7.3L Ford Godzilla Class A RV

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Meter Tech

Meter Tech

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So, what's the verdict on the Godzilla motor in Class A RV's....Looking at a Fleetwood Bounder with the 7.3L and the coach has an 8K tow/hitch rating from the factory which is higher than any others in this same class of RVs. I would be towing a 20' - 22' enclosed with a sand rail etc.
Not looking to tow and climb grades at 80 mph but don't want to struggle at 30 mph just the same.

Thank you for any input you can provide.
Cheers
 
I think it has been a solid motor for the RVs and the reviews that I have read seem to be all good. It does not rev to the moon like the V10 to make power.
 
Cam/lifter issues were a thing with the 7.3. Ford announced they are discontinuing the F53 gasser chassis. Cummins has rolled out their 6.7 Octane turbo gasser, and I wouldn't be surprised if Freightliner offers a gasser RV chassis with it.
 
Like everything pushrod these days: lifters can be an issue, but appears to be far more rare than the 1/2 ton shit everyone has.

If I owned one, I wouldn’t be scared, but I would definitely cut open the filter every oil change, which would be often.
 
Pay attention to the actual ratings on the coach for towing. Whilst helping a buddy look for an RV a couple years ago, there were a handful that had 8k hitches but the actual capacities only rated the units at 5k towing. Example on the Bounder: a 33C has a 23,000 GVWR and 26,000 GCWR so 3,000 towing but has an 8,000 hitch? The 36F has 26,500 GVWR and 30,000 GCWR so 3,500 towing with 8,000 hitch. It was like back in the day with the Kodiak-based super C rigs. They had 10k hitches but the chassis was technically only rated for 6,500. I'm sure they'll pull more but the way stuff is advertised and actually rated in the motorhome world is pretty cheeky.
 
I just watched a youtube video where a mechanic was moving his shop from Kansas to Las Cruces New Mexico. He rented the biggest u-haul that had a godzilla powertrain in it and while he said there was no issues with hauling his stuff down, the truck could only make 25 mph up a pass along the way. It was loaded down with tool boxes and tools from his mechanic shop so he figures he was at the max capacity if not over.
 
when I see lifter issues, it can be caused by a over rev gear drop with cheap oil
Oil is the key

I have two motor in the shop build with the exact exact same parts,
One changed the oil every 55 gallons of race fuel and beat the piss out of this motor
the other changed the oil with shelf oil full syn, ever other dune trip

the Motor with race oil done every 55 gallon looked untouched - it really looks like the pistons have never been installed and the cylinders look as good as the day it left the machine shop

on my super c, i dont drive it a ton, so i change the oil every 1000-2000 miles with full synthetic oil,

Lake Speed did a test on oil with walmart full syn up against non syn full race oil, and the wallmart did better,


I would think using the correct grade of oil and change it often would be the key for the Godzilla motor, i dont think it is really a lifter issue, just wrong oil at the wrong time.

when i look at the Winter weight, and think to my self, hmm i don't live in cold weather or up north, so i thicken the winter weight.
it calls for a 5w-30 personally i would be a 10w-30 or a 10w-40 full syn,
 
Fireballsocal said:
I just watched a youtube video where a mechanic was moving his shop from Kansas to Las Cruces New Mexico. He rented the biggest u-haul that had a godzilla powertrain in it and while he said there was no issues with hauling his stuff down, the truck could only make 25 mph up a pass along the way. It was loaded down with tool boxes and tools from his mechanic shop so he figures he was at the max capacity if not over.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, aren't all U-Haul's governed @ 55MPH......I wonder if that would have any effect on its performance in the video and was it the F-53 Chassis...I think Ford makes other chassis with the Godzilla motor but maybe different Transmissions?
 
Meter Tech said:
Hmmm, aren't all U-Haul's governed @ 55MPH......I wonder if that would have any effect on its performance in the video and was it the F-53 Chassis...I think Ford makes other chassis with the Godzilla motor but maybe different Transmissions?
Click to expand...
Google says 65-76mph depending on model. And the commercial trucks get the neutered lower power version. I don't know. That u-haul could have been super heavy. Just something to consider.
 
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