Who will swap for the new 7.3 V8!

[engineermike]

There is no substitute on the street for cubic inches.

Why would anyone with that mentality buy a mustang to begin with?

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[IPOGT]

Think about it. I'm certain the answer will come to you.

 

[engineermike]

Think about it. I'm certain the answer will come to you.

There is no substitute on the street for cubic inches.

You’re going to have to spell this one out for me. If cid were king then challenger srt392 > camaro ss > mustang gt.

 

[Boss Bandit]

OP sounds like he bought the wrong car. Should have picked up a Challenger 392 if he wanted the old school big block experience, or at least as close as you can get to a factory big block today anyways. Or, pick up a 2013-14 GT500 since that does the same thing.

Hey, I'd love if Ford went nuts and took the 7.3, de-stroked/de-bored it a bit, and made a Boss 429 as the ultimate send off to Ford V8 power before we end up with hybrids and all electrics to bore us all to death with hyper-efficiency and vacuum cleaner sounds. It'd be super nose heavy, wouldn't turn very well, and really couldn't do anything that a supercharged 5.0 or the incoming GT500 can do better. It's the idea of that huge N/A V8 up front that is what's appealing in the same way a Demon is. It'd be an unapologetic drag car, and there's nothing wrong with that if that's your ticket. I get that desire.

But, its really implausible these days for all kinds of reasons, the first being that the current 5.0 can do pretty much everything old big blocks can do if you set them up right, and do it more efficiently. Granted, by design the current 5.0 will never have that down low torque curve that the old engines had, or that amazing sound to go with it, But, it isn't very hard to build one of these motors up to do exactly what you want- shred tires at the mere tap of the throttle. You could certainly accomplish that with a lot less effort than a full engine swap, too.

As engineermike said, nobody was swapping big block truck motors into S197s just because they had more cubic inches. Pretty much all you see are Coyote swaps into older 3V S197s, SN95s, and Fox bodies. Its just an easier path to take, and it makes way more sense from a practicality and efficiency standpoint. You have a strong aftermarket for this swap, whereas you'd be in uncharted waters with a brand new big block going into an S550. This is a rich, retired man's fun project.

But, if you do decide to go ahead and throw one of these 7.3 motors into your car, may as well document it. At the very least, you'd end up with a unique car. I don't know if you realize just how hard this task would be, however.

 

[IPOGT]

You’re going to have to spell this one out for me. If cid were king then challenger srt392 > camaro ss > mustang gt.

It is. But it still is NOT a big block. To get a 454 or 455 old school big block car other sacrifices must be made. Safety, convenience, confidence, braking, style etc. On and on. Or build a custom car.
That's what I meant by you'll figure it out.
Incidentally, that's precisely what this thread is about.

 

[engineermike]

It is. But it still is NOT a big block. To get a 454 or 455 old school big block car other sacrifices must be made....

Correct. Unfortunately, power and torque across the board are also sacrificed as compared to a modern v8.

 

[Sig556]

Oh - and guys, by “peel out” I mean a real peel out and not some high rev sissy shit stuff...

That's what I'm talking about!

 

[Hi-PO Stang]

I get what the OP is saying. As soon as I heard Ford was going to build a 7.3 liter gas V8 truck engine , I thought about the possibility of having one put into a Mustang. If someone will have a 7.3 liter Ford truck engine in a Mustang at SEMA , I would be thrilled to see it.
A few years from now , I envision seeing kits made for swapping the 7.3 liter into a Mustang.There are a lot of people who still like working with pushrod V8 engines. I can see myself trying the swap in three to four years. The Jon Kaase Boss 429 engine swap into a Mustang is more of a priority to me now then the 7.3 liter truck engine. If Jon Kaase can install a Boss 429 in a Mustang, I don't see why someone would not do a 7.3 V8 truck engine install into a Mustang.
After reading about the 7.3 liter V8 on SVTPerformance, I get the idea the 7.3 liter is much more advanced in design than any previous big block Ford engine other than the Boss 429.

 

[CrashOverride]

I have no idea of how well the SVT Performance pictures are in terms of accuracy, but that block they show is all truck and nothing else. The main caps are only 2 bolts, and it is a short-skirt block with no reinforcement of the main caps. Other than maybe the heads, I respectfully say this engine is extremely old in design. Now, that being said, it is a great gas truck engine. Heavy, big, "dumb" (read: very simple), and most of all very, very cheap to make. This thing probably costs half what the current coyote engine costs. You are using cheap iron for the block, half the valves, rockers and lifters and a quarter of the cams. Less fasteners for the main caps, also a much simpler easier-to-manufacture cap. Even if they implement VVT, it will only be one unit. Much shorter and probably lighter-duty timing chain (not nearly the drag with only 1 cam).

It is a very smart decision by ford. Compete based on cost and intended use. Your two main truck competitors bring big dumb torquey OHV engines to the fight, might as well do the same.

After looking the block over, I've determined in my head, that Ford has absolutely no plans whatsoever for this engine to ever land in a mustang. There would be so much re-work to be done, it would be easier to create a new mustang engine from a clean sheet. I wouldn't be surprised if they are doing that right now for the 2025 model. Contrary to popular belief, sometimes bigger engines get better gas mileage. GM talked about how they got great gas mileage on the c7. They specifically remarked about by having a 3.1L v-4 (e.g. when in fuel saving mode) was more efficient than a smaller engine in v-4 mode. How? Torque. They were able to run in v-4 mode more often than if they de-stroked the LS engine.

So in my crystal ball, if there is any money left for engine development, I would say the best way to build a new mustang engine would be:

• Absolutely must increase bore spacing. By a lot, maybe go with 110mm or even higher. Leave lots of meat on the table for tuners.
• Keep the deck the same height, or even push it out a few mm. This will make the engine both wider and taller, but...
• Go to a dry-sump system. Yes, this adds cost, but it reduces the engine height by several inches, and makes it all but impervious to all of the wet sump problems.
  • Or, if you have to be cheap about it, drop the engine and have a split oil pan to cross power steering racks/subframes/etc... My fox body 5-oh had two sumps, each with a drain plug. Simple, but effective.
• Learn from failures and use a real, billet or forged oil pump impeller
• Go back to iron liners
  • Why? if nothing else, it makes it very easy to get multiple size bores in the engine without changing the block at all. Small bore engines get a thick(er) sleeve, big bores get a thin(ner) sleeve.

I'm getting way, way off track here. Even though I don't think that 7.3L would be practical in a mustang, it would still be cool. Heck, I'd be for a 7.3L powerstroke-powered mustang. Unusual is cool in my book.

 

[Fatguy]

Ok, some automotive folk are doing the math and predicting the horsepower and torque numbers on the low and high side and here is what you get for code name “Godzilla “:


“453 horsepower and 506 lb-ft of torque is a very impressive estimate, considering that Ford’s own 6.8L gas V10 has a maximum torque rating of 460 lb-ft.

(photo: Ford)
What if the numbers could be even better? What if Ford is able to get a 10% improvement in flow with the 7.3L? This will push the 7.3L V8 estimates to: 482 hp and 557 lb-ft of torque.”

Here is the source:


https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.tfl...ew-7-3l-v8-make-over-506-lb-ft-of-torque/amp/

 

[IPOGT]

People like this just want to feel "special" because they want to buy something different that they think no one can provide

I promise you, there's a car out there that will fit your criteria, and you sure as hell aren't special

Everyone's special. You obviously never watched mr. Rogers.

 

[Fatguy]

For the person who wondered if it was a 4 bolt:

“It all starts with a cast iron block, which is then stuffed with a forged steel crankshaft and new cylinder heads. As for the main bearing caps, there are four bolts mounted vertically, plus two cross bolts, making for six bolts per main cap.”


Source:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.top...f-old-school-and-new-school-ar184542.amp.html

 

[Fatguy]

And one other thing...


I distinctly remember more than a few of you lamenting the fact the 5.0 may be the last V8 Ford makes. Well here is a brand new one, more powerful than the 5.0. Not some refinement but a new and different one that can fit in the Mustang and yes “this” one may be the last hurray - And a big block!


This is the way to go out! It’s not perfect by it’s the best alternative we are going to get... Most of the old school hot rod techniques will still work on this engine!


Glass more than half full guys!

 

[engineermike]

Well here is a brand new one, more powerful than the 5.0. Not some refinement but a new and different one that can fit in the Mustang...

Sources please.

 

[smoke_wagon_6g]

No aluminum block but that’s a plus for me. Everything else can be upgraded in the aftermarket including Ford Performance later.

In my opinion this is the engine every old fart secretly wants. The ability to peel out of a parking space without reving the engine. Power and torque down low where you always use it! This will be a winning engine for Ford! Your last chance to own a big block before it all goes to shit in the automotive world...

I like the idea of a modern big block. Sure a supercharged 5.0 is faster but that really isn't the point. We would all drive Honda Accords if practicality was the point. I drive a stick shifted two door with a V8. Practical is off the table. And a naturally aspirated big block V8 would be cool! Y'all don't see that?

The most fun car I ever had was an 80's Grand Prix with a transplanted 455 Olds. 3,500 lbs tops. Not faster in the quarter than my 5.0 (12.9 seconds) but it had an immediacy and leaped like a raped ape just off idle. Granted my GT just rockets with a 3k clutch drop but doesn't have the just-off-idle feel of that boat anchor 455 and an auto. Maybe the Mustang is too heavy. Not compaining but the feel around town *is* quite different.

Everyone should really drive a lightweight body and big block combination once in their life. The 5.0 likes revs, the 455 didn't need them.

Fatguy I wish you luck and encouragement. I go to car shows and watch shows like Hoonigan, Leno's Garage, Roadkill hoping to catch crazy engine swaps and wild ideas. Sounds like you have some technical chops and long Canadian winters to get to work in your rolling art. It will be more expensive than you predict but what the hell don't let that discourage you!

I guarantee that 7.3 fender badges will be a conversation starter at every gas station and car show, if that's your bag.

One more thing, hate to say it but quiet peel-outs happen with electric cars like the Tesla Model 3. Truly get the big block gas engine but if you are only interested in smoke electric is here already. This one is fun, not a Tesla but a home grown electric drift car:

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