MTUH3 - 2011 Ford Raptor Screw "Official" Build Thread

[MTUH3]

NEW BOXES!

 

[MTUH3]

The new Icons are on the front end of the truck, and I can't be happier. It does the soul good to be able to drive with confidence again. They came shipped near mid perch equivalent height, so the truck sits nice and level. Installation was pretty straight forward, only issues was getting the nuts off the UCA ball joint and the Tie Rod Ball Joint. The taper unseated and just had to get things seated to get the nut the rest of the way off.

The ride is great, I really like the way the truck handles now. I also have the CDC Valve set to H. This gives me great on-road handling. Can't wait to hit the track in the next couple weeks. Between the Icons on the front, and the Hellwig sway bar on the rear, the handling will be about as dialed in as I can get it. Now if my new rotors would show up...

 

[MTUH3]

Spent a long day today sticking in the these @svc UCAs

SVC TIGed these up for me and I layed down a bunch of clear on them. I deviated from their instructions a bit, but the more I think about it, it depends on you shock set up.

First, because I was not going to reuse the stock UCAs, I just cut the bolts heads off on the inside of the bucket. This kept me from need to pull the entire shock. I just removed the lower shock mount and could swing it far enough out of the way to clear the new bolts. I also left the sway bar and tie rod in and used a compact drill to clear out the knuckle for the new bolts.

Installation is fairly easy. I installed both pieces separately, easier to feed the bolt through for the heim joints.

 

[MTUH3]

While relaxing up north with the family, I did a couple other updates.

Threw new stickers on the back glass until I decide / get new vinyls cut and installed on the truck.

Then I had my youngest help me install a pair of red KC HiLites Cyclones under the hood. Lately I have been missing / wishing I had underhood lighting, and these fixed it right up. I am going to move the wiring on the hod around a bit to clean things up, but very happy with the performance. I went with red because it provides light, but also will match some of the color schemes I have in mind for the truck.

I noticed on Birdman's truck at HITH that they also provide a pretty cool accent light too. This is a shot of the front fender. Not the best pic, but helps light up the wheel area too.

 

[MTUH3]

Back to rally cross last weekend. I compete in the Modified All-Wheel category, but because of the track conditions (lots of grip) I ran the day in 2wd.

Didn't win... no surpise... but fun for sure.

Detroit SCCA Rallycross at I96 Speedway - July 2014 - YouTube

 

[MTUH3]

This weekend I moved the @KC HiLiTES gravity LEDs to the Raptor and got rid of the Hellas. Extremely happy. We then took the truck out to compete in our first TSD and took first in the novice class.

 

[MTUH3]

A couple weeks ago swapped in some Method NV wheels and the new BF Goodrich KO2 tires.

I will say I have been extremely happy with the Goodyear Duratrac, which I have been running for a couple years now, and put nearly 50,000 miles on them. I probably would have been very close to getting 60,000 miles out of them had my alignments been more frequent, and didn't put a fair number of miles on them with bad front coilovers, upper control arms, and FX4 rear shocks....

I spent a lot of time and debate looking at tires this time, evaluating tread pattern against tire weight. The Duratrac is the lightest tire I could find, at near 60 lbs, but I had cut one sidewall and had another tire damaged at the side wall. The KO2 comes in at 67 to 68 lbs, and thought I don't have a cross section or details on the engineering behind the tires, it leads me to believe it might be a little tougher of a tire.

I chose the KO2 because it weighs in near the OE tire, and the tread pattern looked to be a little better all around, road and rallycross. The tire also comes winter / snow rated with the mountain and snowflake symbol. We will have to wait and see how it comes to the duratrac in the snow.

With a couple thousand miles on the tires, and a race on this set up... I am happy with the purchase, though I wish the weight was down near the Dtrac. Also the on road traction does not seem to be the same on the Dtrac, they perform well, but I notice a little more understeer on pavement when driving the truck hard.

Oh, I also had my decals put back on from our favorite FRF vinyl and graphics vendor.

 

[Gunpilot]

Carl, when you going next? I would love to come and check it ou, and maybe run too!

Let me know, I am in Brighton area..


Thanks

 

[MTUH3]

@Gunpilot I am looking for end of July either in Indiana or I96 speedway. I am not sure if I can make either as we have two long family trips planned in July and it just might be too much.

If you are in Brighton, I am driving through your town a couple times a week on my way to Lansing for work. May be we can meet up on my way back through for drinks or food.

 

[Gunpilot]

Sent pm