What did u do to your raptor today?

[Irregular F150]

I have been slowly laying out a 4 link for the rear. Starting to get away from the theoretical and now moving toward the specific.

Heck yeah. Thats gonna be sweet

 

[Jakenbake]

Heck yeah. Thats gonna be sweet

Maybe.

Assuming I can get it all figured out and get the $$$$ to work

Lol

 

[Irregular F150]

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

dont mind me, im just here for @Jakenbake s free parts he takes off

 

[Gen1TillDeath]

Finally had time to crawl under and check the waxoyl coating. I can confirm it’s amazing, since we do have harsh roads and that crap chemical they spray. I have very little to touch up, and with the roof drains out of the way i got to spray in the rockers better. Now i have to re wax the paint cause the waxoyl does make a bit of a mess when sprayed. It takes degreasers and solvents to fully clean off.

Excuse the dirtiness its been raining lol

Yeah it’s a little more effort using waxoyl/fluid film since you have to recoat every season but it really does work well at keeping salt off and giving that barrier preventing rust. And it really goes a long way too. I may change it up next year and try waxoyl just to see the difference in consistency, but I’m very happy with fluid film.

 

[TomDirt]

Maybe.

Assuming I can get it all figured out and get the $$$$ to work

Lol

Are you planning on the 5-link style setup where you retain the gas tank? Would you be happy with 15" of clean usable travel that way, or step up to a conventional 4-link design (with ridiculous travel) that includes moving the gas tank, adding a swaybar and notching the frame?

 

[Jakenbake]

Are you planning on the 5-link style setup where you retain the gas tank? Would you be happy with 15" of clean usable travel that way, or step up to a conventional 4-link design (with ridiculous travel) that includes moving the gas tank, adding a swaybar and notching the frame?

Somewhere in the middle of those options, lol.

I currently have about 18” with the bypass rack, but would prefer more up travel, have plenty of droop.

If I end up going through with it, it would be a triangulated 4 link, relocated the fuel tank to where the oem spare went, and a c notch. Goal would be about 9” uptravel from ride height and 21” total, should pair well with my 14-15” front travel. Not looking for crazy numbers.

I may end up doing the fuel tank either way though.

 

[TomDirt]

Since the 4-link geometry has already been figured out on F150's through the last 20 years it would be easier to get everything right. All those old Class 8 trucks got it dialed in without cutting the frame (rules prohibited cutting or notching back in the '80's), and then it was redesigned around back-halfed trucks until you had so much uptravel the bumper dragged. My first time riding in a proper back-halfed V8 truck (with 20" I beam front travel and 30" 4-linked rear) was shocking. (Pun intended).

 

[Jakenbake]

Since the 4-link geometry has already been figured out on F150's through the last 20 years it would be easier to get everything right. All those old Class 8 trucks got it dialed in without cutting the frame (rules prohibited cutting or notching back in the '80's), and then it was redesigned around back-halfed trucks until you had so much uptravel the bumper dragged. My first time riding in a proper back-halfed V8 truck (with 20" I beam front travel and 30" 4-linked rear) was shocking. (Pun intended).

This has mostly just been a learning project for me, drawing stuff running the numbers, comparing to the online calculators, etc. I may not go through with it since for the most part the truck is pretty solid as is, but I am not good at leaving anything alone. I enjoy learning things, etc

This all started with me wanting a 3 link plus panhard with no more uptravel then I currently have and has slowly evolved……….

I currently have 16” 3.5’s and I’m trying to see if I can make a 14”CO/16BP work for the travel I want and keep my bed as intact as possible. Going to be real tight if it does work at all. A single 18” IBP coilover will be so much easier to fit and get the travel/geometry/etc I am after, but likely harder to get the valving/spring rates dialed in.

I am trying to make somewhat of an oddball truck probably. We do short course runs, trail runs, long highway drives, sitting on the tailgate in the evenings, etc.

We’ll see where it goes, as for now though I am looking into the fuel cell as the next stage in the trucks progress.


Forgot to comment on the link and whoop scissors truck. I bet that was awesome!

 

[TomDirt]

The first time you rocket into a BIG hole and instinctively brace for impact....... and there isn't one! After the first mile, a big silly grin appears, then you decide I Gotta Do This.