Direct Connection Introduces 3.0L Supercharger Kit, 2.4/2.7 Snout Kits and More

This morning, Dodge’s Direct Connection brand took the wraps off of their news for the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, introducing a pair of crate engine blocks, two supercharger snout kits and the 3.0-liter IHI supercharger kit that many Mopar owners have been eagerly anticipating.

First up, two new engine blocks are coming to the Direct Connection catalog – the Hellephant A30 block and the 354 cubic inch Drag Pak block. The Hellephant A30 (essentially the engine block from the original Hellephant crate that was introduced a few years back) is an aluminum engine block that measures 426 cubic inches and carries an MSRP of $8,815. The Drag Pak 354 Supercharged Crate Hemi block is the engine block found in the quickest Dodge Challenger Drag Pak race cars and it has an MSRP of $10,570.

“Dodge is celebrating 50 years of Direct Connection by growing our performance parts offerings for enthusiasts seeking more horsepower on the strip or on the street,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge brand CEO – Stellantis. “With the launch of Hellephant A30 and Drag Pak 354 Supercharged Crate HEMI engine blocks, Direct Connection continues to expand the brand’s portfolio of crate engine products.”

The introduction of the Drag Pak block will be helpful to Drag Pak racers and anyone who is trying to build a Dodge Challenger Drag Pak-type car. As for the A30 Hellephant block, it should be popular with those folks who want to build an aluminum 426 cubic inch Gen 3 Hemi for a project without having to buy the entire crate engine – making this block ideal for anyone who already has most of the components of the build.

The next three additions to the Direct Connection lineup are likely to appeal to a much larger crowd.

Many gearheads who have a vehicle that is powered by the Hellcat or Redeye engine have upgraded the supercharger snout to flow a bit better. Having the snout modified means that the owners have downtime while the snout is off of the engine, or they have to hunt around to buy a second snout to avoid downtime. Direct Connection is now offering the snout from the 2.4- and 2.7-liter IHI supercharger. These snout kits do not include the pulley, but they do include the snout itself, a Gates supercharger belt, all of the gaskets and hardware and installation instructions. The 2.4-liter snout has a list price of $1,095 while the 2.7-liter snout costs $1,295.

Finally, the most exciting part of the Direct Connection announcements from SEMA 2024.

Since the first Hellephant Hemi crate engine was introduced back in 2018, many Mopar owners have been asking to purchase the 3.0-liter IHI supercharger on its own. When that first Hellephant was introduced, the folks from Mopar mentioned that the 3.0 blower would eventually be available as a standalone item, and that day has come.

The Direct Connection 3.0L E85 Supercharger Kit comes with the supercharger, a 3.02-inch pulley, a 105mm throttle body, high flow fuel injectors, an ethanol sensor, a Gates belt, all of the gaskets and hardware, and the installation instructions. The part number for this kit is P5160624AA and it has an MSRP of $11,995. For those Mopar owners who want to run a bigger supercharger than the 2.7 Redeye unit, this 3.0-liter is the perfect upgrade to add gobs of power on ethanol while maintaining the stock-ish underhood look.