6 Of The Most Powerful Crate Engines You Can Buy Ranked By HP

The Story

Crate engines have gone into the stratosphere, offering north of 2,000 horsepower in some cases, but only if you.

Chevrolet Performance/YouTube Add Jalopnik on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover As Jeremy Clarkson once said, “I think if you take a car’s engine away, you’ve taken away its soul.” If you’re a car-obsessed human with an internet connection, you’ve probably also heard the ex-Top Gear and Grand Tour host scream “speed and power” countless times, or proclaim that power and speed solve every problem.

Whether it’s a project car or a custom hot rod, if you’re in the midst of solving your power problems, chances are the idea of a crate engine has crossed your mind. There are some “wallet-friendly” crate engines that offer serious horsepower for your money, but what if you have no budget constraints and max horsepower is your only concern?.

If that is the case, here are six of the most powerful crate engines that money can buy, ranked from least to most output. We’ll kick things off with factory engines and then work our way toward some of the wildest custom crate setups that, when fully optioned, cost nearly as much as a mid-spec Corvette Grand Sport X.

Chevrolet Performance/YouTube You’re probably already familiar with the wide range of crate engines that Chevy sells. Sitting among the top dogs in the hierarchy is what Chevy calls its largest and most powerful big-block: the ZZ632, or, more specifically, the ZZ632/1000 Deluxe.

Displacing 632 cubic inches (or approximately 10.4 liters), the naturally aspirated V8 engine puts out up to 1,004 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 876 pound-feet of torque at 5,600 rpm on premium gasoline. Hot Rod, however, has seen the engine make a bit more than the advertised number in testing, but Chevy requested that the exact number wasn’t released. What we do know is that the 632 big block is not cheap. It will set you back nearly $35,000 these days, according to Gandrud Chevrolet, an authorized dealer of Chevrolet Performance Parts.

The engine runs a 12:1 compression ratio and features an aluminum intake manifold with a 4500-style throttle body, forged aluminum pistons, and a billet steel camshaft with forged aluminum rocker arms. A forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods are also part of the package, as are aluminum cylinder heads. GM Performance recommends you run it using 93 octane (sorry, Californians).

Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center/YouTube For a few thousand less than the ZZ632, you get Direct Connection’s Hellephant C170. This near-$33k engine is the same 6.2-liter Supercharged Hemi you’ll find in the Challenger Demon 170, which means output stands at 1,025 hp at 6,500 rpm and 945 lb-ft at 4,200 rpm on E85 fuel. Worth noting, however, is that the C170 still manages 900 hp and 810 lb-ft even if you pour in pump gas.

Part of the Gen III Hemi V8 family, the C170 builds upon prior supercharged Hemi engines. It uses the same cast-iron block, a 3.0-liter IHI supercharger takes center stage with upgraded cooling, and a 105-mm throttle body for increased airflow. While a forged crankshaft, pistons, and powder-forged connecting rods were already part of the supercharged 6.2-liter family of engines, the C170 takes things further with upgraded pistons, con rods, cylinder heads, and a host of other hardware changes to handle the added load.

Wegner Automotive/YouTube Even though Wegner Automotive has several 1,000-hp-plus street engines, the standout is probably the 427 cu. In. Supercharged LSX, capable of producing over 1,200 hp and 1,100 lb-ft. The V8 powerhouse uses GM’s LSX Bowtie iron block with a Gen VI 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger sitting atop the engine.

As you’d imagine, forged pistons, rods, and crank are all part of the package. A 112 mm Nick Williams drive-by-wire throttle body should grab your attention, as should the use of stainless steel and Inconel for the intake and exhaust valves, respectively. Wegner adds their own custom roller cams and ported six-bolt LSX heads into the mix, as well as ARP head studs and heavy-duty pushrods. Optionally, however, you can choose multiple pulley sizes to change boost, delete air conditioning and/or power steering, or swap to Dart’s LS Next aluminum block.

All Wegner engines are custom-built to order, and this supercharged 427 is no different, with complete engine packages starting at $37,600. It’s also worth noting that the Wisconsin-based outfit makes race and sandrail crate engines, too, which provide similarly impressive power.

Tonys Car Parts/YouTube If you’re a Mopar fan and found the Hellephant C170 not enough — for whatever reason — this Direct Connection collab with DSR Performance may tickle your fancy. The engine, which is a stroked version of the 392 cu. In. Or 6.4-liter BGE (Big Gas Engine), belts out 1,500 hp and over 1,000 lb-ft.

Why It Matters

Nelson Racing Engines NRE’s marketing pitch goes something like this: When professional car builders and enthusiasts want extreme horsepower without sacrificing drivability, Nelson Racing Engines (NRE) is who they call.

CarMotion Daily’s Take

If that is the case, here are six of the most powerful crate engines that money can buy, ranked from least to most output. The detail bears tracking. Supply chains, regulations, and consumer demand are reshaping the playbook faster than five-year plans can keep up. Dealer networks and service capacity will need to evolve alongside whatever the headline announcement implies. Regulatory filings, supplier contracts, and any production-volume adjustments usually trail the headline by a quarter or two. Stock price moves and dealer council chatter are leading indicators worth monitoring.