There’s no doubt that Ford’s 5.0-liter Coyote engine is a modern masterpiece in four-valve, DOHC technology, but the affordable and simple pushrod V8 is a massive corner in the market that Ford filled in early 2019 with the new Godzilla 7.3-liter. The engine is designed primarily as a simple workhorse gas engine that should be affordable to purchase and maintain in larger trucks, but the new Godzilla is now available as a 430 hp crate engine as well.

For a full rundown of technical specs, check out our earlier introduction of the 7.3-liter engine here, but suffice it to say that we’re looking at a simple and extremely stout engine that should stand up to high power levels. It's mainly intended to be an affordable alternative to the 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbo diesel engine for 3/4 ton and heavier trucks and fleet vehicles. The engine is rated at 300 to 430 hp and 425 to 475 lb-ft depending on model specification, but the new Godzilla crate tops the range at 430 hp and 475 lb-ft. It does so with a forged steel crank, cast iron block and aluminum cylinder heads. Compression is a healthy 10.5:1 and fueling is by port injection.

Unveiled as part number M-6007-73, the “7.3L V8 430hp Super Duty Crate Engine” kit comes in at $8,150 with the following parts included:

• Intake and throttle body
• Left and Right exhaust manifolds
• Production oil pan/cooler
• Ignition coils and wires
• Production flex plate
• M-6038-73 shipping and storage cradle
• Factory lift brackets

On the surface, $8,000 seems like a high price to pay for a pushrod engine when 6.2-liter LS engines can be found at most any scrap yard. But remember we’re not talking about a grimy used engine here. We’re talking about a brand-new big-block with tons of torque and a factory warrantee. Let me remind you as well that GM’s LS3 will run you about $7,500 brand new, and the Godzilla has displacement and torque on its side. The effects of which will add up when you start to look at power adders.

We'll have our eyes peeled and fingers crossed at the 2020 SEMA Show to see who's the first to do something rad with this new engine. Classic pickup trucks and obscure Ford muscle cars seem like righteous applications for this engine, and we all know that someone's already planning to have the first 7.3-liter Cobra. If you ask me, I'm going with a big-block ’69 Ford Ranchero shop truck, because why not?