Crate engine
Encyclopedia
An automobile engine replacement is an engine
or a major part of one that is sold individually without any other parts required to make a functional car (for example a drivetrain
). These engines are produced either as aftermarket
parts or as reproductions of an engine that has gone out of production.
muscle cars that have the legendary 426 Hemi installed into them).
Aftermarket engines are used in many forms of motorsport
. Some late model
racecar series use "crate motors" which are made by independent firms. This ensures that drivers all have similarly powered racecars.
, or in stronger alloys. Often they imitate the larger available displacements that were produced in small numbers or allow for displacements never available.
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
or a major part of one that is sold individually without any other parts required to make a functional car (for example a drivetrain
Powertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
). These engines are produced either as aftermarket
Aftermarket (automotive)
The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, equipment and accessories for light and heavy vehicles, after the sale of the...
parts or as reproductions of an engine that has gone out of production.
Use
Replacement engines can be used for many purposes, but mainly they are used to replace classic car engines that are in bad condition/broken, or to install a more powerful engine in a vehicle. Replacement engines are also often used to make an old car more reliable for daily use. Classic car hobbyists may also install reproductions of a rare powerplant in a classic car (this is most often seen in MoparMopar
Mopar is the automobile parts and service arm of Chrysler Group LLC. The term was first used by Chrysler in the 1920s and has been in continuous use ever since. Mopar parts are original equipment manufactured parts for Chrysler vehicles...
muscle cars that have the legendary 426 Hemi installed into them).
Aftermarket engines are used in many forms of motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
. Some late model
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
racecar series use "crate motors" which are made by independent firms. This ensures that drivers all have similarly powered racecars.
Replacement blocks
New castings of some engines are sometimes produced by independent companies. These blocks commonly replace rare or popular designs for aftermarket rebuilding, especially when the original is no longer produced. They are sometimes available in aluminum instead of original ironIron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, or in stronger alloys. Often they imitate the larger available displacements that were produced in small numbers or allow for displacements never available.
Terminology
- short blockShort blockShort block is an automotive term describing an engine sub-assembly.A short block is the portion of the engine block below the head gasket but above the oil pan. An in-block cam engine will also include the camshaft and timing gear. The overhead cam style of engine will not include the...
- everything between the cylinder head and the oil pan (excluding those items). - long blockLong blockLong block is an automotive term describing an engine sub-assembly consisting of the following:* Short block. The long block is always a superset of the corresponding short block....
- a short block, with mounted and gasketed cylinder head, valves and camshaft. - crate engine - often more than a long block, including intake manifold, and carburetor or fuel injection system, and perhaps an alternator.