Ford's 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 churns out over 400 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 to 5,500 rpm, so drivers need not bury the go pedal to experience neck-breaking pull.

The 400-cubic-inch V8 provided a middle ground compared to the big 440. Like its passenger car contemporaries, D-series truck engine options continued to shrink as smaller engines proved more ...