FORD`s super secret Megazilla V8

[Dirtman]

NHRA uses ONLY pushrod engines for top fuel because those are the rules. So yea top fuel cars make 10k, BUT, if more sophisticated OHC engines were allowed they would make even more power...

Back in the day I think it was John Force who messed around with using 428 OHC engines. They weren't legal in NHRA competition but they were blowing the doors off the regular legal pushrod top fuel engines.

Pushrods are a limiting factor and weak link in an engine. OHC engines can run more valves (more flow), stronger springs to eliminate valve float so they could run at higher RPMs, and use better more advanced cam lobe profiles, have better top end lubrication, as well as eliminating the weak link.
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And like Sno said... kinda moot comparing an engine with about a 5 second lifespan.

 

[JohnnyO]

Some folks need the power in their truck but a diesel isn't worth the extra $10,000 to them.

 

[Dirtman]

Some folks need the power in their truck but a diesel isn't worth the extra $10,000 to them.

Exactly, the gas engine isn't "better" it's cheaper. An N/A iron block pushrod engine is simply cheaper to make.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Exactly, the gas engine isn't "better" it's cheaper. An N/A iron block pushrod engine is simply cheaper to make.

And packages much better. This is why LS is the king of engine swaps now. You can't put a Coyote where it won't fit. And if it won't fit, who cares how much power it makes.

Like a Ranger, people like having things like A/C, heat... and steering. A friggin 460 fits better than a Coyote. Heck a 460 is narrower than wussy a 2v 4.6...

The 'zilla is tuned for longitivity in a SD. It is tuned to be a mule. Conservative so the hired help can beat on it all day and it is ready to go the next day. Tuners are already having a heyday with them.

Ford's 7.3-Liter V-8 Makes 789 Naturally-Aspirated Horsepower With Built Internals

The giant gasoline V-8 in Ford's new Super Duty pickups can make huge naturally-aspirated power—and it can fit in a Fox-body Mustang.

www.roadandtrack.com

This is what Ford people need, not more small displacement elephants that don't fit in anything they were not designed to (and even then they usually don't fit well)

If you peek into a 7.3 SD engine bay it is beautiful. You can see the entire side of the engine, valve cover, spark plugs, manifold... everything is just right there. As a DIY gearhead this greatly appeals to me in a world of filled to the brim with "stuff" engine bays.

Right now guys with small engine bays (like us) are stuck in 2001. We can't go newer because the junk won't fit... unless we jump fences and pull a pushrod V8 out of just about anything else (like GM or Mopar)

And on a related note they are talking about a smaller pushrod V8 (6.7 IIRC) for the F-150 too, I hope it wanders into more than just a Raptor.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Some folks need the power in their truck but a diesel isn't worth the extra $10,000 to them.

Lets also not forget about the ridiculious maintence costs that come with a diesel, and the pricy and complicated emission systems....and the fact that with the 50-70 cent price difference between diesel and gas are you really saving anything?

Besides modern diesels have become a "my dick is bigger then yours contest" anyways. No one is ever going to load a F250/350 up enough to even come close to needing 1000ftlbs of torque.

The only advantage to a diesel would be if you pack alot of miles on towing 10k+ long distances.

NHRA uses ONLY pushrod engines for top fuel because those are the rules. So yea top fuel cars make 10k, BUT, if more sophisticated OHC engines were allowed they would make even more power...

Back in the day I think it was John Force who messed around with using 428 OHC engines. They weren't legal in NHRA competition but they were blowing the doors off the regular legal pushrod top fuel engines.

Pushrods are a limiting factor and weak link in an engine. OHC engines can run more valves (more flow), stronger springs to eliminate valve float so they could run at higher RPMs, and use better more advanced cam lobe profiles, have better top end lubrication, as well as eliminating the weak link.
.
And like Sno said... kinda moot comparing an engine with about a 5 second lifespan.

If OHCs are so great why is fords constantly being beaten by Gm and chryslers pushrods? All the way back to the early tritons....

OHCs have one advantage and thats their ability to run sustained high rpm compared to a OHV.

We are talking pickups here. Not GT40s. The still seems to peak pretty high in the RPMs for my taste but i havent seen the power curve.

What we really need is a big gasser that builds all its power from idle to 3500-4000 rpm. Something with a similar power curve to a 460 only more of it.

There is no reason why a gas engine like the 5.0, 5.4,, 6.2 whatever should have to drop 2 gears and scream 4500rpm+ when towing up a hill. When a big low revving thumper could do it at 2500rpm.

 

[JohnnyO]

Lets also not forget about the ridiculious maintence costs that come with a diesel, and the pricy and complicated emission systems....and the fact that with the 50-70 cent price difference between diesel and gas are you really saving anything?

Besides modern diesels have become a "my dick is bigger then yours contest" anyways. No one is ever going to load a F250/350 up enough to even come close to needing 1000ftlbs of torque.

The only advantage to a diesel would be if you pack alot of miles on towing 10k+ long distances.

Couple years ago I worked briefly as a driver at an HVAC company to pay the bills. They had a new 2016 F-450 stake body, at that time the standard engine was the V-10 and the diesel was optional. This one had the V-10, which was designed to be a more fuel efficient replacement for the 460. Frankly we didn't use it much and the stuff we hauled tended to be more bulky than heavy. When I started there they'd had it for 6 months and as I recall it had less than 4000 miles on it. I've read that you have to have a diesel for about 200,000 miles before it pays for itself in fuel savings. Unless you haul heavy stuff all the time or put on a ton of miles, the extra cost isn't worth it and for this company it clearly wasn't. Most of the time me and the other driver drove half-ton pickups with the payload package and lift gates. Frankly the F-450 was a pig, didn't feel like it had much power and never saw double-digit gas mileage even on the highway with the cruise control on, but then on the scale at the scrapyard it weighed 12,500 lb empty.

 

[Dirtman]

I had a f350 v-10 triton as a shop truck. That thing was one of the most god awful engines I've ever had. Besides having tons of issues, the 7.3 diesel in our our 02 f350 would run circles around it and the 6.7 our 2015 the f450 was even better. Yes they cost more new but we bought all those trucks used and there was very little price difference in the used market.

Frankly I'd even take the 5.4 before I got another V10.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I had a f350 v-10 triton as a shop truck. That thing was one of the most god awful engines I've ever had. Besides having tons of issues, the 7.3 diesel in our our 02 f350 would run circles around it and the 6.7 our 2015 the f450 was even better. Yes they cost more new but we bought all those trucks used and there was very little price difference in the used market.

Frankly I'd even take the 5.4 before I got another V10.

Theres good and bad in every bunch. Personally i wouldnt choose a V10 over a 460 but i might pick a 7.3 diesel in the right truck.

 

[Roert42]

I think the world needs more Big Block Pushrod I6 gasser engines.

 

[rumblecloud]

I'm gonna wait for the shopping cart version.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I think the world needs more Big Block Pushrod I6 gasser engines.

Id like to see the 300 make a comeback.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If OHCs are so great why is fords constantly being beaten by Gm and chryslers pushrods? All the way back to the early tritons....

OHCs have one advantage and thats their ability to run sustained high rpm compared to a OHV.

We are talking pickups here. Not GT40s. The still seems to peak pretty high in the RPMs for my taste but i havent seen the power curve.

OHC does have better valve control which goes both ways. The 5.4 had a stupid thick bottom end for torque.

For racy things Ford always sandbags on the displacement. 4.6/5.0 Mustang VS a 6.2 Camaro or a 5.7/6.4 Challenger, they all start out pretty competitive out of the box.

I had a f350 v-10 triton as a shop truck. That thing was one of the most god awful engines I've ever had. Besides having tons of issues, the 7.3 diesel in our our 02 f350 would run circles around it and the 6.7 our 2015 the f450 was even better. Yes they cost more new but we bought all those trucks used and there was very little price difference in the used market.

Frankly I'd even take the 5.4 before I got another V10.

Somebody hasn't price checked on 7.3 trucks lately... diesels that still knock (aka pre-emission) are grease coated piles of gold now. 25yo 200k+ 7.3 4wds are still $15-20k around me.

The 7.3 gas makes more power and similar torque as the 7.3 diesel did for what it is worth.

It thrashed the 3/4 ton GM gasser on TFL, it isn't the stereotypical underpowered 3/4 ton gasser.

 

[Bossman]

There is no legitimate reason, IMO, Ford didn't make an ecoboost V8. Corporate lawyers and the spineless pinheads that seem to run alot of Ford development prevailed.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

There is no legitimate reason, IMO, Ford didn't make an ecoboost V8. Corporate lawyers and the spineless pinheads that seem to run alot of Ford development prevailed.

I wouldnt buy an ecoboost V8. All that stuff is just failures waiting to happen,

OHC does have better valve control which goes both ways. The 5.4 had a stupid thick bottom end for torque.

For racy things Ford always sandbags on the displacement. 4.6/5.0 Mustang VS a 6.2 Camaro or a 5.7/6.4 Challenger, they all start out pretty competitive out of the box.



Somebody hasn't price checked on 7.3 trucks lately... diesels that still knock (aka pre-emission) are grease coated piles of gold now. 25yo 200k+ 7.3 4wds are still $15-20k around me.

The 7.3 gas makes more power and similar torque as the 7.3 diesel did for what it is worth.

It thrashed the 3/4 ton GM gasser on TFL, it isn't the stereotypical underpowered 3/4 ton gasser.

The 5.4 gets its low end from its 4.125 stroke. Honestly ive never been impressed with the 5.4s bottom end everyone seems to brag about. Granted mine were early (97/98s) but they wernt any better then a roller 351.

As far as diesel values...yeah...cummins trucks are even worse. Every coal rolling kid with a 12 valve thats 3 different colors with a stack ott the bed they want 12k for.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have been driving my 02 5.4 for 15 years, I love the bottom end and how it tows in general.