American car manufacturer Chevrolet is pretty much exclusively known for its great lineup of highly competitive vehicles such as the Silverado truck, the Suburban SUV, and the EV Bolt variants. As General Motors' most important brand, Chevrolet definitely emphasizes car production more than anything else they do, but that doesn’t mean it's their only gig.

When people think about sourcing parts for project cars or rebuilds, dealerships (or even junkyards) are usually the first options when in search of simple components. But what about engines and transmissions?

Buying a used car and stripping it of its heart could be an option, but to all but the most informed of car enthusiasts, it might come as a surprise to know that Chevrolet and other carmakers actually sell independent engine blocks straight out of the factory, and some of them are insane.

Chevrolet has been doing this for years now, but towards the end of 2021, it unveiled what is by far its craziest and most expensive engine to date. With over 1000 horsepower and more torque than you could ask for, the ZZ632/1000 Big-Block crate engine by Chevrolet is a complete monster. Let’s get into the details.

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Specs Of Chevy’s ZZ632 Crate Engine

ZZ632/1000 chevrolet big-block engine
via: gmperformancemotor.com

We already mentioned that this beast of an engine has north of 1000 horsepower, coming in at exactly 1004 horses, which is just mind-boggling especially when you consider the fact that it puts out that power on normal pump gas. Add 876 pound-feet of torque to the equation, and we’re pretty much talking about hypercar performance specs. Chevy’s most powerful crate engine is also their largest, with a cylinder capacity of 632 cubic inches or 10.3 liters - yes, you read that correctly.

Getting into the specifics, the ZZ632/1000 crate engine reaches its max rpm at 7,000. Power is still healthy all the way through, as the engine puts down 600 hp at just 4,000 rpm and 800 hp at 5,000, making for a good power increment as you give it more gas. The V8 features CNC-machined aluminum cylinder heads that are symmetrical, with intake ports that are identical in length and volume, allowing for similar power output for each individual cylinder.

Related: 10 Cars With 4 Cylinder Engines That Can Outrun A V8 (And 10 That Are Way Too Weak)

How The ZZ632 Big-Block Was Created, And How Much It Costs

Chevy ZZ632 big-block engine
via: gmperformancemotor.com

Chevy’s new engine is based on the same mold as the brand’s ZZ572 crate engine - which makes pretty good power in its own right, but the iron castings are larger, allowing for a larger stroke and more power as a result. Other parts of the engine were also modified to generate space for the larger stroke, as well as further upgrades to ensure durability.

All these means that the ZZ632/1000 is also Chevy’s most expensive engine ever; it was announced with a whopping MSRP of $37,758, meaning it will cost you just as much or maybe even more than the car you intend to put it on, but after going through its respectable specs, it's easy to see why the engine costs so much.

It takes a brave person to fit such a beastly engine into their project car and do so successfully, and someone even braver to actually get behind the wheel of the monster-hearted car. With great power comes great responsibility, but with that in mind, all those willing would surely be in line for an unforgettable experience.