Picking up where we left off last month, here is the remainder of potent powerplants neatly packaged in a crate. Crate engines have, for some time, fascinated rodders, and why not-they provide immediate power, looks, and a warranty.
Crate motors come in all makes and cubes, as well as drivability. Many of the crate engine packages offer it all for the rodder who wants to save time (and most likely money). Peace of mind comes with knowing the individual who screwed together your motor has the technical expertise and accessibility to parts we mere commoners can only wish for.
Now, sit back, look around, and figure out which one best suites your need for power, looks, and drivability.
Cadillac Performance Parts
When it comes to vintage engines and hot rods, there is nothing like the Cadillac name. Cadillac Performance Parts (Potter Automotives) has it all in the 500-inch Caddy motor. The company offers a complete line of performance parts for these monsters and in turn these Caddys start with a basic 500hp, 600 lb-ft-torque crate engine. They come with H-beam rods, forged pistons, a custom COMP cam, CNC five-axis ported heads, and a full-shaft roller rocker system. The cam is mild, designed specifically for the 2115 Edelbrock intake, idles at 850 rpm, and pulls 16-plus inches of vacuum, which will still give you all the power brakes you ever need.
The power curve looks like a flat-lined emergency room patient and pulls more than 500 lb-ft from about 2,400 on through its 5,000-rpm test line. Cadillac Performance Parts has high-port aluminum heads, blower kits, and all.
Cadillac Performance Parts
(Potter Automotive)
423-332-7636
www.cadillacperformanceparts.com
Roush Performance Products
There are few names in the world of performance that carry the swagger of Roush Performance Products. Knowing this, we would be remiss if we didn't present several wild and wooly street rod motors from the Roush stables.
With 475 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, this is the premium engine with the maximum displacement, horsepower, and torque for a 5.0L (302)-based engine. Utilizing a Dart Sportsman block, forged components, and fully CNC-ported heads, this engine delivers power and durability running on premium pump fuel.
As the flagship of the Roush 5.0L engines, it only makes sense that Roush's exclusive eight-stack induction system was utilized. Though it might look like a Weber, this fuel-injected system includes the Roush-engineered calibration and exclusive intake manifold design.
There are four variations of the Roush 427, such as the 560hp, 540 lb-ft-torque Roush 427IR, and each comes with the same combination of a "Weber Style" eight-stack fuel injection induction system utilizing Roush-engineered calibration. All Roush engines come complete with everything from the air cleaner to the oil pan, including front-end accessories such as the flywheel.
The obvious choice for the Roush exclusive eight-stack induction system is this Mac Daddy engine at 600 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque. The FE was first introduced in the '60s in NASCAR competition. Roush has taken this older big-block design and used modern technology. With five versions of the Roush FE available, each is built off Shelby aluminum blocks. With forged components and fully CNC-ported heads, this engine delivers power and durability running on premium pump fuel.
Every Roush engine is hot-tested and shipped with a dyno sheet. A two-year/ 24,000-mile warranty is standard on all Roush engines.
Roush Performance Products
800-59-ROUSH
www.roushperformance.com
Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center
For the rodder who just has to have something different, how about the 440 El Toro Grande? The team at Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center brings you the new Big Bull, also known as the El Toro Grande series of LS short-blocks. This new-generation small-block Chevrolet guarantees you the highest standards in performance, technology, and durability. The company's new 4.100-inch stroke Callies crankshaft provides the maximum stroke for piston durability and ring land integrity. The 4.127-inch bore LS7 aluminum block is fitted with Manley custom-forged flat top pistons attached to SCAT H-beam 6.125-inch rods using HD Tool steel wrist pins. The cylinders are sealed up using a custom SDPC/Total Seal HP ring package. Sold as a short-block, the El Toro Grande can be completed in-house with your choice of heads, camshaft, intake, and even custom fuel-injection systems.
Maybe the El Toro is a tad much for you-how about proven horsepower, reliability, and drivability in the SDPC 350-inch Ram Jet? Named after the original fuelie of the '50s, this injected crate engine gives you all of the benefits of modern technology with nostalgic styling. This 9.4:1-compression, 350hp, and 400 lb-ft engine is equipped with a hydraulic roller camshaft and full roller 1.6 ratio rocker arms for maximum high-tech performance. Fuel is delivered through a state-of-the-art injection system and controlled by the MEFI controller, providing great cold starts, exceptional throttle response, power, and drivability. The Ram Jet 350 comes complete with wiring harness, MEFI controller, and detailed instructions.
Just couldn't relax, could you? You want it all and you want it in a small-block design. Scoggin-Dickey offers an EFI ZZ383 that pumps out 425 hp. Yep, 383 inches of fuel-injected small-block Chevy called the 383 Fuel Injected Street Warrior.
The ZZ383EFI engine is based on the street-friendly, 425hp ZZ383 GM Performance Parts crate engine and topped with a high-tech ACCEL Super Ram fuel-injection system and Gen VII controller with wide-band O2 sensor technology.
Inside, 4340 nitrided and induction-hardened crank and unique forged PM rods hold up the 9.7:1 compression ratio pistons to ensure the ZZ383EFI is 92-octane pump-gas friendly. A stout .509/.528 lift steel camshaft with 222/230 duration at .050 lift, hydraulic roller lifters, and GM's time-tested 1.5:1 roller rocker arms control the valves in the high-flowing aluminum Fast Burn heads.
It's shipped as a turnkey engine with water pump, harmonic balancer, flexplate, ACCEL Dual Sync distributor, MSD plug wires, AC Delco spark plugs, MSD ignition box, MSD Blaster 2 coil, ACCEL fuel pump, and fuel filter.
Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center
800-456-0211
www.sdparts.com
Shadow Rods/Motor City Flatheads
The Flathead may be the oldest of the V-8s in this article, but it doesn't suffer any lack of advancement in technology, as Shadow Rods/Motor City Flatheads' version of a crate motor (aka long-block) is an aluminum block. It features screwed-in sleeves, permanent valve guides that are pressed in, and hardened seats. The bore is 3 1/2, with a stroke of 4 3/8, which equals 100 cubes more than a stock Flathead, increasing the size from 239 to 339. Center main is four-bolt, really heavy-duty, and has modern lip seals. Connecting rods are 4340 steel billet and the pistons are forged, with a state-of-the-art ring pack. This assembly is fully balanced.
The camshaft is 8620 billet with 1.200 mushroom adjustable tappets, an all-new design made to deliver more area under the curve than ever before. Ports, valve size, bowls, and relief were all developed on the flow bench. Timing gears are straight cut, and head studs are tied into the middle of the block to eliminate upper bore distortion.
The new head gaskets are MLS (multi-layer steel), the same as today's OEMs use. Heads are torqued and ready to go with a choice of Motor City finned or plain, no-name fins.
Shadow Rods/Motor City Flatheads
989-754-1927
www.shadowrods.com