Chevy Crate Motor

Choosing a Chevy crate motor is an easy way to bolt in the power you need to keep your street rod cooking. Why take chances assembling parts piecemeal from different distributors and manufacturers when a GM crate engine packs everything into one ready-made block? All you need to do is drop your crate under the front hood and you're ready to wake the neighbors.

Well, it's actually not quite that simple. You may need to supplement your crate motor with your own carburetor, wires, and accessory drive before peeling out of your driveway. But most Chevy crate motor retailers also offer an array of parts to choose from, specifically so do-it-yourselfers can customize their own engines.

Different Kinds of Chevy Crate Motor

For a reasonable sum, you can buy a Chevy engine with a sturdy iron crankshaft, steel connecting rods, and cast aluminum pistons, all of which guarantee its overall durability. The 330 horses you require are still there, as is the necessary torque (provided you're not street racing), and all for a couple of thousand dollars--a modest amount in the world of classic car restoration. Then again, you may need something bigger and more powerful.

For a custom engine that growls and provides you with a bit more oomph, try the Fast Burn 385 instead. You'll pay significantly more--up to twice the price of a 350 HO--but you'll immediately feel the difference that the ZZ4 short block delivers. There are more and more factory-sealed crate engines on up the line depending on how much you're willing to invest and what level of performance you demand from your engine. No matter which you choose, however, you won't have to worry about missing or defective parts, which can be a huge relief.