10 Things That Made The Ford 7.3 Godzilla V8 Crate Engine Downright Insane

Summary

• The 7.3-liter gas Ford Godzilla V8 engine was introduced to replace diesel engines, boasting 430 horsepower.
• The engine’s capability extends to reaching 790 horsepower naturally aspirated and 1,450 horsepower with a Whipple supercharger.
• Despite its massive power, the Godzilla engine delivers decent fuel efficiency, range, and reliability, and allows for extreme performance if desired.

In typical American fashion, Ford returned to its roots to solve the problems that come with modern diesel engines and their emissions. The solution? Big displacement gas alternatives. So, in 2020, Ford introduced the 7.3-liter Godzilla V8. Its main purpose was to replace Ford’s Boss and diesel lineup of engines, all while keeping the heritage of the American giant alive.

It was first introduced to Ford’s lineup of Super Duty trucks, then added to the E-series a year later. The American manufacturer thought of making this engine available as a crate buy too, meaning that you could get this giant engine shipped to your front door. Ford noticed how successful the Godzilla was, so it introduced a smaller 6.8-liter variant of the engine back in 2023, dubbed the “mini Godzilla.” It features a shorter stroke. It was made exclusively for the F-250 and F-350 pickups with the XL trim to meet tighter emission regulations.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Ford, and other authoritative sources, including Car and Driver, and Ford Authority.

10 The 7.3-Liter Godzilla Boasts Impressive Displacement

Maximum Power: 430 HP

It is surprising to see such an engine come out with the modern regulations currently taking place. Though on paper the engine might seem overkill, it makes perfect sense when you consider its purpose. The engine was created with freight in mind, and by having such a large displacement, Ford made sure that the Godzilla would not break under any amount of stress.

Stock 7.3 V8 Specifications

Out of the factory, the Godzilla manages to output an impressive 430 horsepower at 5,500 rpm, which is very close to the redline. Though these numbers might look high up in the rev range, the fact that the engine is naturally aspirated gives it zero problems getting and staying where the power is.

9 The 7.3-Liter Godzilla Is Highly Capable Even Without Forced Induction

Maximum Power: 790 HP

The video above shows the raw potential of the power plant if modified as Ford equipped the Godzilla with adequate internal components. Because of this, the 7.3-liter giant is capable of reaching the 700s in the horsepower department with just a different intake body, pistons, and crankshaft.

Most impressively, this can all be achieved while remaining naturally aspirated, relying solely on atmospheric pressure to drive air into the combustion chambers.

Tuned 7.3 – Naturally Aspirated – REvan Evan Tuned Engine

8 Whipple Supercharger Upgrade Is A Bolt-On Away

Maximum Power: 1,450 HP

The Whipple supercharger is a game-changer for those keen to get the absolute most out of this crate engine. While the Godzilla is more than capable in its naturally aspirated form, it could easily breach four-digit horsepower readings with the addition of forced air induction. In this case, the gigantic 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger is almost a bolt-on for Godzilla owners.

Tuned 7.3 Godzilla with Whipple Supercharger – REvan Evan

With a crate price of $9,000, all you need is an extra $10,000 to make 1,450 horsepower at the wheels. If lucky, you might come across Whipple superchargers for less than $7,000.

7 The Godzilla Has Elite Towing Capacity From Factory

The stock purpose of the Godzilla engine is to power Ford’s six-and-a-half thousand-pound pick-up trucks, such as the heavy-duty series. So it comes naturally that this engine thrives when it comes to towing serious amounts. The Godzilla will have you covered for almost 20,000 pounds, only being 2,000 pounds behind the diesel 6.7-liter PowerStroke. These impressive numbers will allow you to tow anything up to a fifth-wheeler.

This makes the Godzilla great for off-the-grid adventures, allowing you to tow an impressive amount straight out of the crate. A simple stage one re-map will see the torque figure breach the 500-pound mark at similar engine speeds, allowing you to tow big trailers even more effortlessly.

6 The Godzilla Allows You To Accelerate Like A Sports Car

The stock version of the 7.3 Godzilla engine will get you from a standstill to 60 MPH in just over seven seconds. Within the states, this is a rather standard performance. But if we factor in that the Godzilla achieves this within a Ford F-250 (which weighs over 6,500 pounds), this number becomes more impressive.

Going back to the earlier mentioned tuning capabilities of the engine, the Godzilla can easily sit at 700 horsepower without needing to be opened up. Such a tune can get the F-250 moving from 0 to 60 in under 4.5 seconds, which is sports car space.

5 Iconic American V8 Rumble Is Prominent In The Godzilla

The 7.3 Godzilla is an American V8 built in Canada, which translates to a very distinct sound signature. There is no better way to describe sound than playing it out loud, and the video above is a perfect example. The Godzilla is no exception, as the idle rumble is hugely iconic of American muscle cars. Though you only get 76 decibels of noise in the cabin of an F-250, the rumble is still present with the Godzilla.

Upgrade the engine with a Whipple supercharger and the whole sound signature changes. While forced induction reduces the raw sound coming out of an engine, it gains another distinct and dynamic sound: the supercharger whistle. Commonly associated with Dodge Hellcats, the whistle created by a supercharger makes the Godzilla nothing less than a remarkable presence on the roads.

4 The Godzilla Impresses With Its Real-World Range

Big displacement engines are not as fuel-efficient as their smaller counterparts. The cylinders require more fuel to be injected within them to achieve the desired fuel-to-air ratio. This makes manufacturers lean towards diesel engines for trucks and utility vehicles as they typically achieve better fuel economy.

Despite this, the gas-powered Godzilla still achieves 14 MPG compared to Ford’s F-250. This is only 2 MPG lower than the 6.7-liter PowerStroke diesel alternative, which is impressive from a gas engine. The Godzilla can still keep its fuel economy above 9 MPG while towing over 16,000 pounds in the 6,600-pound F-250. The diesel alternative only tops the 7.3 Godzilla by one extra MPG while towing the same load.

Ford equipped its SuperDuty line-up with adequate-sized gas tanks, from 34 gallons up to 48 gallons, all depending on the wheelbase chosen. This translates to the Godzilla achieving a real-world range from 306 to 670 miles on a single fuel tank, which, combined with its towing prowess, is bound to get you wherever you desire to go.

3 The Crate Version Of The 7.3-Liter Has A Competitive Price Point

Ford undoubtedly realized the versatility of their 442 cubic inch Godzilla, hence you can pick one up for under $9,000 today. As mentioned above, the engine can tow almost as well as the PowerStroke diesel, all while being as fast as sports sedans. A quick internet search will reveal that the market for big block V8’s hoovers is around the $7,000 mark. The fact that this new and potent engine can be found in that price range, thereabouts, is remarkable.

The power plant weighs 580 pounds alone, and within the crate come all the cables, bolts, and coils you need to install the Godzilla. It is a lot of bang for your buck if you consider that the whole package is 42″x 42″x 45″.

2 Ford Did Not Overlook Reliability When Engineering The Godzilla

Being built from cast iron blocks and aluminum cylinder heads, Ford did not overlook the materials or the technology utilized in the Godzilla. The crankshaft is made from forged steel, while the headers contain an OHV set-up featuring varying cam timing. Specialists on the internet reinforce that the internals of the engine are good for over 600 horsepower.

But if you choose not to upgrade the engine, then you can expect an impressive 200,000-300,000 mile life expectancy with some websites claiming way more. The engine was also made with idling in mind, as diesel alternatives struggle to idle for long periods due to their after-treatment systems. The Godzilla does not require such a system, as gas-powered vehicles run cleaner and smoother.

1 Crazy Builds Powered By The Godzilla

People want to see how far the Godzilla can be taken in terms of performance and the results are downright wild, just like in the video above. REVen Evan showcased their 93’LX Mustang coupe equipped with the all-mighty Godzilla that is drag-strip orientated.

Though their official numbers have not been published, the rumor is the LX is capable of running sub-8 seconds in the quarter mile, which puts even supercars to shame. It would be safe to assume that, based on previous videos, the mechanics that pushed the Godzilla to the edge are running over 1,500 horsepower with race fuel.