More Power for Your HEMI With the Scat Pack
Ever heard of the Scat Pack? The name will put a smile on the face of Mopar enthusiasts, and strike fear into the heart of the victims of a HEMI, on a drag strip or on a boulevard!
Those of you who want to extract more power out of the 5.7 HEMI in their Dodge Charger and Challenger can now do so with the help of the manufacturer. Mopar (the parts division of Chrysler) just released a 3 stage performance upgrade kit designed to boost horsepower, while retaining the original drivetrain warranty :
Stage 1 start things off with a cold-air intake, a cat-back exhaust and an ECU reflash. This kit is good for 18 HP, costs $2195 US and can be installed by the average home mechanic.
Stage 2 builds on the first one with a performance camshaft and more aggressive programming for the computer. Priced at $1895, it adds about 36 HP to a stock engine. But, to keep the modifications under warranty, this one has to be installed by a dealership.
Stage 3 completes the set with freeflowing headers, an even less restrictive cat-back exhaust and CNC-machined heads. With a price tag of $4995 US, it adds almost 60 HP and must also be installed by the dealership.
The kits must be installed in order, though. You can't simply bolt-on the stage 3 without first installing the first two! With all 3 stages installed, a Challenger R/T is dangerously close to the power output of the SRT8, which is currently the top of the line model...
But this could change soon. SRT may be working on a new engine to power its high-performance vehicles. We may learn more at the New-York Auto Show...