The escalating battle between Ford and Fiat-Chrysler for off-roading supremacy ratcheted up another notch last week with the official unveiling of the next-generation Raptor pickup truck. But some Ford fans probably came away a bit confused as to why exactly the Blue Oval hasn't opted to drop a big, beefy V8 into the Raptor's aggressive design right off the bat in a bid to compete with the absurd Ram TRX and its Hellcat Hemi. Ford clearly hoped to focus on the Raptor trail readiness more than brute power, a decision that presents a business opportunity for aftermarket tuners like PaxPower, which has just unveiled a supercharged V8 conversion that will be available for the 2021 third-gen Raptor.
Authentic Raptor Parts With A Coyote V8
The heart of PaxPower's conversion comes in the form of a 5.0-liter Coyote V8, which PaxPower will happily swap into any crew-cab, four-wheel-drive 2021 F-150 pickup, not even just the Raptor. The exterior will then be refitted with Raptor panels, including the fenders, hood, grilles, and bed. OEM Raptor pieces will also be used for the trim, accent lighting, skid plates, and bumpers.
For customers looking to take on the Ram TRX, PaxPower will offer a 3.0-liter twin-screw supercharger that produces 8 pounds of boost and bumps the Coyote V8's output up from 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque to a more fitting 770 horses and 675 lb-ft of twist. The supercharger will also come with an intercooler, upgraded intake components, and high-flow fuel injectors. But of course, a base F-150 will then need the Raptor's off-roading components, not just the looks and power.
Second-Gen Suspension For Now, Third-Gen Likely To Come
Perhaps the biggest change Ford made for the third-gen Raptor was switching from leaf springs to coilovers at the rear, a move that has left PaxPower in a bit of a bind. At the moment, the company plans to build up the V8 and supercharger Raptor conversions with second-gen Raptor suspension components, including the upgraded control arms, axle shafts, steering links, sway bars, and Fox shocks.
After Ford releases the new Raptor to the public, PaxPower plans to test out the new setup to determine whether it's worthy for the V8-powered Raptor, a reasonable plan given the weight and power increases made possible by the larger engine when compared to the six-cylinder EcoBoost. In terms of pricing, the V8 swap and Raptor conversion will cost under $30,000 (on top of the cost of a 2021 F-150), while opting for the supercharger package will add another $14,500.
Sources: paxpower.com and media.ford.com.