Gen 3 Raptor Downpipes from SPD Performance Now Available at Apollo Optics!

[Nick@Apollo-Optics]

Hey guys! We are excited to announce that SPD Performance has officially released their downpipes for the Gen 3 Raptor! Expected ship date 9/1-9/15.

After two years of designing and making their own custom cats specifically for this application, the SPD downpipes for the Gen 3 are here!

2021-2023 Ford F-150 Raptor 3.5L Alpha Catted Downpipes

After 2 years of designing, we are proud to release the SPD Performance 2021-2023 GEN3 Ford 3.5L Raptor Alpha Catted Downpipes. SPD's Industry first Alpha Cats provide ultra-high flow while meeting strict green emission standards. The factory GEN3 Raptor downpipes are very restrictive causing...

apollo-optics.com

SPD's Alpha Cats provide ultra high flow while meeting strict green emission standards. In addition to the SPD Alpha cats at the heart of these downpipes, they also include 3" diameter mandrel bent stainless steel tubing, you will improve throttle response sound and overall performance, while reducing turbo lag and exhaust temperatures. The pipes also include a 4" flex pipe to absorb shock from engine movement and chassis flex. No tuning changes are required and these can be used as a factory downpipe replacement.

SPD Alpha Cats
SPD Alpha Cats are next generation ultra high flow green emissions catalytic convertors and are truly an industry first. For this application, SPD needed catalytic converter that would have high flow and meet factory emissions standards. The SPD Alpha Cat is a 625cell catalytic converter and will out flow the previous SPD 400cell performance cats by +90%. They are extra loaded with Rhodium, which is a platinum based alloy that is required in a catalytic converter to reduce NOX in the exhaust to meet the new latest emission standards.

While these are catted and meet federal emissions compliance, they cannot ship to California.

Here's a video with some sound clips as well:

Feel free to read more on the site, or PM me for more info!

2021-2023 Ford F-150 Raptor 3.5L Alpha Catted Downpipes

After 2 years of designing, we are proud to release the SPD Performance 2021-2023 GEN3 Ford 3.5L Raptor Alpha Catted Downpipes. SPD's Industry first Alpha Cats provide ultra-high flow while meeting strict green emission standards. The factory GEN3 Raptor downpipes are very restrictive causing...

apollo-optics.com

 

[catinthehat85]

Sounds good!! Too bad I’m in the wrong state lol.

 

[relak]

What’s install look like? Does it require a transmission drop or factory cats being cut to remove?

 

[EndlessEight]

Wow. Clearly hear the turbo spool.

 

[BoostCreep]

Pricey, but SPD stuff is quality for sure.

 

[MORaptor1]

Nice. I’ll get after they have been out for a while.

 

[Nick@Apollo-Optics]

What’s install look like? Does it require a transmission drop or factory cats being cut to remove?

No transmission drop, however to remove the OEM downpipes without cutting them, you will need to support that transmission/transfer case with a jack and remove the OEM transmission crossmember to remove the downpipes. You have the option to cut the factory downpipes, but we would highly advise against doing so as the OEM downpipes have a replacement cost of roughly $3500.

The good news on the Gen 3 is you no longer have to worry about the turbo adapters and studs like you did on the Gen 2.

On the Gen 3, the OEM turbo adapters have a significantly larger opening than the Gen 2 OEM turbo adapters, so instead of replacing the OEM turbo adapters, you will re-use the OEM turbo adapters and studs. No install kit, stud extractor or anything is needed. Just un-bolt OEM downpipes, disconnect your O2 sensors, drop the crossmember, pull the pipes out, put the new pipes in, re-connect O2 sensors, re-install the transmission crossmember and you're done.

Two notes from SPD:
1. Make sure that as you're tightening up the bolts on the turbo flanges to slowly tighten them from one side of the motor to the other so that everything lines up correctly. Just slowly work the bolts back and forth from side to side.
2. The O2 sensor removal on the driver's side is a little tight with the front driveshaft going through the same area so if you have big forearms, it'll be a little tough, but still doable.

 

[cdiddy4224]

Someone educate me...if you don't have larger turbos, what is the purpose of downpipes?

 

[Nick@Apollo-Optics]

Someone educate me...if you don't have larger turbos, what is the purpose of downpipes?

The OEM downpipes are very restrictive and these provide a few uprgades. For starters, the stock cats on the Gen 3 are too small at only a 5" diameter, when they get too hot the truck has to de-tune itself to stay emissions compliant and within spec. SPD has increased the diameter of the cats from 5.5" to allow more flow and a larger cat to dissipate temperature to stay compliant as the truck heats up. Additionally, these cats are a higher flow than stock and the piping itself is a true mandrel bend throughout. All of this creates a higher flow than OEM which allows the turbos to spool up faster with less restriction and providing more power. Several tuners are also working currently on fully emissions-compliant tunes to take advantage of the increased flow of these downpipes as well. Ultimately, you get more power and you also get more sound as shown in the YouTube clip above.

 

[SeasickLI]

Interested in this, have to wait a bit to order. Excited to see some pics/vids from others though.