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F-150

  1. Under Armored – 2017+ Ford Raptor Borne Off-Road Skid Plates

    Under Armored – 2017+ Ford Raptor Borne Off-Road Skid Plates

    The Ford Raptor is the embodiment of go anywhere, do anything machines. The broad haunches and aggressive look deliver a commanding presence on the road, with the towering tires and amped-up suspension ready to take control once the pavement runs out. Unfortunately, while these ferocious dune-crushing monsters are generally well prepared for anything the trail can throw at it, these Raptors still have a crippling weakness – their soft underbelly. 

    Being a purpose-built off-roader, Ford didn’t leave the delicate bits under the Raptor completely unguarded. At a cursory glance, it looks like this truck is already well protected. The angled front engine skid plate contributes to its rugged visage, but things start to thin out the more we venture underneath the truck. 

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  2. Heightened Senses - 2017-2020 Ford Raptor Borne Off-Road Snorkel Kit - Concept to Completion

    Heightened Senses - 2017-2020 Ford Raptor Borne Off-Road Snorkel Kit - Concept to Completion

    In a world of drive-anywhere, tow-anything machines, the Ford Raptor sits atop the throne of capable off-roaders. Yes, some of this truck's utility might have been sacrificed in the name of adventure, but there aren't many complaints. The performance off-road suspension and howling 3.5L EcoBoost under the hood allow the Raptor to bound over sand dunes and tower over most water crossings right out of the dealer's lot, so what could make this machine more formidable? Well, a snorkel from Borne Off-Road, for starters.

    A looming off-roader with a snorkel typically elicits visions of a truck digging through water up to its wing mirrors while triumphantly emerging out the other side, wearing the pungent mud like a badge of honor. Yes, a snorkel is what makes this possible, but only with the other necessary preparations made. First, every other part of your induction system needs to be properly sealed

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  3. Righteous Pipes - 2017-2020 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost/Raptor Turbo Inlet Tube kit Production Sample and Test Results

    Righteous Pipes - 2017-2020 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost/Raptor Turbo Inlet Tube kit Production Sample and Test Results

    After ten years, it's not much of a surprise that the 3.5L EcoBoost is still sitting at the top of the F-150 food chain. These trucks pack gobs of power with plenty of potential for more right off of the factory floor. But, with big power comes big responsibility, and it's crucial to solidify your twin-turbo V6 to reach maximum potential. We've already overhauled the F-150's intake - now it's time to wrap up the inlet pipes.

    Designing intake components is always a delicate balance between fit and function. On the one hand, we want to engineer these inlet pipes for maximum flow. But, on the other hand, they still need to fit in the truck. With this in mind, our engineer, Ye, reached an equilibrium thanks to the use of rotational molded construction. This method gives Ye more freedom in the design phase when snaking our new inlet pipes through the intricacies of the Raptor's engine bay.

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  4. Controlled Breathing - Performance Intake Kit R&D, Part 4 - Production Sample and Testing Results

    Controlled Breathing - Performance Intake Kit R&D, Part 4 - Production Sample and Testing Results

    It's been months of training for our athlete of an F-150. Our regimen for our Raptor's proverbial controlled breathing exercises has come to fruition. Now, though, it's race day, and It's time to see if our deep dive into the V6 Ecoboost respiratory system and subsequent renovations paid off.

    First, let's check out the new intake design in its final form. As promised in our last post our intake kit is fully rotomolded. We kept the material consistent for a smooth airflow through the system from the airbox to the turbo inlets. This construction not only aids in a smoother flow but is much less prone to soaking with engine bay heat for lower intake

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  5. Righteous Pipes - Performance Inlet Tubes R&D, Part 1 - Concept and Design

    Righteous Pipes - Performance Inlet Tubes R&D, Part 1 - Concept and Design

    Ten years ago, the thought of replacing the V8 powerplant of a full-size pickup truck with a turbocharged V6 was blasphemy. Ford made it happen, though, and ten years later, the 3.5L EcoBoost is the breadwinner in the F-150 family. A high-output version even sits at the very top of Ford's pickup line under the hood of the coveted Raptor. Even though the EcoBoost is stealing the spotlight from the V8 option, it could still use some upgrades in the turbo inlet department, and we here at Mishimoto are already on the case. If you are looking to upgrade your truck be sure to check out all the F-150 performance parts we have to offer at Mishimoto

    Ford churns out hundreds of thousands of these trucks every year. That means production costs need to stay on the lower side while still meeting the quality standards every F-150 owner expects. The best comprise was to construct the 3.5L EcoBoost's turbo inlet pipes using blow-molding. This

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  6. Controlled Breathing - Performance Intake Kit R&D, Part 3 - Prototyping

    Controlled Breathing - Performance Intake Kit R&D, Part 3 - Prototyping

    When it comes to an exercise regimen, planning is only half of the equation. The other half is, well, doing it, working through each step, and making the necessary tweaks for the best results. Our last post outlined our plan to increase the F-150 EcoBoost's lung capacity, but now we're putting that plan into practice with our prototyping process.

    It all starts with a scan. Our engineer, Ye, uses the FARO Design ScanArm and performs several passes on our Raptor's engine bay and stock intake kit. In short, the scan arm uses the combination of an integrated camera and laser stripe to create a precise virtual copy of the F-150's engine bay. (Make sure that you click the link above to learn more about the FARO Design ScanArm).

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  7. Controlled Breathing - Performance Intake R&D, Part 2 - Design Plans and Prototyping

    Controlled Breathing - Performance Intake R&D, Part 2 - Design Plans and Prototyping

    Learning the proper technique for controlled breathing isn't quite human instinct. True, we all can live our daily lives without having to think about breathing in and out actively, but a vast majority of us aren't able to stand up and immediately run 26 miles. Those who can have planned and trained for just such an activity. No matter the engine under the hood of your F-150 EcoBoost, it's designed for endurance. It's ready to go far and haul what needs hauling. But, while it's prepared to go the distance, the F-150 EcoBoost could go further with some additional training.

    Our updated design starts with construction. We're planning to produce these intakes using a high-density plastic rotational molded design. This construction gives us the ability to create rugged, high-quality intake airbox designs with unique shapes that won't soak up engine bay heat. This method also comes in handy when we're designing the rest of the intake as well. Remember the curvy connection pipe from the

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  8. Controlled Breathing - Performance Air Intake Kit R&D, Part 1 - Stock Review

    Controlled Breathing - Performance Air Intake Kit R&D, Part 1 - Stock Review

    The 2017+ Ford F-150 EcoBoost would be like if a diehard endurance runner had a baby with a bodybuilder. Both disciplines are on almost opposite sides of the athletic spectrum, yet every variant of Ford designed its twin-turbo V6 to run a marathon while also doing barbell curls. If there's one function that both of these athletes rely on, it's controlled-breathing. In either case, each athlete won't make it very far, both figuratively and literally, if there's not a constant flow of fresh air to their lungs. The same could be said about the EcoBoost. Increasing their lung capacity works wonders in terms of strength and endurance for each of these trucks' hearts. That's why we're developing a performance air intake for the 2017+ Ford F-150 and all of its EcoBoost engines.

    First, however, we need to understand the OEM intake system fully. So, we started our process with a closer look at the intake system from our 2020 Raptor.

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  9. History of Success - Baffled Oil Catch Can R&D: Production

    History of Success - Baffled Oil Catch Can R&D: Production

    The old idiom "history repeats itself" is often used to point out the failures of the past, but in the context of the Ford F-150, that history is one of success. In recent years, Ford has been successful in introducing innovative technologies and ideas to the F-150 while retaining its renowned capability. Ford did face some skepticism in 2011 when they introduced the F-150 coupled to a direct-injected and turbocharged 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine. But, 8 years later, the F-150 is still the best-selling truck in America and, as of 2017, the EcoBoost platform makes up 65% of all F-150's sold.

    For the 2017 model year, Ford added even more innovation to the 3.5L EcoBoost in the form of dual-injection. Instead of just injecting fuel directly into the cylinder like its predecessor, the

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  10. In Capable Hands - Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 3: Production

    In Capable Hands - Transmission Cooler R&D, Part 3: Production

    After months of measuring, modeling, designing and prototyping, the time has finally come to put our 2011-2014 Ford F-150 and 2010-2014 Ford Raptor transmission cooler to the test and hopefully put your F-150 in capable hands.

    Our last post for this transmission cooler ended with a successful test fit of our 3D printed prototype and a decision to be made. We had two options for our transmission cooler's core: tube and fin, or stacked plate. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. Tube-and-fin coolers flow and cool well but aren't quite as durable as stacked-plate coolers. Stacked-plate coolers are tough and reliable, but their internal tube structure can severely restrict flow. Depending on the size and shape of the cooler, where it's located, and how the system operates, each has its place. We won't know how each performs for this cooler until we test them.

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