Inside The 1,200 Horsepower Megazilla 2.0 Crate Motor

Big-displacement pushrod engines have always held a special place in hot rodding culture because nothing beats instant low-end grunt.

When Ford introduced the 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 for heavy-duty work trucks, builders immediately saw massive potential hiding inside that narrow cast-iron block.

Now the factory performance division has dialed that architecture up to eleven with the all-new Megazilla 2.0.

Debuting under the bright lights in Las Vegas, this blown monster sets a new industry benchmark as the highest-output crate engine ever built by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

Pushing a large-bore pushrod motor past 1,200 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque requires serious structural reinforcement.

Instead of simply bolting forced induction onto the older 615-horsepower naturally aspirated version, engineers gave the Megazilla 2.0 a ground-up mechanical overhaul.

They started by eliminating the production cooling saw cuts between the cylinders to create a solid deck surface capable of containing immense combustion pressure. Strict quality control checks weed out any casting that falls outside tight racing tolerances.

ARP 2000 studs lock down CNC-ported aluminum heads while a six-bolt main bottom end houses Callies H-beam rods and custom MAHLE forged pistons.

Breathing through a massive Gen 6 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger with a 10-rib belt drive, the combination thrives on high boost. Ninety-five-pound fuel injectors and a revised damper support the added airflow.

Because the overhead-valve layout stays much narrower than wide dual overhead-cam engines, this package slips cleanly into classic muscle cars and vintage trucks.

Ford Customization proved that versatility at SEMA by stuffing the supercharged mill into an extreme Arctic rescue rig dubbed the Frostwarden Bronco.

Outfitted with 42-inch BFGoodrich rubber, custom Weld bead locks, Bilstein suspension dampers, and heavy-duty Dana axles, the wild off-roader puts every single bit of that race fuel power directly to the ground.

Hardcore enthusiasts ready to order part number (P/N) M-6007-MZ73MD for their own uncompromising builds will see the Megazilla 2.0 begin shipping to customers during the first quarter of next year.