If you already have drop handlebars, I'd go with a $12 Nashbar or Sunlite front rack and ziptie a Wald 137 ($20-$35) to it. The problem with a crate up front seems like it would be depth as well as height, making a good bit of weight forward. If you're interested in preserving handling, I would go with the somewhat low Sunlite/Nashbar rack and the Wald. I had this set up and it worked very well.

If you're interested in changing bars as well, get flats or risers and get the humongous Wald 139!