Small Block Crate Engines

OE manufacturers have always been involved in the performance aftermarket, and today a lot of that involvement centers around producing crate engines, which is smart, considering that so many hot rodders take the easy route in car-building, purchasing a ready-to-run crate engine instead of going through thhe effort of building one themselves.

When we learned that all three OEs had brand-new small-block crate engines, each one supposedly making more than 500 hp and all from totally different schools of thought, we had to investigate and find out what the deal was.

On the plate is a 331 small-block Ford-a little brute built for the pleasures of high-rpm enjoyment. The 440 Mopar small-block (you read that right) is a traditionalist, built to put the torque of cubes into play where a less-endowed 318 or 360 engine would normally be found. Our LSX-based 427 Chevy highlights the awesome potential of a modern engine platform as a substitute for old-school power. While the differences between these engine concepts far outweigh their mechanical similarity, they all share their respective manufacturer's ambition to deliver power to performance-minded people like you and me.

Ford's 331ci Boss Crate Engine
"There's no substitute for cubic inches" is a well-worn expression that's been shouted for years. Well, excuse us for the newsflash, but there are a few substitutes, and on that list is the magic of rpm. In a normally aspirated engine, torque potential falls in a fairly narrow range dependent upon cubic inches. However, horsepower is a factor of two components: torque and rpm. Place torque up the rev range and horsepower will be harvested in abundance- and you'll have no end of fun reaping the benefits.

Nothing is as visceral as an engine that keeps on coming as the tach climbs, making more and more steam as the revs fly up the scale. Some numbers here prove the point. Three hundred eighty six and and a half lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm delivers 383 hp, while the same torque at 6,200 rpm dishes up 456 ponies. Kick 386.5 lb-ft of torque out at 7,200 rpm, and you're on the receiving end of 530 hp, the power output we found with this wicked little Ford Windsor crate engine. See how it works?

Dyno testing was through a set of Hooker Super Comp 131/44-Inch head ers and Hooker Max-Flow Mufflers.

We were very impressed by Ford's Boss 331 Crate engine combination. What's not to like about a screaming high-rpm combo that makes 530 hp at 7,200 rpm? Ford nailed it all around with this one, the perfect balance of head, cam, valvetrain, and compression for big power from modest inches.