Texas Shop Unleashes First
A Texas off-road shop has achieved what Ford fans have been dreaming of since the new Bronco’s debut – dropping a thundering 7.3-liter “Godzilla” V8 into a 6th-generation Ford Bronco. Lone Star Ring and Pinion, a specialty 4x4 shop in Katy, TX, has built the first V8-swapped 2021+ Bronco, and it’s a monster in every sense of the word. This one-of-a-kind build doesn’t just shoehorn in Ford’s biggest gas V8; it also upgrades the Bronco with heavy-duty axles, 43-inch tires, and a host of off-road mods to handle the newfound power. The result is an enthusiast’s dream: a Bronco that roars with V8 fury and tackles trails like a true desert racer.
Built by Lone Star Ring & Pinion – Bronco V8 Pioneers
The masterminds behind this project are Eric Malmberg and his team at Lone Star Ring & Pinion. Eric founded the shop in 2007 out of a two-car garage and has over 30 years of experience in the 4x4 and racing community. An expert in drivetrain upgrades, Eric has been building custom axles for decades and even competed in Four Wheeler’s Top Truck Challenge back in 2001. That pedigree shows in this Bronco build – Lone Star R&P has already made a name as the “home of the solid axle swapped Bronco,” converting the new independent-front-suspension (IFS) Broncos to tough solid front axles for hardcore off-road use. Now, they’ve upped the ante by completing the first-ever Godzilla V8 swap in a Bronco, a feat many thought might never happen.
21 reactions · 4 comments | Making the 7.3 Godzilla fit in a 6g Bronco. This is a fun one. Already did a one ton Solid axle Swap. Now on the Godzilla Swap. Coming to a trail near you soon. 7.3 Godzilla Swap. #btr #btrtrucknorriscam #7.3Bronco #ge
Making the 7.3 Godzilla fit in a 6g Bronco. This is a fun one. Already did a one ton Solid axle Swap. Now on the Godzilla Swap. Coming to a trail near you soon. 7.3 Godzilla Swap. #btr...
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“If something has an axle, we can handle it,” Eric’s shop proudly proclaims – and they mean it. The Bronco was delivered to Lone Star’s Katy, TX garage as a 2022 model with the factory EcoBoost engine, but it has left as an entirely different beast. Eric and crew’s combined decades of know-how made them uniquely suited to tackle this ambitious swap, which required engineering solutions from engine mounts to wiring. They treated it like any of their wild custom projects – with a can-do attitude and careful fabrication. The result is a Bronco that looks factory-fit at first glance, but packs a big surprise under the hood.
54 reactions · 11 comments | 7.3 Godzilla BTR Cam 10R80 Atlas T Case 1Ton swap 2022 Bronco. 43” Mickeys. StangHi Tune. I’ll need new tires soon. @stang_hi @briantooleyracing @mickeythompsontires @motivegear @broncos_of_texas @bajadesigns @for
7.3 Godzilla BTR Cam 10R80 Atlas T Case 1Ton swap 2022 Bronco. 43” Mickeys. StangHi Tune. I’ll need new tires soon. @stang_hi @briantooleyracing @mickeythompsontires @motivegear...
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The Ford “Godzilla” V8 – A 7.3L Monster
At the heart of this build is Ford’s 7.3-liter V8, ominously nicknamed “Godzilla.” Originally designed for Super Duty pickup trucks, the Godzilla is a 445 cubic-inch pushrod V8 that has become a popular new swap engine for Ford enthusiasts. In stock form, this iron-block brute makes around 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque – significantly more torque than any factory Bronco engine. Where the turbocharged sixes have to spin up to make power, the Godzilla delivers a lump of torque low in the powerband that’s perfect for off-roading. It’s essentially a modern big-block, built to haul heavy loads and provide gobs of grunt at low RPM – an ideal trait for crawling over rocks or powering through mud.
What makes the 7.3L Godzilla particularly intriguing is its old-school OHV design. Unlike Ford’s high-revving dual-overhead-cam “Coyote” 5.0 V8, the Godzilla uses a single in-block cam and pushrods. This simpler layout not only emphasizes torque and durability, it also keeps the engine physically compact. In fact, the Godzilla’s cylinder heads are much narrower than the DOHC heads on smaller engines, meaning the 7.3L actually fits in the Bronco’s engine bay without any frame cutting or strut tower mods. Ford had infamously claimed a V8 wouldn’t fit in the new Bronco’s chassis, but Lone Star R&P has proven otherwise. Once the massive V8 was in place and the hood closed, you’d hardly know it wasn’t a factory option – until it fires up and growls through a custom exhaust, of course.
Lone Star didn’t leave the Godzilla engine stock, either. They installed a Brian Tooley Racing (BTR) camshaft to give the 7.3 even more punch. The cam upgrade should bump the horsepower beyond the stock 430 hp and sharpen the throttle response of the big V8. The team also added a high-flow intake manifold and intake system to help the engine breathe. With these upgrades and a custom engine tune, this Bronco’s V8 is likely making well over 500 horsepower. For engine management, Lone Star worked with StangHi Performance – a Ford tuning specialist – to custom tune the Godzilla to run in the Bronco’s chassis. In short, this is not just a big engine dropped in stock – it’s a thoughtfully massaged V8 set up to deliver maximum power and reliability on the trail.
How to Stuff a 7.3L V8 in a Bronco – The Swap Details
Executing this swap required significant engineering, but the end result looks impressively seamless. Lone Star R&P had to fabricate custom motor mounts to bolt the 7.3L into the Bronco’s frame. Thankfully, the Godzilla’s compact width meant the engine sits at about the same height as the stock engines and clears the hood and firewall. Only a minor modification to a chassis cross-brace was needed – a slight bend to clear the taller intake throttle body – a small price to pay for fitting such a large V8. From the engine back, the team then had to choose a transmission and transfer case that could handle the Godzilla’s might and integrate with the Bronco’s 4×4 system.
They opted for Ford’s 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission, a modern 10-speed used in the F-150 and Mustang, because it was easier to adapt than the Super Duty’s heavy-duty transmission. Behind the engine sits this 10-speed auto, sending power into an Atlas transfer case for 4-wheel-drive. The Atlas is a legendary aftermarket transfer case known for strength and simplicity – perfect for an off-road build. Custom drive shafts were then made to connect to the beefy axles.
Wiring and electronics were one of the trickiest parts of the swap. Modern Broncos rely on complex computer networks, so making a foreign engine talk nicely with the vehicle was a challenge. The solution was a standalone engine management approach: the 7.3L runs on its own engine controller and custom wiring harness, tuned by StangHi, effectively making it a standalone drivetrain in the Bronco’s body. This way, the V8 can run without needing every OEM Bronco sensor and module to agree. The fact that the Bronco fired up and drives indicates their solution worked. Getting all the factory systems (like drive modes, traction control, etc.) to fully cooperate may be an ongoing project, but as a pure off-road toy, this Bronco doesn’t necessarily need every nanny – it just needs that V8 power, and it has it in spades.
From IFS to Solid Axles: Built for Extreme Off-Road
Dropping in a monster motor was only half the story – Lone Star also reengineered the Bronco’s suspension and drivetrain to truly make this rig “Broncozilla.” The stock Bronco comes with independent front suspension (IFS) and up to 35” tires (Sasquatch package). That wouldn’t do for Eric’s plans. This build features a complete solid axle swap front and rear, using one-ton truck axles as the foundation. Converting to a solid front axle required custom suspension links, heavy-duty coilovers, and a steering system similar to a Jeep or old Bronco. The payoff is strength and simplicity: the Bronco now has the kind of underpinnings you’d find in a 1-ton Super Duty truck, ready to handle the massive 7.3L’s torque and the abuse of hardcore off-roading.
Those axles spin giant 43-inch Mickey Thompson tires – yes, 43s! – which give this Bronco incredible ground clearance and an imposing stance. Fitting 43” rubber meant significant lift and fender trimming. The Bronco sits sky-high, with a custom long-travel suspension to keep those tires under control. All of this combines to make this Bronco as badass as it sounds – an ultimate Bronco that can rumble down the highway and then crawl over boulders, powered by one of Ford’s largest engines ever in one of Ford’s most loved 4x4s.
Roaring Reception from Bronco Enthusiasts
It’s no surprise that the Bronco community is going wild over this build. Ever since Ford revived the Bronco without an available V8, enthusiasts have been clamoring for someone to do exactly this. Lone Star Ring & Pinion’s achievement has garnered widespread attention on social media and forums. When the shop posted a video of the Bronco’s first V8 startup, comments flooded in expressing awe and excitement. On enthusiast forums, news of the “Godzilla Bronco” spread quickly, with members astonished to see a V8 neatly fitted and discussions springing up about how the team managed the electronics and what it would take for more Bronco owners to do the same. The consensus was a mix of enthusiastic admiration and eager curiosity – Bronco fans now see that a V8 is possible, and it opens the door for more such swaps.
Even the broader auto world has taken note. The build has been featured in YouTube videos and caught the eye of off-road media. Ford itself might be watching – historically, when aftermarket builders prove a concept (like Jeep eventually offering a V8 Wrangler after enthusiasts did Hemi swaps), it sometimes pushes the OEM to respond. “Why didn’t Ford do this from the factory?” has been a common refrain from commenters, marveling at how stock-like the swap appears and how the Bronco now sounds “the way a Bronco should” with a roaring V8.
All the online buzz underscores one thing: this Lone Star Ring & Pinion Bronco is a game-changer for Bronco enthusiasts. It’s proof that with enough skill and determination, the Bronco can have it all – horsepower, torque, and the unmistakable rumble of a V8, combined with extreme off-road capability. This newsworthy build has not only fulfilled a fan fantasy but also set a benchmark. As Lone Star’s team prepares a full reveal video and perhaps plans to take it to events, Bronco lovers everywhere are watching, listening (to that V8 growl), and cheering on this Texas-sized achievement.
“We did it – first V8 6th-gen Bronco!” Lone Star Ring & Pinion declared proudly. And as this beastly Bronco hits the trails, the entire off-road community now knows it’s possible. The Godzilla-swapped Bronco has arrived, and it’s every bit the “Broncomonster” we hoped it would be.
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