Last year, Ford launched a high-torque V8 for use in its Super Duty pick-up trucks. The thick 7.3-liter is now also available for do-it-yourselfers, via the American phenomenon known as ‘crate engine’. More important news: an even more powerful block is coming.
The 7.3-liter (445 ‘cubic inch’, but also in America this is often referred to as liters) was introduced in the F-250, F-350 and F-450, the larger and heavier brothers of the well-known F- 150. In fact, the engine succeeds a massive V10 in the US and is therefore also available in the E-series, Ford’s long-running van.
The claim that Americans get relatively little power from very large power sources has been outdated for a long time, but is still valid for this specific 7.3. That has nothing to do with the ability of Ford, but everything to do with the choices of the brand. This motor is primarily intended for real workhorses, so torque and reliability are more important. The gigantic petrol engine delivers 436 hp at 5,500 rpm and 644 Nm at 4,000 rpm, while 542 Nm is available from 1,500 rpm.
Ford, however, envisions other uses of this block, so it also offers the engine as a ‘crate engine’. This means that enthusiasts can order the power source separately from Ford and then spoon it – often in heavily modified form – into a car of their choice. In the video below, Ford’s Mike Goodwin explains that it will not only stay with the engine itself, but that Ford will also offer just about all individual parts. For example, home tinkerers can choose whether they want to apply the whole thing, just the block or just some attachments to their project.
Those fans of old-fashioned gasoline fun are apparently still enough, because Ford is taking good care of this. For example, we are working on a manual gearbox, in addition to the automatic transmission that is already available. Goodwin also promises an even more powerful ‘crate engine’. Where the 7.3 is known as ‘Godzilla’, the newcomer is eloquently referred to as ‘Megazilla’. It is not yet known whether this will entail an even larger cylinder capacity or other interventions.