What’s the difference between Ford’s Megazilla and Godzilla V8 engines? – Jalopnik

Torque, which describes twisting force, is critical to the production of heavy-duty trucks that can pull significant amounts of weight. While diesel engines like Ford’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 remain at the top when it comes to pulling muscle with 1,200 lb-ft of torque, this may not be the best choice for everyone. Instead, some might opt ​​for the automaker’s more robust gasoline option, the 7.3-liter naturally aspirated V8, nicknamed “Godzilla,” which has some major differences from the Power Stroke. The Godzilla was launched in 2020 and continues to deliver adequate performance for its type, currently boasting 430 horsepower and 485 pound-feet of torque in the 2026 Super Duty.

In 2022, Ford unveiled the “Megazilla”, which would be released the following year. As impressive as the Godzilla is, the Megazilla essentially revs everything up, significantly increasing power to 615 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque, for those who need something even more monstrous under the hood. In 2025, the automaker’s racing division announced a Megazilla 2.0 update, potentially increasing horsepower to over 1,000 with the help of a Whipple supercharger.

As great as these engines are, remember when Dodge and Ford offered V10-powered pickup trucks? Fortunately, Ford’s newer engines, even though they’re shy twin-cylinders, still manage to easily outpace those older V10s through improved technology and efficiency. But besides the supercharger, horsepower and torque, what sets Ford’s biggest gas engines apart?

In another effort to further strengthen the Megazilla, engineers replaced the Godzilla’s cast hypereutectic aluminum pistons with forged Mahle pistons. The forging process takes an aluminum rod (in the case of the Megazilla) and forces it into a piston shape using a combination of high thermals and compressive force. This is why some high-performance cars require forged pistons, as this process helps eliminate impurities in the structure of the metal, resulting in a part that can withstand more loads without failing.

Another notable upgrade for the Megazilla is the larger 92mm throttle body, which replaces the 80mm part of the Godzilla. The throttle body is a part that controls the air in the engine. So increasing the bore of the Megazilla increases airflow, improving acceleration response over the Godzilla.

However, this souped-up monster will cost you too, with prices north of $25,000 – and that’s not the supercharged version. A Whipple supercharger kit for a 7.3-liter engine costs just $10,000 if you want to purchase the part separately. The Megazilla 2.0 isn’t for sale yet, so it’s unclear what Ford will ask for in terms of price, but it will certainly be a costly investment when it goes on sale.

Another notable difference between the two Ford engines is that the Godzilla is street legal. The Megazilla, on the other hand, is only intended for use at the drag strip, track, or off-road, to avoid incurring the potential wrath of law enforcement. Emissions requirements are likely to blame, as performance was of paramount importance, which may have led to the omission of certain components and control systems deemed unnecessary for maximum output.