Crate Motor

A crate motor is a complete, fully assembled engine that comes ready to install in a race car, delivered in a shipping crate.

The name "crate motor" comes from the fact that these engines are literally shipped in wooden or cardboard crates. Unlike building an engine piece by piece, racers can simply unpack a crate motor and bolt it into their car. This saves enormous amounts of time and eliminates the guesswork involved in engine assembly.

Crate motors are especially popular in motorsport because they offer reliability that homemade engines often can't match. Professional engine builders or manufacturers assemble these engines using quality-controlled processes and testing. This means fewer breakdowns during races and more consistent performance.

Many racing series actually require specific crate motors to keep competition fair and costs reasonable. For example, dirt track racing commonly uses GM 602 and 604 crate engines. These "spec engines" ensure that no team gains an unfair advantage through expensive custom engine work, putting the focus on driver skill instead of engineering budgets.

Some crate motors are "sealed," meaning they have special bolts and identification tags that prevent tampering. If a sealed crate motor needs rebuilding, it must be done at an authorized facility that can properly reseal the engine. This system helps racing officials ensure everyone is playing by the same rules.

Crate motors come in different configurations. A "short block" includes just the basic engine internals, while a "long block" adds cylinder heads and valves. "Turn-key" crate motors are the most complete, including everything needed to run the engine, sometimes even fuel and ignition systems.

Beyond racing, crate motors are also popular for restoring classic cars or upgrading street vehicles. They offer a reliable path to more power without the complexity of custom engine building.