- Feb 8, 2023
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- 2,373
- 2024 F350 SRW Lariat 4x4 6.7L 3.55
- 2022 F350 SRW Lariat 4x4 7.3L 4.30 (RIP)
Had a little conversation with ChatGPT and landed on this:
Ford eliminated the 6.8L entirely for 2027 and made the 7.3L the sole gasoline engine.
That means Ford was simultaneously:
And I think there’s a strategic reason for the specific 445 lb-ft number
Look at this:
2026 6.8L: 405 hp / 445 lb-ft
2027 7.3L: 420 hp / 445 lb-ft
That’s almost certainly not coincidence.
Ford has effectively made the 7.3L produce the same peak torque as the outgoing 6.8L, while giving it another 15 hp.
So rather than engineering the 7.3L to retain its 485 lb-ft rating, Ford appears to have accepted a significant torque reduction to get the engine through the new emissions regime.
And there’s a business advantage: the customer still gets a 7.3L V8 instead of the 6.8L, but Ford doesn’t have to maintain two gasoline engine calibrations/certifications.
Why doesn’t GM have to do the same thing?
If GM’s 6.6L is indeed producing substantially more torque while meeting the same 2027 emissions requirements, that tells us something important about the relative emissions margins of the two engines.
It could mean:
Back to my opinion: Ford is probably banking on past 7.3L and 6.8L sales performance with a worst case that people buy more PSDs (which would be better for Ford anyway). Or maybe GM is about to get a letter from the EPA!
I really want to compare hp/tq curves, not meaningless peak numbers at RPMs nobody wants to drive at. Somebody put these bitches on a dyno!
Ford eliminated the 6.8L entirely for 2027 and made the 7.3L the sole gasoline engine.
That means Ford was simultaneously:
- eliminating one gasoline engine family,
- making the 7.3L universal across the lineup,
- modifying the 7.3L to meet the new emissions requirements.
And I think there’s a strategic reason for the specific 445 lb-ft number
Look at this:
2026 6.8L: 405 hp / 445 lb-ft
2027 7.3L: 420 hp / 445 lb-ft
That’s almost certainly not coincidence.
Ford has effectively made the 7.3L produce the same peak torque as the outgoing 6.8L, while giving it another 15 hp.
So rather than engineering the 7.3L to retain its 485 lb-ft rating, Ford appears to have accepted a significant torque reduction to get the engine through the new emissions regime.
And there’s a business advantage: the customer still gets a 7.3L V8 instead of the 6.8L, but Ford doesn’t have to maintain two gasoline engine calibrations/certifications.
Why doesn’t GM have to do the same thing?
If GM’s 6.6L is indeed producing substantially more torque while meeting the same 2027 emissions requirements, that tells us something important about the relative emissions margins of the two engines.
It could mean:
- GM’s L8T already had more emissions headroom;
- GM’s catalyst/aftertreatment system is more capable;
- GM’s combustion strategy is better optimized for the new test;
- Ford’s 7.3L architecture has a particular weakness under the new test cycle;
- or GM is accepting a different certification/credit strategy.
Back to my opinion: Ford is probably banking on past 7.3L and 6.8L sales performance with a worst case that people buy more PSDs (which would be better for Ford anyway). Or maybe GM is about to get a letter from the EPA!
I really want to compare hp/tq curves, not meaningless peak numbers at RPMs nobody wants to drive at. Somebody put these bitches on a dyno!
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