EcoRaptor13

Hey Fellas,
I am currently a "junior" member, in that i have not placed many posts. I have been running a motorized bicycle company since '011 in an industry so small, it relies on the forum to sustain. Therefore the forum carries a lot of weight, and posts can make or break a business. Henceforth i have been reticent to jump into another forum feet first- but here I go! My name is Jake, and I have been a desert racing enthusiast in california since 1987. My first vehicle was a 1979 F-100 step side. Here in this thread, You'll watch me make the worst financial decisions of my life, while trying to "save" money. Some DIY, some contract work, and a lot of learning. I am making a Raptor from a 2013 FX2 EcoBoost.

EcoRaptor13

one more O.G. shot

Baja Kits

Good Luck!

What is your overall budget you are trying to spend?

I might have some take off Raptor parts or we can get you our Prerunner kit which is identical to a Raptor set up but will definitely out perform it!

PM or email me!

JT

EcoRaptor13

It all started with a suggestion from my wife, to check out some used BFG 35"s on Method 18"s for sale in craigslist...a fella wanted to sell his wheelset and get OEM wheels for a dealer return trade in. In Fact, he had converted a 2013 ecoboost LEASE to a raptor, and wanted to change it back. so, he suggested that if I buy his tires, he would swap me the front-end body parts for the raptor stuff.

EcoRaptor13

well, now i was excited! $550 for the wheels and a free raptor front end. We hadn't agreed on him making off with my wheels, he said he had his old ones. but when I returned to the body shop, his truck was gone with my OEM wheels on it. there went $1100 to use for suspension. but, it was a good trade, nonetheless. So there i was, raptor front end on a 2wd slammed stock ecoboost. GET HOME AND IN GARAGE BEFORE ENYONE SEES ME! Now i was on the hunt for a suspension setup from some raptor owner who was upgrading. Keep in mind- i went this direction, rather than putting an ecoboost into a raptor, because of the complex engine, turbos, and ECU.
anyhow, in the meantime i had to buy spring spacers and wheel spacers just to have clearance while driving. the hunt is ON!

EcoRaptor13

Now came the Spacers to make it temporarily drivable until a suspension setup came for sale. Keeping in mind, we just moved to a big house, and work is slim so i basically have no budget for any of this.

EcoRaptor13

looking like a chump is something I try and avoid. Gotta get this thing wrapped. I called a few people, and its $5k to wrap a truck on a cold call to a shop. BUT- luckily, the dude who traded the front end had a sketchy friend in huntington who agreed to wrap it after his normal business day for $1800. DEAL! i'm sold.

berty

oooo this is fun! Subd!

EcoRaptor13

Looks done, right? unfortunately the guy ran out of material and didn't do the top or the bedsides.... so I was halfway done. at least it was a pay-as-you-go agreement, so i wasn't out-of-pocket, but not done. Unfortunately I drove the truck 1/2 wrapped for about 4 months. definitely confused some onlookers. But I was still not satisfied. I had a faux raptor. didn't perform right over bumps, certainly a poser truck to say the least. So, the Quest for suspension and pre runner buyers and better cornering lights for my dark neighborhood canyon roads at night.

EcoRaptor13

so, i got some Ebay bumper cubes, and did some fancy wiring. used the stock style plugs, and tapped into the leftover OEM fog lamps from the FX2 bumper...