Best 5.7L HEMI Power Upgrades for Challenger & Charger

The best 5.7L HEMI power upgrades for the 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger and Charger R/T turn a solid 370-375 horsepower cruiser into a genuine street bruiser — and the single biggest jump comes from forced induction. A stock 5.7L HEMI leaves plenty of power on the table, and depending on your budget you can add anywhere from 15 rear-wheel horsepower with a bolt-on intake to more than 150 rwhp with a supercharger. In this roundup we rank five upgrades our Tampa shop installs on 5.7L Challenger and Charger R/T cars, from the Edelbrock E-Force supercharger down to the parts that make the smaller mods breathe.

How We Ranked the Best 5.7L HEMI Power Upgrades

The 5.7L Gen III HEMI in the 2015-2018 Challenger R/T and Charger R/T leaves the factory rated at 370-375 horsepower and 395-410 lb-ft of torque. That equals roughly 300-320 horsepower at the rear wheels once you account for drivetrain loss. Every upgrade below is ranked on three things: real, dyno-verified power gain, installation difficulty, and value for the money. We prioritized parts that fit the 5.7L R/T specifically — not the 6.4L 392 or 6.2L supercharged Hellcat — and that we can source and support directly from NLP Performance in Tampa, FL.

Here is how the five picks stack up at a glance. Forced induction sits at the top for raw output, while intake and exhaust deliver the best cost-per-horsepower for owners who want a bolt-on Saturday project.

Why the 5.7L HEMI Is a Great Boost Platform

The 5.7L Gen III "Eagle" HEMI is one of the most boost-friendly V8s in the muscle-car world, which is exactly why a supercharger returns such a large, reliable gain. Unlike many modern engines, the 345-cubic-inch HEMI uses a strong cast-iron block with aluminum cylinder heads, and its 10.5:1 compression ratio still leaves room for a low-pressure roots-style blower on pump gas. Edelbrock's E-Force calibration is tuned around roughly 8 psi of boost so it can make 483 rwhp on the factory bottom end — no forged internals required for the street kit.

That headroom is why we always recommend building airflow first. A freer-flowing intake and exhaust reduce pumping losses on a naturally-aspirated 5.7L and continue to help once boost is added, so nothing you buy on the way to a supercharger goes to waste. The one caveat: every power adder here raises cylinder pressure and heat, so quality fuel, a proper tune, and charge-cooling support (like water-methanol) are what keep a modified HEMI living a long life.

1. Edelbrock E-Force 2650 Supercharger — Best Overall Power

The Edelbrock E-Force 2650 TVS Supercharger is the most powerful single upgrade you can bolt onto a 5.7L HEMI, producing 483 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels. That is roughly 150 rear-wheel horsepower over a stock 5.7L Challenger or Charger R/T. Edelbrock's system (part #1517) is built around the Eaton Gen VI R2650 TVS rotor assembly with a four-lobe design and 170 degrees of twist for maximum airflow with minimal heat rise, and it uses Edelbrock's patented DP-3C dual-pass intercooler to keep charge temperatures low on pump gas.

Crucially, the whole system is engineered to fit under the factory hood and retain daily-driver manners thanks to an integrated bypass valve that eliminates parasitic loss under light throttle. This is not a race-only kit — it is designed to make big, repeatable power while your Challenger still starts, idles, and cruises like it did from the factory.

2. Nitrous Express Dodge HEMI Plate Kit — Most Power Per Dollar

The Nitrous Express Dodge HEMI Plate Kit is the cheapest way to add serious, on-demand horsepower to a 5.7L HEMI, adjustable from 50 to 400 horsepower through supplied jetting. A billet spray plate bolts between the throttle body and intake manifold, fitting all HEMI intakes, so the install is clean and reversible. The kit ships as a single-stage system with a 10-pound bottle and ProPower Lightning solenoids, and the plate is pre-machined for a second set of nitrous and fuel passages so you can later upgrade to a dual-stage setup with part #NX933D.

For a Challenger or Charger R/T owner who wants a knockout punch at the track without a five-figure investment, nitrous is unmatched on cost-per-horsepower. The trade-off is that power only exists while the bottle is flowing, and larger jetting demands fuel-system and tuning support to stay safe.

3. Borla ATAK Cat-Back Exhaust — Best Sound and Bolt-On Flow

The Borla ATAK cat-back is the loudest, most aggressive exhaust in Borla's lineup and the best way to unlock the 5.7L HEMI's signature bark while freeing up 15-20 horsepower. ATAK (Acoustically-Tuned Applied Kinetics) uses Borla's patented multi-core technology to increase exhaust velocity, which adds power and that distinctive Sound of Power at wide-open throttle without an obnoxious drone at cruise. It is built from aerospace-grade T-304 stainless steel and backed by Borla's Million-Mile Warranty.

This specific kit (part #140714) is designed for 2016-2017 Challenger R/T 5.7L cars with MDS valves and is a straight bolt-on that reuses the factory hangers. Pair it with a cold-air intake and you have the classic 5.7L R/T sound-and-breathe package.

4. aFe Magnum FORCE Stage-2 Intake — Best Budget Bolt-On

The aFe Magnum FORCE Stage-2 Pro 5R intake is the best value on this list, delivering dyno-proven gains of up to 17 horsepower and 17 lb-ft of torque while outflowing the restrictive factory airbox by 40 percent. This carbon-fiber version (part #54-12162-C) pairs a dyno-tuned, twill-weave carbon intake tube with a massive 8-inch tall Pro 5R oiled cotton-gauze filter that is 98.6 percent efficient, all sealed inside a one-piece powder-coated heat shield that blocks hot engine-bay air.

It is a true no-cut, no-drill bolt-on that installs in under an hour with hand tools, fitting 2011-2017 Challenger and Charger 5.7L HEMI cars. For the money, no other single mod adds this much airflow, throttle response, and induction sound.

5. Snow Performance Stage 2 Boost Cooler — Best Supporting Mod

The Snow Performance Stage 2 Boost Cooler is a water-methanol injection kit engineered specifically for forced-induction Challenger and Charger models, and it is the smartest way to protect a supercharged or nitrous 5.7L HEMI. Injecting a water-methanol mix raises effective pump-gas octane by roughly 25 points, which lets you run more timing and boost while keeping intake charge temperatures and detonation in check. The kit includes a custom throttle-body spacer plate, braided stainless line, and 4AN fittings for a clean, reliable install.

On its own this kit is not a power adder, but on a boosted build it is the difference between a safe, consistent tune and a car that pulls timing on a hot day. If you buy the E-Force supercharger above, budget for this at the same time.

How to Stack These 5.7L HEMI Mods

If you are building a naturally-aspirated 5.7L R/T, start with the airflow basics: a cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust together add roughly 30-35 horsepower, dramatically improve sound, and cost around $3,000 combined. Add a custom tune and you will have a noticeably quicker street car for a fraction of a supercharger's price.

When you are ready for real power, the Edelbrock E-Force supercharger is the endgame for the 5.7L, and the intake and exhaust you already installed become supporting mods that help it breathe. Add the Snow Performance water-methanol kit to keep charge temps safe, and upgrade the fuel system as your tuner recommends. Own a 6.4L 392 instead? Edelbrock offers a dedicated Stage 1 kit that makes 572 rwhp on that engine — a different part number, but the same proven E-Force platform.