Ford Built A Supercharged Crate Engine Rated Above 1,200 Horsepower And Dropped It Into A One Off Bronco Styled For Arctic Rescue, Then Called It The Most Powerful Crate Engine Ever From A Carmaker

Ford just did something no carmaker has claimed before. At the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the company unveiled a supercharged crate engine rated at more than 1,200 horsepower and more than 1,000 lb-ft of torque, and Ford calls it “the most powerful crate engine ever created by an automaker.”

A powerful V8 engine bay with orange and gray components, standing in for a supercharged crate engine.

To show it off, Ford did not bolt it into a muscle car. It dropped it into a one-off Bronco called the Frostwarden, styled as an Arctic search-and-rescue rig, according to Ford’s own account of the build.

The Megazilla 2.0 Adds A Whipple Supercharger To A 7.3-Liter V8

The engine is called the Megazilla 2.0, and it starts with a 7.3-liter V8. Ford says it is a new development program, not simply the original Megazilla with a blower strapped on top.

Sitting on top is a 3.0-liter Whipple Gen 6 supercharger. Ford then changed a long list of parts underneath to survive the extra boost.

The block is stronger. There is a camshaft made specifically for supercharged use, along with upgraded pistons, larger fuel injectors, and a different belt drive and damper. Those are the parts that take the beating when power climbs this high.

Ford Puts An Asterisk On The 1,200 Horsepower Claim

Before anyone starts shopping, Ford is careful about how it states the numbers. The ratings are based on race fuel under the SAE J607 standard, and the company says results may vary.

The figures apply when the engine is properly equipped, and Ford notes that peak horsepower and peak torque may not be reached at the same time. That is normal for any engine rating, but it matters when the headline number is this big.

In plain terms, the more-than-1,200 horsepower number is a race fuel number, not a pump gas number.

The Frostwarden Is Built Like A Winter Recovery Machine

The Bronco around the engine is just as extreme. Ford describes it as a capable, imposing Arctic search-and-rescue rig with a wide stance and the look of a winter recovery vehicle.

It rides on 42-inch BFGoodrich tires mounted on custom 18-inch Weld beadlock wheels. Portal gear lifts from 74Weld raise the body well above what a stock Bronco can manage.

Underneath is upgraded Dana driveline hardware, and custom Bilstein dampers keep the whole thing under control. Those are serious off-road parts, chosen to match an engine with this much muscle.

An Overnight Shipment To Tennessee Got The Engine Into The Truck

Ford says the timeline was tight. The concept was committed to earlier in the year, work began in February, and the physical build ramped up in June.

By October, the engine came off the dyno. The finished engine was then shipped overnight to Kincer’s shop in Tennessee, where it was installed in the Bronco while teams prepared for first fire, calibration and further development.

Michael Goodwin, a Ford Racing Parts Planning Analyst who wrote Ford’s account, says he first pitched the Frostwarden as the launch vehicle for the Megazilla 2.0. His closing line sums up the company’s message: “Ford powers what builders imagine.”

The development team included Ford Racing Parts and Ford engineering, working with what the company calls a network of expert partners.

You Cannot Buy The Frostwarden, And The Engine Has No Price Yet

This is a show vehicle, not a product. Ford says the Frostwarden is a specialty modified concept that it will not sell, and it includes third-party parts and modifications that may affect compliance with federal safety standards and other federal, state or local laws.

The engine is a different story. The Megazilla 2.0 is part of Ford’s crate engine program, but Ford has not announced a price or a date when buyers can order one.

That leaves a lot of room for speculation among builders. A supercharged 7.3-liter that Ford itself rates above 1,200 horsepower is clearly aimed at the biggest and wildest projects.

Thinking About A Crate Engine Swap? Here Is What To Check First

Most people will never need 1,200 horsepower, but the lessons of a big crate engine project apply to smaller ones too. Power is only one part of the bill.

First, look at the rest of the drivetrain. The Frostwarden got upgraded Dana driveline hardware for a reason, because a transmission, axles and driveshaft built for a stock engine can fail quickly when power doubles.

Second, think about fuel. A rating made on race fuel tells you what the engine can do under ideal conditions, so ask what the number looks like on the fuel you will actually buy.

Third, plan for cooling, braking and tires. A truck that can make big power needs to stop and handle it, which is why the Frostwarden carries specialized suspension and big tires.

Finally, check the rules where you live. Emissions and equipment laws for engine swaps vary from state to state, and Ford itself warns that third-party modifications may affect legal compliance on the Frostwarden.

Whether the Megazilla 2.0 ends up in a Bronco, a truck or a hot rod, it already has bragging rights. A carmaker has put its name behind the most powerful crate engine it has ever built, and a one-off Arctic rescue Bronco is carrying the proof.

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