A complete replacement engine built by a manufacturer or specialized shop and shipped in a wooden crate. It typically arrives as a long block with the rotating assembly and cylinder heads already torqued to spec, saving builders the time and risk of machining and assembling internal parts themselves.
Heard on the job
Instead of rebuilding the tired 350, we just ordered a 430-horsepower crate engine from Chevrolet Performance.
Also heard as
- crate motor
Related terms
Long block
A replacement engine assembly that includes the engine block, rotating assembly, cylinder heads, and valvetrain.
Short block
A partially assembled engine bottom end lacking the cylinder head and oil pan.
LS-swap
The act of installing a General Motors LS-series V8 engine into a vehicle that did not originally come with one.