This Happens When You Stuff a 7.3 Godzilla Engine into a Fox Body Mustang
When you stab a 1400 hp motor that’s dimensionally so much larger than a Ford Fox Body Mustang can handle, never mind the over 1,000 hp from a stock Godzilla, it’s like stuffing a rocket into a wheelchair and lighting the match. And expecting great results. It’s crazy, time-consuming, and requires a build level far beyond normal abilities.
Who stuffed the 7.3 Godzilla engine into this Mustang?
But that’s what Bob and Preston Folkestad of Creative Werks, took on with their “Foxzilla” Mustang project. To make 1,400 hp from a Godzilla engine means going beyond what’s available in the aftermarket. And to keep it from tearing up the Mustang like a firecracker in a mailbox means lots of tubing and fabrication. Oh, and lots of cha-cha.
The father-son team built the Mustang to compete in the Optima Ultimate Street Car Outlaw class at Road America 2022. Another reason is to test the engine combination to guide a future engine program. They started with a $1,000 rusted-out Fox Body Mustang.
Just looking at it you can see that giant billet intake manifold gleaming on top that features an intercooler. The billet valve covers are also billet pieces.
Who built the Ford 7.3 Godzilla engine?
The Folkestads decided to mount the engine back relative to a stock location for better weight bias. A ProCharger F-1A-94 turbo the size of a full-grown pig works in conjunction with the Dewitts radiator and intercooler to help keep things cool. Don’t forget, one consequence of so much power is a huge increase in heat.
The Godzilla engine is from Indy Power Products. Its oiling system requires a large oil pan both for capacity and for the pump. Power Products made them both, along with a front cover tying into the pan. First, because the stock pan is so deep, and because Foxzilla needs ground clearance. To monitor everything, what seems like hundreds of sensors bonked around everything under the hood.
Hung off the Godzilla is a Tremec T56 transmission. Machined bits help to shield it along with a panel stuffed with control switches. Looking around a bit more you’re introduced to the Bob and Billy Johnson and 515 Fabrication roll cage. Lightweight aluminum panels neatly appoint the interior with hinged access panels. Interestingly, a full audio system including a subwoofer was installed because why not?
What about the suspension?
For the suspension, the Folkstads went with a setup similar to an S197 Mustang. That means it rocks a Panhard bar, trailing arms, and a third link setup placed high inside the chassis. There is also an integrated jack system to make those track adjustments easier and quicker. The brakes are Brembo GT S racing units.
As with almost all of the Mustang, the body is mostly modified with scratch-built sheet metal. The widened fenders, low stance with those white 18-inch Forgeline FF1 wheels, and clean overall body show the level of craftsmanship. This isn’t your typical track bandit.
While it missed the 2022 Optima Road America action when it crashed racing at Road America, expect to see even more mods and improvements coming in 2023.
