1967 Cougar Godzilla ZF 8HP70 swap

[andrewb70]

A book has many chapters, and one can argue that the Cougar story already has many chapters. Calling this chapter 2 doesn't seem fitting, as this is more like chapter 4, but whatever. Here is a link to the last few chapters:

https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/109464-1967-Cougar-build-(over-700-pictures-and-videos)

Every journey starts with the first step, and here is the first step of this journey:

https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/04/24/CV2-001.md.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxGS5)


https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/04/24/CV2-002.md.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxXFS)

This is a 2021 7.3L Godzilla from a wrecked F250 truck. The plan is to keep the shock towers and the current front suspension setup. Engine management will be handled by the Holley Dominator ECU which will be integrated with the TurboLamik TCU that will control the ZF 8HP transmission.

I don't know how quickly this project will move, given our move to Texas in the next 60 days, but it would be awesome to have it ready for the Holley Ford Fest in late September.

Andrew

[rchaskin]

This will be cool setup!!

Sidenote....Does Holley make a twin trottle body tunnel ram for a godzilla yet????
LOL

[andrewb70]

This will be cool setup!!

Sidenote....Does Holley make a twin trottle body tunnel ram for a godzilla yet????
LOL

Sadly, they do not, but I like the current sleek hood.

Andrew

[ryeguy2006a]

This is going to be amazing!! Lots of buzz words in your new thread title!!

[705.0Merc]

Wow. Kudos for keeping the shock towers. Looking at doing the same swap later on. Looking forward to the build.

[langleylad]

That's what I call an step up and to pull it off with the shock towers in place is going to be a test. When I decided to go with the TCI set up was to make life easier plus I needed to rebuild the frontend anyhow. Did you still want me to send you pictures of the DSE QUADRALINK rear suspension upper control arm attachment mounts

[Zachalanche]

Very cool.

[andrewb70]

That's what I call an step up and to pull it off with the shock towers in place is going to be a test. When I decided to go with the TCI set up was to make life easier plus I needed to rebuild the frontend anyhow. Did you still want me to send you pictures of the DSE QUADRALINK rear suspension upper control arm attachment mounts

If you can, no rush...

I have been working with TurboLamik, for the last several month, on having full integration between the Holley EFI systems and the TurboLamik TCU. What this means is that the two will be connected with just 2 wires. This applies to the Holley Dominator and HP using V6 and also to Terminator X and X Max using V3. The Dominator and Terminator X Max are optimal because they have two CAN busses and DBW throttle.


The TCU needs information in order to make shifting decisions. Namely, it needs RPM, TPS, MAP, and torque output. Those are the basic channels that are a must, however, in order to make the transmission work optimally, the TCU needs to send messages back to the ECU.


The most critical is a signal to retard the timing during upshifts. This is commonly known as torque management and all modern transmissions implement this strategy, both for smooth shifting as well as transmission longevity. It can also be extremely helpful to retard the ignition during shifts to keep the tires from spinning during hard upshifts. With a very powerful engine, it can actually be pretty dangerous to upset the car during a full throttle upshift. This feature is now working between the TCU and the Holley ECU.


Another feature that goes along with torque management is throttle blipping on downshifts. This feature isn't strictly necessary, but it too will be available, although somewhat limited, because Holley...


The TCU will also send the following information: Gear, transmission temperature, speed, converter slip, and clutch slip. All of this information will be available to be displayed on any of the Holley digital dashes, not including the 3.5" handheld.



https://youtu.be/j-3sc-zxZww


If there are any questions, please ask.


Andrew

[dhutton]

Nice work!

Don

[Vimes]

Excellent! Adding a Holley ECU to my project now if it can speak back and forth to the Turbolamik. I do have a question, can any of the Holley ECUs that can speak to the Turbolamik also handle dual DBW throttle bodies?

[dontlifttoshift]

The dominator can handle dual throttle bodies. Andrew has done it.



blipping on downshifts. This feature isn't strictly necessary, but it too will be available, although somewhat limited, because Holley...


Limited how? Can the converter unlock during downshift to make the rev match less critical? Is this only an issue when using paddle or sequential style shifters?

[andrewb70]

Nice work!

Don

Thanks Don. We are really looking forward to moving to Denton!


Excellent! Adding a Holley ECU to my project now if it can speak back and forth to the Turbolamik. I do have a question, can any of the Holley ECUs that can speak to the Turbolamik also handle dual DBW throttle bodies?

Yes, I used to have dual DBW throttle bodies on the Cougar when I built it 9 ears ago:


https://youtu.be/gTWjf0GeBOM?si=09zpZtE_pOC6wqrF


https://youtu.be/PR3Gm69kC1Y?si=5s9AUKMUFIfyxAma





Limited how? Can the converter unlock during downshift to make the rev match less critical? Is this only an issue when using paddle or sequential style shifters?

Holley limits DBW offset to +10% (no limits on negative offset). In talking with Lukas, he seemed to think that this was going to be enough.

You are asking excellent questions, but I do not have the exact answers, yet.

Andrew

[Vimes]

Sweet.

[TerryH432]

Very cool! Subbed for updates!

[Zachalanche]

Or.............put the godzilla in the front of that ranger ;)





https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/04/24/CV2-002.md.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxXFS)


Andrew

[andrewb70]

Progress is being made. Scored some Mast Motorsports CNC ported heads for the Godzilla.

https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/05/05/CV2-003.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxB4p)


https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/05/05/CV2-005.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxVSR)


https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/05/05/CV2-004.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxcF7)

Still exploring various options for the cam. If anyone has some recommendations, I am open to suggestions.

Andrew

[ryeguy2006a]

3/4 race cam should have you popping coke cans in no time. :smoke:

[ekmxryda]

Should be fun Andrew!
I've been following this Cougar since 2014!

[andrewb70]

Should be fun Andrew!
I've been following this Cougar since 2014!

Time flies when you're having fun!

Andrew

[andrewb70]

After going back and forth and exploring as many cam options that I could find, I decided to go with a cam from Mast. It is their Godzilla 7.3 HO cam and the full specs can be found here:

https://www.mastmotorsports.com/collections/camshafts/products/godzilla-cam-100264

https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/05/08/CV2-006.png (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxQMa)

The torque and power are represented in red in the graphs above. It really seemed like the "goldielox" cam. It loses a little torque below 3000RPM, but above that point it makes more torque everywhere, including the stock cam. It doesn't make quite the peak HP numbers that the bigger, Godzilla 7.3 GT cam (green lines), but it is darn close, without giving up significant torque down low.

These numbers were generated with the CNC ported heads that I have and a stock intake manifold.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Andrew

[dontlifttoshift]

:)

213392


Have you explored converters yet?

[andrewb70]

Have you explored converters yet?

Going to use the stock Dodge converter for now. If it isn't good for whatever reason, there are options from several vendors.

Andrew

[ryeguy2006a]

That's a really impressive amount of power N/A. Guess the ole saying is true, no replacement for displacement!

[andrewb70]

Don't hate me...I guess Ford engineers decided to use readily available parts for the Godzilla engines. The lifters are exactly the same as LS lifters, so I decided to upgrade them to a high quality part.



https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/05/13/CV2-010.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rx6lc)


https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/05/13/CV2-007.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxtnn)


https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/05/13/CV2-008.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxnYt)


https://j.hmjimg.com/2024/05/13/CV2-009.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rxjV8)


Given that the current LS3 in the Cougar probably had a lifter failure, I did not want to take a chance.



Andrew

[wfo guy]

Is the timing lockout necessary to achieve your goals with this engine? The price of that cam is eye opening. :)

[andrewb70]

Is the timing lockout necessary to achieve your goals with this engine? The price of that cam is eye opening. :)

The cam also includes a new timing gear mechanism that eliminates the VVT. Eliminating VVT is not necessary, but I did not want to retain it, mostly for reliability reasons. MAST has always been on the pricey ends for parts, plus #FordTax

Andrew

[debrady86]

Any recent updates? I'm curious how you plan on mounting the Godzilla. Converting the pan and pump system to front sump or completely changing to a MII front end to accommodate the rear sump pan that comes with the Godzilla? I just pulled my 408w and have been wanting to come up with a creative way to keep stock style suspension and not pay out the butt for the oil pan/pump drive conversion. Love following your projects, cheers!

[chevyz240]

This looks like it'll be a fun project, Andrew! :)

[andrewb70]

Any recent updates? I'm curious how you plan on mounting the Godzilla. Converting the pan and pump system to front sump or completely changing to a MII front end to accommodate the rear sump pan that comes with the Godzilla? I just pulled my 408w and have been wanting to come up with a creative way to keep stock style suspension and not pay out the butt for the oil pan/pump drive conversion. Love following your projects, cheers!

I have been very busy the last few months. We moved to Texas and I still don't have any of my tools. Odds are that I won't get to the Cougar until the fall.

The current plan is to retain the shock towers and stock style TCP suspension.


This looks like it'll be a fun project, Andrew! :)

Thank you!

Andrew

[debrady86]

I have been very busy the last few months. We moved to Texas and I still don't have any of my tools. Odds are that I won't get to the Cougar until the fall.

The current plan is to retain the shock towers and stock style TCP suspension.



Thank you!

Andrew




Awesome! I also have a TCP suspension setup as well, and will follow this closely to see how you overcome the crossmember/oil pan setup. Unfortunately 71-73s have a crossmember that cannot be removed.

[andrewb70]

I have made zero progress on my Cougar due to a number of factors. However, I am super excited about all the work that has been done with Holley EFI and the TurboLamik controls for the 8HP transmission. Here is a video from this weekend at LS Fest:




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TxJFYswFMY


Both cars have Holley EFI and a TurboLamik. These were the best passes of the weekend for both cars.



Andrew

[ryeguy2006a]

Great Video!

[debrady86]

The only real options I have seen that might work with factory style suspension would be a new front sump pan and oil pump setup that runs about 4k, or mount the engine so far back that it clears the factory Godzilla rear sump pan. It's made me rethink the idea of just going LS like your Cougar or wait longer for the aftermarket to really start cranking out the parts for the Godzilla.

[andrewb70]

There is nothing like a slow moving project, but progress is being made.



Today I received a critical part of the swap, which is a front sump oil pan from Crowbar Customs.



https://www.crowbarcustoms.com/product/front-sump-7-3-godzilla-oil-pan-for-use-with-holley-timing-cover-and-oil-pump/



https://j.hmjimg.com/2025/01/03/CV2-011.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rQBEN)




https://j.hmjimg.com/2025/01/03/CV2-012.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rQhPP)




https://j.hmjimg.com/2025/01/03/CV2-013.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rQHdU)




https://j.hmjimg.com/2025/01/03/CV2-014.jpg (https://www.hostmyjunk.com/image/rQ3Om)


I am pleased with the overall quality and the finish. This pan will require a remote mounted filter and it is designed to be used with the Holley front cover and oil pump arrangement.



Andrew

[TerryH432]

That's a really nice piece Andrew!

[wfo guy]

I love nice parts. :)

[andrewb70]

That's a really nice piece Andrew!


I love nice parts. :)

Thanks guys. I hope it fits and functions as well as it looks.

Andrew