Field Report: From Truck Engine To 1000hp 7.3L V8 Fox Body Build!

With 450hp to 1000hp on tap via an EMtron ECU control strategy incorporating a drive-by-wire (DBW) throttle body, this V8 swapped Fox Boy Mustang, an exciting project we couldn't resist chatting about.

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Sam Hiu Bin of CWI Performance runs us through this 7.3L V8 Mustang build that has taken the Ford 'Godzilla' V8, never designed for race cars, and put it in a race car anyway. Not only that, but the team has also added a ProCharger centrifugal supercharger to ramp up the output in a compact package. It is as compact as a 7.3L V8 shoehorned into a Fox Body Mustang can be, anyway.

The biggest physical challenge with the Ford Godzilla for a swap like this is the height, but teamed with Indy Power Products, the oil pump has been moved so that a smaller wet sump setup can be used, allowing the engine to be mounted lower in the chassis. The CWI Performance 3-piece billet intake manifold also helps reduce the height at the top of the engine and incorporates a 1400hp capable C&R / PWR intercooler core to further improve packaging options as well as options to fit a 105mm or smaller LS throttle body or a Ford Coyote/Godzilla flavour too.

Boost-wise, the car produces 450whp at around 2pi, with it only taking 15psi to get it over 1000whp and the EMtron package also takes care of exhaust gas temperature (EGT) monitoring for both tuning and engine health functions. Even using an E90 ethanol blend, the car does see some knock/detonation, partly thanks to its 10.5:1 compression ratio, but the dual bank knock control takes care of this when the temperatures get high enough for it to start occurring.