5 of the best crate engines under $10,000

The engine crate market is not for the faint of heart. It’s a place where excitement, power and mechanical intricacy converge to allow car geeks to transform an empty engine bay into something special. While everyone knows that the engine is the heart of every build, knowing what to choose, how to build it, and how much to pay for it are three very difficult questions. Equally important is being aware of what comes with a crate engine, as not all configurations are comparably generous.

Some are turnkey options almost operational right out of the box. Others are long blocks that usually come with the block, crankshaft, pistons, rods, cylinder heads and camshaft. Short-block packages are the least complete, usually just the block, crank, and pistons. Under $10,000, there are actually a lot of options. To maximize power per dollar, durability, and easy shifting, here are five of the best crate engines under $10,000.

Read more: 5 Tips to Know Before Buying a Used JDM Engine

Chevy LS3 6.2L (long block)

When it comes to industry standards, Chevy’s LS3 6.2L is a household name. Available in cars like the 2008 to 2013 Corvette, the 2009 to 2015 Camaro and the 2015 to 2017 Australian Holden SS, it’s a tried and tested engine that has long been a popular choice among builders. At 6.2 liters of displacement, it’s a bit beefier than the 5.7 liter small block 350. This gives it 430 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque.

When looking at EPA estimates, the 2009 Corvette LS3 6.2L is also capable of returning 19 MPG—quite a feat for such a performance-oriented engine. What makes GM’s LS3 so special is the square-port cylinder heads and an aluminum block that saves about a hundred pounds compared to a traditional iron block. Plus, its race-bred DNA and incredible aftermarket support allow owners to push these engines up to 1,000 horsepower.

Even though it uses an aluminum block, the LS3 is also a durable and street-friendly engine. For a long-block setup, an LS3 can be had for around $7,000 – $10,000, while a fully assembled engine is likely to be closer to $13,000. If you need more convincing, GM Authority reported that even GM Performance reps said the LS3 is one of GM’s most popular crate engines ever.

Dodge 6.2 Hellcat HEMI (long block)

If you want the most horsepower for your money, the 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat is a strong contender. With a displacement of 6.2 liters, 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque from the factory, the Hellcat is known for delivering consistent torque throughout the range, peaking at 4,800 RPM. According to Stellantis, “Development teams conducted nearly 2 million customer-equivalent hours of dyno testing on the supercharged HEMI V-8 to ensure quality and long-term performance.”

Although the Hellcat is just shy of being one of the five most powerful Dodge Crate engines ever built, it undercuts even the least expensive engine (its Hellcrate 6.2L sibling) on ​​this list by quite a margin. Now, 10 years after the Hellcat was introduced, the aftermarket scene has also caught up, meaning that even heavy hitters like Hennessey have plenty of goodies available to push the Hellcat’s already formidable power to absurd levels.

For peak power, the 6.2-liter Hellcat has even been pushed up to 1,500 horsepower, and for a price between $9,000 and $10,500, it’s one of the best power-oriented contenders on this list. When it came out, Car and Driver noted that the Hellcat’s 6.2-liter V8 “is the most powerful engine ever sold to customers for road use by any American manufacturer,” and the fact that you can almost afford one of these for under $10,000 is special indeed.

Ford Coyote 5.0 (long block)

It’s hard to talk about American V8 power without mentioning the Ford 5.0 Coyote. First introduced with the 2011 Ford Mustang GT, the 5.0L offers between 412 and 500 horsepower and between 390 and 418 lb-ft of torque. The new 5.0 is also characterized by a high-revving racing pedigree (7,500 RPM redline) that isn’t as agricultural as other, more traditional muscle car engines.

Featuring an aluminum block that keeps weight down, this engine also benefits from variable cam timing that responds very well to tuning. With aftermarket support that not many engines on this list can match, the Coyote can be pushed past 1,000 horsepower, as HotRod puts it – the “New Normal” for the Coyote. Directly from Ford, you can pick up the 500-horsepower 5.0-liter Dark Horse Coyote for $7,500.

I’ve argued that the Ford 5.0 Coyote is one of the best V8s of all time because its high-revving dual cams, huge tuning potential, incredible versatility (a Mustang and an F-150 truck), and aftermarket affordability are all top notch. With four generations already on the market, the 5.0L Coyote has built a legacy that has left an undeniable mark on the world of American performance engines.

Ford Windsor (Roush) 427 V8 (long block)

If the Coyote’s 7,500 rpm rev range is a little too high and you want a classic V8 race car feel, the Ford 427 7L V8 is the perfect alternative. The big block 427 took racing by storm, dominating Le Mans between 1966 and 1967, but also winning props in NASCAR and countless national drag racing strips. When it comes to absolutely ridiculous power and tuning wizardry, the 427 has even been pushed to 2,500 horsepower.

While finding one under $10,000 is a challenge, modern Roush Windsor renditions can be had for under $10,000 for a long-block version, while a modern Ford rendition sells the long-block for $12,000. From a specification perspective, these engines are capable of delivering 510 horsepower and 515 lb-ft of torque. A big advantage of these engines is that they are designed with forged aluminum pistons, steel H-beam rods, and a forged steel crankshaft, all while maintaining the traditional pushrod architecture.

Chevy 5.3 LS V8 (long block)

Since value is an important aspect of this list, we also have to mention Chevy’s 5.3L LS V8—a long-box engine you can pick up for under $4,000. We’ve also placed the 5.3L Crate LS V8 number one on our list of the cheapest V8s you can buy, but keep in mind that the most affordable models will be remanufactured models, not complete rebuilds. With 450 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, it’s the cheapest dollar-per-horsepower package out there.

OEM GM rods ensure durability, a GM crankshaft handles finesse, and aluminum heads save weight. Since the aftermarket support for this engine is also very strong, they can be pushed over 700 horsepower. The LS 5.3 is also known as the Vortec 5300 (truck variant), meaning it was available in vehicles like the Silverado, Sierra, Yukon and Escalade. The 5.3 LS fits most cars that accept small-block LS engines, as most mounts and exterior dimensions are similar across the range.

How we selected the engines for this list

To compile the list, we reviewed manufacturer specifications, consulted online resources, checked prices from sources such as Jegs, Summit Racing, Texas Speed, Modern Muscle Extreme, Pro Touring Store, Mopar Lion Parts, Roush, Ford and GM Performance Motors. We considered engine power, durability, ease of change and aftermarket support. Availability, popularity and online documentation were also considered.

It’s difficult to pick just five crate engines under $10,000 and call them the “best value” in any category. Engines are complex and individual experiences will always be different. This is why we wanted our value-oriented list to focus on different priorities and factors. We’ve included well-known engines with strong aftermarket support, tons of online resources, and thousands of enthusiasts who share the passion for building engines.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.