Stage 3 Motorsports 2012 Raptor 6.2L Project Truck

You know those Ford Raptors you see at the shopping centers, always clean, look like they've never seen dirt? This isn't one of them. This is a purpose-built, desert-driven, "Get out of my way!" Raptor. One of the many benefits of living in the Phoenix area is that you're always a stone's throw away from raw desert, and the SVT Raptors are right at home slicing their way through the dust and cacti. These no arguing that these trucks are savage right from the factory, but we wanted to take ours to the next level so we got to work modding the suspension, tires, engine and more. You can get all the details in the build sections below!

There's a lot to love about the enormous 6.2L V8 that Ford puts in the Raptors, but that doesn't mean there weren't some improvements to be made. We added an aFe Stage 2 intake for better air flow as well as some Stainless Works Long Tube headers and a Lightning style exhaust to give our truck the proper V8 rumble it deserves!

Our next order of business was to address the exhaust system on this Raptor. Obviously we wanted a louder and more aggressive growl, but we also wanted to squeeze some extra power from the exhaust. Our solution was Stainless Works Catted Long Tube headers bolted up to their Lightning Style Exhaust Kit. This setup gave our truck a brutal V8 rumble, helped the engine to breathe out easier and the side exit Lightning exhaust looks undeniably awesome!

- 2011-2014 Raptor 6.2L Stainless Works Lightning Exhaust

- 2011-2014 Raptor 6.2L Stainless Works Catted Long Tube Headers

Raptors are built to completely dominate rough terrain at high speeds and they do it well... or at least well enough for most people. Of course we here at Stage 3 wouldn't be satisfied until we'd amped up our Raptor's suspension to the point where it was virtually unstoppable. We bolted on a set of new Fox 3.0 Coilovers and shocks as well as new Method wheels and Nitto tires.

One of the best wheel brands in the business is Method and it's not hard to see why. We installed a set of their black NV wheels on our Raptor build to create a meaner and more rugged look. These wheels are manufactured using a low-pressure aluminum casting technique that makes them strong and durable enough for practically any application but lighter than our original wheels. 17x8.5" Method NV Wheels (Black)

This Raptor sees plenty of action in the desert so taking hits from bushes, rocks and sand banks is a common occurrence. In order to keep the truck together we needed to get some armor on it. We chose to install an ADD Stealth front bumper for maximum protection and then we made sure to capitalize on the new bumper by adding a massive 40" Rigid E-Series light bar for late night driving.

Raptors and F150's are not small trucks and taking them off-road at high speed can present some problems for the body work. We armored up our Raptor build with one of the best bumpers on the market, ADD's Stealth Paneled Front Bumper. ADD manufactures each of these bumpers out of high-strength tubular steel with .120" wall thickness that is all expertly welded together at ADD's headquarters right here in the USA. Each Stealth bumper feature laser-cut upper and lower skid plates, tabs, and mounts for a perfect fit. We also added a Rigid 40" E-Series LED light bar under the top hoop so we can light up the night as we're blasting through the desert. 2010-2014 SVT Raptor ADD Stealth Paneled Front Bumper (No Winch)