Small Block Chevy Crate Engines — The Original Muscle Motor
When Chevrolet introduced the 265-cubic-inch small-block V8 in 1955, it redefined what a production engine could be — light, compact, cheap to build and endlessly tunable. Nearly seven decades and well over 100 million engines later, the Small Block Chevy remains the most swapped, most raced and most supported V8 in history. From the 283 that first broke the one-horsepower-per-cubic-inch barrier in 1957 to today’s factory-fresh 350 crate engines, no other engine family offers this combination of availability, parts support and value.
At NH Race Engine in Kessel, the Netherlands, we supply Small Block Chevy crate engines for sale across Europe — from mild 350/290 base engines for faithful restorations to the 405 hp ZZ6 and torque-monster 383 strokers for pro-touring and street-strip builds. Every engine is inspected by our own builders, backed by a 12-month warranty, and shipped crated, insured and tracked to your door.
Our Small Block Chevy Lineup
Four proven specifications cover 90% of the builds we see. Need something different — a 383 stroker to your own spec, a 406, a full roller-cam custom? Our engine building team builds it on our own machines and dyno-proves it before shipping.
| Engine | Power | Torque | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350/290 Base (5.7L) | ~290 hp | ~332 lb-ft | Budget restorations, daily drivers, first builds |
| 350 HO Turn-Key (5.7L) | 333 hp | 381 lb-ft | Street muscle, drop-in simplicity, classic trucks |
| ZZ6 350 (5.7L) | 405 hp | 406 lb-ft | Pro-touring, serious street/strip, Fast Burn heads |
| HT383 Stroker (6.3L) | 340 hp | 435 lb-ft | Torque-first builds: trucks, heavy classics, towing |
Full factory specifications: Chevrolet Performance — Small-Block crate engines (official page). Figures are manufacturer ratings; your final numbers depend on induction, exhaust and calibration — our dyno tuning service turns ratings into proven results.
350 or 383 — Which Small Block Is Right for You?
The classic question, answered the way we answer it at the workshop counter. The 350 is the balanced choice: revs happily, parts are everywhere and cheapest, and it’s the right answer for most street cars. The 383 stroker trades a little top-end for roughly 50–100 lb-ft more torque everywhere in the rev range — it’s the better answer for heavy cars, trucks and anyone who drives with their right foot. Both fit the same mounts, the same transmission and the same engine bay; the difference is character, not complexity. Tell us your vehicle and how you drive it through the quote form and we’ll recommend one — with the numbers to back it up.
Popular Small Block Chevy Applications
- Classic restorations: 1955–1980 Camaro, Chevelle, Corvette, Nova and Impala — a crate 350/290 keeps it authentic without the unknown history of a junkyard motor
- Classic trucks: C10, K5 Blazer and square-body pickups — the HT383’s torque makes them effortless daily drivers
- Hot rods & customs: the SBC’s compact dimensions fit virtually any chassis ever built
- Pro-touring & street/strip: the ZZ6’s 405 hp is the strongest factory-based small-block we stock
- Marine & industrial repowers: ask about marine-spec camshafts and cooling — see our marine engine service
Pair your small-block with a rebuilt gearbox from our transmission rebuilds programme and have the complete package fitted by our installation & fitting team.
Why Buy Your Small Block from NH Race Engine
✔ Real Workshop, Real Builders
We’re a working performance workshop at Haagweg 40, Kessel (NL) — not a box-shifter. The people answering your email build small-blocks weekly.
✔ Inspected & Verified
Every engine is checked on arrival — compression, leak-down, shipping damage — and dyno verification is available in our 1,500 hp cell.
✔ 12-Month Warranty
Our own warranty on top of manufacturer coverage, handled in-house in Europe — no transatlantic claims process. Register your warranty.
✔ Support After the Sale
Free installation guides, break-in procedures and tuning calculators — plus dyno tuning when you’re ready.
Getting Your Small Block Running — We’re With You After Delivery
A crate engine purchase doesn’t end at the delivery truck. Our free installation guides cover receiving, first start and break-in — critical on flat-tappet small-blocks; our tools & calculators help you size carburettors, gearing and airflow; and when the engine is in, our dyno testing & tuning service verifies the numbers with a printed sheet to prove it. If you’re supplying your old engine as part of the deal, our Core Exchange Program and core return process explain exactly how deposits and refunds work.
Frequently Asked Questions — Small Block Chevy
For classic cars, a well-tuned carburettor (supplied on turn-key engines like the 350 HO) is simple, period-correct and reliable. EFI conversions add cold-start manners, fuel economy and altitude compensation — worth it on daily drivers. We fit and tune both; ask for a comparison quote.
Almost certainly. The SBC is the most-swapped engine in history, with off-the-shelf mounts for hundreds of chassis — from ’32 Fords to BMWs. Tell us your make, model and year and we’ll confirm mounts, oil pan and header fitment before you order.
The 350/290 and 350 HO run happily on 95 RON. Higher-compression builds like the ZZ6 prefer 98 RON. We’ll confirm the exact requirement for your engine — and on dyno-tuned builds we calibrate to the fuel you’ll actually buy.
In-stock small-blocks ship from Kessel within 48 hours, crated, insured and tracked. Typical transit: 1–3 business days in the Benelux, 3–7 days elsewhere in Europe. Freight depends on destination — request a quote and it will include the delivered price, not just the engine.
Every small-block we sell carries our 12-month NH Race Engine warranty, handled in our own workshop — plus applicable manufacturer coverage (Chevrolet Performance crate engines carry a 24-month limited warranty from GM). Register your engine on our warranty page after delivery.
Get Your Small Block Quote Today
Tell us your vehicle, your goals and your country — we’ll reply within one business day with availability, delivered pricing and honest advice.
NH Race Engine — Haagweg 40, 5995 AB Kessel, Netherlands · info@nhraceengine.nl · VAT NL003829663B19 · KvK 83495096. Chevrolet, Chevy, Camaro, Corvette and Small Block are trademarks of General Motors, used here for identification only.
