So, it;'s 104 degrees and I am inside doing research, instead of working on the shop. I have been collecting parts for a couple of 390's. I have been putting a pencil to it and I will have quite a bit of money tied up in it. Probably in the ballpark of 8-10 grand. I plan on running aluminum heads and intake. So, then I start to have project creep....don't judge, you do it too. A crate Godzilla engine is about 8,700 plus the other junk. I would have that in an FE build, I am pretty sure. The Coyotes are stupid money for less Cubic inches. It would be a viable option, but the first couple of years they were plagued with roller lifter failures. They have fixed that on the production trucks, but I wonder what engines are they selling off in the crate engines? Do you have to worry about the lifter failures or not? The p/n on the crate engine is M-6007-73B. Who would you contact to find out? Anyone here work for FOMOCO?
FYI, I called Ford Performance and they said they had no idea what version you would get. He did say that they haven't had a call, to his knowledge, with lifter failure.
I believe the guy to contact is Brian Wolf on youtube. He is an ex Ford engineer who was involved with godzilla. I have looked at them several times. Holley makes a front cover that uses the modular oil pump and allows for a shallower oil pan and a simplified system. If you have run the numbers, any of these late model swaps get pricey. I have run totals on ls, coyote, 5.7 hemi, and godzilla. The price you pay for the base engine is where the difference usually is. Control packs, exhaust manifolds, front drive systems, oil pans, are similar in prices. Godzilla isn't as small as a ls but it's quite small for the cubic inches. My thoughts are about smoothness, no oil leaks and possibly better fuel economy. All of the newer engines appear to be cast of a better cast iron for longer cylinder life. Many factors to consider.
I have done one LS swap for my dad, but really it’s all Greek to me. There’s not a lot of science to it, you just need to know the formula of parts required together for a finished project.
Saw this truck last year. Wow sums it up nicely! https://www.motortopia.com/holden-jungs-700hp-f-100-a-custom-truck-masterpiece/
If its a stock type engine, it's most likely just pulled from production line. Racing wont pull 100 engines and sit on them, maybe a dozen as the orders come in and ship. As for warranty, unless engine is immediately put into a project unmodified(HAH!) and used, we probably will never hear about a stock unmodified failure. They will be modified, voiding warranty, or sit around in someones garage/project and warranty will time out. And if it fails, an owner may just blame it on 'sitting too long'.
I've got the mini zilla 6.8 in my 250. It's more than enough for me.... I've heard they're more reliable, but who knows.
Ford seems to go out of their way to make guys install Chevrolet motors. Their crate engines are 3-4k more than the LS based stuff. Their regular old 302 crate engines are north of 10K. I see why the LS is so popular.
Think about the use case too. A 7.3 stuffed into a 19,500 lb GVW F550 is going to have a completely different use profile than the same motor tugging around a 3500 lb hot rod. You are much more likely to find the weak parts with the motor in the F550 than the hot rod. Plus, If you can do a complete 390 build for only $8 to $10K these days, you are doing something very right, or not putting any value on your time.
I think the issue they were having early on were the guys that let them idle for extended periods of time, like a contractor with the ac on. They had really low oil pressure at idle. I wanna say it was around 6-10 psi. The roller lifters didn’t like that. They have since remedied that.
Honestly, as much as it intrigues me, I'll probably never pull the trigger. It's too complicated for my simple brain. Too many moving parts.
This thought always goes full circle. I start out looking at the newer motors and before I know it, I have talked myself out of it completely. It happens about once a week. The wifes 55 was easy. I always slated it for a 2000 Ford Explorer 5.0/****** and rear end. For all practical purposes, I could roll in to Autozone and tell the 14 year old it was a 2000 Explorer and he would be able to look up parts for me and probably have them in stock. I have the motor ****** ready to stab at any time. The rear is already narrowed up and installed. If I had half a brain I would make the 56 a mirror clone to it.
Keep in mind....the 'building-it' part is worth a lot. IF it's just buy as much HP as possible...go for it. IF it's having fun along the way.. get out the parts book first & the check book next ! I vote for a stroker BBF but I'm kinda old and still remember the good old days of SS/S,,, A/FX ...A/MP.. Pro/S So long as it has long tube headers...Alum heads and intake...snotty-*** roller cam... You Good in my book !! 6sally6
I have the same tendencies, however, this is going to be my daily. It is replacing my tired 2002 Ford stallion that is laying out in the yard, groaning. It has to be reliable. It will have all the comforts of a new truck without the long term payment.
There was an engine that came in the Raptor truck , that I had looked at years ago . I can’t remember what it was anymore , it was very similar to 427 SOHC just modern
The airline I work for has them in box trucks. They spend a lot of time idling, and a mechanic I talked to said they have had 2 fail due to lifter problems in the past year. Ford has since upped the oil pressure in the programming and supposedly that's the fix. They're great engines, lots of cubes per pound, and the heads flow well. Finding a good one that hasn't spent it's life at 600 RPM is the trick.
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