Replacement engines are a great way to maximize your performance gains when you customize a vehicle, especially when it comes to track vehicles. When it comes to crate engines, the choice between a long block and a short block kit, a lot of it comes down to how much more customization you plan to do.
What Makes It a Short Block?
The name for this type of crate engine comes from the fact that it is short some parts needed to get it running. This means the kit is smaller than long block crate kits and more customizable out of the box. Short block crates tend to come with all of the following components:
- Block
- Connecting rods
- Pistons
- Crankshafts
- Gaskets & freeze plugs
Some manufacturers include more than these basics, but not all of them. Cam shafts and timing gear are the most common additions, but as you can see, the focus of this kit is the engine block and lower parts. There are a lot of components to add before it is fully assembled.
Advantages To Installing a Short Block Engine
If you are planning on using aftermarket parts for a lot of the replaceable engine components, the short block removes the cost for the parts you are planning on replacing anyway while simultaneously providing you the base you need to custom fit the rest of your upgrades, like expanded air intakes and custom exhaust kits. You do need a plan for the project that includes those performance upgrades from the start, though. That makes the process a little more complex at every stage, but it is worth the extra work if you have a clear vision for what you want.
Short block engines also have some key advantages over rebuilt original engines, not just over the choice of a long block engine replacement. Some of these benefits are shared between all crate engines, but others are unique to the short block kits you’ll find out there.
- A true fresh start on all engine components
- Control over every aspect of the engine build from day one
- Crate kits can be less expensive than rebuilds under some circumstances
- Increase your vehicle’s power ceiling
While there are also advantages to the other choices out there, it’s easy to see why drivers who are already planning every step of a build would gravitate to a short block kit. If you’re already planning on customizing everything you can change from the tires to the fuel injection system, why not choose the replacement engine that gives you the most room to be creative?
Finding the Right Short Block Crate Kit
The right crate engine kit is fairly easy to figure out, because the design specifications are clear in just about every product listing you will find. You need to find one that will fit in your vehicle’s engine compartment while delivering the top end power that you are looking for. Once you find the place where those two needs meet, it’s just a matter of figuring out what you need to order along with your short block kit to finish the full engine replacement. Take your first steps today.
