TAC71
Full Access Member
Since I drove my Raptor enthusiastically on a gravel road shortly after I got it 6 months ago I knew I wanted paddle shifters. Most every other vehicle between my wife and I are manual trans vehicles. I enjoy the control over shift points a manual provides. I don't want to get into the "which trans is better debate"...... its just what I prefer.
The manual capability of the 6R80 is not user friendly with the switch on the console shifter and even worse on the regular F150 column shifter. I didn't want the Gen 2 steering wheel retrofit setup as I wanted to keep my original steering wheel. I was not thrilled with the cost of it either. I also was not willing to hack up my wheel in any way.
I did plenty of searches and did find others with the same plan. In none of these threads could I find anyone who finished the setup. I do believe that someone before me must of got it finished, but I have not seen it yet.
I began by checking out switches. On Ebay, Amazon and other sites I found plenty of different styles of switches. I figured it would have to be somewhat of a surface mount switch and fairly short to fit the backside of the wheel. It needs to be comfortable and not to tall or it will hit the turn signal arm as the wheel turns. I ended up with a pair from a Mini Cooper. These switches are dual action which requires more wires and the Ford factory switch will not support. By dual action I mean pulling on either switch would shift up or pushing either switch shifts down. I set them up so that left side is down and right side is up , the usual way.
Since I did not want to drill or cut my stock wheel I bought a regular F150 wheel with the same controls. The F150 steering wheel bottom rear plastic cap is removable and identical to a Raptor wheel. I mounted my paddle switches to some custom brackets I made that screw on to this plastic cap. This way I can go back without an issue.
Before buying parts I spent many hours studying wiring diagrams of the Clockspring and Steering Column Control Module. I bought a Clockspring to test with and once I was sure it could handle this mod I just had to confirm the SCCM. I pulled the covers off my Raptors column and tested my plan. I found the required 3 circuits through from the steering wheel.
I took the paddle switches off the test wheel and mounted them to the Raptor wheel. I then wired them into the steering wheel / clockspring connector with the proper pins. On the SCCM I installed the wiring down to the drivers kick panel where I tied them to the appropriate factory console shifter switch wires.
I have to find actual pins for the SCCM connector. The ones I have are just slightly different, they do fit but the pin lock will not go back in.
Now that they work as expected I need to dress up the switches and brackets. I'm going to replace the screws on the brackets with flush pop rivets and then wrap them in leather. The switches need some smoothing where I had to trim a knob off of the paddle. Then I will look at possible paddle extensions although their position is comfortable as they are.
The manual capability of the 6R80 is not user friendly with the switch on the console shifter and even worse on the regular F150 column shifter. I didn't want the Gen 2 steering wheel retrofit setup as I wanted to keep my original steering wheel. I was not thrilled with the cost of it either. I also was not willing to hack up my wheel in any way.
I did plenty of searches and did find others with the same plan. In none of these threads could I find anyone who finished the setup. I do believe that someone before me must of got it finished, but I have not seen it yet.
I began by checking out switches. On Ebay, Amazon and other sites I found plenty of different styles of switches. I figured it would have to be somewhat of a surface mount switch and fairly short to fit the backside of the wheel. It needs to be comfortable and not to tall or it will hit the turn signal arm as the wheel turns. I ended up with a pair from a Mini Cooper. These switches are dual action which requires more wires and the Ford factory switch will not support. By dual action I mean pulling on either switch would shift up or pushing either switch shifts down. I set them up so that left side is down and right side is up , the usual way.
Since I did not want to drill or cut my stock wheel I bought a regular F150 wheel with the same controls. The F150 steering wheel bottom rear plastic cap is removable and identical to a Raptor wheel. I mounted my paddle switches to some custom brackets I made that screw on to this plastic cap. This way I can go back without an issue.
Before buying parts I spent many hours studying wiring diagrams of the Clockspring and Steering Column Control Module. I bought a Clockspring to test with and once I was sure it could handle this mod I just had to confirm the SCCM. I pulled the covers off my Raptors column and tested my plan. I found the required 3 circuits through from the steering wheel.
I took the paddle switches off the test wheel and mounted them to the Raptor wheel. I then wired them into the steering wheel / clockspring connector with the proper pins. On the SCCM I installed the wiring down to the drivers kick panel where I tied them to the appropriate factory console shifter switch wires.
I have to find actual pins for the SCCM connector. The ones I have are just slightly different, they do fit but the pin lock will not go back in.
Now that they work as expected I need to dress up the switches and brackets. I'm going to replace the screws on the brackets with flush pop rivets and then wrap them in leather. The switches need some smoothing where I had to trim a knob off of the paddle. Then I will look at possible paddle extensions although their position is comfortable as they are.
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