10 Of The Best Engines Ever Put In A Mopar Muscle Car
Mopar muscle wasn’t just about attitude. It was about what lived under the hood.
At a weekend drag strip, a bystander once pointed to a ’Cuda and said, “That thing shakes the earth before it even moves.” And he wasn’t exaggerating.
The roar of a legendary Mopar engine could turn heads three counties over and strike fear into anything wearing a bowtie or blue oval.
These engines weren’t just built for speed. They were forged for dominance, one rumble at a time.
1. 426 HEMI
Nothing says Mopar muscle quite like those four magic numbers: 4-2-6. Nicknamed “The Elephant” for its massive size and weight, this legendary powerhouse crushed competitors when it debuted in 1964.
Cranking out 425 official horsepower (though real numbers were much higher), the 426 HEMI dominated NASCAR so thoroughly they changed the rules to ban it!
With its distinctive hemispherical combustion chambers and dual four-barrel carbs, this engine became the holy grail for collectors.
2. 440 Six Pack
Hungry for horsepower? The 440 Six Pack devoured roads with its trio of two-barrel Holley carburetors sitting atop that massive block.
Debuting in the 1969 Dodge Super Bee and Road Runner, this setup boosted the already potent 440 to a tire-shredding 390 horses.
What made it special wasn’t just raw power but instant throttle response. Stomp the gas and those six barrels would open up like floodgates, drowning cylinders in fuel-air mixture.
Many drag racers actually preferred this more streetable beast over the finicky HEMI.
3. 383 Magnum
While not the biggest or baddest in the Mopar arsenal, the 383 Magnum was the people’s champion of muscle car engines.
Found in everything from Road Runners to Chargers, this workhorse delivered serious punch without the exotic price tag of its bigger brothers.
Pushing 335 horsepower in its prime, the 383 offered the perfect balance of streetability and stoplight supremacy.
Its torque-rich personality made it a blast to drive daily while still capable of impressive quarter-mile times. No wonder it became one of Chrysler’s most popular performance options!
4. 340 Six Pack
Dynamite comes in small packages! The 340 Six Pack proved you didn’t need massive displacement to terrorize the streets.
This high-revving small block got the triple-carb treatment in 1970, transforming the already spunky 340 into a giant-destroyer.
Officially rated at 290 horsepower (a laughable understatement), this screamer actually made closer to 350 hp.
Installed in lightweight cars like the ‘Cuda AAR and Challenger T/A, it created some of the most balanced muscle cars ever. Its quick-revving nature and responsive handling made it a favorite on twisty roads.
5. 318 LA
Meet the unsung hero of Mopar performance. The 318 LA might be overlooked when bench racing, but this bulletproof small block powered more Mopar muscle than perhaps any other engine.
What it lacked in raw numbers it made up for in reliability and tuning potential.
Many hot rodders discovered that with the right cam, headers, and intake, the humble 318 could wake up and punch well above its weight class.
Plus, these engines routinely ran 200,000+ miles while bigger motors were long retired.
6. 360 Magnum
Goldilocks would have loved the 360 Magnum—not too big, not too small, but just right.
Bridging the gap between small and big blocks, this versatile performer delivered impressive power while fitting in engine bays designed for smaller motors.
Debuting in 1971, the 360 became a mainstay in Mopar’s lineup through the muscle car twilight years. Hot rodders love these engines for their thick cylinder walls and sturdy bottom end.
With modern fuel injection upgrades, these engines can easily make 400+ horsepower while maintaining daily-driver reliability.
7. 7L HEMI
After decades of muscle car darkness, the clouds parted in 2003 when Chrysler resurrected the HEMI name with this modern marvel.
The 5.7L brought back not just the legendary name but the spirit of Mopar performance.
Featuring aluminum heads, electronic fuel injection, and variable valve timing, this wasn’t your grandpa’s HEMI! Yet it captured that old-school rumble while delivering 21st-century efficiency.
Thanks to its Multi-Displacement System, it could deactivate four cylinders when cruising. This engine sparked the second muscle car revolution we’re still enjoying today.
8. 1L HEMI
Chrysler’s SRT division wasn’t satisfied with the 5.7L HEMI’s already impressive performance. Their answer?
Bore it out, strengthen everything, and create the hand-built 6.1L beast that powered the first modern SRT8 vehicles.
Forged pistons, strengthened connecting rods, and a high-flow intake system helped this naturally-aspirated monster pump out 425 horsepower—exactly matching the legendary 426 HEMI’s official rating.
Unlike its ancestor, this power plant didn’t require constant maintenance and could easily handle daily driving while still dominating weekend track days.
9. 2L Supercharged HEMI
Absolute madness in mechanical form! When Dodge unleashed the Hellcat in 2015, its supercharged 6.2L HEMI changed the performance landscape forever.
Producing a mind-bending 707 horsepower (later 717), it made supercar numbers accessible to the masses.
The IHI supercharger whining atop this motor became the soundtrack for a new generation of speed freaks.
Engineers had to strengthen everything—from the block to the connecting rods—to handle the massive power.
With launch control and modern electronics, this engine could propel family sedans to 200+ mph while still being warranty-backed!
10. 4L HEMI (392)
Reviving the iconic “392” displacement from the 1950s, this naturally-aspirated 6.4L HEMI hit the sweet spot between everyday usability and face-melting performance.
SRT engineers created perhaps the most well-rounded Mopar muscle car engine ever.
Churning out 485 horsepower without forced induction, the 392 delivers immediate throttle response and a linear power curve that makes it incredibly satisfying to drive.
Its distinctive exhaust note—a deep, thunderous rumble—turns heads even before people see the car.
For many enthusiasts, this represents the perfect balance of modern technology and old-school muscle.