Ford’s 7.3L Godzilla V8 engine might be cast-iron tool designed for work trucks, but it’s captured the imagination of the performance aftermarket. In fact, the Godzilla V8 has so much potential that Ford decided to make it a crate engine available through its performance division, paving the way for people to crank over 1,000 horsepower. However, if you want this engine without needing to find an engine bay to put it in, you could opt for a Ford Super Duty pickup, though some have a bit less horsepower than initially advertised.
Ford revealed back in August 2023 that some Ford Super Duty trucks and E-Series-based vehicles powered by the legendary Godzilla V8 engine have either 15 or 25 less horsepower than initially advertised. According to the bulletin, the error affects 161,512 vehicles in the United States, covering the 2021 and 2022 model years. Ford specifically listed F650/F750 trucks and F53/F59 chassis trucks as having 15 fewer horsepower. Meanwhile, E-Series vehicles may see as much as a 25 hp and 18 lb-ft of torque drop. All vehicles affected by this also have a reduced engine speed of 150 RPM, which isn’t really something someone would notice while using the vehicle.
In 2021, the 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 engine was rated at 350 horsepower. That original figure was apparently a miscommunication with the marketing materials, which didn’t include the revised power figures. Ford currently offers its Godzilla engine with a more economical tune for commercial use that is presently rated at 325 horsepower for the E-Series and 335 horsepower for the trucks. As a result of this communication error, Ford is offering Super Duty owners $100 for the mistake. Since E-Series owners have a more significant loss in power and torque, the offer is $300 for them.
Ford has yet to mention any fix to add the initially advertised power. It’s unclear if the revised power affects the vehicle’s towing or cargo capacity. Still, if it doesn’t, we doubt anyone will notice the change unless they place their vehicle on the dyno. That said, the engine does have the potential to generate more power than what’s seen in these Super Duties, so maybe there will be a new engine tune in the future to bring power up to the advertised level.
Ford Godzilla V8. Image via Ford
