver in heavy traffic) that wouldn't cost more than the car is worth would be recommended to give it some low and mid range kick in the pants? Or should the LS1 be scrapped and an LS2 or LS3 be used as a platform to build from instead?

Any thoughts?


Jeff

 

Any of those are solid ideas and a great way to start, with the exception of one in my opinion. Do NOT waste your time in money for a cam swap and use the "hot cam"!! A cam swap of course is a great idea but there are much better options out there, especially for the same money.

An A&A kit is also a great addition and can be built around your car. If your car is in good working order and has no severe mechanical issues then you should definitely be able to run that kit without any issues. Now if you beat on it constantly then maybe, there are guys on this forum that have stock bottom end cars with the A&A or ECS kits that have hundreds of passes at the track and thousands of miles. You should not have any issues unless you have something wrong mechanically already. But that being said doesn't mean that your engine won't "pop", but its not the not norm.

Also a LS3 swap is another good choice.

It really just depends on what you are willing to spend!!!!

 

Rpm kills rod bolts. Ls2 and ls3 have stronger rods. If you have the funds sell your ls1 longblock and use the money towards a ls2 3 or a forged motor. Add a blower of course. Best thing about forced induction is it doesn't require a big cam or even a aftermarket cam at all to make big numbers. You won't need those 3.90s either with a blower.

 

I just read that wouldn't cost more than the cars worth. That makes it tuff. How much do you think your cars worth lol. Which parts do you already have? Are you going to be doing the install and tuning?

 

The Hellcats are cool, but overrated in my opinion. Even with all that power, they have a hard time breaking into the 11's. Too many things working against them, in stock form anyway. They're still better than the new "Super Snakes" though. Motor trend did a write up a couple of months back. For nearly $100k, you get 850hp, a 0-60 of 3.9 seconds, and quarter mile sprint in 12.3. I can think of better ways to burn that kind of money.

 

Hard time breaking into the 11s would depend on DA track prep and driver. Plenty of people have backed up Dodges claim. I have seen a Bonestock ls1 Camaro SS go from 13.9 to a 12.9 with just a set of eBay headers and better weather. That is the difference between racing in the summer and Novemeber in OKlahoma. Probably could have ran a 12.5 at MIR or Atco lol. Please don't assume because a journalist ran a 12.3 that is all the car has to offer.

 

And please don't assume that because Dodge and Ford claim huge horsepower numbers and blazing quarter mile times, that their products can actually live up to the hype. Traction is something that both the Hellcat and S-Snake suffer from a lack of. Better drivers and weather will always yield better times. Hell, the fastest recorded bone stock C5Z quarter was a touch over 11.7. Hero runs prove little, if anything.

 

I see you are in rio rancho NM. That place turns every car into a turd. I have drove my C5 there before it felt like a turd. You do realize cars where you are at will be almost a second slower compared to places near sea level?

 

A local friend bought a Hellcat and bolted M/T tires on it. He has run several 6.9 second 1/8th mile passes here in North Alabama. The Hellcat is a serious contender off the show room floor. It will take a larger cubic inch LS engine or power adder to hang with the Hellcat.

 

MIR and ABQ are 5000ft difference in DA right now. That is a huge hp difference.

 

You don't say??? I'm not a fool, nor am I here to argue with you. You can have your Hellcat. I think they're cool, but I'm not interested in the least. If I were concerned about beating one at the strip, then I'd bolt on an A&A SC and call it a day.

 

This, or just chnage the bolts, or use as is and don't beat on it all the time, and it will probably last as long as you want. Just make sure you have a good tune, and get some sticky tires.

 

absolutely 100%, OP, the launch (traction) is paramount whether from a dead stop or roll. The advantage we enjoy is HP to weight, the down side is if you have a manual trans and are not really experienced in trying or able to get traction down during launch. Were as having an automatic with gears, stall converter, and sticky tires coupled with traction control is hard to beat even in stock form. The Hellcat is a 'HEAVY' car, I have won a fair share of track/street races based on just having a lighter car and being a better driver and making less HP. Adding a SC and making 500-575 HP with good driver skills will negate that 707 hp issue, I used to beat Hemi Cudas in the 70's with my 65' 331 c.i. Corvette with a good launch. Anyway, have fun in your pursuit of beating a Hellcat, not that hard if you ask me !! Be safe !!
P.S. If the Hellcat pulls up with 'Big' tire, look out !!

 

Throw some major rubber under those cars and it's a different story. In stock form though, they're not nearly as frightening as Dodge had promised. Only point I was trying to make earlier.

 

Yuuuuuuup, again !! Even putting a shot of N2o will start to level the playing field !! LOL

 

The last rental I was at I watch a Hellcat and similar HP Camaro both run a 10.8X. Later in the day watched a new Z06 run the same number. They're all capable of some pretty good numbers.

 

I could have sworn that I saw some ten second passes from a stock (besides tire) hellcat.

They're seriously bad cars, but on the street or with stock tires they're going to be seriously limited by traction.

 

Have a friend that bought a Hellcat 6 months ago. Just traded it in on a C7 Z06. Hellcat was just not classy enough.