Ford F150 Truck Blog

A 2009 Ford F-150 customized crew cab truck honoring the men and women of our armed forces – the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard – was unveiled at the 2009 SEMA Convention, Nov. 3-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Freedom Truck, a dark navy blue Ford F-150 Super Crew Lariat, is highlighted by a series of murals painted over the past three months by internationally renowned airbrush artist Mickey Harris.

The truck will be showcased on military events, displayed at NASCAR races and car shows after which it will be sold at auction. The proceeds will then be donated to the Fisher House, a non-profit organization dedicated to injured and recovering servicemen’s family members and loved ones.

Base Vehicle
2009 Ford F-150 4X2 Supercrew Lariat
5.4 liter V-8
6 Speed automatic transmission

Powertrain
Borla cat-back exhaust
ProCharger Intercooled Super Charger System
K&N Air Filter

Chassis
McGaughys 2″/4″ Lower Kit

Wheels & Tires
Giovanna Caracas 24X10 wheels
Cooper Tires Sport Truck Tires XSTA 295/35/R24

Exterior
Mickey Harris Art-Custom Airbrush
Dupont-Paint & Materials

Malibu Customz-Prep & Finish

Malibu Customz-Carbon fiber bed rail covers, front bumper valance, stone guards and door apertures
Phantasmic Entertainment Inc/ProVision-3-D Holographic imagery
SnugTop Tonneau Cover
BedRug Bed Liner
Carriageworks Billet Grill

Interior
Classic Soft Trim-Leather Interior
Advance Performance-Design & install of interior
Kicker Audio-Amps, speakers & subs
SuperCrew Sound-Sub box enclosure (a sponsor here at FordF150.net)

Created By: Malibu Customz, Knoxville, TN

For full details see http://malibucustomz.com/ford_f-150_freedom_truck.html

Sean Hyland Motorsports is taking the incredible 2010 Raptor F150 and making it better. They’ve announced they are building the baddest Ford 4×4 ever. They start with the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor edition and install a supercharged engine boasting a whopping 750 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque.

Behind that is an available 6-speed manual (SWEET!) or 4-speed automatic. The package is also rounded out upgrades in the areas of  fuel system, cooling, exhaust, suspension, wheels, and tires.

According to the SHM web site, this unbelievable truck will be available for fall 2009 delivery. That’s all the info we have right now but as we hear more, we’ll let you know.

eBay Motors and CarDomain Select MOTORZ TV to Perform Live Installs at SEMA Show 2009

Chris Duke, host of hit automotive DIY show “MOTORZ TV” to perform live installations on Ford vehicles at the Ford Motor Company booth at the SEMA Show 2009 in Las Vegas this November.

My congratulations goes out to Chris Duke of MOTORZ TV. I’ve personally known Chris for about oh, about 7 years or so and he is the real deal. This guy lives and breathes car & truck stuff. He has had many successes in the online and offline world in the world of automotive and the Internet.

If you go to the SEMA show this year, definitely stop by the Ford booth and the MOTORZ booth (#22299). In the meantime, check them out at http://www.motorz.tv

About Duke Networks
Duke Networks, LLC (www.duke.net) produces “MOTORZ TV,” a DIY show for automotive enthusiasts. Host Chris Duke shows you how to install aftermarket products step-by-step in layman’s terms, in a typical garage setting, using common tools. MOTORZ is broadcast on cable television to over 1 million viewers through i2TV and published to over 40 distribution partners including CarDomain, StreetFire, YouTube, TiVo, SPIKE, and iTunes. For more information please visit www.motorz.tv.

When I heard about this I knew we had to spread the word. This information comes from the Car Connection’s blog.

In the eight consumer complaints that prompted the investigation, the driver airbag had deployed unexpectedly, either when starting the engine or shortly thereafter.

Five of the eight F-150 owners who experienced the issue suffered injuries from the airbag deployment. The investigation summary says that one tech attributed wire chaffing as the cause or potential cause.

So far, the investigation covers only the 2005 Ford F-150, but if you’ve experienced this problem with any late-model F-150, log in your account at ODI’s Defects and Recalls page.

Source: CarConnection

The folks over at both PickupTrucks.com and Automobile magazine both have shots of the upcoming 2011 Ford Super Duty trucks.

Here are the spy photos of the 2011 Super Duty from the two sources:

Here are the direct links:
- http://rumors.automobilemag.com/6529992/news/2011-ford-super-duty-pickup-spied/index.html
- http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/05/spied-2011-ford-super-duty-exposes-more-grille.html

I came across this video today. Simply, it shows four comparably-equipped 2009 full-size trucks. Ford, GM, Dodge, and Toyota. They all have the most fuel efficient V8 available (Ford SFE & GM XFE models not included) and run on one gallon of gas. They run the test twice and both times Ford goes the furthest on one gallon of gas.

It’s not all about some numbers on paper. Get in the truck, drive it, and see who really gets the best mileage…

The video features Matt O’Leary (Chief Engineer, F-150) and Mike Rowe (spokesperson, you know him from Dirty Jobs). Just watch:

PickupTrucks.com is reporting on the future of F-150 truck engines. We’ll see the EcoBoost V6 engine available (which we knew about) and a new 5.0L V8 engine (shared with the Mustang), it’s codename is Coyote.

Here’s a quote from the article:

By late 2010, the new standard engine for the F-150 will be a 5.0-liter, modular, four-valve, naturally aspirated V-8, developed under the code name “coyote.” This eight-cylinder engine (described as having “huge heads”) will be shared with the new Ford Mustang. Power figures are said to be approximately 400 horsepower and 400 pounds-feet of torque. Fuel economy is expected to be comparable to the current 5.4-liter engine.

In an interesting reversal of tradition for trucks, the premium engine for the light-duty F-150 will be a V-6. The new rear-wheel-drive version of the 3.5-liter, six-cylinder EcoBoost gasoline turbo direct-injection motor will occupy the top slot.

Read the full article over at PickupTrucks.com

The first 2010 Ford Raptor SVT F-150 sold at auction on Saturday, January 17 for the nice sum of $143,000. That price includes a $13,000 buyer’s premium. It was lot #1333.

We’ve started a Raptor F150 section here at FordF150.net, you can check it out at http://www.fordf150.net/raptor/

The Raptor truck details from the Barrett-Jackson website are as follows:

Summary: The DNA of a Baja Prerunner. Built Ford Tough. The Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) takes performance supremacy off-road with the new F-150 SVT Raptor. All proceeds above MSRP vehicle will go directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Details: The DNA of a Baja Prerunner. Built Ford Tough. The Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) takes performance supremacy off-road with the new F-150 SVT Raptor. This purpose-built, high performance truck is rugged enough to take on challenging desert adventures, and refined enough for everyday use. F-150 SVT Raptor-specific triple internal bypass Fox Racing Shox, an electronic locking rear differential, and hill descent control mark its serious off-road capability. Outrageous styling backs up its performance with a brick-wall grille, unique front fenders, box outer panels, hood and front bumper, plus a Raptor-exclusive interior. This is one awesome truck. The winning bidder will take delivery of the first F-150 SVT Raptor offered for sale. All proceeds above MSRP vehicle will go directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Over the last three years, Ford and Barrett-Jackson have raised over $2.5 million dollars for charity through the auction of Ford products. This new model will give the winning bidder an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause while making automotive history. Features include 7″ Wider than a standard F-150, 5.4L SOHC V8 FFV with 320hp and 390 lb-ft. of torque, 11.2″ of front suspension travel, unique cast-aluminum front control arms, unique skid plates, 12.1″ of rear suspension travel, unique rear springs. 4.10 rear axle, electronic locking rear differential, 17″ cast-aluminum wheels, BFGoodrich 35″ All-Terrain T/A KO (315/70R17), Hill Descent Control, unique Off-Road Mode and auxiliary switches for additional lighting and accessories.

Well of course well all know that Ford builds the best trucks. And of course every generation is better than the previus. Well I thought I’d re-post the list of awards that have been handed to the 2009 F-150 so far (and it’s only Jan/09).

Don’t forget we have oodles of 2009 F-150 information here: http://www.fordf150.net/2009/

and the 2009 F150 Forum is here: http://www.fordf150.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=69

The 2009 F-150 has won the following awards and accolades:

• Motor Trend 2009 Truck of the Year Award
• Top honors as “Truck of Texas” as well as “Best Luxury Pickup” for the 2009 F-150 King Ranch from Texas Auto Writers Association
• Finalist 2009 North American Truck of the Year (with 2009 Ford Flex for Car of the Year)
• 2009 Best Redesigned Vehicle from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com
• “Best Overall Half-Ton Pickup” from PickupTrucks.com
• “Automotive Excellence” award in the Workhorse Category from Popular Mechanics
• Detroit Free Press Truck of the Year
• Detroit News Truck of the Year
• “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its standard safety technology: Safety Canopy side curtain air bags and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
• “Residual Value” award from Automotive Leasing Guide (ALG) for retaining the highest percentage of its original price among 2009 full-size light duty pickups at the end of a conventional three-year lease, based on ALG projections
• Motor Trend’s Truck Trend Top 5 Trucks from Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) for 2009 Ford F-150 Heavy Duty DeWalt Contractor Concept
• “Accessory-Friendly Truck” Design Award from SEMA

Source: Ford Press Release

For those of you who haven’t heard yet, MOTORZ TV is a free online car/truck DIY show. The host is a friend of mine, Chris Duke from TruckBlog.

Chris has a lot of experience in the automotive area and it shows in the videos. If you like the TV show Trucks! then you’ll like MOTORZ! Check out all the videos and subscribe to their podcast today at www.motorz.tv

From their site:

Duke gets his hands into the nuts and bolts of the install, showing you how to get the job done using simple tools, and the problems he encounters along the way. Whether it’s installing bolt-on performance modifications, wiring up electronics, or dressing up your ride for show, MOTORZ offers a real look at what lies beneath the installation instructions.

Formerly Truckblog.TV, MOTORZ is the DIY show for automotive enthusiasts who love to work on their rides. Host Chris Duke (automotive journalist and photographer) shows you how to install aftermarket products step-by-step in layman’s terms, in a typical garage setting, using common tools.