Ford's 450HP 7.3L 'Godzilla' V8 | Inside Info & Spy Pics | Where's the Direct Injection?

Ford's 450HP 7.3L 'Godzilla' V8 | Inside Info & Spy Pics | Where's the Direct Injection?
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It's safe to say that there's some excitement around the release of Ford's New 7.3L Godzilla V8 Engine. Let's face it, no one really expected to see a brand new pushrod V8 engine design from Ford Motor Company in 2019. We here at SVTP did our best to bring you the insider info we uncovered during the 7.X's development, and now that it is here we can share with you some of the "behind-the-scenes" materials we were able to dig up and some HP numbers we keep hearing batted around.

Here are our previous articles on the 7.3L if you want to review the story's development:

So to not bury the lead, we've heard from several sources that the internal goal for the 7.3L Godzilla engine is 450HP. It may come in a little higher or lower, but that seems to be the figure Ford engineers were initially shooting for. No word yet on a torque figure, but my guess is somewhere around 500lbft. One thing is for certain, big power is going to be made on the low-end of the RPM range. For the current applications the 7.3L is slated for, stump-pulling grunt always on tap is a standing order.


Another good bit of information is that the lead on this engine program was Brian Wolfe. If that name sounds familiar it's probably because Wolfe is an avid drag racer, and was the Director of Ford Racing during its glory days. His name still carries a lot of weight with those who are working hard to unleash maximum performance from all things Blue Oval related. He was known to be extremely accessible, so much so that he happily took a phone call from me in 2004 to discuss the Terminator and SVTP. I was only about 21 then, but he took the time out of his day to talk cars with someone he had never met that just happened to get his number from a mutual friend. That's just the kind of guy he is. I can't disclose all the features of the 7.3 over which he personally bludgeoned the bean counters to make sure they stayed in the program, but in a future installment we'll cover them. You're going to see a lot of the knowledge and experience Wolfe gained from Pro-Stock Drag Racing transferred into the DNA of the 7.3L.


Speaking of DNA, we have healthy looking iron block, some ridiculously gorgeous aluminum heads, and a forged crank. I can see this engine becoming a more popular swap option than the 5.0 Coyote V8 in the next few years (if FPRP cranks out a control pack for it). You may be asking yourself, "What happened to SVTP's predictions of Direct Injection." All I can say is that the engine was developed with the addition of direct injection in mind. It could be that it's being held back for a future program or a mid-cycle power increase. With dual-fuel systems and 12:1 compression you're easily looking at a 500+ Horsepower engine. We'll get into that more bellow as we review some spy pics for which many Bothans died to bring us.


Ford, especially the performance side, listens to their customers. If you want to see this engine design in more than just trucks you really need to make your voice heard. If I can point them to a 50+ page thread of current Ford owners saying they want this engine in a Mustang there's a chance we can make that happen. I'll take mine with an aluminum block, a destroked crank, in Grabber Blue, with the name Boss 429 emblazoned on the side. What about you? For now, let's do a deep dive into the details and pics:

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Let's start off with this little crop of the head. As you can see here, the port for a Direct Fuel Injector has been machined above the intake port.


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Here's a little bigger view in which you can see the intake port, spring pockets, guides, and pushrod through-holes. Also take notice of the extensive ribbing cast in for extra strength and the pedestal mounts for the roller rockers.


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Here you can see the wide based mounting surface, spark plug holes with a generous number of threads, and the exhaust port.


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Speaking of ports, check out these intake ports.


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They are a wide-mouthed design that are undoubtedly capable of massive flow right out of the box.

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I mean just look at this port. Imagine what these will flow with a little port work from @Livernois Motorsports.

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Remember us saying the combustion chamber held massive valves and had a similar shape to a Dart Pro1 head? Well here it is. Notice the pocket cast into the top for a DI injector. It doesn't look like coolant flow or oil drain-back will be an issue either.


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It all adds up to a new Ford Engine that performance enthusiasts can really get excited about. I want to see Godzilla swaps in everything.
 
Hmm. 2021 I believe is the raptor mid cycle re-fresh. A 7.3L option would be pretty awesome. Might need a different cam/intake though to put the power in a more usable range where towing ratings and GWVR are less/lighter in a 1/2 ton truck.

Also since the 250+ don't require fuel ratings I wonder where this will come in. I would hope (and it sounds) like it will be more efficient than the 6.2 but I don't know if it would meet the EPA standards for 1/2 ton trucks. One can hope. The idea of a Raptor with a big block V8 is amazing. I was glad to get rid of my ecoboost raptor, but I would be back in a heartbeat should this motor become an option.

Though if not a F250 super crew lariat with sport package (assuming it carries over to 2020) sounds pretty sweet too
 
The more I’ve thought about it, at this stage, it makes sense to transition to a smaller easier packaged power dense engine.

The modular architecture is great, but it’s costly to produce and repair. Yes there is retooling or a drastic change was made from dohc to ohv, but on the other hand, gettin more power safely from 5L will be a big task. For truck applications, it’s very difficult as torque will go bye bye.

In mustang applications, boost. You’d be looking at factory boosted. There is slivers of hp available on the table, maybe 490-510hp na. Thing is it won’t be noticeable behind the wheel.

GM will come out with 475 and 500hp 6.2- 6.6L v8 variants (or whatever) of the camaro. If it’s $3-5k less than a mustang, and makes much more satisfying torque, people will be jumping ship.

Dodge is in a very unique position. They have the heaviest car, the least modern engine, the slowest lap times, but by far the most bravado. And they are firmly gaining on mustang sales.

I think ford could go very modern ohv v8’s from 5.8L to 7L with an durable aluminum fill of the iron mold and have a hell of an engine for mustang use. Next gen.

Sound crazy, but:
•shorter, narrower, smaller engine. You can have a smaller front end and position the front geometry even more optimally.
•this can cut back weight and more importantly drag coefficient. Helps everything.
•lower center of gravity, lower polar yaw, easier to recess the engine rearward. Easier to figure out packaging.

The mustang needs to address weight and size.

The other option is a very sophisticated sohc conversion of these new bigger engines that physically fits the size of the current engine bay, but operates on very large valves for great breathing as well as 6-7L instead of very strung 5L design.

I’m no engineer and even still I realize how costly such a switch would be. I do realize though that a huge hole currently exists in the mustang line up. Entry v8 ala charger/challenger R/T.

Ecoboost is 310hp, $~26k. Gt is 460hp $~37k. New 2018 Mustang gt’s have $2-5k write downs, and LOTS of bad press about engine failures. The more high strung an engine is, easier it fails. Physics.

So: how about a Mustang LX at $32k starting. 390hp/390tq 5.8L V8. Just enough to touch high 12’s with the manual in perfect hands and mid high 12’s with the 10a. Pipe dream sure, but kids buy up pipe dreams, adults put them off until they hit mid life crises.

Convincing a 20-something to drop 40-50g’s on a pretty nice mustang gt isn’t an easy sale. Offer them about 400hp and low $30’s, that’s $500 a month for the freedom and expression of a mustang with v8 power. Dealer incentives could see 10-15,000 extra mustangs sold for high $27-29k with ease. The engine is $1500 cheaper to produce. Why struggle to move a 460hp car at low 30 tip top 29k that sits on lot 8months and costs more to produce?

Volume builds profits. Kia stinger, Hyundai whatever rwd thing, CHALLENGER, CAMARO are catching up market share.

Offer this with a boss pack (sounds way better than performance package)

5.8L (351) 400hp $32k to $45k loaded up
6.4L (390) 475hp $39k to $55k loaded up
7.1L (429) 550hp $60-75k loaded up.

Supercharge the 7.1 for a cobrajet 428 making easy 825hp pretty damn reliably. Sleeve it a hair to have 428 or whatever. Even if you left it a 429 who would care.

Pipe dream stuff sure but what’s the alternative?

$33k ttv6 ecoboost mustang with 370hp and 480tq? Ok. It would cannibalize and hurt sales.

5.2L gt with 500hp? Ok, the 5.0 is currently very revvy and fun but also experiencing engine failures now much more so than ever before. There isn’t a 100,000 mile safe 5.0L 500hp recipe on this architecture. The brand gets hurt by the fails and the lack of torque isn’t a selling point compared to a hellcat or camaro. Keep in mind that 485 scat pack challengers a8 are running 12.1/12.0@117+. Yes the gt a10 runs an 11.8 in perfect conditions, but for a daily driver, the challenger is a great car. That’s why it’s caught way up in sales. It’s leap frogged the camaro.

I’m not saying I’m right or have it perfect, I’m just saying the mustang is at an inflection point where it either moves away from affordable and leaves a huge void in fords $30k offering, or they get another 5-10 years of incredibly strong sales out of the mustang.

Gut hunch, I think tens of thousands of people would buy a low to mid $30k 400hp v8 mustang in today’s cheap gas environment.
 
Didnt read the whole page on my lunch break, ... any details on the bore spacing; bore/stroke, rod length??? F'n AWESOME exhaust port!! Best exhuast port since the FE engine. Looked like the valves at about a 13 degree rake from flat, and also looked like the valves are slightly tipped inwards towards the centerline of the cylinder. Cant be sure though.
Also, anyone know if this is a 90 degree engine? With as many times as the engineer at Ford kept bragging about how "narrow" it was Im wondering if it's a 72 degree engine.
Hoping this is a large bore/small stroke engine like the 385 family.
 
This engine sounds awesome. I need one in my life! Lol only thing I hope ford doesn’t do is put that stupid active fuel management in this engine. But I’m thinking with a cam swap and full bolt ons this can be an easy high 500 hp beast depending on what power this engine is delivered to us at. But can you say torque monster?!
 
I doubt they’d do that, but I also want some real specs on both this 7.3 and the boosted 5.2!
The 7.3 if an evolution of the 6.2, it has 500”+ cube potential and will make us blue oval fans very happy!
-J
 
WINDSOR 445 FT
deep skirt iron block 4 main and 2 cross bolt
forged steel crank, forged rods
variable roller cam in block
variable chain oil pump out front
highport aluminum heads
inline valves, roller rockers
head port injection
10.5/1
50 lbs lighter than 6.2...
ok so whats in stone so far on dimensions?
ford says longer than the 6.2 and mod v10
with 4.22 bore (427), 3.98 stroke(428)
so could be close to FE (4.63 BS AND 10.17 deck)
but with an oil pump out front
FORD SAID THEY LEFT SOME ROOM IN THERE FOR BORE AND STROKE SO LETS SAY 4.73 BS AT LEAST. fat guess.

ok .020 over to start = 450 ci
1/4 inch stroker crank = 478
1/2 inch stroker = 506
maybe it can go .080 = 520
and a 3/4 in. stroker = 550

anyone know the bore space or deck ?
 
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ford may have pigeon holed themselves into the tt v6 raptor due to the ecoboost branding efforts, perhaps a higher level raptor though. Raptor X 7.3?
 
Nice idea, but I’d be happier with the 3.5 EcoBoost in the Ranger Raptor available in the US. The big 7.3 in the big Raptor would be the choice of me and many others I’d bet, just if Ford hears us.
-J
 
Hey @SID297, I heard some rumblings of a possible Power Wagon competitor from the Blue Oval based on the Superduty, anything to this and if so any news, with all this 7.3L Godzilla engine news I feel this would fit the bill perfectly?
 

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