Ford has simplified the 2027 Super Duty engine lineup, but the larger standard engine arrives with less power than it made last year.
According to Ford’s newly published 2027 Super Duty specifications, the 7.3-liter gasoline V8 now produces 420 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. The 2026 version generated 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft, meaning buyers lose 10 horsepower and a more noticeable 40 lb-ft of peak torque.
Ford deleted the smaller engine, made the 7.3 standard and then gave it the smaller engine’s torque rating. Simplification has apparently entered its detuning phase.
2026 vs. 2027 Ford Super Duty engine output
The 2026 Super Duty offered two naturally aspirated gasoline V8 engines. Its standard 6.8-liter V8 produced 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft, while the optional 7.3-liter Godzilla delivered 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft.
For 2027, Ford has removed the 6.8-liter V8 and made the 7.3-liter engine standard across the F-250 and F-350 pickup lineup.
| Engine | Horsepower | Torque |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 6.8-liter gas V8 | 405 hp | 445 lb-ft |
| 2026 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 | 430 hp | 485 lb-ft |
| 2027 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 | 420 hp | 445 lb-ft |
The 2027 Godzilla still provides 15 more horsepower than the discontinued 6.8-liter engine, but both engines now share the same published peak-torque figure. The larger V8’s advantage is considerably smaller than it was during the 2026 model year.
Independent reporting by Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk first highlighted the revised ratings and obtained confirmation directly from Ford.
Why did Ford detune the 7.3-liter Godzilla V8?
Ford says it updated the 7.3-liter engine to comply with newer environmental standards. The company describes the lower peak figures as a minor adjustment and maintains that the engine continues to provide the work capacity expected from a Super Duty.
Ford has not disclosed precisely what changed inside the engine, its calibration or its emissions-control hardware. That distinction matters because a different ECU calibration is not the same thing as revised camshaft timing, compression, intake hardware, catalyst construction or exhaust restriction.
One early theory pointed toward a gasoline particulate filter. Ford, however, separately confirmed to Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk that the 2027 Godzilla does not use a GPF.
That leaves several possibilities, including revised ignition timing, air-fuel control, combustion strategy, catalyst loading or cold-start calibration. Those remain possibilities—not confirmed engineering changes.
Until Ford provides a detailed technical explanation or someone compares the engines and calibration data directly, claims that the missing torque can be restored with a quick tune are premature.
The 6.8-liter V8 is gone
The 6.8-liter gasoline V8 only joined the Super Duty range for the 2023 model year. It used the same basic pushrod-engine family as the 7.3-liter Godzilla but employed a shorter stroke to reduce displacement.
Its disappearance means every gasoline-powered 2027 F-250 and F-350 starts with the larger 7.3-liter engine. Ford says moving from two gasoline engines to one simplifies ordering for retail and fleet customers.
That explanation makes sense from a production standpoint. Building fewer combinations reduces manufacturing complexity, dealer-order confusion and parts variation. Buyers also receive the larger-displacement engine without having to select an upgrade.
The awkward part is that the newly standard Godzilla no longer delivers the same output that previously helped justify choosing it.
Ford also eliminated the standard-output Power Stroke
The gasoline engines aren’t the only part of the lineup being consolidated. Ford has also discontinued the standard-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel, previously rated at 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft.
The remaining high-output Power Stroke produces 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft. It’s optional on the F-250 and F-350 and standard on the F-450.
That leaves the 2027 Super Duty with two primary engines:
- 7.3-liter naturally aspirated gasoline V8: 420 hp and 445 lb-ft
- 6.7-liter high-output Power Stroke diesel: 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft
There’s now one gasoline engine and one diesel engine instead of asking buyers to navigate two versions of each. Ford has certainly simplified the brochure. Whether it simplified anyone’s payment is a separate question.
Does losing 40 lb-ft hurt towing?
Peak torque is important, but it does not explain an engine’s complete towing performance.
Ford lists a maximum available towing capacity of 22,500 pounds for a properly configured 2027 Super Duty with the 7.3-liter gas engine. The high-output Power Stroke can reach 40,000 pounds in the appropriate configuration.
Those maximum ratings depend on far more than engine output. Cab style, wheelbase, axle ratio, drivetrain, tire capacity, cooling, gross combined weight rating and hitch type all affect the final number.
Torque-curve shape also matters. A loss of 40 lb-ft at the published peak does not necessarily mean the engine loses that amount at every speed. Ford could have reshaped the calibration to retain useful low- and midrange output while reducing a narrow peak. Conversely, a broader torque reduction could be more noticeable under load than the headline suggests.
Ford has not published enough comparative engine data to settle that question. Instrumented towing tests and chassis-dyno results will be more informative than placing two peak figures beside each other and declaring the truck ruined.
The official specifications also list a maximum available gas payload of 7,900 pounds, so the revised engine hasn’t prevented Ford from advertising serious work capacity.
What the change means for God
Ford’s 2027 7.3-Liter Godzilla V8 Loses 40 LB-FT of Torque
Ford has simplified the 2027 Super Duty engine lineup, but the larger standard engine arrives with a smaller torque number.
According to Ford’s official specifications, the naturally aspirated 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 now produces 420 horsepower at 5,350 rpm and 445 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. The 2026 version was rated at 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft, meaning the updated engine loses 10 horsepower and a more noticeable 40 lb-ft of torque.
Ford also discontinued the smaller 6.8-liter gasoline V8. The 7.3-liter engine is now standard across the 2027 F-250 and F-350 lineup, giving every gasoline Super Duty buyer more displacement—but not as much published output as the previous version.
Ford deleted the smaller engine, made the 7.3 standard and then gave it the smaller engine’s torque rating. Simplification has apparently entered its detuning phase.
2026 vs. 2027 Ford Super Duty gasoline engines
The change becomes clearer when the engines are compared directly.
| Engine | Horsepower | Torque |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 6.8-liter V8 | 405 hp | 445 lb-ft |
| 2026 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 | 430 hp | 485 lb-ft |
| 2027 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 | 420 hp | 445 lb-ft |
The 2027 Godzilla still makes 15 more horsepower than the outgoing 6.8-liter V8. However, both engines share the same 445-lb-ft peak torque rating.
That matters because torque is central to the way a heavy-duty gasoline truck feels under load. Peak output doesn’t tell the entire towing story, but removing 40 lb-ft is more substantial than losing 10 horsepower—especially when the engine’s primary job involves moving large trucks, trailers and payloads rather than impressing anyone with a highway pull.
The updated figures are published on Ford’s official 2027 Super Duty specifications page. Ford lists the gasoline engine’s maximum available towing capacity at 22,500 pounds and its maximum available payload at 7,900 pounds, depending on configuration.
Why did Ford reduce the Godzilla V8’s output?
Ford told Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk that it updated the 7.3-liter engine to comply with current environmental standards. The company described the lower peak figures as a minor adjustment and emphasized the engine’s real-world work capacity.
What Ford has not disclosed is exactly what changed.
The company separately confirmed that the 2027 7.3-liter V8 does not use a gasoline particulate filter. That eliminates one suspected explanation for the reduced rating. Ford has not identified a revised camshaft, compression ratio, intake system, exhaust component or major internal hardware change.
Possible explanations include revised engine calibration, combustion strategy, catalyst operation or cold-start emissions control. Those remain possibilities—not confirmed facts—until Ford releases more technical information.
This distinction matters because “detuned” can describe several very different situations. An ECU calibration change might leave most of the mechanical package untouched. A hardware or emissions-system change could alter airflow, thermal management and the engine’s response to aftermarket tuning.
For now, the honest answer is simple: Ford confirms the lower output and connects it to emissions compliance, but it has not explained the engineering change that produced it.
The 6.8-liter V8 is gone
The 6.8-liter gasoline V8 arrived with the 2023 Super Duty as a smaller member of Ford’s pushrod truck-engine family. It produced 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft while serving as the entry-level gasoline option.
For 2027, it disappears from the Super Duty order sheet.
The larger 7.3-liter V8 becomes standard on the F-250 and F-350 in XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trim levels. That provides a consistent gasoline powertrain across the range and should simplify manufacturing, fleet ordering, parts stocking and dealer inventory.
Ford says customers value simplicity and capability. That explanation makes sense from a product-planning perspective. Maintaining two closely related naturally aspirated V8s becomes difficult to justify when most buyers choose the larger engine or move directly to the diesel.
The strange part is that Ford’s newly standard “most powerful” gasoline engine no longer carries its previous power rating.
The standard-output Power Stroke is also discontinued
Ford is also eliminating the standard-output version of its 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel. That engine produced 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft for 2026.
The only remaining diesel is the high-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke, rated at 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft. It remains optional on the F-250 and F-350 and becomes standard equipment on the F-450.
That leaves the 2027 Super Duty with two basic engine choices:
- 7.3-liter naturally aspirated gasoline V8: 420 hp and 445 lb-ft
- 6.7-liter high-output turbo-diesel V8: 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft
The simplified lineup is easy to understand. Buyers choose the gasoline V8 or pay for the full-output diesel. There is no longer a smaller gasoline engine or less-powerful diesel sitting between fleet pricing and maximum capability.
Easy ordering is useful. Fewer affordable engine choices may be less exciting once the window sticker arrives.
Does losing 40 lb-ft reduce towing capacity?
Not necessarily.
Peak engine torque is only one factor determining a truck’s tow rating. Axle ratio, transmission calibration, cooling capacity, wheelbase, cab configuration, suspension, brakes, gross combined weight rating and hitch equipment all contribute to the final number.
Ford says a properly configured 2027 Super Duty can tow up to:
- 22,500 pounds with the 7.3-liter gasoline V8
- 40,000 pounds with the high-output Power Stroke
- 35,000 pounds using a fifth-wheel hitch
- 30,000 pounds using a conventional hitch
Those maximum ratings don’t mean every truck with the matching engine can tow that amount. A crew-cab four-wheel-drive truck with extensive equipment can have a substantially different payload and towing limit than a lighter regular-cab configuration.
Buyers should check the certification label, axle ratio, gross vehicle weight rating and Ford’s application-specific towing guide before selecting a trailer. A headline horsepower number is not a tow rating, regardless of how confidently somebody repeats it beside a boat ramp.
The more useful unanswered question is how the 2027 engine’s torque curve compares with the 2026 version. Ford may have reduced the peak while retaining similar low- and midrange output across much of the operating range. Until complete curves or instrumented towing tests become available, the real-world difference remains uncertain.
Why the 7.3 Godzilla matters outside the Super Duty
The Godzilla V8 has developed an enthusiast following because it combines modern engine controls with old-school pushrod packaging.
Its iron block, aluminum cylinder heads, two-valve architecture and large displacement make it physically compact compared with many overhead-cam V8s. That has attracted builders looking for an alternative to GM’s LS engine family in trucks, drag cars, restomods and custom swaps.
Ford has also supported the engine family through crate-engine offerings, including the higher-output Megazilla. That gives builders a factory-developed starting point instead of relying entirely on engines removed from wrecked work trucks.
Large naturally aspirated displacement also provides flexibility. A builder can keep the engine relatively simple, add a camshaft and supporting airflow upgrades, or move into supercharged and turbocharged territory. Before adding boost to any used engine, however, verify compression, leak-down results, oil pressure, fueling and drivetrain condition. The My Pro Street engine-health checklist covers the inspections that should happen before the expensive parts start arriving.
Ignition reliability matters as power and cylinder pressure rise. The Ultimate Spark Plug Wire Guide explains wire construction, resistance, heat protection and routing for V8 and engine-swap applications.
Can a tune recover the missing power?
Possibly, but that has not been proven.
If the 2027 reduction comes primarily from calibration, an aftermarket tuner may eventually identify some recoverable output. That doesn’t mean loading a 2026 file into a 2027 truck is safe, compatible or legal.
The updated engine may use different software strategies, catalyst protection, torque management or emissions monitoring. A tune developed without accounting for those changes could create drivability problems, diagnostic trouble codes, excessive catalyst temperature or warranty complications.
Builders should also distinguish between off-road competition tuning and legal street use. Altering or disabling emissions controls can violate federal law, and state requirements can add another layer. Our guide to modification and engine-swap legality explains why emissions equipment needs to remain part of the build rather than becoming a pile of mysteriously leftover hardware.
The smart approach is to wait for reputable tuners to inspect the 2027 calibration, test the engine under load and document what actually changed. A dyno number without exhaust-temperature, knock, fuel and catalyst data is just a more expensive form of optimism.
Is the 2026 or 2027 Godzilla V8 the better buy?
Buyers who want the highest published factory output have a clear answer: the 2026 7.3-liter engine carries the stronger rating.
It offers:
- 10 more horsepower
- 40 more lb-ft of torque
- A known powertrain configuration
- More established tuning and ownership data
The 2027 model still has advantages. The 7.3-liter V8 is standard instead of optional, Ford retains substantial payload and towing capability, and the simplified engine lineup could make ordering easier. New off-road configurations, bed-length availability and equipment packages may also make the updated truck a better overall fit for some buyers.
Price will help settle the argument. If making the 7.3 standard keeps the gasoline truck reasonably affordable, the reduced output may be acceptable to buyers who prioritize displacement, payload and long-term simplicity. If the truck becomes more expensive while delivering less torque, Ford will have created a comparison chart that sells leftover 2026 inventory surprisingly well.
The bottom line
The 2027 Ford Super Duty’s 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 is officially rated at 420 horsepower and 445 lb-ft, down 10 horsepower and 40 lb-ft from the 2026 engine.
Ford says the adjustment supports emissions compliance while preserving real-world capability. The company has also confirmed there is no gasoline particulate filter, leaving the exact mechanical or calibration change unexplained.
The 7.3 remains a large, naturally aspirated pushrod V8 with serious towing, work-truck and engine-swap appeal. What it no longer has is the same factory torque rating—and until Ford provides complete output curves or independent testing arrives, buyers should resist assuming the missing 40 lb-ft either ruins the truck or can be recovered with a laptop and excessive confidence.
For enthusiasts planning a build, start with the system rather than one peak number. Performance Parts That Actually Change Your Build explains how to prioritize tuning, cooling, fueling, ignition and drivetrain support instead of collecting parts that look fast in an online cart.
