Is a crate engine really a crate engine?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 948
Likes: 1
From: pensacola fl
Is a crate engine really a crate engine?
There is a show broadcast each weekend over 250 or so radio stations on Saturday mornings called The Car Clinic with host Bobby Likis. The show is broadcast out of Pensacola and he has a big shop here and really harps on preventive maintenance. Any way, a caller said he was getting a 454 crate engine for one of his cars from some company which builds engines. This company was looked up by one of his staff and they talk about the procedures they go through to machine a block etc. Without getting into non important chatter between the two, the show host said a crate engine is a " new engine (block) with new internals and just because it comes to you in a crate, does not make it a crate engine. I know sometimes terms can be used loosely but it does bring to mind the people on this forum who tell people to get their own engines rebuilt and basically
get involved in what goes into their engines. Any thoughts are is it even worth discussing?
get involved in what goes into their engines. Any thoughts are is it even worth discussing?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
A tried and true 'crate engine comes from the new car dealers, or as I interpret the issue...I have purchased many of them as your completely aware whats inside the crate you get what you pay for....not so with a rebuilders so called "crate...A L-88 or LT1 or whatever is a dealer situation not something close to furnished by rebuilders....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 948
Likes: 1
From: pensacola fl
I agree but seems over time anything shipped in a crate is referred to a crate engine. I'm not bashing anybody over the term as I have used it myself. I remember the engines sold through Chevrolet as being a true crate engine with everything new about the engine but again after listening to this radio broadcast, it's funny how we just call anything in a crate a crate engine. By the way, Bobby Likis, the host and owner of Car Clinic, has won many national awards for his work in the car repair and pre maintenance business. If you get a chance to hear his show, it will be an hour well spent.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 948
Likes: 1
From: pensacola fl
Not trying to **** anyone off here, just thought it might be an interesting discussion. Mr. Likis was just named to the top 250 radio talk show host for the 4th year in a row. The only car show to ever do this. He is also a spokesman for Royal Purple, Baars Leak as well as many other name brand products. Most weeks he has someone on his show from the auto business such as top brass from GM and Ford. I don't think he is God of the automotive industry but with over 40 years in the business, I do think about his advise. If anybody is curious, pull up Bobby Likis Car Clinic. By the way, I am not related in any way to Mr. Likis.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
I'm confused as to exactly what a numbers-matching crate engine is. Either the block came with the car or not.
As to what constitutes a "crate" engine, I would think this description limited to a a long block assembly or a complete engine assembly which has been assembled by the automotive manufaturer in question. Or assembled to long-block or complte engine level using a NEW block and constructed in clean-room conditions by the respective supplier...Dart...Roush...Granatelli...e tc.
A GM Performance Parts E-Rod engine (complete) is a crate engine.
An Engine starting life as bolting NEW Dart heads (complete) on a NEW Dart Long Block (rotating assembly installed into NEW block by Dart themselves) is a crate engine.
Having a 350 core block bored 0.030 over, having heads machined, and having Mahle pistons installed IS NOT a crate engine.
In other words, you can't have the words "Core" and "Crate" together in ANY engine description. The two terms are mutually exclusive.
As to what constitutes a "crate" engine, I would think this description limited to a a long block assembly or a complete engine assembly which has been assembled by the automotive manufaturer in question. Or assembled to long-block or complte engine level using a NEW block and constructed in clean-room conditions by the respective supplier...Dart...Roush...Granatelli...e tc.
A GM Performance Parts E-Rod engine (complete) is a crate engine.
An Engine starting life as bolting NEW Dart heads (complete) on a NEW Dart Long Block (rotating assembly installed into NEW block by Dart themselves) is a crate engine.
Having a 350 core block bored 0.030 over, having heads machined, and having Mahle pistons installed IS NOT a crate engine.
In other words, you can't have the words "Core" and "Crate" together in ANY engine description. The two terms are mutually exclusive.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Livonia MI
"Crate engine" has definitly become an ambiguious term in today's market. I think it's a case of buyer beware. Ask questions about what you're buying and be sure it's what you're expecting before you shell out your hard earned cash.
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 8
From: Atlanta Ga
To me, a Crate engine is a massed produced engine, that all has the same specs and internals.
You just order a crate as is from whomever the dealer is.
Then there are built engines. If you specially order an engine and pick out different parts etc...then you have a built engine...not a crate engine.
Same goes for if you buy a crate engine, and change the parts etc...well then you modified a crate engine...and it is a built engine based off of whatever crate motor you started with.
You just order a crate as is from whomever the dealer is.
Then there are built engines. If you specially order an engine and pick out different parts etc...then you have a built engine...not a crate engine.
Same goes for if you buy a crate engine, and change the parts etc...well then you modified a crate engine...and it is a built engine based off of whatever crate motor you started with.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
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From: Anderson SC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 114
From: Watkins Glen NY
I listen to him once in a while on my way home from work Saturdays, and quite frankly I think he's a blowhard. Zero credibility in my book.
There was a guy on last week who won a 68 Mustang cobra in a raffle and was looking for advice on which oil to use, and he gave him 5 minutes off BS about peering into the oil filler "tuuube"
to check for condensation. He eventually recommended 10W-30 as his theme music was playing telling him to STFU.
One refreshing thing that I noticed is that he never told the guy to go to "BG find-a-shop" or to buy "Scotts shop towels" to check his disptick or anything like that!
There was a guy on last week who won a 68 Mustang cobra in a raffle and was looking for advice on which oil to use, and he gave him 5 minutes off BS about peering into the oil filler "tuuube"
to check for condensation. He eventually recommended 10W-30 as his theme music was playing telling him to STFU.One refreshing thing that I noticed is that he never told the guy to go to "BG find-a-shop" or to buy "Scotts shop towels" to check his disptick or anything like that!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 465
Likes: 18
From: NorthEast
Not trying to **** anyone off here, just thought it might be an interesting discussion. Mr. Likis was just named to the top 250 radio talk show host for the 4th year in a row. The only car show to ever do this. He is also a spokesman for Royal Purple, Baars Leak as well as many other name brand products. Most weeks he has someone on his show from the auto business such as top brass from GM and Ford. I don't think he is God of the automotive industry but with over 40 years in the business, I do think about his advise. If anybody is curious, pull up Bobby Likis Car Clinic. By the way, I am not related in any way to Mr. Likis.