Crate engines have been popular for a long time because of their all-in-one convenience, but they do come with a few trade-offs. A good crate kit can be quite expensive, and it is also an all-or-nothing deal. While you can shop around for different crate builds, you ultimately have to take the choices that the engine’s designer made for you. That being said, a good short block engine kit can be a huge benefit for the right driver.
Crates vs. Custom-Built
The alternative to a crate kit is a custom engine build or rebuild. If you go with a custom-built engine instead of rebuilding what you have, you can basically design the engine you want in terms of cylinder size and arrangement, cam shaft size, and so on. This lets you upgrade your engine power significantly over a rebuild. That means the most comparable options are a custom build where you source the parts and machining or a crate engine that arrives ready to install.
Sourcing Parts
The block is often the hardest part to find, and custom engines require you to start with an existing block that you recondition. The cost for a block depends a lot on the condition it’s in, but so does the cost of reconditioning. If you are in a position to do the resurfacing and other machine work yourself, this is a point where you could realize some savings. Other engine parts work the same way, but apart from the block sourcing them tends to be easier.
Cleaning and Reconditioning Costs
The more you rely on shopping for original parts instead of buying machine-from-scratch replacements, the more you need to consider the costs of making your parts usable. Crate kits often look more expensive up front, but they are an out the door price. When you choose the greater control of a custom engine you put together from sourced parts, you also choose the variability in costs that comes with reconditioning key components to a like new condition. For many builds, the crate winds up being less expensive because of this.
Time To Source Parts
Apart from the monetary costs, you need to consider the time spent on the project as a cost as well. Chevy crate engines require a lot less time spent sourcing parts, waiting for reconditioning, and assembling an engine. You just have to order what you need and dedicate time to the installation and break-in process. If you can use that extra time to make money on client cars or other projects, you might wind up ahead by doing so instead of putting the extra time in. The other side of that is that a little extra time might be well worth it to have the engine design you put together for yourself. Just be realistic about why you’re making the choice.
Which Is Right for You?
If you’re mostly concerned with getting the right gains in terms of power and torque output, you can probably go with a crate kit and wind up happy. Only the most obsessive build-oriented gearheads really need to go through the extra work and expenses that come with a custom engine. Keep that in mind as you make your choice, and don’t forget to add in the extras that support your new engine’s performance, like an electric exhaust cutout for faster airflow during competitions.