Another New Toy Challenger Hellcat

[njsteve]

If I saw this earlier I would have steered you toward a 2022. The 2023s are having a ton of parts quality issues and structural build issues (like the windshields cracking midway up the A-pillar on the passenger side.) Basically all the parts venders knew that the assembly plant was closing at the end of 2023 and all quality control on parts went out the window. Nothing was rejected: it was all sent directly to the assembly line. The assembly line also starting skimping on structural adhesives and welding quality (most likely cause of the windshield cracking issue) My one recommendation would be to drive the heck out of it and get at least a couple thousand miles on it to shake it out and see what glitches may show up. The special hellcat fuel pumps tend to fail a lot. (The Redeye actually has dual pumps). Also the center support bearing on the two piece driveshaft is a major failure point, and they wont replace just the rubber bearing, they only replace the entire $2,000 driveshaft if they consider it a warranty issue. (even though multiple companies sell a two-piece bearing support fix that goes for only a couple hundred bucks.) Also get the extended Mopar warranty on the car when it gets close to the 3-year factory warranty expiration date. There's several Mopar dealerships that sell it a $25 over cost (see Challengertalk.com and Hellcat.org) http://www.buymoparwarranty.com/

Enjoy the car. We love our Triple Redeye (797hp advertised: 812hp actual per SAE). These are completely insane. It's basically a recliner/lounger with JATO pods bolted to it.

[njsteve]

BTW, here is the SAE testing results for all the Hellcat variants over the years. This is the actual data from SAE when the drivetrains were emissions certified.

Gotta love how Dodge just altered the HP ratings by simply posting the numbers at 6,000 or 6,200 rpm instead of 6,400 for most of the models. They originally didn't want to upset the 2018 Demon owners when the Redeye option came out in 2019, which was actually the entire Demon drivetrain minus the transbrake equipped transmission.

So your car is actually 745HP @6200 versus the 717@6000 as advertised. :-)

2015 - 2017 Hellcat (compared to base 2015 Hellcat):
714 HP @ 6200rpm measured, 707 HP @ 6000rpm advertised
652 TQ @ 4800rpm measured, 650 TQ @ 4800rpm advertised

2018 Hellcat (+ electric power steering, widebody option with 20x11 rims)
730 HP @ 6200rpm measured, (+16 HP), 707 HP @ 6000rpm advertised
654 TQ @ 4800rpm measured, (+2 TQ), 650 TQ @ 4800rpm advertised

2019+ Hellcat (Combined air-flow rate of 1,048 CFM, after-run chiller, torque reserve, dual scoop hood, line lock):
745 HP @ 6200rpm measured (+31 HP), 717 HP @ 6000rpm advertised
662 TQ @ 4800rpm measured, (+10 TQ), 656 TQ @ 4800rpm advertised

2019+ Redeye (Combined air-flow rate of 1,130 CFM, 2.7L SC @ 14.5 psi peak boost, 6500 rpm rev limit increase, 25 engine component upgrade including strengthened connecting rods and pistons, high-speed valve train, fuel injection system and improved lubrication system, SRT Power Chiller, 700 cc fuel injectors, Two dual-stage fuel pumps, steel prop shafts (driveshaft) for 15% increase torque capacity (2lbs heavier), 41-spline half shafts for 20% increase torque)
793 HP @ 6200rpm measured (+79 HP), 797 HP @ 6300rpm advertised, 812 HP @ 6400rpm measured
709 TQ @ 4800rpm measured (+57 TQ), 707 TQ @ 4500rpm advertised, 719 TQ @ 4800rpm measured

2020 - 2023 Super Stock (Combined air-flow rate of 1,134 CFM)
793 HP @ 6200rpm measured (+79 HP), 807 HP @ 6400rpm advertised, 812 HP @ 6400rpm measured
709 TQ @ 4800rpm measured (+57 TQ), 707 TQ @ 4500rpm advertised, 719 TQ @ 4800rpm measured

2018 Demon (Combined air-flow rate of 1,150 CFM, transbrake, drag-mode suspension, Air-Grabber hood)
804 HP @ 6200rpm measured (+90 HP), 808 HP @ 6300rpm advertised, 812 HP @ 6400rpm measured
719 TQ @ 4800rpm measured (+67 TQ), 717 TQ @ 4500rpm advertised, 719 TQ @ 4800rpm measured

2018 Demon (+ 100 octane PCM tune)
835 HP @ 6200rpm measured (+121 HP), 840 HP @ 6300rpm advertised, 845 HP @ 6400rpm measured
776 TQ @ 4800rpm measured (+124 TQ), 770 TQ @ 4500rpm advertised, 774 TQ @ 4500rpm measured

2023 Demon 170
1,025 bhp (764 kW) @ 6,500 rpm with E-85 fuel
900 bhp (671 kW) @ 6,500 rpm with Premium 91 octane fuel
945 lb.-ft (1,281 Nm) @ 4,200 rpm with E-85 fuel
810 lb.-ft (1098 Nm) @ 4,200 with Premium 91 octane fuel

SAE Measured
812 HP @ 6400rpm SAE measured Demon/Redeye/Super Stock/Jailbreak
845 HP @ 6400rpm SAE measured Demon with 100 octane / Race PCM

Advertised Direct Connection Kits
Hellcat:
747 bhp Hellcat w/ PreStage Kit (2015-2018)
757 bhp Hellcat w/ PreStage Kit (2019+)

Redeye:
802 bhp (598 kW) Redeye w/ PreStage Kit
807 bhp (601 kW) SRT Super Stock & Jailbreak w/ PreStage Kit
840 bhp (626 kW) Redeye w/ Stage I (100 octane functionality)
837 bhp (624 kW) Redeye w/ Stage II (3.17 Hellephant pulley and 91 octane)
885 bhp (660 kW) Redeye w/ Stage II (3.17 Hellephant pulley and 100 octane)

Direct Connection Redeye Stage II
(+ 100 octane PCM tune; 180 tstat, 3.17 Hellephant pulley)
875 HP @ 6200rpm measured (+161HP), 885 HP @ 6400rpm measured
787 TQ @ 4800rpm measured (+135TQ), 786 TQ @ 4500rpm measured

Source: SAE Engine Power Certification Database (EPCD)
SAE J1349 certified results. Chrysler Test Center Test Cells C07 and C08.
SAE J1349 testing standards (SAE J1349 standard of 77°F (25°C) day with 0% humidity and a barometric pressure of 29.234 in-Hg (99 KPa)).

[njsteve]

One more thing. ABSOLUTELY get the dealer to perform the RFHM lockout. This is a TSB that is covered under warranty to prevent a thief from programming a new set of keys in a matter of seconds and driving off in the car. This is how the majority of them are stolen. And bring them all your keyfobs when you get it done. (2 red, 1 black). Don't let the dealer tell you it was "done already at the factory". That is BS. They have a special form you have to sign that says you are aware that once the lockout is done, no new keys can be produced without replacing the RFHM module itself on your own dime.


Also, And immediately buy the Faraday pouches for stopping the keyfobs from sending the signal out to the car 24/7 - another thing the thieves can intercept and make a new fob from. And test the pouches before you rely on them. Put the keyfob in the pouch and then get in the car and try to start it. If the car starts, the pouch is bad. And furthermore...place the keyfobs and pouches somewhere inside your house (a metal safe is best) and not hanging on a hook by the front door. (Another theft method is they walk around your house/garage with a modified receiver to pick up the keyfob signal from the typical homeowner who hangs his keyfobs by the back door.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

[njsteve]

But, wait, there's more! Change the oil now. It takes exactly 7 quarts of the 0w40 Pennzoil Platinum Ultra (the only oil they recommend and will give you $%^& if there is ever a warranty claim and you used different oil) I bring this up because the factory overfilled the engines by close to a quart and the drain plug on the oil cooler is always loose. There was a TSB on replacing that drain plug because the rubber O-ring seals were too soft.

And yes there are 2 oil drain plugs on these cars. One on the pan and one on the oil cooler near the bottom of the passenger front fender. You have to remove most of the underbody shields to get to it. The dealers either don't bother or don't know it's there and leave half a quart of dirty oil in the cooler and lines when they ignore it...and then they dump too much oil in thinking it was drained. But it is critical to check the tightness of that cooler plug. Mine was finger tight and about to fall out when I changed the oil at 500 miles.

Here's how much is in that cooler after an hour of draining. Second photo is of the actual cooler drain plug

[njsteve]

And yes, actually I did have WAAAAY too much coffee this morning.

[useless tony]

Originally Posted by njsteve

One more thing. ABSOLUTELY get the dealer to perform the RFHM lockout. This is a TSB that is covered under warranty to prevent a thief from programming a new set of keys in a matter of seconds and driving off in the car. This is how the majority of them are stolen.


Also, And immediately buy the Faraday pouches for stopping the keyfobs from sending the signal out to the car 24/7 - another thing the thieves can intercept and make a new fob from. And furthermore...place the keyfobs and pouches somewhere inside your house (a metal safe is best) and not hanging on a hook by the front door. (Another theft method is they walk around your house/garage with a modified receiver to pick up the keyfob signal from the typical homeowner who hangs his keyfobs by the back door.

In the Toronto Canada area, if the "human waste" want your car or cars bad enough, they'll change their theft methods slightly to include a home invasion. Driveway bollards? If the homeowner can raise them, the homeowner WILL lower them if there is a gun at their head. Cameras can't see faces if the faces are masked. Unfortunately we Canadians are forbidden to use firearms for protection so some of you (Stateside) do have that option but still ... is your car worth a possible loss of life? I am not saying "do this or don't do that" I am saying ... give your security options a lot of thought. Police in Toronto initially recommended Faraday bags, now they are saying "leave the keys by the door and let them take your vehicle, confronting them is NOT worth it". It's F-ing pathetic and disgusting but it's how life in Toronto is now. Just something to think about ...

The link below relates to an event that recently happened in a very posh area of Toronto known as Forest Hill (86 Kilbarry rd). Similar events have become the norm here.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10909346/...ak-in-warning/

[realzed]

AND - in the GTA typically these days - if the same guys didn't get the car(s) they initially wanted they will be out on bail within 24 hours or less and may come back and try again - its not unheard of!
The Liberal government we have with its 'catch and release' mantra, has turned places like Toronto and Mississauga and Brampton into something akin to the Wild West when it comes to auto theft, car jackings, and drive-by shootings..
We need a Trump up here to fix many of our problems!