One of the most intriguing aspects of the world of crate engines is that there is a legitimate market for them despite the fact that they can cost as much as a brand new Toyota Camry at best, and as much as a 2025 BMW M2 or higher at worst. For some, it becomes even more confusing when they learn that a crate engine’s primary purpose is as a replacement power source for passion projects or even a basic engine swap. If you’re going to spend that much money on an engine alone, why not just get a new car at that point?

The answer lies in what crate engines have become and the benefits they offer, as they are no longer your typical run-of-the-mill V8s. Rather, they are massive, powerful blocks which have transcended the layman’s definition of an engine in every sense of the word. Modified parts utilized across the board create engines capable of putting out even well over 2,000 horsepower in certain conditions with certain options. Their status as modern marvels of engineering is what justifies their incredible cost, especially as you get higher up the list in terms of power output offered.

All info on the following crate engines was sourced directly from corresponding manufacturer websites. Likewise, some products had more information listed than others, such as some listing torque and others not.

10 Wegner 427 Whipple 3.8L Sandrail LSX

Kicking off the list is a crate engine which sets the barrier to entry well above the 1,000 hp limit, the Wegner 427 Whipple 3.8L Sandrail LSX crate engine from Wegner Automotive. This built to order engine’s price is comparable to an entry-level vehicle on the higher end of the options and quality scale, but there’s clear justification why in its construction. Wegner’s monstrosity uses upgraded parts at every turn, even offering options like multiple block-types to choose from, ported cylinder heads, upgraded trunnion kits and rocker bodies, and many more goodies. The massive purchase price even lets customers have the block and the massive 3.8L Whipple Supercharger painted in any color(s) they like, even if they aren’t black.

9 NRE Twin-Turbo 540 Budget Series

The first of many options on this list from Nelson Racing Engines, it’s also emblematic of what the company’s attitude seems to be when it comes to its crate engines: massive displacements paired with twin-turbos that perform significantly better on race fuel. That being said, every crate engine on this list which comes from the manufacturer still offers significant and enjoyable power on pump-gas, meaning e85 and other race fuels aren’t necessary to enjoy the purchase to its fullest. Part of this can be attributed to the fact that, regardless of the fuel used, owners will always be able to enjoy the Dart Big M iron block being paired with 46mm Precision Turbo wastegates, JE forged pistons, BoostLine forged connecting rods, and many more notable high-end modification components.

8 NRE Twin-Turbo Alien Windsor 428

While the Alien Windsor 428 is a step-down in power from the 540 Budget Series on pump gas, race fuel gets it into the 1,500 hp range, hence its higher rank on this list given the higher general potential of the engine. The Alien Windsor 428 is also notable for being one of the oldest offerings from Nelson, yet one of the most refined as a result of the past decade-plus of its availability. The 7L V8 is specifically advertised as “a full street engine,” and one of its most notable constructive benefits is its use of the company’s own hydraulic cam, which eliminates the need for valve adjustments. Other performance parts include a laptop programmable fuel management unit from Holley, AFR 220 ported cylinder heads, and more.

7 DSR Performance 1500 HEMI

DSR Performance and Direct Connection’s collaborative behemoth of a HEMI engine is unique on this list for being one of just two HEMI entries overall, and the only supercharged HEMI. What’s even more notable is the fact that it’s a true plug and play engine, designed to match the identical bolt pattern and motor mounts of the current OEM 6.2L HEMI configuration. In other words, if your 2024 Ram 1500 TRX 6.2L wasn’t quite giving you the power you were hoping for, a roughly $60,000 investment and subsequent engine swap can truly transcend the vehicle’s prior capabilities. The engine’s use of a 392 block means this also applies to any 392 supercharged vehicle.

6 NRE Twin-Turbo LS 427 Pro-Touring Series

Closing out the first half of the list is yet another 7L LS block from Nelson which is also relatively cost-effective compared to other entries on this list. Certainly, the cost-to-power ratio shines here with 1225 hp on pump gas for a starting price that’s a dollar short of $35 grand. This engine specifically is also unique for its offering of the “Darth Vader Package,” which blacks out the engine as seen in the picture above, and certainly makes a major aesthetic difference for the better. Some other extras worth considering include head and main stud upgrades, as well as a $2,500 option that allows for boost adjustment from the driver’s seat by gear, engine speed, or time.

5 NRE Twin-Turbo Alien LS 427 Pro-Touring Series

The Alien variant of NRE’s Twin-Turbo LS 427 Pro-Touring is largely the same as the above, with one major exception being the massive intake manifold affixed to this variant, which even gives the engine a tapered, almost Xenomorph-like look (which could very well be where the Alien name comes from). The Alien variant is also unique in that Nelson claimed their goal was to design an engine that could be driven 400 miles a day without being overworked or sacrificing any power. The manufacturer certainly achieved their latter goal, and the former certainly seems achievable given the engine’s use of custom aluminum ported cylinder heads, forged pistons, flow-matched injectors, and even custom 304 stainless steel exhaust manifolds.

4 NRE Twin-Turbo Mopar 426 HEMI

NRE’s Mopar 426 HEMI serves as a good example that shelling out boatloads of cash isn’t always enough to dominate in power output, with this fourth-most powerful engine on this list also being the second-highest in starting cost. At $69 thousand, that’s Big Three German brand money, and not a budget which would restrict you to their entry-level vehicles. While the engine does produce good power, it isn’t quite good enough to justify the cost. At least, that’s how it seems on the surface. An investigation reveals that a significant part of the cost comes from using solid billet for the construction of many parts, such as the wastegates, valve covers, intake manifold, crankshaft, connecting rods, and mechanical roller camshaft.

3 NRE Twin-Turbo Alien LS 427 Warrior Series

The first engine on this list to crack the 2000 hp mark is also one which is fairly middling in terms of the cost range represented in this article. NRE’s Alien LS 427 Warrior series is claimed to be a race engine in disguise, but one knock against the build is its unimpressive valvetrain life, certainly a key factor in making such a bold claim. Also, a key factor is the fact that there’s an option for three in-tank fuel pumps, demonstrating that the engine is at least tuned with the racing mindset of “power above all.” However, NRE’s advertisement of the engine seems conflicted; they claim it’s “built for the track with occasional street drives,” but also call it the “ultimate dual purpose LS engine,” certainly seeming dichotomous to the caveat of “occasional street drives.”

2 NRE Twin-Turbo Alien 572 Hot Rod Series

Despite costs going down, the power goes up from the previous entry when it comes to the Twin-Turbo Alien 572 Hot Rod series, capable of outputting over 2,000 hp with a starting cost of $45 thousand. NRE claims it’s “the best dollar for dollar value in the Twin-Turbo big block world,” a bold statement which admittedly is backed up by the product. The massive 9.4L engine utilizes only the highest-end parts in its construction, like dual ball-bearing turbos, Oliver billet conrods, ISKY Racing Cams Red Zone lifters, Dart 355 aluminum cylinder heads, and more. Options take it even further, such as upgrading the turbo ball-bearings to a ceramic material. Prospective purchasers will definitely want to splurge for the Safety Package, offering fuel and oil pressure sensors, as well as water temperature sensors for the behemoth of a block.

1 NRE Twin-Turbo Mopar HEMI 572 Hot Rod Series

The second and last HEMI on this list is also the final entry overall, claiming the titles of most powerful and most expensive along the way. NRE’s Twin-Turbo Mopar HEMI 572 is the pinnacle of contemporary crate engines, unmatched in nearly every respect. Affectionately dubbed “The Elephant” by its creators, the engine is said to be the “best of both worlds” for many reasons; NRE claims it sounds like a naturally aspirated engine yet behaves like you’d expect it to with the massive 88 mm turbos it utilizes, also being a joy to drive on the street or the track, and even being designed for air conditioning. The Californian-based manufacturer claims the engine spares no expense and is their “ULTIMATE Dodge build” likewise, which is certainly a difficult claim to disprove.