For the first time ever, we putting everything in the SVTP Store on sale. Everything is 10% off.
It's getting to be hoodie weather and we have a handful of them in stock. I'm not planning on ordering any more this year, so what we have on hand is it. Now would be a great time to pick one up - they make great Christmas Presents. Plus, purchasing swag from the SVTP Store is a great way to support the site. Check it out - Store
Let me put it to you simply, the F-150 Raptor R is the ultimate expression of Ford Truck. That’s it. That’s the review. You can stop reading right now, and you’ll have my take away from spending two weeks and 2,500 miles behind the wheel of the 5.2L Predator Powered Super Raptor. If you’re interested in learning how we came to that conclusion, read on.
From the outside, you may assume that the Raptor R is just a Raptor 37 with more power. The reality is that it is much more than that. Ford’s engineers spent a significant amount of time retuning the suspension and the rest of the drivetrain on the R to optimize performance with the blown 5.2L under the hood. Make no mistake, this truck is the total package. It is the ultimate expression of everything a Ford Raptor is meant to be. This video review lays it all out (including some significant towing):
The exterior modifications of our “Plane Jane” Raptor R were very minimalistic...
Last week we posted an article lamenting the cheapening of the Motorcraft oil filter spec’d for many Coyote and EcoBoost engines. Today we have much better news. Ford recently the Motorcraft FL-2124S oil filter for the 6.7L Powerstroke diesel engine. This filter supersedes the FL-2051S filter that debuted on the 6.7 PSD in the 2011 model year. I’m here to tell you that this new filter appears to be an upgrade over the already very good older design.
These two filters appear to be nearly identical save for one major difference, the filter media. The FL-2051S appears to use a synthetic media very similar in appearance to the Stratapore filter media found in certain versions of Cummins Fleetguard filters. It’s a well constructed and filter that overall is a very nice quality piece. However, due to Ford adding a variable volume oil pump to the 6.7 PSD and wishing to be able to run longer drain intervals the developed the Motorcraft FL-2124S oil filter. This inspection vid will give...
Cost cutting, down-sizing, and supplier issues are unfortunate facts of life that we have sadly become more accustomed to over the past several years. Not surprisingly, our required automotive maintenance parts occasional fall victim to this trend as well. That certainly seems to be the case with the recently introduced Motorcraft FL-2121 Oil Filter, which for a time replaced the now nearly 15 year old FL-500S filter design (which itself is a modification of the venerable FL-820S). It appears the 2121 was the result of a supplier issue, and Ford being forced to search-out an acceptable stand-in.
We decided to snag one of each of these filters, cut them open, and do a detailed inspection. The results were disappointing. The first and most obvious difference is the overall size of the FL-2121, which is a little larger than the 500. However, the 2121 is significantly lighter than the older 500. It’s plain that the FL-2121 is constructed by a different manufacturer (looks to be...
A while back I got to spend some time with a Lux Package equipped Bronco Raptor, and thought it might be a good idea to compare it to my personal BRaptor. I ordered mine as a more stripped down model with vinyl seats and floors. While I really like the comfort of the leather trimmed Lux seats, the ease of cleaning the vinyl seats are a huge selling point for me. In the vid below I walk through the differences I noticed. Which one would you pick?
The new 2025 Bronco Free Wheeling appearance package has arrived with a burst of red, orange, and yellow style inspired by Ford’s Free Wheeling trucks, vans and Broncos of the ‘70s and ‘80s. From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, the Free Wheeling package was available for the Ford F-100, F-150, Bronco, Econoline van, and added graphics with red, orange and yellow gradients, painted steel wheels, and black finishes on the grilles, mirrors, and bumpers. Inside the vehicle featured red and orange pin striping on the dash and seat stitching.
The 2025 Bronco Free Wheeling honors that vibrant and confident style.
“Bronco has always been about fun and capability since day one and Free Wheeling’s looks kick that up a notch with its sunset inspired beach vibes,” said Steve Gilmore, Ford Vehicle Personalization chief designer. “We’ve modernized the new Bronco Free Wheeling in line with today’s fashion and graphic trends, including seats that mimic the color palette of the...
A Baja 1000-winning legendary name returns to the Ford lineup for 2025 with the new Bronco Stroppe Special Edition. A successor to the original Stroppe Baja Bronco from the ‘60s and ‘70s, this new limited-edition Bronco pairs the desert-racing spirit of the original with today’s off-road capability to create a special high-performance Bronco SUV.
“When you purchased a Stroppe Baja Bronco in 1971, it rolled out of Bill Stroppe’s factory ready to tackle the Baja 1000,” said Jason Hyde, Bronco brand manager. “That capability was at the core of our development process for the new Bronco Stroppe Special Edition, including Fox Internal Bypass Dampers designed for performance and improved control during high-speed desert running, a standard EcoBoost 2.7-liter V6 engine, and Baja G.O.A.T. Mode.”
The Bronco Stroppe Special Edition is available exclusively as a two-door model and takes the place of the Wildtrak in the Bronco lineup. It also includes a standard Stabilizer Bar Disconnect...
When someone asks if you want another Bronco Raptor, you say “YES!!” I’m pretty sure I remember a line simpler to that from a movie somewhere, but it still holds true. Anytime I’m given the chance to drive a BRaptor, even though I own the first one ever sold, you can bet I’m going to take it. So when Ford offered to send us one spec’d out way differently than mine, I jumped at the opportunity.
This particular truck was bathed in Ford’s Iconic Silver paint, which I believe is one of the best paint codes available from The Blue Oval. On top of that, this one is loaded up with the Lux Package and the optional leather seats. One other stand out difference between this silver BRaptor and my personal unit is one I can never get used to in a Bronco: carpet. That particular floor covering seems antithetical to the intended use of a Bronco, but I do have to say that the black carpet in this particular truck does look good. However, if you want to see why I would always select the vinyl...
There are few things we find more interesting than tearing down a new engine and seeing what changes/upgrades the engineers have made. So when we heard Livernois Motorsports had a pile of F-150 Gen IV Coyote V8s they were disassembling and rebuilding, it was an obvious choice to stop by and check everything out. We left educated and excited to see what’s to come.
Our visit took place in August of 2023, and the Gen IV Coyote had yet to hit the streets in the S650 Mustang. However, a much different version of the Gen IV found its way under the hood of the updated 2023 F-150. The major changes from the very popular Gen III Coyote include; a belt-drive variable vane oil pump, cylinder deactivation, and significantly revised cylinder heads. In the following video we take you along as we explore these changes across several engines in various states of assembly/disassembly. Check it out:
This is the day we’ve been waiting for. True custom tuning is now available for the Bronco Raptor, as well as the rest of the Bronco line-up. 5 Star Tuning and HP-Tuners have collaborated to science out a way to break a factory Ford ECU’s encryption, then upload a custom tune file to it. Once the encryption is broken, the BRaptor can be tuned with an HP-Tuners RTD or MPVI just like Fords of years past. You know once we heard about this performance break-through we would have to get in on the action, so that’s exactly what we did.
We loaded up the SVTP Bronco Raptor and headed out the 5 Star Tuning in Florence, SC so Josh, Brandon, and the rest of the 5 Star Crew could work their magic. The first step was to use a Ford FDRS (Ford Diagnostic & Repair System) equipped laptop to draw the factory calibration from the ECU. While Brandon was doing that, Josh was busy “decrypting” a brand new Ford ECU. From there, Brandon swapped the computers and loaded our factory BRaptor calibration...
It is an undisputed fact that since its initial release, the Maverick pickup has been a resounding sales success for Ford Motor Company. I know these little trucks are not held in the highest regard in some circles on SVTP, but we feel that the Maverick definitely has a place in the current Ford lineup. We recently had the opportunity to spend some time with the tippy-top Maverick model, The Tremor.
The Maverick Tremor follow the family formula Ford has laid out for the Tremor Nameplate across their various trucks; placing it as the most capable off-road package available on a given truck, without stepping up to a specialty Raptor model. In the case of the Mav, this meant adding a small suspension lift (around 1-inch of additional height), more aggressive 30-inch tall Falken Wildpeak tires, and raiding the Bronco Sport Badlands parts-bin for some drivetrain upgrades. Specifically, the Tremor gets a rear locker and the ability to lock the AWD system into 4WD (though without a...
SVTP members have heard it many times over; the Woodward Dream Cruise, especially the Mustang Alley section, is one of our favorite events to visit every year. The Motor City area is filled every kind of unique American automobile you can image, and it seems like they all come out to cruise Woodward Ave in late summer. In addition to that, Ford puts together a few impressive displays along the route.
We’ve been attending WDC for the past several years, and the 2023 version was perfect. Great builds, awesome products, good friends, and delicious eats/drinks abounded. Easily one of the highlights of the trip was getting a personal tour of the Ford Performance Racing Parts display from SVT Engineering Alumni Nick Terzes (currently Ford Performance Parts Product Planning & Strategy Manager). Check it out:
Walking the Mustang Alley display is always a blast, and you get to see some very special cars along the stroll. We have plenty...
When it comes to elevating daily comfort and enjoyment in a vehicle, it’s often the little things that make the biggest difference. We have had very few complaints with our Bronco Raptor, but there are a couple minor ones to be found in the interior. Luckily, we were able to fix three of them for less than $100 in parts from Amazon. This video covers the installs:
The first beef, and biggest, is the fact that Ford installs goat-fur like carpet on the backs of the rear seats. Our Bronco Raptor was ordered with vinyl seats and a vinyl floor. We didn’t want any carpet to have to clean, but there it was. However, in less than 5 minutes we installed a set of Mabett Rear Seat-Back Protectors and effectively covered the rear seat carpet. The rubber protective mats are attached to the factory carpet with simple hook & loop (Velcro) strips, and can be easily removed if needed. They fit perfectly, work as designed, and are well worth the price...
One of my absolute favorite events to attend every year is the Woodward Dream Cruise (more on that next week) in Detroit, MI. Few places contain more awesome and unique cars of all types than the Motor City, and they all come out for Woodward. To cap off Cruise Week, the Mustang Owner’s Club of Southeast Michigan (“MOCSEM”) put on their annual Mustang Memories car show held at the Ford World Headquarters building.
The Mustang Memories show was extra special this year because it was also a celebration of SVT’s 30th Anniversary. For that occasion, Ford (and several private owners) brought some truly unique vehicles. In attendance was the rarely seen SVE/SVT 5.0 Ranger, the 5.4L Lightning V8 Powered SVT Ranger Thunderbolt, the last Contour SVT ever built, and every flavor of 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra Ford offered. Check out this video with Ford Performance’s Mark Wilson were we cover some of the special rides on display:
That headline also works as a rallying cry for the F-Series truck team, which for more than 75 years has delivered a lineup of tough, smart and capable trucks – the last 46 as the best-selling truck lineup in America.
The latest Ford better idea: the new 2024 Ford F-150® truck. Available starting early 2024, the truck is designed toenhance the ability to tackle challenges with purposeful features and tech. It has Built Ford Tough® capability to handle tough pursuits. And it has a tough new design, including the new available Pro Access Tailgate for even more access and utility.
With increased production of PowerBoost™ Hybrid for 2024, trims from XL through Platinum Plus, and off-road ready models like Tremor, Raptor and Raptor R, there’s an F-150 for almost every use case.
All that choice is important because F-150 is a leader in all the following industries: construction, government, utility services, agriculture, landscaping, road and highway maintenance, emergency vehicles...
We all know that the easiest way to crank up the fun-factor of your ride is to throw a little boost at it. In the case of the Coyote platform, adding a few PSI to the mix can spice things up to the tune of a several hundred additional horsepower. If you happen to own one of the 1st or 2nd Generation Coyote V8s, the crew at VMP Performance has been working on a budget friendly way to strap a 2650 TVS blower to your 5.0.
It’s no secret that Predator powered GT500 owner enjoy making major modifications to their factory boosted 5.2L power plants. Many times those modifications include a blower upgrade, which means a lot of OEM Predator superchargers tend to find their way onto the secondary market. That’s were VMP saw an opportunity, and worked to put together the products and process necessary to install a Predator supercharger on a 1st or 2nd Gen Coyote. This is one of those rare circumstances where availability, price point, and relative ease of installation combine to create a...
It's been nearly a year since we starting using our TopLift Pro to save time, and my back, when pulling the rear section of roof off our Bronco Raptor. It has performed flawlessly in that time and has added to the Bronco ownership experience. However, a few months back I picked up an add-on accessory for the TopLift that makes it even easier to use.
TopLift has an electrification kit (called the Power-Pro) that allows you to bolt on a linear actuator to your existing TopLift, which will then handle all the lifting for you. While the standard TopLift takes a 2-3 man job and makes it a 1 man job, the Power-Pro Motorized Attachment makes it a one finger job. Check it out:
I really like that you have the option to add a small 12v battery to the included battery tray and make the lift cord free if you prefer...
It not everyday that you just stumble upon a piece of history, but that's exactly what happened during a recent visit to Livernois Motorsports in Dearborn, MI. Amongst all the various Domestic performance machines in the show we spotted a pristine Toreador Red Contour SVT. It had the familiar Medium Prairie Tan interior, and still wore its original window sticker. We soon learned that this 2000 model year example was the very last CSVT to roll off the Kansas City Assembly lines.
As the story goes, several of the SVT team members have been moving this car around from location to location for over two decades. While it is not a perfect car by any means, they have managed to keep its mileage in the ~150 range. It was on the rack at Livernois getting a new fuel pump installed and fluids changed in preparation for a public show at the SVT 30th Anniversary gathering during the Mustang Memories show at Ford HQ. This video tell the story...
There’re few things we love more than being on the cutting edge of performance innovation and development. There’s something about this (paraphrased) series of lines from Jeremy Irons’ character in the film Margin Call that resonates with us …. “There’s three ways to make a living in this business; be first, be smarter, or cheat… and it sure is a hell of a lot easier to just be first.” That’s the basic philosophy that has lead our in our Bronco Raptor build, and today we’re carrying it forward in the realm of the F-150 Raptor R.
The R-R is Ford Performance’s latest creation, which combines the body and running gear of a Raptor 37 with the power plant of an S550 GT500 Mustang. The addition of the 5.2L Supercharged V8 engine has propelled the Raptor R to the top of the list of Ford’s I’d love to own. However, that’s a story for another day in the very near future. Today we have an R strapped to 5 Star Tuning’s dyno for some cutting edge testing of VMP Performance Predator...
