Practical guides from VL Automotive for choosing, swapping and looking after crate engines and outboard motors. Each guide links to the matching products in our shop.
Crate engine buying guides
- What Is a Crate Engine? A Buyer’s Guide to Crate Motors: A crate engine is a complete engine assembled by the manufacturer and shipped ready to install. This guide covers dressing levels, engine families and what to check before you buy.
- Crate Engine Prices: How Much Does a Crate Engine Cost?: New crate engines start under $5,000 for a small block long block and run past $25,000 for supercharged and specialty builds. Here are the current prices by engine family and what makes one engine cost more than another.
- Long Block vs Short Block vs Complete Crate Engine: What’s the Difference?: A short block is the bottom end of an engine, a long block adds the cylinder heads and valvetrain, and a complete crate engine adds the intake, fuel and ignition. Here is what each includes and when to choose it.
- Carburetor vs Fuel Injection: Which Is Better for Your Crate Engine?: A carburetor mixes fuel and air mechanically, while fuel injection meters fuel electronically. Here is how they compare for drivability, cost and tuning, and how to choose a carbureted or EFI crate engine.
- What Is a Stroker Engine? Stroker Kits, Bore and Stroke Explained: A stroker engine uses a longer-stroke crankshaft to increase displacement and torque without changing the block. Here is how bore and stroke set displacement, and how the popular 383, 347, 408 and 632 strokers are built.
- Engine Break-In: How to Break In a New Crate Engine: Breaking in a new engine seats the piston rings and wears in the moving parts. What to check before the first start, how to drive the first miles, flat tappet vs roller cam break-in, and how to choose break-in oil.
- Best Crate Engine: How to Choose, With Picks by Budget and Use: How to choose a crate engine, what turn key means in practice, and which engines from our range suit each kind of build.
- Best LS Engine for Your Build: LS Crate Engines Compared: Which LS engine suits a swap, a budget, boost or maximum power, using the LS crate engines we sell and their stated specs.
Engine swaps
- LS Swap Guide: What You Need for a GM LS Engine Swap: An LS swap puts a GM LS V8 into a vehicle that came with something else. Here is the parts checklist, from choosing the engine to the ECU, fuel system and accessory drive.
- Coyote Swap Guide: Putting a Ford 5.0 Coyote in a Fox Body, F100 or Classic Ford: A Coyote swap puts Ford’s 32-valve 5.0L V8 into an older Ford. Here is the parts checklist, from the engine and control pack to mounts, oil pan, fuel and transmission, plus notes for Fox Body and F100 swaps.
- GM LS Engines Explained: LS1, LS2, LS3, LS7, LSA and More: The GM LS family covers the Gen III and Gen IV small-block V8s from the LS1 to the supercharged LS9. Here is how the main engines compare and which ones are sold as crate engines today.
- Ford 7.3 Godzilla Engine: Specs, Crate Engine and Swap Guide: The Ford 7.3L Godzilla is a large-displacement pushrod gasoline V8 from the Super Duty trucks, rated at 430 HP and 475 lb-ft. Here are its specs, the crate engine and block, and what a swap involves.
Specs and technical guides
- LS3 Engine: Specs, Horsepower and LS3 Crate Engines: The LS3 is GM’s 6.2L (376 cubic inch) aluminum Gen IV small block, rated at 430 HP in the Corvette. Here are its specs, how it compares with the LS2, L99, L92, LS1 and LT1, and the LS3 crate engines available new.
- 6.0 LS Engine: LQ4, LQ9, LS2, L76 and L96 Specs, Horsepower and Crate Engine: The 6.0L LS is the 364 cubic inch member of GM’s LS family, built as the iron-block LQ4, LQ9, LY6 and L96 truck engines and the aluminum LS2 and L76. Here are its specs, horsepower by version, LQ4 vs LQ9, how it compares with the 5.3 and 6.2, and the GM LS364/450 crate engine.
- LT4 Engine: Specs, Horsepower, LT4 vs LT1 and LSA, and the LT4 Crate Engine: The LT4 is GM’s supercharged 6.2L Gen V small block, rated at 650 HP in the Corvette Z06 and Camaro ZL1. Here are its specs, how it compares with the LT1, LSA, LT5 and LS3, and what an LT4 crate engine swap needs.
- LSX Engine: What It Is, LSX vs LS, and the LSX 376-B15 Crate Engine: An LSX engine is built on GM’s LSX block, a cast-iron LS-architecture block made for racing and boost. Here is how it differs from a production LS, why people use the name loosely, and the full specs of the GM LSX 376-B15 crate engine.
- Ford Coyote Engine: 5.0 Specs, Generations, Horsepower and Crate Engines: The Coyote is Ford’s 5.0L all-aluminum, dual-overhead-cam V8 from the 2011-on Mustang GT and F-150. Here are its specs, what changed in each generation, horsepower by year, how it compares with an LS, and the Ford Performance Coyote crate engines available new.
- Ford 302 Engine: Specs, Horsepower, 5.0 HO and 302 Crate Engines: The Ford 302 is the 5.0L Windsor small block V8 that powered Mustangs and many other Fords from 1968. Here are its specs, horsepower by era, what makes a 5.0 HO different, how it compares with the 351 Windsor and 347 stroker, and the new 302 crate engines.
- Ford 460 Engine: 429/460 Big Block Specs, History and Z460: Ford 460 and 429 big block specs, history, 429 vs 460, strokers, and why the Ford Performance Z460 crate engine is a Boss 351-based small block.
- Chevy 350 Engine: Specs, Horsepower by Year, and 350 Crate Engines: The Chevy 350 is the 5.7L small block V8 GM built from 1967 into the 2000s. Here are its specs, horsepower by era, the versions worth knowing, how it compares with the 383 and the LS1, and the new 350 crate engines available.
- 383 Stroker Engine: Specs, Horsepower, Kits and Crate Engines: A 383 stroker is a small block Chevy 350 with a 3.750 inch stroke crankshaft and a slightly larger bore. Here is how the displacement works, how much power 383s make, the 383 vs 350 differences, and the kit and crate engine options.
- Chevy 454 Big Block: Specs, Horsepower and 454 Crate Engines: The Chevy 454 is the 7.4L big block V8 that powered muscle cars from 1970 and GM trucks into the 2000s. Here are its specs, horsepower by version, how it compares with the 427, 502 and 572, and the new 454 crate engines and parts.
- Big Block vs Small Block Chevy: Differences, Sizes and Which to Choose: Small block and big block are engine families, not just sizes. Here is what separates a small block Chevy from a big block Chevy, the sizes in each family, 350 vs 454, how Ford and Mopar use the terms, and which one suits your build.
- 426 Hemi Engine: What a Hemi Is, Gen II vs Gen III, and 426 Gen III Crate Engines: A Hemi is an engine with dome-shaped (hemispherical) combustion chambers. Here is what that means, the specs of Chrysler’s original 426 Hemi, how the modern Gen III Hemi differs, and the BluePrint 426 Gen III Hemi crate engines.
- Chevy Firing Order: SBC 350, Big Block 454 and LS Engines: The small block Chevy 350 and big block 454 fire 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 with a clockwise distributor. LS engines fire 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Here is how the cylinders are numbered and how to wire them.
- Ford Firing Order: 302, 5.0 HO, 351W, 460 and Coyote: The standard Ford 302 fires 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8, while the 5.0 HO and 351 Windsor fire 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8, both with a counterclockwise distributor. The 5.0L Coyote fires 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2.
- 400 Small Block Chevy: Specs, History and 400 SBC Crate Engines: The 400 small block Chevy is the largest factory Gen I small block: 4.125-inch bore, 3.750-inch stroke, siamese cylinders. Here are its specs and quirks, how it compares with the 350, 383 and 406, and the BluePrint 400 SBC crate engines we list.
- 347 Stroker Engine: Specs, Horsepower and Ford 347 Crate Engines: The 347 stroker is the small block Ford 302 stroked to 347 cubic inches with a 3.400-inch crankshaft. Here are its specs, how it compares with the 302, 331, 351W and 408, what to check before you buy, and the 415 HP 347 crate engines we list.
- 2-Bolt vs 4-Bolt Main Blocks: Differences and Which You Need: Main caps hold the crankshaft in the block. Here is the difference between 2-bolt, 4-bolt, splayed and 6-bolt cross-bolted mains, when a 4-bolt main block is worth it, how to identify one, and which of our blocks and crate engines use each.
- Dry Sump vs Wet Sump Oiling Systems: Differences, Pros and Cons: A wet sump stores oil in the oil pan; a dry sump stores it in a separate tank and uses a multi-stage pump. Here is how they compare and when a dry sump is worth it.
- Horsepower vs Torque: What Is the Difference?: Torque is the twisting force an engine makes; horsepower is how fast it does that work. The formula that links them, how to read torque curves, crank vs wheel horsepower, and the ratings of real crate engines.
- Gas vs Diesel Engines: Differences, Pros & Cons: Gasoline engines use a spark; diesels ignite fuel with the heat of compression. How that changes torque, fuel economy, cost and maintenance, the gas vs diesel truck question, and gas vs diesel in boats.
- Liters to Cubic Inches: Engine Displacement Conversion Chart: One liter is 61.02 cubic inches. This chart converts common engine sizes both ways, explains why a 6.2 is called a 376 and a 5.0 is a 302, and shows how displacement is worked out from bore and stroke.
- Compression Ratio Explained: What It Means for Power and Fuel: Compression ratio compares the cylinder volume with the piston at the bottom and at the top of its stroke. Here is the formula, what a higher ratio does for power and fuel needs, and the compression ratios of current crate engines.
- Roller Cam vs Flat Tappet: Differences, Pros and Cons: A flat tappet lifter slides on the cam lobe; a roller lifter rolls on it. Here is what that changes for power, wear, break-in and cost, how hydraulic and solid lifters differ, and which type our crate engines use.
- Lobe Separation Angle Explained: Cam Lift, Duration and LSA: Lobe separation angle is the angle between the intake and exhaust lobe centerlines of a camshaft. Here is how LSA, duration and lift shape idle quality, vacuum and the power band, with cam specs from current crate engines.
- 427 Engine Guide: Chevy 427, Ford 427 and LS 427 Explained: A 427 is a 7.0-liter displacement, not a single engine. Here is how the Chevy big block 427, the Ford FE 427, the LS7 and modern small block 427 strokers differ, and which 427 crate engines and parts we list.
- What Is a Blueprinted Engine? Engine Blueprinting Explained: What engine blueprinting means, what a machine shop measures and corrects, balancing, when it is worth it, and how it differs from the BluePrint Engines brand.
- SBC vs LS: Small Block Chevy vs LS Engine (and Big Block vs LS): Small block Chevy vs LS compared on design, firing order, power per cubic inch, swap needs and price, plus big block vs LS, with live crate engine prices.
- Engine vs Motor: What Is the Difference?: The technical difference between an engine and a motor, where the words come from, and how it applies to crate engines, gas outboards and electric outboards.
Outboard motor guides
- Outboard Motor Prices: What a New 2.3 to 30 HP Outboard Costs: New outboard prices rise with horsepower and options. Here are the current prices for every Suzuki, Honda and Torqeedo outboard we sell, and what makes one version cost more than another.
- What Size Outboard Motor Do I Need? Sizing by Boat Type and Length: Your boat’s capacity plate sets the maximum. Within it, here is how to choose outboard horsepower for tenders, inflatables, canoes and 10 to 16 foot jon boats, plus how load, hull and use change the answer.
- Outboard Shaft Length: Short vs Long Shaft and How to Measure: Outboards come in standard shaft lengths: 15 inch short, 20 inch long and 25 inch extra long. Measure your transom height to choose the right one.
- 2 Stroke vs 4 Stroke Outboard Motors: Which Should You Buy?: Two-stroke outboards are lighter and simpler; four-strokes are quieter, cleaner and more fuel efficient. Here is how they compare and which suits your boat.
- Outboard Motor Maintenance: A Four-Stroke Checklist: A practical maintenance checklist for four-stroke outboards: what to check before and after every trip, how to flush the motor, how to change the engine oil and lower unit gear oil, and the service items to do at your owner’s manual intervals.
- How to Winterize an Outboard Motor (and Year-Round Outboard Maintenance): Winterizing protects your outboard from corrosion, stale fuel and freeze damage. Here are the steps for a four-stroke outboard, plus a year-round maintenance checklist.
- What Is a Transom on a Boat? Transom Height and Outboard Mounting: What the transom on a boat is, the parts and types of transom, how transom height sets the outboard shaft length, how to mount an outboard on the transom, and the signs of a weak or rotten transom.
- Parts of an Outboard Motor and How It Works: The three main sections of an outboard motor and the parts in each, what the lower unit, anti-ventilation (cavitation) plate, tiller and kill switch do, propeller diameter and pitch, and how an outboard works step by step.
- Outboard Trim and Tilt Explained: How to Trim a Boat: What outboard trim does, how it differs from tilt, a step-by-step method for trimming a boat on plane, how to set a manual trim pin, power tilt vs power trim and tilt, and which of our outboards have power trim and tilt.
- Inboard vs Outboard Motors: Differences, Pros and Cons: How inboard, outboard and sterndrive (inboard/outboard) boat motors differ: engine location, steering, trim and tilt, space, maintenance and repowering, with the pros and cons of each and which boats they suit.
- Suzuki vs Honda Outboards: 2.5, 15 and 20 HP Compared: A side-by-side comparison of Suzuki and Honda four-stroke outboards in the sizes both brands cover (2.3/2.5, 15 and 20 HP): prices, versions, shaft lengths and the features each manufacturer describes, plus how to choose.
- Boat Propeller Pitch and Size Explained: How to Choose a Prop: Propeller size is written as diameter x pitch. Here is what pitch means, how it changes engine RPM and speed, how to work out prop slip, 3-blade vs 4-blade and aluminum vs stainless props, and how to pick the right pitch for your outboard.
- Best Small Outboard Motor: 2.3 to 30 HP Picks by Boat: Which small outboard suits an inflatable, a sailboat kicker, a jon boat or a 16-foot boat, using the Suzuki, Honda and Torqeedo motors we sell.