Ford Performance goes all-in on 7.3-liter V-8 crate engine program, teases “Megazilla”
Ford Performance is beginning to expand its crate-engine ambitions for the heavy-duty 7.3-liter “Godzilla” V-8 that originally debuted in the 2020 Super Duty pickup. For gearheads interested in Ford’s return to big-inch, pushrod powerplants, the future is bright.
Mike Goodwin, product manager for Ford Performance, introduced the division’s plans to fully support the 7.3-liter for swaps and engine builds. Ford Performance will release the long-block’s individual components—such as the heads, block, and crank—and will also offer a whole powertrain that combines the hot-new 10-speed 10R140 automatic transmission with Ford’s Control Pack, a tunable PCM. Essentially, buyers can pickup a plug-and-play swap package directly from Ford.
One of the most overlooked areas of any swap is the front accessory drive. OEMs have traditionally left the aftermarket to rearrange and adapt components like the alternator, A/C compressor, and power-steering pumps to fit different builds, but Ford has announced that it will be offering its own Front Engine Accessory Drives (FEADs) to make customers’ lives even easier.
While the heavyweight Godzilla is still 150 pounds heavier than the Coyote, its displacement can’t be matched. The 7.3-liter may earn a skeptical reception from road racers and a handful of drag racers, but its stout block and rotating assembly contain the potential for serious power. In the right hands, this engine will more than compensate for its added heft compared to the Coyote.
The really exciting news is Goodwin’s promise of a “Megazilla” variation. We’ll likely see a ripper that sheds its truck-focused combo for a setup closer to that of the 790-hp monster built by Ford engine-whisperer Evan J. Smith. Hell, maybe we’ll find a pair of twisted rotors mounted between the 7.3-liter’s heads before long, given Ford’s penchant for throwing a blower on everything it possibly can. Either way, this is exciting news for those who were too impatient to wait for the 7.3-liter to end up in their hands through auctions or salvage yards.
