Whether you’re looking to replace a tired old Ford engine, swap in a more powerful mill, or modernize your classic muscle car or street rod with a mod motor, there are plenty of options available. Ford Racing Performance Parts, Edelbrock, BluePrint, ATK, and Roush Performance all offer crate motors to meet your performance and/or budgetary demands.

Here are 10 great Ford crate engine options:

ATK High Performance Ford 302 300HP Stage 2 Crate Engines

ATK High Performance Ford 302 300HP Stage 2 Crate EnginesWhy we like it: It fits the bill as a solid, affordable replacement for your worn out small block–with a little added kick. It’s billed as a good choice for daily drivers or mild mannered street rods. And the price is certainly right.

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 302 cubic inches
Compression: 10.0:1
Power: 300 horsepower/336 ft.-lbs. of torque

 

What You Get/What You Need

You get most of the essentials–you’ll have to add a carburetor, air cleaner, spark plugs, and a few other items to finish it off. If you want the fully dressed version, you can step up to the Stage 3 for extra money. This one includes everything from the intake manifold down to the oil pan, including cast iron heads, hydraulic roller cam, OE-style crank and connecting rods, valve covers, damper, timing set and cover, oil and water pumps, and more.

Warranty: 24-month

BluePrint Engines Ford 306 390HP Base Crate Engine

BluePrint Engines Ford 306 390HP Base Crate EngineWhy we like it: It’s amazing what a few extra cubes gets you from this BluePrint 306. Based on the Ford 302, this small block delivers surprisingly big power–as in 390 horses! Even though it doesn’t come with everything included in the standard 302 above, it’s still competitively priced for the power you get.

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 306 cubic inches
Compression: 9.5:1
Power: 390 horsepower/370 ft.-lbs. of torque

What You Get/What You Need

Includes a new cast steel crankshaft and connecting rods, hypereutectic pistons, hydraulic roller cam, aluminum cylinder heads with 190cc runners, valve covers, timing set, high-volume oil pump, and oil pan. You’ll need to add your own intake, carburetor, spark plugs, and related accessories.

Warranty: 30-month/50,000 miles

 

 

ATK High Performance Ford 351W 385HP Stage 3 Crate Engine

ATK High Performance Ford 351W 385HP Stage 3 Crate EngineWhy we like it: If you’re looking to drop a 351W into your car or truck, this ATK High Performance is the perfect starting point for your project. You can choose from budget-priced 300HP 351W engines, or go with the stouter 385-horse version. We like the 385HP Stage 3 engine. It gives you extra power in a turnkey package that comes in under the $6,000 mark.

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 351 cubic inches
Compression: 9.8:1
Power: 385 horsepower/410 ft.-lbs. of torque

What You Get/What You Need

This is a complete drop-in option, with the carburetor, spark plug wires, and even flexplate included. Things you’ll need: air cleaner and wiring harness.

Warranty: 24-month

BluePrint Engines Ford 347 400HP Base Stroker Crate Engine

BluePrint Engines Ford 347 400HP Base Stroker Crate EngineWhy we like it: We’re fans of stroker motors, and you can find Ford crate motors for 331, 347, 393, and 408 setups, and more. This 347 is a great bang-for-buck option, offering 400 horsepower for under $4,200.

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 347 cubic inches
Compression: 10.0:1
Power: 400 horsepower/415 ft.-lbs. of torque

What You Get/What You Need

You get a hand-picked, seasoned Ford 302 block that’s been bored .040 inches over. Inside, it features a cast crank, forged rods, and hypereutectic pistons to handle the extra power. BluePrint adds in its own aluminum cylinder heads, hydraulic roller camshaft, and a double roller timing set. To complete the setup, add your own intake manifold and induction system.

Warranty: 30-month/50,000 miles

Ford Racing EcoBoost Crate Engine

Ford Racing EcoBoost Crate EngineWhy we like it: That’s right–we’ve included a four-cylinder. You can’t deny that the performance of this compact little engine is impressive. The 2.0L powerhouse delivers 252 horsepower and 272 ft.-lbs. of torque in a very lightweight package. Seeing is believing, and more and more people are coming around to the Ford EcoBoost.

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 2.0L
Compression: 9.3:1
Power: 252 horsepower/272 ft.-lbs. of torque

What You Get/What You Need

The latest technology is what you get. This 2.0L EcoBoost is outfitted with a Borg-Warner turbocharger that produces 16 psi of boost, twin independent variable camshaft timing, and a direct-injection, high-pressure fuel system. That’s how you make big (or at least respectable) power in a small package. It includes everything from the induction system, to the oil pan, to the valve covers and spark plugs. You even get the accessory drive, air cleaner, starter, alternator, and intercooler. It’s another turnkey solution!

Warranty: 24-month/24,000 miles

Roush Racing 511RFE Crate Engine

Roush Racing 511RFE Crate EngineWhy we like it: The Ford FE series is legendary in our books, yet it’s often overlooked. Roush Racing makes it possible to drop one of these iconic big blocks into your street rod or hot rod. The 511-cube big block is based on the 428FE and delivers in a big way with 575 horsepower that’s been refined for the street.

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 511-cubic-inch
Power: 575 horsepower/580 ft.-lbs. of torque

What You Get/What You Need

This is a turnkey setup and is priced as such. Here’s what you get for your money: aluminum cross-bolted block, steel crank, H-beam connecting rods, forged pistons, CNC-ported aluminum heads, hydraulic roller cam, double roller timing chain, single-plane intake manifold, and Holley 4150 carburetor. Oil pan, plugs and plug wires, Roush air cleaner, distributor, alternator, water pump, and breathers are also included. There’s not much else you need!

Warranty: 2-year/24,000-mile

Ford Racing 427 535HP Crate Engine

Ford Racing 427 535HP Crate EngineWhy we like it: It’s a modern version of the legendary Ford 427FE motor. This one is built on Ford Racing’s Boss 351 block, so you get big block power in Ford’s small block Windsor package.

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 427 cubic inches
Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
Power: 535 horsepower/545 ft.-lbs. of torque

What You Get/What You Need

How does Ford deliver 500-plus horsepower from a small block package? It starts with the Boss 351 block with 4-bolt mains, forged steel crank, H-beam connecting rods, and forged pistons. Ford Racing then adds its aluminum “Z” cylinder heads and .594-inch lift hydraulic roller camshaft. The engine also includes oil pan, valve covers, timing set and cover, harmonic balancer, and water pumps. You’ll need to add your own intake manifold and induction components.

Warranty: 24-month/24,000 miles

Ford Racing 5.0L DOHC Aluminator Naturally Aspirated Crate Engine

Ford Racing 5.0L DOHC Aluminator Naturally Aspirated Crate EngineWhy we like it: Another one of Ford Racing’s popular Aluminator engines, this is a great drop-in replacement for 2011-14 Mustang GTs. It’s also ideal for restomods and customs where an LS swap alternative is desired.

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 5.0L
Compression Ratio: 11.0:1

What You Get/What You Need

Designed for naturally aspirated applications, this engine is built on a production Mustang GT aluminum block. It features aluminum heads, forged pistons, Manley H-beam connecting rods, Boss 302 bearings, composite GT intake manifold, Ford Racing engine cover kit, ARP 2000 bolts. It also comes with a throttle body, oil pan, valve covers, damper, water pump timing cover, and spark plugs.

Warranty: 24-month/24,000 miles

 

ATK High Performance Ford 460 525 Stage 3 Crate Engine

ATK High Performance Ford 460 525 Stage 3 Crate EngineWhy we like it: This engine allows you to drop in traditional 385 Series big block power for under 10 grand. And it comes with a special surprise–42 extra cubic inches. Based off the traditional 460, it’s stroked to offer 502 cubic inches and around 525 horsepower.

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 502 cubic inches
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Power: 525 horsepower/570 ft.-lbs. of torque

What You Get/What You Need

You get pretty much everything but the air cleaner and wiring harness to hook it up. Highlights include nodular iron crankshaft, forged connecting rods, hypereutectic pistons, hydraulic flat tappet cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM cylinder heads, intake manifold, carburetor, and much more.

Warranty: 24 months

 

Edelbrock Supercharged 5.0L Coyote Crate Engine

Edelbrock Supercharged 5.0L Coyote Crate EngineWhy we like it: 700 horsepower. 606 ft.-lbs. of torque. Enough said. 

Specs

Assembly: Long block
Displacement: 5.0L
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Power: 700 horsepower/606 ft.-lbs. of torque

What You Get/What You Need

You get a brand new Ford aluminum block, forged crankshaft, forged H-beam rods, and forged aluminum pistons as the foundation for this package. Up top, you might notice an Edelbrock E-Force TVS2300 supercharger with all the fixins–electric intercooler water pump, intercooler, and intercooler plumbing. This complete package also includes 50-pound fuel injectors, mass airflow sensor housing, front-end drive accessories, oil pan, valve covers, air cleaner, and more. It also comes with the necessary computer and wiring harness to get the engine hooked up and tuned.

Warranty: 24-month/24,000 miles.

 

 

 

Keywords
crate engines, Ford crate engines
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Author: David Fuller

David Fuller is OnAllCylinders' managing editor. During his 20-year career in the auto industry, he has covered a variety of races, shows, and industry events and has authored articles for multiple magazines. He has also partnered with mainstream and trade publications on a wide range of editorial projects. In 2012, he helped establish OnAllCylinders, where he enjoys covering all facets of hot rodding and racing.