If you want to build a classic car with a modern engine, there are plenty of crate motors to choose from. Most car builders opt for a Chevy LS motor because they are affordable and easy to work on but Dodge has a few interesting options as well. For around $20,000, Dodge will sell you its Hellcrate with 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque from a 6.2-liter supercharged V8. If that isn't enough for you, Dodge arrived at last year's SEMA show with its Hellephant engine producing 1,000 hp and 950 lb-ft of torque.

To celebrate HEMI Day (4/26), Dodge has now announced pre-orders for its 426 cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Hellephant crate motor. Since showing the engine at SEMA, Dodge says it has around 1,000 customers interesting in buying one.

"The reaction when we revealed the 'Hellephant' engine at the SEMA Show was just amazing, and the momentum continued after the show, with close to 1,000 people expressing interest in buying this engine," said Steve Beahm, Head of Parts & Service (Mopar) and Passenger Car Brands, FCA North America. "Power and performance are ingrained in our brand's DNA, and there is no better time to open pre-orders of this 1,000-horsepower, supercharged engine than on HEMI Day."

Dodge has priced the Hellephant engine at $29,995 with the "Hellephant" engine kit adding easy plug-and-play for an additional $2,265. Now, enthusiastic builders will be able to stuff 1,000 hp into their pre-1976 project cars.

The engine assembly itself includes a water pump, flywheel, front sump oil pan, supercharger with throttle body, fuel injectors and coil packs while the engine kit adds a powertrain control module, power distribution center, engine wiring harness, chassis harness, accelerator pedal, ground jumper, oxygen sensors, charge air temperature sensors, fuel pump control module, and CAN bus interface device.

$30,000 isn't cheap for a crate motor, especially considering the less powerful Hellcrate is around $10,000 less. Chevy hasn't put a price on its 755-hp LT5 crate engine but Honda will sell you a 306-hp Civic Type R motor for just $6,500. But hey, that's the price you pay for 1,000 hp.