NickPic83's SVT Raptor

[BANE]

Cant Wait, Its like Christmas

 

[NickPic83]

Its alive its alive!!

Details to come later after my shit and shower. Should have a video and pics tomorrow. Its getting dark and about to rain...

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Fred]

Bumpty, bump bump bump

 

[OrangeAddict]

Oh man I'm dreading headers.

My sentiments exactly... Makes me think twice about if they are worth the extra pain.

 

[NickPic83]

ok let me skip right to the end result of the SW long tube headers with high flow cats and lightning style exit cat back exhaust, then ill back track to a little about the install.

the truck sounds awesome. its got a nice idle probably slightely queiter than the magnapack. just cruising its about as loud as magnapack and WOT its louder than anything ive heard on a raptor. sounds almost like an old school big block. it actually reminds me of my LQ4 6.0 i had with cutouts open. very minimal drone while cruising and only at highway speeds going uphill. it barely drones so i am very happy with that. WOT is extremely loud and sounds great, awesome sound!

i also installed the 5 star performance tune with the headers and the truck seams to pull much harder. my butt dyno says i gained a decent amount of power. reset the mpg meter and its reading 2.2 mpg better even with being real heavy on the skinny pedal.

the black coating looks awesome on the headers. there is some light marks on them from the install in a couple spots that couldnt be helped but there are not scratches and chips just some light markings. the rest of the exhaust fit and finish is great. for as tight as everything fits it all lays right where it should be and doesnt touch or rub anywhere.

now the only negative i can see with the cat back is the pipes that exit the muffler or go to the tips could use a bit more support. they do move a little while hitting bumps. what i am going to do is use the hanger i made for my last exhaust. i took one of the stock hangers that is by the rear axle and took it out along with the threaded clip. i drilled a hole in the frame and put the threaded clip in there and used the hanger and oem bolt to mount the hanger for my custom exhaust. so with the SW cat back i just need to get a hanger welded on on then just put it thru the rubber support hanger i moved. then it wont move as much if at all. the rest of the system is rock solid, doesnt move a bit at all. the cat back installed very easy.

typing header install now.....

 

[NickPic83]

ok the header install sucked. lots of cursing an beer drinking, hell i think i even made up some new curse words during the install because i got bored of saying the same ones so many times. i have scrapes on my arms from the elbows down because how tight it all is. the instructions SW provides sucked something awful. they need more pics and some tips. the only pics they had where black and white and not clear. everyone knows their instructions sucks as well as SW. they are working on putting out a better set....

even with the motor lifted and the starter out and the wheels off its tighter than a dolphins *******. luckily the manifold studs came out fairly easy. i knew i was in trouble when the manifolds were tough to pull out of place tho. getting the headers in was a treat. i dont even remember how exactly i got them in but it involded different angles and twisting and i think i may of stood on my head once or twice, who the hell knows i think i just got lucky. only advice here is make sure u have the bottom bolts in and leave just enough threads out to hook the header on it. other wise getting those bolts in is very difficult. also if u have a moroso oil catch can remove it. it gives u a bit more clearnce and viewing angle.

now as far as the header bolts, if u get locking bolts like i did(stage 8) put them on when u put the bolts in. my buddy said we should wait till we do some heat cycles then re-torque then do the lockers, well u need 2 hands to install the locking clips and once the engine is mounted back in and the starter is in u can get to some bolts to install the clips any more. u can reach them with a socket but not with your hand....FML...so i got more than half the locker clips on but some are just torqued and after i put some miles on it ill have to re-torque them, o well. o yeah dont miss a single step and go out of order when u re-install parts. i forgot to put the oil dipstick tube in and i dropped the motor back down and had the starter in and guess what....couldnt get the dip sitck tube back in. had to lift the motor and pull the starter out, put the dip stick tube back in and then put back the starter and drop the motor back in, yikes!

list of some things that will make life easier
all different lengths of ratchet/socket extestions, have some long ones like 18" or more
pivot sockets are a must!!
copper thermal anti-sieze
i did plug wire insulators to be safe
tie wraps to tie wires up out of the way here and there.
extra set of hands, remember that project u helped your buddy with, its time for payback
lots and lots of cold beer. if it wasnt for that i would of lost it multiple times
copper antisieze

as i think of more info ill follow up. any questions feel free to ask. hoping to get pics and vid up tomorrow night,

 

[OrangeAddict]

Great write up, thanks for the insight.

 

[Blind1]

You are a braveman Nick, but I would have took the easy way out, and that would be to hire a professional to do it.... But you got to feel great about accomplishing it yourself... Kudos to you & your friend... Cheers!

 

[NickPic83]

thanks man. hope it helps u guys, anytime

 

[NickPic83]

You are a brave Nick, but I would have took the easy way out, and that would be to hire a professional to do it.... But you got to feel great about accomplishing it yourself... Kudos to you & your friend... Cheers!

thanks blind. i must say it did cross my mind that i should have took it to KHC but i do now have the feeling of accomplishment