Ford Godzilla Crate Engine

[hossbronco]

Nice! I have an '05 6.0L diesel in an Excursion. I guess that explains where we stand, haha.

Are you going to put it in a Bronco?

 

[Seventee]

Nice! I have an ‘05 6.0L diesel in an Excursion. I guess that explains where we stand, haha.

Are you going to put it in a Bronco?

No, I haul a truck camper and tow a boat in the summer so I intend to buy an F-350 with the 7.3 Godzilla when I decide to replace my '06.

 

[Seventee]

I should also add that one of the purposes of the Godzilla crate is to replace V-10s in re-powering existing chassis. So I could theoretically do that with my '06 but really want to upgrade to a one-ton long bed.

 

[bigmuddy]

I have ridden in my buddies new F350 with the Godzilla motor. He regularly tows his bumper pull camper which is 35ft and you don't even know its back there in the Missouri hills. He liked the idea of the diesel but for the added cost plus maintenance it just didn't make sense. He is very happy with what he paid and how it performs towing and driving in general.

 

[hossbronco]

That's nice to hear. My previous experience with gasoline engines in heavy duty vehicles has not been great. I'd still love to see them come out with a performance version of this engine from the factory.

 

[rguest3]

There are already super charger kits for the 7.3L Godzilla that are about $5500 and over 600 pounds of torque.

A twin Screw Supercharger is coming out soon too.

Considering the Much higher cost of the diesel, this is a Very good option if not towing heavy all the time.

Complete rebuilt with Supercharger are getting well over 1000 HP.

 

[73azbronco]

Nothing good can come from 1000hp at 3am.

 

[nvrstuk]

Big hills vary across the United States-big time.

Example: When I tow to Moab, UT or several other destinations in MT and UT, I have options and 2 of them take me over 8,000 ft mountain passes. The difference btw towing over a 1100ft "hill" pass or towing over a 8,000 ft mountain pass can't be compared as there are no similarities.

I have 2 mountain passes on 4 lane roads that are a minimum of 4,000 ft within 75 miles of my house. 4 more major two lane mountain passes that are also 4,000 ft just a couple more hours away. Towing around here needs a truck with power AND with BRAKES.

Just tossing this out there because switchbacking up a highway with a 6% incline for miles is different than crusing across flatlands when comparing power needs. I feel this every time I tow because I have a V10. lol A couple of these passes I cruise up them at 25mph in 1st as that's all I got. 2 others I can cruise up them at 40mph in 2nd WOOOHOOO. The new diesels with 475hp/1,000ftlbs pulling 35' toy haulers fly by me like I"m on 4 cylinders...

Put forced induction with support on that Godzilla and it sounds like a good engine. That many cubes with that many hp stock from Ford is not impressive.

I mean if you're swapping this in a Bronco or in a performance type car w/o modding this engine then you'll (I sure would) be dissappointed. Naming an engine Godzilla makes it seem like it should have "King Kong" power output which it doesn't.

Slap a blower on this no longer anywhere close to stock engine and then it becomes "Godzilla". LOL

 

[nvrstuk]

Just exploring all engine swaps before moving forward with my build. If simplicity was the deciding factor I would just rebuild the 302 that's in it.

I want to run fuel injection and 351W, or Stroker variants will require some adders (mustang/explorer efi, wiring harness, ecm, or aftermarket efi system, etc.). If there is an option available that rolled out of a current Ford plant with modern fuel injection, modern wiring, ecu that were all designed to run together then I want to at least look at the feasibility.

... but the Godzilla requires a $3500 add on self contained controller to run the engine, therefore this doesn't fit into your "designed to run together" parameters. Just pointing this out as any 351W stroker based motor is a TON simpler and easier to bolt into a Bronco (been done with EFI for over 20 yrs now) w/o an "unknown" controller that is brand new to the market- and only one controller on the market at this time can really cause i$$ues. If they go belly up and you need parts you have a $10,000 pile of almost obsolete parts that would have to be parted out or installed in an OE application.

This should make the Windsor based platform easier to look at.

 

[t120r]

There are already super charger kits for the 7.3L Godzilla that are about $5500 and over 600 pounds of torque.

A twin Screw Supercharger is coming out soon too.

Considering the Much higher cost of the diesel, this is a Very good option if not towing heavy all the time.

Complete rebuilt with Supercharger are getting well over 1000 HP.

It comes with hyper pistons from the factory. I''d want to be VERY careful with any power adder that the fuel is consistent. Hypers don't like to ping.

 

[Jmjuhl]

... but the Godzilla requires a $3500 add on self contained controller to run the engine, therefore this doesn't fit into your "designed to run together" parameters. Just pointing this out as any 351W stroker based motor is a TON simpler and easier to bolt into a Bronco (been done with EFI for over 20 yrs now) w/o an "unknown" controller that is brand new to the market- and only one controller on the market at this time can really cause i$$ues. If they go belly up and you need parts you have a $10,000 pile of almost obsolete parts that would have to be parted out or installed in an OE application.

This should make the Windsor based platform easier to look at.

Ford will have a control pack at some point but would imagine it will be manual leaving a stand alone controller for a 6R80 or 10r80. 10r140 is a big SOB. My initial thought process exploring the Godzilla was essentially modern electronics/pcm controlling a modern pushrod with dyno curves that look like a 408 stroker. It addresses the off idle/low rpm torque gap with the Coyotes but at a larger complexity level to fit.

While it has been done for 20 years now on the Windsor's the Explorer and Mustang swap PCMs are getting up there in age and EFI guy is the only person I know that tunes those. I'm sure there are others but that number is small and shrinking which could also result in a $10k pile of parts becoming obsolete, at some point.

At this point a decent built 351W or 408 with an aftermarket Pro Flo 4 seems most viable, but to your point not “future proof”. As much as I hate to say it the Coyote seems to be the one that is the most future proof, has huge tuning support…if I can just get over the mod motor sound in an EB.

 

[hossbronco]

If you're going with a new block, look at the 427W that uses the same stroke length as a 408. If you're using an original 351 block the 408 is a great choice.

 

[nvrstuk]

I'm no pro stroker builder by ANY means but after spec'ing and building more than a few I have learned that you can't go wrong in any way with an aftermarket block. They solve several potentially huge issues 100%. One is cooling, the other is block destruction (think '94-96 roller motor oil galley/cam brg issue).

If you go to dyno tuning places there are guys out there with Moates Qtrhorse tuning knowledge. Garry is great, wealth of knowledge, crazy guy who helps you out in time of need- can't beat any of those attributes! lol

Don't hate me forever but the platform that ain't going away unless ALL platforms are going away due to moving towards electrics or other future tech is the LS platform.

 

[Jmjuhl]

I'm no pro stroker builder by ANY means but after spec'ing and building more than a few I have learned that you can't go wrong in any way with an aftermarket block. They solve several potentially huge issues 100%. One is cooling, the other is block destruction (think '94-96 roller motor oil galley/cam brg issue).

If you go to dyno tuning places there are guys out there with Moates Qtrhorse tuning knowledge. Garry is great, wealth of knowledge, crazy guy who helps you out in time of need- can't beat any of those attributes! lol

Don't hate me forever but the platform that ain't going away unless ALL platforms are going away due to moving towards electrics or other future tech is the LS platform.

Haha! That is a true statement.

If I go stroker it will be on a Dart block. Putting a 35 spline 9 inch in the rear so it will hold up to the powerÂ…just trying the walk the line between useful power in a short wheelbase on 35's versus excessive power causing breakage.

Nothing is future proof but with the money going into a full frame up restomod I want to make sure I get the most years of enjoyment out of it. All said and done the difference between a junkyard efi 351W and a modern motor with control pack and serp/etc is only about 5-10% of total build cost. Money matters but saving a few bucks on the front end may cost me somewhere else later.

 

[hossbronco]

I'm getting my 427W Stroker at fordstrokers.com. The 408 and 427 from that shop cost the same. They're essentially the same, just a different bore (in a Dart block). There are several great shops out there.

 

[nvrstuk]

Well, I know "nuthing" about grenading parts from power increases over the decades! Nothing!

Torque eats parts and you generate TON's of torque with lower gears when crawling on extremely high traction areas with frt/rear axles locked. Add in 40's aired down for a larger patch and ... parts twist.

 

[Yeller]

Don't hate me forever but the platform that ain't going away unless ALL platforms are going away due to moving towards electrics or other future tech is the LS platform.

No hate here;D

That's been part of my drive is the level of suport, I'm currently installing another LS in a non Ford project that is 18 years old and supported to the point that if for some reason there is an issue getting repairs is easy. If I could have afforded another 3k for the project I would have done an LT but really has nothing more to offer than the engine 2 generations older doesn't other than a slight boost in power just from refined fuel and air control and just the simple fact it's the newest platform. Even the LT platform is 6 years old and figured out.

 

[Seventee]

Just tossing this out there because switchbacking up a highway with a 6% incline for miles is different than crusing across flatlands when comparing power needs. I feel this every time I tow because I have a V10. lol A couple of these passes I cruise up them at 25mph in 1st as that's all I got. 2 others I can cruise up them at 40mph in 2nd WOOOHOOO. The new diesels with 475hp/1,000ftlbs pulling 35' toy haulers fly by me like I"m on 4 cylinders...

What are you towing that puts you in 25 mph in first?

I also have a V-10 and drive a mountain pass that is 6-8% grades for miles every day. So I'm curious as I've never had a load do that.

 

[Broncobowsher]

430 HP is stock power rating, in idiotproof tune, regular fuel, full stock intake and exhaust that has to pass truck noise laws. You can leave your foot on the floor for as long as there is fuel in the tank and make the HP number all day long. That's a workhorse truck engine. Yes it can be higher, but that is when you transition from an industrial motor to a race motor. The further you go the more trade offs there are.

 

[Yeller]

This is a common sight in the Sierra Nevada's and Cascades.

the other thing that has to be taken into consideration is differences in transmission technology from a 4r100 to a 10r140, night and day difference towing or hauling when you can keep the motor in its sweet spot.