After years of basic maintenance, it's finally getting some upgrades.

I am a commercial transport mechanic, so I am fully capable of performing these jobs, but I'm just not set up to do the engine work at home. So I have to admit, I am paying somebody to do some of it. They've had my truck since Tuesday, and I'm looking forward to getting it back tomorrow.

Anyway, since my wife got her Jeep, we discussed either upgrading from an F150, downsizing to a Ranger or New Bronco, or even getting back into a car (never gonna happen as a primary vehicle). Rather than spend 30, 40, or even 50,000 on a new vehicle, I felt it would be more beneficial to upgrade my current truck. So what is being done this week is new spark plugs and coils, cam phaser lockouts and tune, timing chain and tensioners, a cracked exhaust manifold and a bunch of broken studs.

The rest I'll be able to do in my driveway. On order are Raptor head and tail lights, should be here in a couple weeks. In a couple months I'm planning on a Flowmaster Outlaw cat back, backup camera, and a tonneau cover. Then my moonroof needs attention again.

I'll report on the plugs and cam phaser lockout tune in a few days.

 

After having it back for just over 24 hours, I'm happy with the results. No more exhaust leaks. No more valve train noise. Nice and quiet again, doesn't sound like a piece of neglected junk. The guy showed me the seals on my tensioners were blown out, and one of the chain guides were cracked.

As for power, basically going by the seat of my pants, it pulls better from a stop. Top end is a little weak compared to before, but it still pulls pretty good. Glad I did it.

I've been listening to sound clips on YouTube the last few nights, trying to figure out if I really want the Outlaw cat back, and if I want to go duals or stay with single exhaust, or just get a 40 Series Flowmaster and only replace the stock muffler. I know MBRP is pretty popular, but going by the sound clips, it's not really what I'm looking for. Maybe I'm not hearing the right one yet, who knows. I'll keep checking though.

 

How many miles on your F150 Joe?

 

192,000 kms, or about 120,000 miles

 

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This was one of the tensioners, seal blew out in a couple spots. The other side wasn't any better.
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Chain guide, cracked.
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Right side exhaust manifold cracked. You might have to zoom in to see it.

 

Raptor lights installed today! #ad

Before and after.

 

Installed a 3" cat back single exhaust with a Flowmaster Super 44, and a 4" black rolled tip on Wednesday evening. Sounds killer now. Sound clip in the link.

 

Tonneau cover came today, installed this evening after dinner. Took about an hour start to finish, with the fine tuning and squaring it up. I had one on my old Ranger, can't believe I waited 5 years to get this one.

 

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Backup camera installed. Screen in the clip on mirror until I get a touchscreen deck.

Mirror is pretty dark, gonna take some getting used to, but the screen lights up well with the camera on.

 

Those Raptor lights look great, I was considering them for my 14. Mind me asking what you paid for them?

 

All 4 lights were just under $600 Canadian