I think of a crate engine as being a factory-built engine that has no specific application, but comes with better-than-stock components and is covered by a factory warranty. It can usually be installed into a wide variety of applications.
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difference in a motor and an engine.
A motor is converting electric energy into mechanical energy. A engine is converting chemical energy into mechanical energy.
All engines have a block. But when people refer to crate they mean they bought it from somewhere already built and they are refering to the crate charge from FedEx or UPS.