4.6owner

I just call it like I see it. The entire drivetrain is better as in the 6.2 is a better engine then the 5.4, the 6r80 is a better transmission than the 4r75w. Also living with and daily driving a raptor is a lot easier than a prerunner/racetruck. Don't get me wrong the pictured trucks are gorgeous purpose built trucks but they are not as utilitarian nor as well mannered as a equally priced factory built semi-prerunner like the raptor. The op needs to think about how much he is actually going to use something like the above pictured trucks for their intended purpose or does he just want the looks of one of those trucks.

DezertNoob

If you're going to leave it stock the raptor is a much better option IMO. In my case it didn't make sense to pay a $10k premium only to rip everything out.

That said I'm sure a midtravel truck would make a much better daily driver than a Longtravel setup. Mines loud, has a terrible turning radius and sounds like it's falling apart. Offroad though...

Baja Kits

Sweet!!

It'll come down to the OP and how he is going to use his truck.

He has a perfectly good 2007 and all he really needs is a simple Mid Travel/Prerunner kit that he can get for a lot less that trading his truck and upgrading to a Raptor. I know the Motor and Trans are better as well.

I think the take off parts off a Raptor might be his best bet!

Yes, if you go full Long travel, that is a different story.

DaniLV

Yeah I understand that to completely prerunner it is out of my budget so I'm trying to figure out what I can do right now. I plan on having the truck long term so I'm okay taking my time with it. I'm thinking I'll go with take off raptor parts because that seems to be the consensus where I've asked. I'm new to having my own rig as I've mostly just been passenger so this is all a process for me!

wOrker

1. Raptor Takeoff
2. http://www.vegasdezertfab.com/produc...ong-travel-kit
3. http://www.bajakits.com/product/09-f...avel-race-kit/

In terms of 'shoulda bought a raptor'..

Can always change out the heart and drive components - it really isn't rocket science.. thank god you live in cali cause there's plenty of places that can do swaps to either 5.0 / 6.2 or go chevy route..

I personally plan to swap my heart but stick to ford.. 6.2 supercharged. 5.4L is garbage IMO

There is no budget to prerunner builds. It never ends, I would not cheap out on anything, it's not worth doing unless you do it right IMO

4.6owner

You obviously never have done a 6.2 swap in a 04-08 body style in CA. Nothing, (dash cluster, pcm, wiring harness etc) interchanges with the 6.2 powered raptor versions. You would be better off leaving the 5.4 alone, swapping plugs, vct's, timing components and oil pump and putting a FRPP Whipple on it. It would be emissions legal in CA, with CARB decal and E.O. Exemption and make better and more power then the stock 6.2. I tried rebuilding a salvage title shortbed regular cab 06 with a raptor drivetrain and have it all work like it should and it was a nightmare. I did it but it wasn't worth it. Not to mention the smog ref at the local college giving me grief for months while I fixed crap to his liking. Not worth it. I have done 2 LS swaps' in older vehicles and those are cake compared to it. One was a 84 K5 and the other was an 81 k10. Remember anything in Ca you swap engines on has to have exactly the same components in working order as the vehicle it CAME OUT OF not the vehicle it is going into. That means all sensors activated and ready, all fuel return lines and canisters installed and working as well as a fully functional dash and dash lights. Meaning the CEL has to be functioning in the cluster even though they can read through the OBD II port. I wish someone would have told me what I was getting into when I did it.

wOrker

Obviously, I haven't. It probably wasn't good to recommend it to this dude. But none of the issues you faced are really concerning to myself..

On my build, everything would be gutted.. nothing about my 04-08 or 5.4L would exist, I bought this truck for the body style and that's it.
MoTeC, custom harness, 6.2L, charged. I may change my mind to LS when the time comes.. I actually am eyeing and LS3 and have access to a raptor 6.2L right now... As you can tell I wouldn't do ANY of this myself I would pay to have it done.. we have more than enough reputable shops out here in orange county and nearby that can do this.. But currently rear end / rollcage are on my priority list.

WarSurfer

I have a 6.2 Raptor and I would trade for an LS variant in a second. Lighter, huge power gains with bolt ons, very simple to work on - easier than a SBC in fact.

wOrker

I just feel everyone and their mother swaps to LS but there's a reason. Haha

4.6owner

If it is a off road only truck yes absolutely if you plan to not use it ever on the street or any of the factory stuff. The LS is a smaller footprint, can be lighter, and with relatively little effort be fit into a number of chassis. The amount of room in my square bodies on either side of the block was silly. My first one was a 4.8 swap with upgraded heads and mild cam in front of a 700R4. The second one in the blazer and was a 6.0 with 4L80 and stand alone trans controller. Even with doing the harness myself those were 10 times easier then the 6.2. That was a PITA. Granted what complicated it was I wanted all of these trucks to be 100% streetable and emissions legal.

To the OP, If it were me and I was on a budget I would just get one of the specific tuned front coil over and rear kits on the market. The F150 in stock form really is no slouch for a IFS truck. Put on a mild mid travel system that is matched and I think you would be very surprised what these trucks can do and still be a daily driver.