Lucas Bell 
When it comes to building a project car, deciding which powertrain to use can be a tough choice. Thanks to the ever growing support from automaker’s own crate engine lineups, it can be tempting to go the OEM route. However, if big power is what you are after, the folks over at Nelson Racing Engines should really be on your call list. NRE has just dropped an all-new big block LSX crate engine, and it happens to make 1,200 horsepower.
For those who are unfamiliar, Nelson Racing Engines has been building high-horsepower motors for hot-rods and muscle cars since 1996. Located in Chatsworth, California, NRE builds these power plants entirely in house, from the bare block to dyno testing at the end. We’ve reported on some of the work that this shop has done in the past, including their work with American supercar manufacturer SSC. The new SSC Tuatara is supposedly capable of 300 mph, thanks in no small part to its NRE-built 5.9L twin-turbo flat-plane crank that produces up to 1,750 horsepower on E85.
The new LSX crate engine offering from Nelson Racing Engines may not be as powerful as the SSC-specific motor, but it remains extremely potent. Thanks to its Dart LS-next block and fully forged internals, NRE was able to fit this 427 cubic-inch monster with a 4.0L Whipple Supercharger complete with an intercooler system. The end result is a dyno-sheet verified 1,200 horsepower, which is even more than their last 427 cubic-inch package. The Darth Vader appearance package may just be for looks, but all will know that there is no escape from whatever this engine powers.
Nelson Racing Engines will sell you this all-new 427 cubic-inch big block LSX crate engine for $25,999, which is actually kind of a bargain at this power level. The package includes a tuned ECU, the wiring harness, and all of the necessary sensors needed for installation.
