Most enthusiasts like to do things for themselves, but when it comes to major driveline components in our cars-like the engine, transmission, and differential, it takes special tools, knowledge, and skills to perform the work correctly. Of the major components in your Mopar, none is more important than the engine, and we all like the sound of a powerful V-8 with a choppy idle rumbling through the dual exhaust. But while some of us prefer to build the engine ourselves, the fact is that most of us don't have the time, or specialty tools required, so we either pay someone else to build the engine for us, or purchase a crate engine that is already built.
Of the many reasons to buy a "crate" engine for your car rather than piecing one together or having the existing engine rebuilt, convenience is definitely at the top of the list. It's really nice to be able to pick up the phone, and then days later have a complete, dyno tested engine at the door of your garage ready to install. And though the shipping can be a little pricey for an item as big as an engine, shipping a crate engine by truck freight will certainly cost less than buying and shipping all of the individual pieces to your house to do it yourself. The greatest convenience, of course, is that you don't have to dedicate the time required to tear down, clean, inspect, and rebuild the engine yourself, which for most enthusiasts can take months or even years to accomplish.
Another advantage of purchasing a complete crate engine is price. Since most of the engine manufacturers who provide crate engines buy their parts in bulk, they get greater discounts on the parts and shipping, passing that savings on to you. Also, the builders of crate engines have spent considerable time refining their combinations, so it can be very difficult to beat the power of a crate engine for a similar price. Additionally, most crate engines are dyno tested or dyno testing is available as an option, so there's no doubt the engine will run well and be leak free when you install it in your Mopar.
Not all of us have the time, tools, or skills to build our own high-performance Mopar engine. Thankfully, there are plenty of powerful crate engines available for our cars.
Small Blocks
Indy Cylinder Head is known for building big cubic-inch powerhouses, but they also offer competitively priced crate engines as well, like the 360 and 408 cubic-inch Magnum crate engines. These engines are filled with high-quality new internals, and assembled by the professionals at Indy Cylinder Head. Competitively priced, these small-blocks are available in race and street versions with impressive power. As an example, the 408 street crate makes a whopping 450 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque on pump gas, and would really turn your Mopar into a street/strip terror.
Summit Racing offers a complete line of Mopar crate engines, like the popular 360 Magnum from Mopar Performance as well as larger displacement engines such the 408 cubic-inch engine from Blueprint Engines. All of the crate engines offered by Summit are balanced, blueprinted, and assembled with all new internals. It's still hard to beat the Mopar Performance 360 Magnum crate engine with 405 hp, but Blueprint Engines has competitive offerings as well with their 408-inch small-blocks making as much as 435 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.
Muscle Motors knows Mopar small-blocks, offering their "Killer Krate" engine at a very competitive price. This potent LA motor utilizes a fully prepped and machined 360 block that is combined with a 4-inch stroke crankshaft and forged internals, and is completely assembled by an experienced Muscle Motors engine builder. These engines utilize the same RHS/Indy cylinder heads featured in this year's engine challenge, making an impressive 440 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. Best of all, it bolts right in place of any Mopar small-block, for the ultimate sleeper.
Carolina Machine Engines offers several levels of small-block Mopar crate engines as well, from stock headed 318s all the way to 408 cubic-inch stroker small-blocks. The crew at Carolina Machine Engines is all about performance-having earned two NHRA world championships, and they offer complete crate engines as well as long- and short-block assemblies. Each crate engine is dyno tested to ensure the proper camshaft break-in, so all you have to do is drop the engine in your car and turn the key. Their 400hp aluminum headed 360 is priced right and would be a great addition for your Mopar.
Big-Blocks
Indy Cylinder head builds a wide variety of Mopar big-block crate engines, like the 500 cubic-inch street wedge shown here. This is a popular choice among big-block enthusiasts, offering aluminum cylinder heads, forged internals, and aftermarket oiling. All of the Indy crate Wedges are fully machined and assembled with new parts at the same shop Indy uses to build their powerful race engines, ensuring the highest quality. The Indy 500 cubic-inch street Wedge makes an impressive 630 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque, making it a great option for a powerful street or street/strip car.
The big-blocks offered by Carolina Machine Engines are designed to take advantage of the high torque capabilities of the Mopar V-8. Available in a variety of displacements and power ratings, CME Mopar big-blocks are designed to run on pump gas and are dyno tuned before being shipped to your door. Compared to the expense of building your own engine, these engines are reasonably priced and proven to make power.
Summit Racing Equipment can also provide a big-block for your ride, stocking a complete line of Mopar Performance crate engines. These engines are right from the source, Mopar, so you know they're built with the best parts and assembly techniques. Big-block crate engines from Summit Racing are available in a variety of sizes and power levels, so you'll undoubtedly find the right engine for your car in their catalog or website.
Big-block Mopar engines make low-end power, and the 500 cubic-inch "Killer Krate" big-block from Muscle Motors is no exception, making 550 hp and more than 600 lb-ft of tire-frying torque. Based on the 383, 400, or 440 block, the Killer Krate big-block is fully machined to race engine standards, and assembled professionally with forged internals and high-quality parts. The Killer Krate line is sold intake to oil pan, with additional accessories like the carb, distributor, etc. available as well. These engines can be dyno tuned at Muscle Motors' facility, and make a great addition to any Mopar that needs more power.
Hemi, Need We Say More?
We all really want a Hemi between the fenders of our Mopars, and Indy Cylinder Head offers a wide variety of Hemi crate motors. From the limited Goldberg edition to the 572 Street Legend, these engines are the epitome of performance and are built with forged internals and the best available components. Indy spends a lot of time researching their combinations, developing powerful engines, and proving them on their in-house dyno. One of our favorites, the 572 Street Legend, makes an impressive 776 hp and 720 lb-ft of torque on pump fuel. And if you need more power, Indy can provide it, building normally aspirated Hemi crate engines capable of well over 1,000 hp.
Summit Racing Equipment carries large inventory of Mopar Performance Hemi crate engines, in stock and ready to ship. These engines are built to exacting standards with all new parts and come completely assembled and ready to install in your car. And while there's really no way to go wrong if you're installing a Hemi in your car, a couple of our favorite crate Hemis from Summit are the 426 cubic-inch version, offering 465 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque, and the legendary 528, making 610 hp and 650 lb-ft of toque on pump gas. Either way, your Mopar will have no lack of power with a Hemi crate engine from Summit Racing.
Better Late Than Never
Just because you drive a late-model Mopar doesn't mean you're left out when it comes to crate engines. Since the Challengers, Chargers, Magnums, and 300s are so popular, the aftermarket is flush with crate engines for these cars. Arrington Engines, Indy Cylinder Head, and Summit Racing Equipment all carry modern-era Hemi crate motors, and the power these engines can make is nothing less than incredible. So if you want more power from your late-model, be sure to contact one of these companies to discuss your needs.
