Ford releases 7.3-liter gasoline V8 specs

[modified]

It’s been more than 20 years since Ford updated the gasoline engines in its heavy-duty lineup. The new 7.3-liter is down a couple of cylinders, but just about everything else is bigger and better. Look for 430 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 475 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm, both of which Ford claims are best-in-class for gasoline V8s. The engine is set up to run on compressed natural gas, too. The engine uses overhead valves and a forged steel crank and is relatively compact, especially compared to Ford’s DOHC V8s. The idea was to keep it simple, durable and easy to maintain.

Ford says the engine is for customers looking for more towing capability than an F-150 but don’t want to go whole hog with the 6.7-liter PowerStroke diesel. The 7.3 will debut as an option in the F-250 and F-250, slotting in above the 6.2-liter gasoline V8. A lower-output version of the 7.3-liter making 350 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque will be standard on F-450 chassis cab models as well as the F-550, F-600 tweener model, F-650 and F-750. The long-running E-Series cutaway will also get the 7.3-liter.