It's the challenge of these engines...I've watched a few dedicated exhaust shops that work on lambos, McLarens, v12 amgs, and they struggle to get these engines to sound good as well.

I'm pretty positive h-pipe/x-pipe, equal length into some type of black widow muffler, auger muffler, or spds helmholtz catback is going to get the best sound out of these.

My gen 1 2.7 sounds more like a diesel then a sports car so I'm running an h pipe and will end up with a black widow muffler for the turbo noise. Through trial and error and youtube videos, I've realized any perforated resonator or muffler will kill turbo whistle.

If you have a gen 2 and later then an xpipe into perforated muffler is probably your best best chasing that gtr sound.

 

Havs, funny mentioning that.
I never heard much turbo sound from my 2.7, never thought much of it. I use a 4 inch cat back Pypes system, no resonator but a big volume perforated straight thru muffler,

Recently 2 different neighbors in different building stopped by to ask a few questions about my truck. Both mentioned the distinctive turbo whistle sound it makes. It can only be thru the exhaust as I run a closed airbox. Anyway it may not be all that difficult. I'm thinking more about the volume of the system may make a large difference. Mine is short overall but a large muffler volume in comparison. No drone noticed by Cathy or me on 6000 road trips, quiet enough for normal conversation but can get lout with pedal application. I'm no stranger to exotics and their exhaust sounds being a regular Historic/Vintage Road Race attendee.
I guess a louvered straight thru can generate noticeable turbo whistling, I can't hear it from the drivers spot but neighbors certainly do! Sometimes simple can work well. KM

 

Havs, funny mentioning that.
I never heard much turbo sound from my 2.7, never thought much of it. I use a 4 inch cat back Pypes system, no resonator but a big volume perforated straight thru muffler,
View attachment 202882 View attachment 202883

Recently 2 different neighbors in different building stopped by to ask a few questions about my truck. Both mentioned the distinctive turbo whistle sound it makes. It can only be thru the exhaust as I run a closed airbox. Anyway it may not be all that difficult. I'm thinking more about the volume of the system may make a large difference. Mine is short overall but a large muffler volume in comparison. No drone noticed by Cathy or me on 6000 road trips, quiet enough for normal conversation but can get lout with pedal application. I'm no stranger to exotics and their exhaust sounds being a regular Historic/Vintage Road Race attendee.
I guess a louvered straight thru can generate noticeable turbo whistling, I can't hear it from the drivers spot but neighbors certainly do! Sometimes simple can work well. KM

I remember when you showed me your exhaust when we were at Bandimere speedway, I thought it sounded good. You definitely could run like a Corsa chambered muffler and get a lot of turbo whistle but there’s no need unless your dying to have that.

 

Alright guys, this is information before the video comes but that’s ok.

To my knowledge this is the first f150 with a 2021 raptor muffler on it.

First thing I wanted to look at was the valves.

good news is, the valves flap open and closed with ease, they stay wherever you leave them.

So @FanaticalKilla I think it was you who said “if anything I’d think ford would have the valves be closed when not in use” I apologize if it wasn’t you who said that haha, but that might be true, only if the actuators are on. Without them, the valves can be manipulated to whatever you want and they’re not spring loaded.

So you can see here in these photos I’ve wired them wide open in (Baja mode) with some copper wire.

i looked through with my bore camera and you can see the valve closed, and in the next picture it’s open. Pretty cool.

Then there was just a couple more things I had to do before install.
I had to cut off the clamp that is welded onto this one pipe that meets the trombone loop because it was missing a nut. I had a clamp with the SPD muffler so I didn’t need it anyways.

Then here you can see these nubs going out to the tailpipes, those needed to be grinded off so the Borla tailpipes can slide over it.

It wouldn’t let me add two more photos, only one, because I’m at the max for 1 post, but there’s how it sits now. Of course you need the raptor exhaust hanger for the front of the muffler which you have to have for the SPD muffler anyways, but it slides right into place, no customization. Bolts right up to the SPD trombone also, it fits super well. Hopefully my tailpipes will work, I know the 2021 raptor tailpipes are a little different due to the suspension differences, but we will see, the location this exits over the axle looks like it will work.

 

It sounds a lot more throaty than the SPd and there’s a ton of turbo whistle, that I am happy about haha.

 

I must say you are very dedicated to your craft. I was just happy to take my truck for a drive after it sat for almost a month. Felt good. Can’t wait to hear it.

 

I will find a way to make the valves work. I don’t care what it takes.

 

Stepper motor is all you’d need.

 

A small electric motor that converts electricity into rotation.

 

Could I just use the stock ones?

 

Just need to figure out what voltage the stock motors need to be where they're supposed to be.

 

Here is the verdict. This exhaust is so loud it’s insane, although it’s quieter in the cab since it’s dumping under the bed now. But it is super raspy and sounds straight piped. I started the truck up with the valves closed and it was much quieter. Reality is, with the high flow SPD downpipes it just makes it way too loud. The SPD muffler was way more mellow and smooth sounding. That said, here’s what’s going to happen. I’m sending my SPD muffler back to Jacob and he will cut the dumps off and weld on the over axle pipes. Raptor muffler will stay on for now until that’s done. The bumper end caps got painted today and Colorwerks posted a reel, and man they look amazing! They have to dry for like 2 weeks before they are ready though.

 

Little update.

Exhaust

I sent the SPD muffler back to Jacob at SPD, and he is cutting off the pre axle dumps and adding the over axle pipes for me. Then he will send it back.

The bumper end caps are painted, but ColorWerks is keeping them for two weeks for the paint to fully cure.

The timing should work out perfectly and by the time Jacob is done with the muffler the end caps should be ready.



Future of the truck

I want to see if it will go faster than a 12.89 in the 1/4 mile. Most of that is due to my launch being junk.

I ordered a front differential brace from VAS and I talked to Kelltracs about making me another set of Viking dual rear adjustable shocks. I also will get some traction bars from VAS too. I don’t want to break anything or snap anything and having drag raced before, I know that improper suspension and bracing will kill times, and can break things. Wheel hop is not good, and the last time I tried to launch my truck harder, it wheel hopped. So before I try any more spicy launches, it needs proper protection.

 

Here’s a data leak…

CRP is moving their shop to a new location, a better spot with more room. But, he said that will allow them to work on some new really cool stuff that they haven’t been able to do before.

the main reason for posting this is, they are making Gen 3 exhaust manifolds, and I’m on the list to get a prototype set!!

 

Alright guys, feels like nothing is going on with the truck lately, but things are about to happen.

My front differential brace will be here today and I’ll post some pics of that here.
As I said in another post, along with that is going to be rear shocks and traction bars. I don’t want to break anything with wheel hop and such. those will come later. Can’t buy it all at once haha.

Before that stuff except the diff brace of course is the bumper end caps. ColorWerks is going to ship them to me on Wednesday this week or Thursday. I’m not sure when Jacob will be finished with the muffler, but once he is, he will send that back to me. Then I finally can get my dream exhaust setup on the truck, I cannot wait!!!

 

Front diff brace installed!

 

Helped my launches and a nice quality build

 

Talked to VAS and he said he’s send me a set of traction bars next week!

 

Ok dud I need to know about those!!!!!!

 

Tow did you just call Matt a dud?

Matt aren't those what you had on Snowflake? KM

 

Tow did you just call Matt a dud?

Matt aren't those what you had on Snowflake? KM

Yes, they’re still on snowflake lol. Well, the brackets are, I took the bars off though.

 

Guys!

There’s some big stuff coming, and I’m starting to get fired up!

First things first!
SPD shipped my adjusted muffler with the over axle pieces today, and should be here this weekend.

Bumper pieces are probably ready to ship now (paint had to dry for two weeks) and I’d assume they could have them to me by the weekend also since it’s from Denver, only 5 hours away.

Got a set of NGK Ruthenium plugs on the way, I went with 95605s, so I won’t have the indexed plugs anymore. Adam at ZFG said he and another guy tested out the difference and it didn’t seem to improve much.

VA Specialties is going to ship me a set of their 2021+ traction bars this week at some point.


This next thing is big, and it’s not confirmed yet, but Fairway Ford Parts might be doing a sponsorship for me for a 2021+ engine block for a built motor build video series I’m going to do for my truck! Nathan is going to talk to the marketing team if they have the budget for it.

I never would have dreamed of this day if you told me this is what I’d be doing in 5 years when I first joined this forum in 2020.

 

Amazing what you can do when you’re passionate AND hard working.

 

I am interested in how the tapered seat plugs will work in a flat seat plug hole?
I may be over thinking this. KM

 

I am interested in how the tapered seat plugs will work in a flat seat plug hole?
I may be over thinking this. KM

We always used to index our plugs, but that was with the intent of squeezing every last pony out of a 700 HP engine. The question in my mind is why would you do it? You won't see more HP or better fuel economy, if anything the indexing might benefit both of those, even if only in a minor way. The real benefit to Ruthenium plugs is the durability or how long they'll go, and few of us wear spark plugs out. What is the benefit? Just the old man in me, I simply wouldn't do it.

The indexing itself may not be a significant problem, but the tapered seat sitting on a flat seat plug hole just doesn't seem to be the answer. Now I haven't seen the head, if there is both a place for flat seat plugs, and it includes a taper to accommodate the plugs we typically use, that may be a different story. I'd probably still use the plugs that were designed to go in there.

It seems like this was discussed before, but I don't remember the story.

 

I removed 96 lbs worth of stuff from underneath my truck tonight.

Also, exhaust comes tomorrow. Bumper parts are unknown right now as their manager who I’ve been talking to is away right now. So I may put the exhaust on and leave my rear bumper off the truck for now till those come.

 

I removed 96 lbs worth of stuff from underneath my truck tonight.

Be sure the gas tank gets put back!

 

Alright!

Still waiting on the bumper pieces… but I got some other news for you guys.

First of all, I got the SPD muffler back today! For those who don’t know, this is what I originally had from SPD

You can see after the muffler there that it dumps straight down.

Here is what I had Jacob at SPD make me

This allows me to run tailpipes like the Tremor/BAP/Limited trucks.

So, as I’ve said before, the SPD muffler sounds so good… I’ve really missed this sound… I’m literally in love with it, obsessed with it. Right now I left it dumping up high because I can’t put my tailpipes on yet. Soon… but not yet.


Meanwhile, I’ve had some issues with spark blowout from the amount of boost we are running so I decided to get some NGK Ruthenium HX spark plugs and gap them to .024. If thats not tight enough we will go to .022.

Anyways, I got the 95605s, and of course they do not have a crush washer like the 2021+ f150s use. I wanted to settle once and for all if I can use the regular seated plugs in the 2021+. And what I found is that the head is no different as far as the spark plug seating goes than the Gen 2, and Adam told me that ford didn’t change the head, just started using a different plug. So, no more indexed plugs for me!
Old plugs looked pretty good!

 

I’ve never heard that you could use either style plug on the same heads.

 

Well, you can!! And Adam confirmed it with the ford engineers

 

My curiosity was not the threads and sealing but the length when installed. Seems like the tapered will seat deeper in the head and protrude further into the combustion chamber. Your photo make it look as such, even the diameters look different, but you have them in hand to compare, probably have them in already, without any problem!? KM

 

I compared them side by side, and they are the same length, they’ll stick down in the cylinder the same amount. it doesn’t look like it in the pic.

I have already driven around and gave it some throttle too and she runs good.

 

Alright guys, I’m planning a built 3.5 motor.

I need to start a list.

I just searched on Fairway ford parts and it looks like the raptor and regular f150 share the same crankshaft. It’s the same exact part number.

So I will use a that crank.

King bearings

and then I’m trying to decide on which pistons and which rods I should go with.

 

Set a goal and build parts around that goal.

 

Like a hp goal?
Really it’s just going to be a motor in case mine ever blows. As you know, I didn’t have that backup plan last time.

I’d like it to be capable of 1100hp, and I am good friends with Jake McCartney who has a 9 second truck. I’m going to basically copy his engine build. Going to get the deck closed on the block too.

 

Why not build a motor, put it in the truck and keep the original motor as the backup?

 

And I may just do that. I’m not sure yet. But I’m not really planning on blowing up my stock motor either. If I had e85 nearby I would push it more, but I don’t so we are kinda limited. I’m just gonna build an engine, and I’ll do something with it when it’s all done.

 

I’m going to use Adam’s spec pistons which are Wiseco
And also going to use Boostline rods
Then I will use arp head bolts, cometic head gaskets, king main bearings, and that’s it. I’ll formulate a list and post it here soon. I contacted Fairway Ford Parts and Nathan is talking to the marketing team about sponsoring a block.
we will see what happens.