Ford Raptor Build

[Impulse Off Road]

I built a Ford Raptor for Black Rock Wheel to use in their booth at the Sema show this past November. I figured that I would post up the build of the Raptor and show everybody the fun you can have in your off road vehicle at Miller Motorsports Park.

First off I started with a 2010 Supercab Ford Raptor with a 6.2L. This truck just happens to be the first production 6.2L Ford Raptor that came off the assembly line at Ford. It was built for Casey Folks the owner of Best In the Desert Racing Series. Like every other Sema project that I have done before, this project was started 2 weeks before the show and was finished the 2 days before the show started.


Here are the build specs:


Drivetrain: Sierra Gear 4.56 ring and pinion from West Coast Differentials were added front and rear. The Raptor come with a factory E-Locker in the back so I decided that while I was doing gears I would put a locker in the front 8.8 diff.

Suspension: ICON Vehicle Dynamics UniBall Billet Aluminum Upper A-Arms were added along with Sway Away 2.5" Remote Reservoir front shocks and 2.5" Bottom Mount Piggy Back shocks in the rear. Deaver +2" Springs were used with longer than stock Poly Performance Shackles. to top off the rear suspension TeraFlex Speed Bumps were used to control bottoming out that can cause frame damage.


Exterior: I looked around at all of the bumpers on the market for the Raptors and couldnt quite find what I was looking for so I broke out the bender and went to work building the bumpers for the truck. There is a Warn 12,000lb winch hiding behind the skid plate and the grill. for the show I had some big tires on the truck and needed a way to carry a spare so I got a Tiregate Prerunner tire holder for the bed.

Performance: Maganflow Cat Back Exhaust, K&N Cold Air Intake Kit, Superchips Cortex Programmer with Edge Products Insight CTS Monitor.

 

[Impulse Off Road]

In the previous pictures you will see the front diff. Ford went to a 31 Spline front diff for the Raptors and there are no offered limited slips or lockers for the Ford Raptor Front 8.8. I started doing some research and found that Ford used a 31 spline rear diff in some independent rear suspension Mustangs. I found an Auburn Ected locker for that application and it worked with some clearancing inside the diff and on the carrier bearing cap. I removed the bed to brace the frame so it would not bend under some fairly serious off road activity! I did a bunch of testing while I have the rear suspension apart just to see what had to happen for the Raptor frame to bend. I was amazed at how far the rear axle travels up in the wheel well. The differential isonly a few inches away from smashing the underside of the truck. Anybody willing to hit something hard enough to bottom the rear suspension out causing the fame to bend should be willing to get aftermarket bumpstops to prevent it. I had never used a tube bender before and figured that I need to learn. I think I did a pretty good job for my first go round. I used rocker panel steps from Expedition One's JK Rockers for the rear bumper tread area on either side of the license plate

 

[Impulse Off Road]

I took took the top 2 leafs and the anti wrap leaf of the deavers and set them under the truck with the factory block to simulate the full deaver spring pack and cycled the suspension. You can see how the springs bowed the wrong way and they still had 2" more uptravel before compressing the factory bump stop casuing the metal on metal hitting that causes the bend of the frame. The other picture shows how high the diff goes when compressing the suspension. This picture is also taken with 2" of uptravel still left before the metal on metal contact. Anybody that says the Raptor frame is junk needs to really understand what is happening to the trucks that bend them.

 

[Impulse Off Road]

I wanted to have the only Raptor on 38" tires at the Sema Show. Since the truck was being used by Black Rock Wheel and they were featuring a new 20" wheel they have coming on in early 2012 I got a set of (5) 38x14.50r20 BFGoodrich Mud TerrainTA KM2 for the truck. I had to trim the back of the fender opening a little bit to clear the tire when it turned. The tires fit easily as far as uptravel was concerned with the fiberglass front fenders. After Sema I planned on running 37x12.50r17 BFGoodrich KM2's, but wheels that I want are not available yet so I just threw the stock tires back on the truck until the Black Rock Intruder beadlocks show up!

 

[Impulse Off Road]

When it was all said and done my least favorite part of the build was the fiberglass fenders from Glassworks. They took so much work to make them fit it was ridiculous. I liked learning the ins and outs of the Ford Raptor. I am considering selling this truck and getting another one to take a few steps further than this truck is. If I dont get a new one i am going to add a bedcage, jack and fuel cell holders in the bed. I have considered doing a long travel front suspension and a Baja Designs light bar also. I and/or when I really decide to go to the next level I am going to put leather Beard Seats and a full cage in this one or the next one.

What fun is a truck like this if you dont use it? How many Raptors out there have ever been used for what they were made for? I decided that I needed to put the parts I put on this truck to the test. You can view the pictures and video and decide for yourself if this truck works.

After using the truck I decided that I am going to add TeraFlex Speed Bumps to the front suspension as well and will be looking at 3" diameter replacement shocks. The Sway Away Shocks work unbelievably well on and off road and I would love to see what 3" shocks will do for the truck.

 

[Impulse Off Road]

I even tried out the Off Road Course at Miller Motorsports Park. After some time in the dirt, on the rocks, and on the short course I decided to see how it does in the air.

Expedition One was out at MMP doing a segment on the Off Road School and on the Jeep Programs. When it was done we decided to have a little fun on the Short Course at MMP in the snow. It was hard to get the speed that I wanted being so slippery, but it was a new driving experience where I was once again overly impressed with the abilities of the Ford Raptor!

Video
http://vimeo.com/33791430

 

[Spork]

Looks like fun. I've been interested in seeing what happens with the Raptor, keep hoping Ford brings something like the Bronco back.

 

[broncomitch]

I still would have braced the frame...just to make it stronger. Nice truck tho!

 

[Impulse Off Road]

I actually did brace the frame. The last 2 pictures in the first post show what I did. I plated the outside of the frame in the area where the bend occurs. The TeraFlex Speed Bumps replaced the factory bump stops in the rear. The factory bump stops are inside the frame and the Speed Bumps were moved outboard of the frame. The brace that goes from frame rail to frame rail consists of (2) 1.5 x .120 wall lengths of Dom tube with a dimple died 3/16" piece of steel between the lengths. The bump stops work better mounted out board but they also place a twisting force on the frame rail. This combination of bracing keeps the frame supported, keeps the frame rails square and prevents the frame from bending due to bottoming out.

 

[sixstringsteve]

great looking truck! I would love a raptor someday.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Absolutely love it, you know my thoughts on the subject but I think you need to build more of them!

 

[neagtea]

Why didn't you use saw bumpstops?

 

[LT.]

Such a bad a$$ rig! I would love to have a Raptor. Job well done sir!

LT.

 

[SAMI]

:Like:

 

[scoutabout]

John, thanks for posting! Great stuff. Having seen your work, I know your excellent abilities and execution, but now I have a new level of awe after seeing your work "in the process".

 

[bryson]

I like it! Jump it more - It's good for the truck.

 

[Bart]

Nice, really digging the rig. Glad you addressed the frame problem.

 

[94krawler]

That is a sick truck! You are in St. George? Need an employee??

 

[Impulse Off Road]

Here is an under the hood pic showing the K&N Cold Air Intake and some pics of the Warn VR12000 Winch that is nicely tucked behind the front bumper.

 

[Impulse Off Road]

When I removed the stock bumper the hitch went with it. I still need to be able to tow a trailer so I had to get a hitch back on the truck. Here is what was installed.

I will post a picture of the finished product when I get back to St George.