Are you ready to do some fun back-to-school shopping? Forget about buying any new clothes, books, pencils, or paper this fall-that's no fun. What you really need this time of year is a new crate engine for the 4x4!... er... carpool duty. Yeah, that's it. You'll never have to worry about being late for class again with any of these engines we've found for you. Granted, you might have to skip a few tuition payments for some of these monsters, but it will be worth it!
These engines all make more than 400 hp and use only the finest components on the market today. Each of these race shops has spent countless hours on research and development to bring you engines that make scary amounts of power. We're talking engines that will make your wife never want to borrow the truck again! Sound good? It does to us. If you want to get even crazier, these crate engines can be upgraded with all kinds of options. Just give the manufacturers a call-they can do just about anything.
Hey, if it ain't in the budget this year, just daydreaming about slipping a healthy new mill between your fenders can make standing in those long lines at the mall a little more bearable. And remember, there is always Christmas money to tap into!
Edelbrock Performer RPM 350
Engine block: Four-bolt main, one-piece rear main seal, small-block Chevy Displacement: 350 ci
Cylinder heads: Aluminum Performer RPM
Valve size: 2.02-inch intake, 1.60-inch exhaust
Combustion chamber volume: 64 cc
Compression ratio: 9.5:1
Pistons: Hypereutectic
Rods: Forged powdered metal
Crankshaft: Forged 1053 steel
Camshaft: Performer RPM hydraulic flat tappet cam, 234/244 degrees duration at 0.050 lift, 0.488/0.510-inch lift
Valvetrain: Crane roller rockers
Intake manifold: Performer RPM
Carburetor: 800-cfm, square-bore Edelbrock
Ignition: MSD Pro-Billet distributor
Oiling system: Milodon pump and pan
Horsepower: 410
Torque: 408 lb-ft
Price: $6,185.95 (PN 45620)
Contact: Edelbrock, 310/781-2222, www.edelbrock.com
Beck Racing's Max Velocity Plus 496
Engine block: Four-bolt main iron big-block
Displacement: 496 ci
Cylinder heads: Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum oval port
Valve size: 2.19-inch stainless steel intake, 1.88-inch stainless steel exhaust Combustion
chamber volume: 110 cc
Compression ratio: 9.6:1
Pistons: JE forged aluminum
Rods: BRE forged 4340 steel H-beam
Crankshaft: Hardened forged steel
Camshaft: Crane hydraulic flat tappet
Valvetrain: Crane roller rockers
Intake manifold: Edelbrock Air-Gap
Carburetor: Demon 850-cfm
Ignition: ACCEL blue-printed HEI
Oiling system: Melling high volume
Horsepower: 564
Torque: 563 lb-ft
Price: $8,899
Contact: Beck Racing Engines, 623/780-1001, www.beckracingengines.com
Ray Barton Racing Ultimate 604ci Hemi
Engine block: Cross-bolted main, siamesed, iron Megablock
Displacement: 604 ci
Cylinder heads: Stage V Engineering aluminum Hemi heads
Valve size: 2.375-inch titanium intake, 1.90-inch stainless steel exhaust
Combustion chamber volume: 149 cc
Compression ratio: 13.0:1
Pistons: Custom JE forged
Rods: RBRE On-Trac 7075 aluminum
Crankshaft: RBRE On-Trac forged 4340 steel
Camshaft: Custom roller cam 292 degrees duration at 0.050 lift, 0.825/0.825-inch lift
Valvetrain: RB-200RS roller rockers
Intake manifold: RBRE sheetmetal tunnel ram
Carburetors: 1050-cfm HP series Holley Dominators (2)
Ignition: Moroso Crank Trigger and MSD Pro-Billet distributor
Oiling system: RBRE On-Trac billet oil pump and aluminum oil pan
Horsepower: 1,100
Torque: 900 lb-ft
Price: $27,600
Contact: Ray Barton Racing Engines, 610/670-8591, www.raybarton.com
American Speed 383
Engine block: New GM four-bolt main block
Displacement: 383 ci
Cylinder heads: Air Flow Research aluminum
Valve size: 2.02-inch stainless steel intake, 1.60-inch stainless steel exhaust
Combustion chamber volume: 74 cc
Compression ratio: 9.6:1
Pistons: Forged aluminum
Rods: 5.7-inch Eagle steel
Crankshaft: Nodular cast-iron crank
Camshaft: Comp Cams hydraulic roller cam 230/236 degrees duration at 0.050 lift, 0.544/0.553-inch liftValvetrain: 1.6 Crane roller rockersIntake manifold: Edelbrock Performer RPMCarburetor: Holley 750-cfm Double PumperIgnition: MSDOiling system: RBRE On-Trac billet oil pump and aluminum oil panHorsepower: 500Torque: 515 lb-ftPrice: $6,725Contact: American Speed Enterprises, 309/764-3601, www.amerspeed.com
Bill Mitchell Hardcore Racing Merlin 540
Engine block: Merlin II four-bolt CNC block
Displacement: 540 ci
Cylinder heads: Merlin rectangular port aluminum heads with CNC porting
Valve size: 2.30-inch Manley severe-duty intake, 1.88-inch Manley severe-duty exhaust
Combustion chamber volume: 345 cc
Compression ratio: 13.0:1
Pistons: JE or Wiseco forged pistons
Rods: Manley forged 4340 steel H-beam
Crankshaft: SCAT forged 4340 steel
Camshaft: Comp Cams roller 286/298 degrees duration at 0.050 lift, 0.748/0.748-inch lift
Valvetrain: Harland Sharp 1.7 ratio roller rockers
Intake manifold: Merlin single plane 4500
Carburetor: 1050-cfm Hardcore modified Dominator
Ignition: MSD Pro Billet distributor
Oiling system: Milodon 7-quart oil pan with kick out
Horsepower: 750
Torque: 650 lb-ft
Price: $11,195
Contact: Bill Mitchell Hardcore Racing, 631/737-0372, www.theengineshop.com
P.I. Motorsports 427 Windsor
Engine block: Ford 351 Windsor block, two-bolt main
Displacement: 427 ci
Cylinder heads: Air Flow Research Stage III aluminum
Valve size: 2.05-inch stainless steel intake, 1.60-inch stainless steel exhaust
Combustion chamber volume: 60 cc
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Pistons: Ross forged aluminum
Rods: PIM steel H-beam
Crankshaft: Cast nodular stroker crank
Camshaft: Schneider Racing hydraulic roller 244/252 degrees duration at 0.050 lift, 0.600/0.612-inch lift
Valvetrain: PIM 1.6 ratio roller rockers
Intake manifold: Edelbrock Victor Jr.
Carburetor: Holley 850-cfm Double Pumper
Ignition: Ford distributor
Oiling system: PIM 10-quart oil pan
Horsepower: 540
Torque: 530 lb-ft
Price: $9,495
Contact: P.I. Motorsports, 714/744-1398, www.pim.net