Ford F-150 & Raptor
History of the Performance Ford F-150 and Ford Raptor
In the early 1990s, the Ford Motor Company sought to bring a performance edge to its truck lineup, leading to the birth of the Ford SVT Lightning in 1993. This was Ford’s answer to Chevrolet’s sporty 454SS pickup. Beneath the hood, the first-gen Lightning was equipped with a modified version of Ford’s 5.8-liter V8, outputting 240 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. Beyond just raw power, the Lightning featured sport-tuned suspension kit, enhanced braking systems, and distinctive styling cues, effectively setting a new standard for performance trucks.
Ford’s commitment to pushing the performance envelope led to the second-gen Lightning in 1999. This iteration, built on the F-150 platform, boasted a supercharged 5.4-liter Triton V8. By 2001, this powerhouse was producing 380 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. Distinctive with its lowered stance and unique wheels, the second-gen Lightning could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds, a testament to its sports car-like agility.
As the Lightning era ended, Ford’s performance focus shifted to off-road capabilities with the introduction of the SVT Raptor in 2010. Based on the F-150, the Raptor was engineered with Baja 1000 races in mind. It was wider, had a reinforced frame, and featured long-travel suspension with Fox Racing Shox. The initial engine was a 5.4-liter V8, but was soon overshadowed by the more powerful 6.2-liter V8, pushing 411 horsepower.
The second-generation Raptor, which emerged in 2017, was a testament to Ford’s commitment to evolution. This time, Ford opted for a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine that produced 450 horsepower. Skeptics of the V6 were quickly silenced by its superior performance and efficiency. Aluminum bodywork reduced weight, and the introduction of a 10-speed automatic transmission, Terrain Management System, and updated FOX shock absorbers made this Raptor even more adept at both high-speed desert runs and rock-crawling.
In 2021, Ford unveiled the third-generation Raptor. Staying true to its lineage, it retained the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, but with significant refinements. The suspension received groundbreaking upgrades, including a five-link rear setup and next-gen FOX shocks, ensuring unmatched ride quality.
In summation, Ford’s journey in the performance work truck segment, from the Lightning to the third-generation Raptor, illustrates a tale of relentless innovation. With each generation, Ford showcased a perfect blend of engineering prowess and a deep understanding of what performance truck owners and truck enthusiasts desire. The result? A legacy of Ford trucks that not only pushed boundaries but defined entire eras in the world of automotive performance.
Why Choose COBB for Your F-150 or Raptor
The 2017+ second-generation Ford F-150 Raptor and its twin-turbo EcoBoost v6 marked the origins of COBB Tuning and the F-150 platform. From there, support has extended into the 2019+ F-150 Limited which shares the same powerplant, and now the 2017+ 3.5L F-150. All three are very capable platforms in a stock configuration, but after some COBB magic, the EcoBoost v-6 becomes a whole new beast! From here, the sky is the limit and we expect to offer tuning as well as other Ford F150 mods and other performance upgrades to additional F-150s down the road.
COBB Tuning approaches design by taking the entire vehicle-platform into account as a complete system. Our ultra-high-quality products and services are professionally engineered, thoroughly tested and backed by industry leading customer service to ensure that they meet our objectives and exceed customer expectations.
We are a one-stop firm with an enviable set of qualified skills and the exceptional ability to design, engineer, manufacture, test and service our own products under one roof. Whether it’s our state-of-the-art Accessport ECU programmer, our exceptional bolt-on performance products, COBB Tuning has the experience, skill and attitude to meet your F-150’s specific needs.
Whether you’re taking your EcoBoost F-150 or Ford F-150 Raptor to the backcountry, racing an off-road course, or just crawling the mall, COBB Tuning offers performance parts that improve your truck for any situation.
Ford F-150 Stage Power Packages
Stage Power Packages
Our engineers rigorously test Hard Parts to find the right order and combination for the best incremental power gains. Maps are created and tested to tune the ECU so that it supports and takes advantage of each part. With these results, COBB is able to create the Upgrade Path of Staged Packages that have all the necessary parts to upgrade your EcoBoost F-150 or F-150 Raptor. Each Stage Package incorporates the parts below. You can start with Stage 1 or immediately get everything and go straight to Stage 2! Learn more about The COBB Way.
Ford F-150 Accessport
Accessport
Looking for Ford F-150 or Raptor aftermarket performance parts? It all starts with the Accessport! The Accessport is the world’s best selling, most flexible ECU upgrade solution for your Ford F-150 and Ford F-150 Raptor. Simply plug this device into your truck’s OBD port and you have the capability to reflash the ECU or TCM (transmission control module) to enjoy power gains, custom features, and other improvements immediately! All of the off the shelf maps are included at no additional cost and free updates are simplified with Accessport Manager. It’s the last engine management solution you’ll ever need!
Ford F-150 Air Induction
Intake System
The COBB Air Intake for the Ford F-150 checks every box that enthusiasts expect from a high-quality bolt on upgrade. The factory piping from the air-box is replaced with dual 3″ mandrel bent aluminum tubing to maximize airflow while custom silicone couplers ensure perfect OEM-like fitment.
The injection molded – fiber reinforced airbox lid incorporates a closed-cell foam gasket to seal the air filter from mud, dirt, and debris. Powder coated tubing, composite material, and a COBB nameplate transform the engine bay to look as sharp as the iconic F-150 exterior.
Also, we combined the improved airbox design with a high flow, dual inlet, tapered-oval filter. With 165% more surface area over stock, the intake produces more air-flow and a more audible turbo sound when building boost at low RPM.
Ford F-150 Cooling
Front Mount Intercooler
The COBB Front Mount Intercooler (FMIC) for your EcoBoost F150 or F150 Raptor is the easiest way to drastically improve power when coupled with tuning from the V3 Accessport. The much larger 24″ wide x 14″ tall x 3.5″ thick core produces a significant volume increase compared to stock, resulting in minimal pressure drop despite the significant increase in size. Straight forward installation requires minor trimming on the back side of the grille and maintains the factory Adaptive Cruise Control bracket when using the stock bumper.
Combined with an Accessport, upgrading the stock intercooler is a no brainer as the best bang for your buck on a F-150 EcoBoost or Raptor for a quick horsepower and torque increase. Efficiency is the name of the game and this intercooler will get the most out of your stock turbos and still has plenty left over for future upgrades to go along with it. Check out this link to see the data on how much an improvement the COBB intercooler is over the stock unit.
Ford F-150 Cat-Back Exhaust
Cat-Back Exhaust
Looking for the perfect performance upgrade for your Ford F-150 that also gives it more sound? The COBB Cat-Back Performance Exhaust System for the EcoBoost F-150 is constructed of quality 304 stainless steel tubing. Mandrel bends ensure maximum flow throughout the entire system. An integrated flex section provides a small amount of compliance during installation and reduces stress on components once installed. The triple-chambered muffler with 3″ inlet/outlets keeps the exhaust note crisp and prevents unwanted drone. The three sections are joined together using cast 3″ 2-bolt flanges and multi-layer steel gaskets for a leak-free assembly. Connecting to the factory downpipe assembly is a breeze with an OEM style 2-bolt flange.