Gen 1 to Gen 2 Suspension

Just got done with the Gen 1 to Gen 2 Suspension swap on my 2012 Ford Raptor. Very noticable difference between the blown Gen 1 shocks to the fresh Gen 2 shocks. Took longer than expected, but just took my time to get it done right, took time to clean any surface rust on the frame and paint it all and undercoat it. I’ll break down the cost as well. I got used shocks off of marketplace with 1,900 miles, the khc front buckets and rear brackets, eibach springs that were already on my truck sandblasted and repowdercoated, and on order I have the rpg spring perch collar, 1.5” in Fox Blue to achieve the “prerunner squat” that I originally had.

Price Break Down:
-Gen 2 Shocks (Non-Live Valve) $1400, + $142 shipped to mi from ok
-KHC Conversion Buckets (Front) $550, ended up going with the raw, as the lead time on most powder coat is 4 weeks, so keep that in mind if you daily your truck. I ended up painting them and then clear coating
-KHC Conversion Brackets (Rear) $250, they had black powder coated ready to ship, but the same lead time applied to these
-Powder coat, Clear coat finish, Sandblasting eibach front springs $140, took about a week for turnaround time for the shop I took them too
-17-20 Gen 2 RPG Spring Perch Collar 1.5” $260. Hoping that when these come in it gives me the look I’m going for
-Spring Compressor Tool off of Amazon, $180 the link is here:
linkCode=ml1&tag=minutemainten-20
-Miscellaneous (Paint, Cut-Off Wheels, Drill bits etc.) ~$100


TIP: Make sure you have fresh drill bits, and a good right angle drill. The drilling of the bucket holes for the bolts is by far the worst part of this project, as it takes a while. Also, for the 3 nuts on the top of the shock, I found it easier to come in from the top, about a 10” extension, a 15mm, and a swivel extension.

nice job!! glad to see you did it the right way instead of just bolting in shocks because you could. After rebuilding gen 1 and 2 shocks, the Gen 2 look like a major upgrade over gen 1's.

It sure does look like something I should/need to do.
Thanks for the pics and info.

Very cool. Want.

So the Gen 1 Eibach coil springs will fit INSIDE the 3.0 Gen 2 Foxes? And what kind of clearance do you end up with on the
P-side between the top of the bucket and the motor & AC lines? I've got the liners out (on project "someday"), because I was already replacing everything but the engine, and it was just easier... especially with the 16 spark plugs.

"TIP: Make sure you have fresh drill bits, and a good right angle drill. The drilling of the bucket holes for the bolts is by far the worst part of this project, as it takes a while".


These 90° 3/8" drive drills are around $25, (Lowes had them). They certainly aren't professional quality, but they WILL last long enough to do the KHC install.

Just bought a few varieties of those 90 adapters earlier this morning for work.
Have a lot of close quarter tight spots to drill in.
Saw same brand you show on Amazon for $13. I have real similar at home from Ace Hardware Dewalt brand. I have been REAL surprised how it has held up. Wasn't very expensive and still working after MANY times of being sure I was going to overwork it and destroy it.

Rule of thumb:
Until the tool actually catches fire, keep drilling.

Actually quite a few cutting oils out there that help things along.
Part of what I do for a living, so I have tried more than I ever wanted to.
Right tools, drills, bits, fluids, can help.
But usually still takes some muscle and effort.
Remember adding trailer hitch to my 1980 Bronco years ago.
That was miserable drilling.

And...
I have "just kept going"
and smoked, burned up, wrecked WAY too many drills, end mills, cutters, etc. than I will ever admit to just to finish whatever needs to be done.