EcoRaptor13

Yee to the Haw!
i finally got that front suspension i mentioned...dude was in the inland empire and had 2 spotless matching 2015 & 2016 rousch & shelby silver mustangs. 600 and 1000 hp, respectively. nice fella, and he was sympathetic to my shoestring budget, what with a young child and having to have moved to a larger house away from the toxic fumes of the airport at the previous house. most guys sell their toys when a baby comes along. I started a business to keep things afloat, building motorized bikes. but then i found that the business afforded me an extra couple hundred bucks a month to put into the truck, so a half a year later, the truck gets a front suspension...

EcoRaptor13

Now to call WOG,
or Westside Offroad Group. A company that specializes in outfitting Raptors and making them customized amazing trucks. This was a departure for them, as I wasn't a raptor guy calling. raptor guys have money. they hand over the keys and say, "do whatever it takes man, make it legit, send me the bill". I on the other hand, am the tool. I have no money, and am asking these guys to make my 2wd EcoBoost into a raptor. One thing I havent mentioned so far is that they were extremely instrumental in facilitating more HP to the engine as well. More on that later....

EcoRaptor13

So, a little early christmas present for daddy. I also had to put on a new pair of shoes as well. Nitto Grappler 35's on those 18" methods. I STILL had to run spacers because for some reason, those damned 18" rims come with a different offset. the suck-under the truck, tucking too close to the gear...

EcoRaptor13

SO, the Tires AND wheels that started the whole thing turn out to be worn out, and incorrect offset. so they all had to go. eventually...

EcoRaptor13

SO, at this point I'm working out in Palmdale, and staying at a motel. one morning I awoke to have THIS guy parked next to me... Ohhhhh the jealously and envy came bursting out of the top of my head. BUT, i had no money to do anything about it. just kept my cool, and smoothly went to work.

berty

Dont sweat it, atleast you dont have square wheel wells! ;D

EcoRaptor13

its at this point I'm realizing i need a cool front bumper. something simple and inexpensive, yet cool and able to fit an intercooler behind it. We had installed a Full-Race intercooler, TIAL BOV, and banks air intake, tuned by 5-star with an SCx4 tuner

EcoRaptor13

I Gave the truck to W.O.G. for 3 days to have the bumper installed. I got it back 2 weeks later, and about $4k over budget.... learning lesson...

EcoRaptor13

in january of 2016, i added a cut-out to the exhaust in order to actually hear the engine when off-road. I found it to be dangerous driving off road and not be able to feel your engine or hear what rpm its at. I learned to ride in the desert on motocross bikes and quads, and you use your ears to shift and know how hard youre pushing your vehicle. The EcoBoost was so darned quiet (and powerful) that i was worried I would blow the engine in the dirt. and this is what my daughter looked like at the time....

EcoRaptor13

Finally In March, 2016, the bumper work was complete. WOG took it to RPG, and then another fabricator whom i do not know. Then to attitude offroad in Chatsworth for all the high tech wiring and lighting. they also installed engine monitoring gauges for the turbo system, as i was having major overheating problems and the cut-out was burning up and failing every week or so. thank god for SUMMIT's return policy. but i did learn, no cut-out on a turbocharged catted engine. EGT's of 1800*F don't help little electric motors on cut-outs. hahaha