Genuine life expectancy for the Gen1?

EricM said:

Rust or collisions will be the only thing that sends a Gen 1 Raptor to the junkyard. Most of the drivetrain will be dirt cheap to fix for decades to come since it's all stock F150/F250 stuff, but the widened rear axle is going to be hard to find.

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Not quite true...the engine and trans are both Raptor or F150 6.2L specific. Not too many F150s were ordered with a 6.2L and not many Raptors make it to a junkyard regardless of condition.

The Superduty 6.2 is rated at 385hp due to the camshaft difference but you could make it work. F150s had 6R80 trans - SDs had 6R140

A good mile used engine right now is bringing 3-4k and a good used trans is $1500-$2k. You are correct on the axle though, good axles bring $2k all day if you can find one.

Just move the cam over to the donor engine, swap in your sensors. You can have cheap super duty donor engines forever. If your cam is bad get brand new raptor spec cams from ford for $99 and $101.

The 6r80 is not a stopping point, they are rebuildable, and even if you shattered the case or just wanted to replace the trans completely a 5.0 trans is a direct bolt in. The 15+ 6r80 is interchangeable, you just have to switch out the valve body. I believe the 18+ f250 come with a 6r100 which is just a beefed up 6r80 and may be an option as well, but it really is moot since there are a gaggle of 5.0 f150 to get trans from, and you can pick up a good used 4x4 6r80 for about $800.

Axles might be a problem, but companies like currie will make you a complete axle in whatever width you like, you can also have a stock f150 axle widened and order shafts of whatever length suites you.

NE Raptor said:

Not quite true...the engine and trans are both Raptor or F150 6.2L specific. Not too many F150s were ordered with a 6.2L and not many Raptors make it to a junkyard regardless of condition.

The Superduty 6.2 is rated at 385hp due to the camshaft difference but you could make it work. F150s had 6R80 trans - SDs had 6R140

A good mile used engine right now is bringing 3-4k and a good used trans is $1500-$2k. You are correct on the axle though, good axles bring $2k all day if you can find one.

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I know they are "Raptor specific", but there's not much there to change.

SD parts = 6.2 longblock. Cams are easily swappable.

F150 parts = Transmission / Transfer case / Front Diff

The rear axle housing is gonna be hen's teeth though. Don't FU your rear axle housing! At least that's something that could be custom modified from a stock F150 axle down the line without too much hassle.

Yes, anything is possible to extend the life of a vehicle if you throw enough money at it. A lot of the previous suggestions are not easy and fairly expensive. Only the very dedicated would go to those lengths.

Have you priced a new truck? $5k or less all in to replace an engine seems like the bargain of the century when a stripper model raptor is $53k, if you get a loaded one its $80k. Additionally tasca has brand new 6.2l short blocks for $1700, get your heads reconditioned and move your parts over and you have a brand new bottom end with a warranty and fresh heads for under $2500.

Engine and trans replacements aren't hard. They are just nuts and bolts, there aren't any precision tolerances, use a torque wrench and there isn't much to screw up.

I was thinking about the axle problem, all you have to do is order stock replacement shafts for the raptor and have the axle re-tubed. Retubing costs around 400 a side then whatever the axle shafts go for if yours are jacked.

Like others have said, the gen 1 is simple technology compared to a loaded gen 2, buying a major part 5k every 5 years is nothing for a truck like this. the gen 2 will still cost maintenance money as well.

CoronaRaptor said:

buying a major part 5k every 5 years is nothing for a truck like this. the gen 2 will still cost maintenance money as well.

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That might be the difference that sets these trucks up between disposable and immortal:

There are people who trade in a vehicle at the first sign of trouble, or when the warranty expires because its better to make a payment for them than deal with the problems.

There are some people who like these trucks as a project and will make them the best tech allows then discard them when the next thing comes along.

Then there are people who can't afford to replace the truck and just drive it into the ground out of boredom, neglect or ignorance.

And there are people who will take care of every maintenance block, make the truck last as long as they can and eventually scrap it because it becomes too much.

And there are people who will do literally whatever it takes to keep the truck alive and running, swap engines, have the truck repainted once a decade to keep the rust away, dig in to a problem as far as they have to to fix it.

Each of these persons is going to get a different life expectancy from the truck. All it will take to figure out how long the truck will last is look at their other vehicles. If they have a stable of brand new vehicles loaded to the gills the raptor isn't lasting long. If they have a bunch of stuff that doesn't run anymore due to neglect the raptor is going to be a mid term vehicle, if they have decades old vehicles that still fire up and go to town regularly the raptor will probably last forever.

Ricoman said:

Doesnt that Supercharger give you a shit eating grin every time you hit the gas....I got the Whipple that Shelby installed,ans been grinning for over a year now....Mine was totally done at Shelby factory when new,and hoping since it was professionally installed and not a backyard install,it will last...and original owner only used for going to his office and was SUPER **** about upkeep.when it was delivered (I never drove it,thats how much I trusted him)..I thought they were unloading a brand new Raptor...even had just installed new tires..!!

Oh,forgot to mention above...I did also have the belt changed....mechanic said its good for 100K,but WTF...its cheap insurance,so had him replace when he fixed the Injection wire....I guess if all goes well,wont have to worry much until I decide to change the Plugs...maybe at 80K....got to work up the nerve to do it...have read how a couple are a real pain..LOL
Good luck with yours...dont see any reason why it wont make 200K...hell when I had my business I had a crappy 4 cyl. Dodge Caravan and it lasted for 323,000....1 month shy of 20 years.>!!! 1 head gasket,and normal replacement parts.....but I was **** with maintance (like I am with the Raptor)...if it didnt run,I didnt get paid!

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I giggle every time I floor it.

UVBNAXED said:

I giggle every time I floor it.

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ROFFLMAO..!!!! Cheap Thrills....just a gallon of gas for that giggle...!! My GF has gotten so she knows when I'm gonna "giggle" and if I stay behind someone for more than 30 seconds and then pass,she says..."wondered when you were gonna do THAT"...lolololol

Ricoman said:

ROFFLMAO..!!!! Cheap Thrills....just a gallon of gas for that giggle...!! My GF has gotten so she knows when I'm gonna "giggle" and if I stay behind someone for more than 30 seconds and then pass,she says..."wondered when you were gonna do THAT"...lolololol

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I feel like I quote smoking so I could feed my truck lmao