nice truck, really like the wheels and paint color you went with. I have a truck on order myself that is 2WD too. What suspension upgrades were you thinking for your truck?

 

Thanks. I have lowering shackles for the rear leaf spring that should get it closer to level. Been looking into coilover fronts with matching rated rear shocks. Want to stay close to stock ride height. When the OEM tires get worn will see whats available in 265-65-17. Of course a sticky set of drag street radials may be in order, that idea takes me back to 1970's last time I drove at a drag track. KM

 

Just put on painted headlight surrounding trim.

KM

 

Other than working with BCB for a BD GTX tune, not much done. Except aquiering a set of factory flares, take offs, and installing them. Went with black and I like the effect. KM

 

Looks great man! You'll love the the BCB tune i love mine from them for the 2.7 (albeit a 18)

 

Nice truck. Did you pay that sticker price? That is exactly why I bought my Tremor. I wanted a work truck with 5.0 and they would budge off of 30ish, i only paid a little more for the Tremor.

 

BigPhatPaulie Yes the BCB performance tune (2nd version update, 93 octane) does exactly what I wanted. Have not gone to the strip yet but will, current 0-60 time hovers around 5 seconds, 6 speed shifts solidly and positive, very responsive to throttle, little noticed MPG hit, but can be scary in wet conditions. Most driving will be done with the Highlander tune, particularly long road trips, due to computer octane adjustment.

WooBoost Paid several thousand below invoice after all incentives figured in, $27 grand range, but it is a fairly base XL whith my personal add-ons. More to be done.

KM

 

Finally the first suspension upgrade. BCB installed an Icon Stage 1, 2.5 front strut assembly back 2.0 shocks. Tremendous improvement over stock. Took out all vagueness in steering/transitions/road bumps. Little if any added harshness to ride, does not feel stiffer but much more responsive and in control. Backed of the height adjustments to a bit short of the lowest position for a front lift 1 3/4 inches measured after a 60 mile drive. Kelly at BCB has Fox 2.0's on his F150, considers the Icon's as better ride and handling than his current setup after a short drive. Expensive yes but well worth the cost!

Before, stock attitude,

After, Icon Stage 1,

KM

 

Money well spent in my book.
Sitting in the pilot seat is so much more connected, right?

Nice

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Right is not strong enough. Hadn't considered that this much improvement could be had with 245-70-17 factory tires on a truck! I like a firm suspension with crisp handling, the Icon's provide this in large bunches. Thanks! KM

 

Put on new tires, Nitto Terra Grappler G2's, 265-70-17. Good impovement so far will see with snow on the way.

Also spent some quality time with FORScan to calibrate the speedo and re-enable the TPMS display and warning functions. KM

 

Spring finally rolled in. First on the list was a set of steps to help my under 5 ft. wife get inside, she's not as spry as 40 years ago. Superhoops from CARR,

A bunch of stereo gear,

is almost complete and ready to go in. Did the first spark plug change. Damn heater hose and wire-loom over #3 took all the time of the rest. The old came out looking better than I expected

no gap exceeded .29, replaced with colder NGK's gaped at .26. Also removed the louvers from the CAC to check on any temperature improvement.
Thing runs fine goes like stink! KM

 

How are the terra grapplers in the snow? I have some Cooper ATP and they are loud on the road and kind of getting over it.

 

Not bad at all. Definitely better than the OEM Michelin's. Good braking and side grip, still need care in starts (too much torque, too quickly in RPM's). More stable, ride well (went with 115 p-metric size), quieter than the OEM. KM

 

Before the audio gear installation.

After the audio gear was installed. Yup no noticed change, no indication of anything other than stock installation. Except the sound. The Morel speakers and Kicker Key amp set an accurate deep sound stage up on the dashboard, the Rockford Fosgate 300P-8 inch woofer covers the bottom and sounds much larger than 8 inch. Could be the small volume of the regular cab.

Add-a-circuit fuse taps in the fuse box supplied power, 2 20 amp circuts draw only 10 amps for the Kicker and 20 amps for the RF sub simplified wiring.

Added sound deadening to the door panels.

Mid installed in a silicon baffle and adapter, wired to OEM speaker wires. Made straps mounting the tweeters and ran new wires because I'm using the bi-amp mode with the Key amp, powering the mids and tweeters separately with active crossover. Used a pre wired FOR 11CK harness but it needed rewiring correcting a set of mixed speaker leads. Amp mounted to trans tunnel under the dash (no console), the Key programing ran fine setting crossover equalizing processing and timing the sound. Another glitch the sub was DOA and returned to Crutchfield. It was a scratch and dent item but covered by replacement warranty. Crutchfield delivered a new in box replacement in 2 days and I set the remaining crossovers between the Key amp and the RFsub. Sat in the seat and checked out some Spanish acoustic guitar playing. WOW! Big improvement across the board.

Next I have a CVF intercooler on order. KM

 

Nice built, lots of goodies in there.

 

CVF Titan inter-cooler in, moved the license plate, trimmed the air-dam up an inch while fiddling.

new cooler and my insulated cooler to throttle pipe.

old cooler and parts removed.

Front before plate and trim

after mods

Now to get the 3 season tire/wheels on. KM

 

Looks good. What's with the tin foil?


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The foil prevents cosmic radiation interference!
Reason is for insulation, it is HVAC 1/8 inch foam rubber with aluminum foil backing (wrapped 2 layers) was described below the photo. It did make a difference of 5 degrees IAT2. KM

 

Interesting!

 

During the Titan install I took a good look at the OEM BOV, all plastic build and did not look reliable with the 25% more psi I am getting. A Turbosmart VeePort has been added, electronically controlled and does not vent as often as a vacuum signaled BOV. Only notice it when lifting off throttle quickly in boosted condition. Around town hardly noticed. KM

 

Now have SPC UCA's on and a set of Icon RTX springs about to.

Will set the lightest rate for my light weight truck. I have the extra leafs to increase the rate if needed. Broke the truck savings account for these upgrades! KM

PS: The Icon leaf install is on hold for now. But not abandoned. km
PSS: Bought the wrong springs, at a price too good to be true. They are 2014 and earlier versions and sold to a 2013 Raptor owner. Lesson there! km

 

A Cobb intake to add some style to the rats nest of plumbing and wiring!
This replaced

this

Hardest job was the IAT sensor so not much of a problem

pipes and stuff

Better looking

Not expecting any performance change but did log 4 runs 0-70 before and after.
First look the results I expected, a change from big plenum to longer runners, drop in top end improvement in mid range OEM times were the same or slightly slower 0-70 but quicker in first gear idle to 62500 rpm. Sounds the same due to fully closed system, no notice seat of pants change, no warnings. Does look better for sure!

This purchase funded by selling the springs I bought on sale. While many sources thought they would fit they would not, pre 2015 to my 2017, location pins about 2 inches further back. Wnen dealt a lemon make lemonaid! KM


__

 

Couple of changes, went back to an OEM panel WIX filter in the airbox by chopping up the washable COBB filter. This got my 0-70 acceleration back and past what it had been and leaned out a rich mixture that cropped up with the full COBB setup. The individual runners need some plenum after the filter is seems!

Re did the intake pipe insulation intercooler to throttle body. doubled the foam thickness up to 1/4 inch, wrapped in aluminum HVAC tape with the ends finished with Gorilla Tape. 40000 mile on it and the piping up to and at the throttle body are dry no oil, the intercooler has a very light misting of oil, barely noticed.

Had to sell off the RTX springs, some good deals need to be checked more rigorously. They are for 2014 and older and will not swap to 2015 and up, spring perch location changed. KM

 

Current state of this "old guy's new toy". 4 years and 40000 miles, near 35000 miles on BCB tunes. The most recent log graph from earlier this week, Highlander adjustable octane tune, TC off EL on, roll on the throtle pedal. Clear sky 85 degrees going up, 50 % humidity.

As good or better as any prior, and this is not the hotter custom 93 octane tune. The graph bottom line read in seconds top to bottom straight lines are MPH.

Also finally got a scale weight,

I'm not in the truck, 1/3 tank of fuel, Decked storage in bed, OEM jack etc in, over 50 pounds stuff in cab and 75 pounds in Decked drawers. If it was empty around 375 more pounds would come off.
KM

 

Upgraded the back shocks from Icon 2.0 to 2.5 with CDCV external valving. As much as the Icon 2.0's were over the OEM's these improved noticably both in ride and control over expansion joints and on unpaved roads. I used the #3 position on the valves (out of 10 positions available). I think it raised the reart a bit compared to the 2.0's as they have more nitrogen pressure.

The front 2.5's are now ready for a rebuild. KM

 

New tires! Got tired of spinning the wheels in the rain, the Nitto's were getting hard after 3 years. Liked my Nokian Hakkapeliittta LT2's so much I got a set of Nokian Rotiiva AT Plus, all weather tires.
They seem a big improvement in wet traction and I noticed the do not squeal nearly as much in parking lots. Weather has been crappy so may add some photos latter. The Hakkapeliitta['s will go on my grandsons first truck if these stand up to the 3 Peak rating. KM

 

Been raining locally on/off since installing the Nokian Rotiva AT Plus tires. A step up to 275-70-17 but shorter than listed height at just about 32 inches tall. Much and lots more grip than the 3 year old Nitto's, still winter is on its way and need to evaluate snow grip. Positive results so far and should do fine in white stuff. They are rounder in cross section, very good dry performance and seem smoother on the road.

Load range and sized to maximize the weight advantage C rated 114-110 load ranges, 47 1/3 pounds each on my scale off the wheels. Tread is both deeper and more aggressive than the old Nitto's

KM