Hardcore Crate Engines from Motown and Merlin

We’ve argued that real hot rods need real power. Here’s how: with a new crate engine from Bill Mitchell’s Hardcore Products. You can get a Motown engine (to replace small-block Chevys) or a Merlin (to replace big-block Chevys) and forget about mundane displacements or boring performance (see the “Hardcore Crate Options” sidebar). We borrowed a 509ci Merlin, put it to the test, and were way impressed. While we have no hands-on experience with the Motown small-blocks, here’s the stuff we learned about Hardcore crate offerings:

• 100 Percent New: These engines are new, not rebuilt. Both the Motown and the Merlin use all-new blocks, heads, and intakes from World Products. The blocks have four-bolt mains and significant strength upgrades compared to stock Chevy blocks.

• Quality Components: Most Hardcore engines use Scat cranks; Wiseco or JE pistons; Manley connecting rods, valves, and timing chains; Crane cams; Speed-Pro rings and oil pumps; Milodon oil pans; Fel-Pro gaskets; and ARP fasteners. The 632ci Monster Merlins substitute Callies cranks, Eagle rods, Comp cams, Crower lifters, and Stef’s pumps and pans.

• Bolt ’Em In and Go: Each engine comes complete with a Hardcore Products–tuned Holley carb, a Hardcore HEI distributor, and Taylor plug wires. You need nothing more than headers, a water pump, a flywheel, and your choice of accessory-drive setups to get these things running. Any part designed for Chevy engines bolts right up. The Motowns and Merlins are both internally balanced, so there’s no hassle trying to find specially balanced torque converters or flywheels for externally balanced engines.

• Reliable Power: Every Motown and Merlin engine is hand-assembled, then run on the dyno to meet or exceed advertised power levels. Most are drastically underrated.

• Streetable Performance: The Hardcore engines listed in this story are all designed to run on 92-octane pump gas. We’re not going to claim they run nice and smooth—these are lumpy-cammed performance mills—but they can all be driven daily or cross-country in the right car.

• You Can Trust ’Em: A two-year, 24,000-mile warranty comes with the 415, 509, and 540 engines. The company celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and owner Bill Mitchell is a street rodder, driving a Merlin-powered ’34 sedan and currently building a second ’34.

Sound like too much hype? We’re not the only ones who like these engines—Hardcore has delivered over 480 of the best-selling 509 we tested. We also spoke to Ray Doe of RB’s Obsolete about the small-block in his last project truck and he said, “That thing is great—it really has some snort.” True. Every hot rod should!