Half-Price Raptor Part 4 / Jeep TJ Part 5

(ANNOUNCER)>> WE DECIDED TO TAKE A WORN OUT F-150 AND MAKE IT PERFORM LIKE A RAPTOR FOR HALF THE PRICE. AND RIGHT IT'S GOT THE GUTS OF A DESERT RACER BUT IT STILL LOOKS LIKE THE SAME OLE PICK UP TRUCK. TODAY ON XTREME 4X4 WE SKIN OUR FORD WITH CUSTOM FIBERGLASS TO GIVE IT THE WIDE, MENACING STANCE OF A RAPTOR. PLUS WE BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO OUR TJ'S INTERIOR.

(IAN)>> SO FAR WE'VE MADE A LOT OF HEADWAY ON OUR HALF PRICE FOR F-150 RAPTOR PROJECT. DEALING WITH ALL THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS 1997 PICK AND A BRAND NEW RAPTOR FRESH OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. WE UPGRADED THE SUSPENSION ON THIS TRUCK BY SWAPPING IN AN H&M LONG TRAVEL KIT AND A SET OF DEVER LEAF SPRINGS IN THE REAR, ALL CONTROLLED BY BILSTEIN 9,100 SERIES SHOCKS WITH COIL OVERS UP FRONT AND BYPASSES ON ALL FOUR CORNERS. NOW POWER UNDERNEATH THE HOOD IS NO LONGER A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE JUST GOT DONE REBUILDING THIS FIVE POINT FOUR LITER SUPERCHARGED VEIGHT THAT WE GOT OUT OF A FORD LIGHTNING PICK UP. NOW WE HAVEN'T PUT IT IN THE TRUCK YET BECAUSE WE NEED TO DEAL WITH ONE MORE ITEM, AND THAT IS THE STYLING OF THIS TRUCK. SURE, IT LOOKS OKAY FOR A 1997 PICK UP, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE A FORD RAPTOR. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR LONG TRAVEL SUSPENSION ON, THE TIRE IS STICKING WAY OUT PAST THE FENDER. SO WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU'VE GOT AN OLD PICK UP TRUCK LIKE THIS AND YOU WANT TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A BRAND NEW RAPTOR. WELL THE ANSWER IS A PHONE CALL AWAY. NOW WE'VE TOLD YOU GUYS BEFORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF USING AN F-150 AS THE BASE FOR THIS PROJECT, AND ALL THE AFTERMARKET SUPPORT THAT COMES FROM THE OFF ROAD DESERT RACING WORLD. AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHERE OUR CONVERSION FIBERGLASS COMES FROM. FIBERWORKS OFF ROAD FIBERGLASS MAKES THIS ONE PIECE TROPHY TRUCK STYLE FRONT END FOR OUR F-150. NOW IT SHARES VERY SIMILAR STYLING CUES TO THE FORD RAPTOR, AND THE EXTRA WIDTH WILL GIVE US THE TIRE COVERAGE THAT WE NEED AS WELL AS THE AGGRESSIVE LOOK. NOW IT IS DESIGNED TO ACCEPT A FORD RAPTOR GRILL SHELL AS WELL AS A SET OF FACTORY FORD RAPTOR HEAD LIGHTS, AND THAT WILL COMPLETELY CHANGE THE FRONT END LOOK OF THIS TRUCK. NOW OUT BACK IT'S SIMPLY A COMPLETE NEW BED SIDE DESIGNED ONCE AGAIN VERY SIMILAR TO THAT FORD RAPTOR BED. ONCE IT'S ON WE'LL LOSE THIS STEP SIDE LOOK THAT THESE TRUCKS ALWAYS CAME WITH, AND THAT WILL COMPLETE THE LOOK. ONE BOX SHOWED UP AND BY THE END OF THE DAY THIS TRUCK IS GONNA LOOK LIKE A RAPTOR. TO REMOVE THE BED SIDE ON OUR FORD WE SIMPLY HAVE TO UNBOLT IT FROM THE BED STRUCTURE.

REMOVING ALL THE TRIM CAPS WILL EXPOSE THE SCREWS.

ONCE IT'S LOOSE, WE CAN SET IT OUT OF THE WAY. THAT IS SO COOL, LOOK AT THAT, UNBOLT! THE FIBERGLASS BED SIDE IS NOT A DIRECT FIT. WE DO HAVE TO TRIM AWAY PART OF THE ORIGINAL BED STRUCTURE. DON'T CUT TOO MUCH TOO FAST. JUST SLOWLY SNEAK UP ON IT, TAKING LITTLE PIECES AND TESTING THE BED AS YOU GO UNTIL YOU FINALLY HAVE THAT PERFECT FIT.

WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO USE ANY OF OUR FACTORY FASTENERS TO MOUNT OUR NEW FIBERGLASS BED SIDE. INSTEAD WE'RE GONNA USE AN ITEM CALLED THE NUTZER. NOW TO INSTALL IT YOU NEED A SPECIALIZED TOOL, AND OURS IS FROM MATCO TOOLS. IT IS A HEAVY DUTY RIV NUT GUN, OR A THREAD SETTER TOOL. IT WORKS SIMILAR TO A POP RIVET GUN, BUT INSTEAD OF PUTTING A POP RIVET INTO THE PANEL, IT SIMPLY INSTALLS A CAPTURED NUT. BY DRILLING THROUGH BOTH THE FIBERGLASS AND THE BED AT THE SAME TIME YOU INSURE THAT BOTH PANELS STAY PROPERLY ALIGNED. THEN SCREW THE NUTZER ONTO THE THREAD SETTER TOOL, TAP IT INTO THE HOLE, AND SQUEEZE IT HOME. THEN ALL WE HAVE LEFT TO DO IS BOLT OUR NEW BESIDE ONTO THE BED.

THE BED SIDES COME PREMOLDED FOR A SET OF FACTORY FORD RAPTOR TAIL LIGHTS. NOW WE LOOK HIGH AND LOW AND COULD NOT FIND A WRECKED RAPTOR IN A JUNKYARD ANYWHERE. SO WE HAD TO BUY SOME BRAND NEW LIGHTS. WE GOT A HOLD OF THE GUYS AT ROCK AUTO DOT COM AND HAD THEM SEND US SOME FACTORY REPLACEMENT TAIL LIGHTS FOR THE FORD RAPTOR. NOW THE RAPTOR HAS THIS RATHER UNIQUE BLACKED OUT LINE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF THE TYPICAL CHROME BEZEL. ONCE WE DRILL THE PILOT HOLES INTO THE BED, THESE WILL SIMPLY SNAP INTO PLACE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, OUR PICK UP'S FRONT END GETS A WHOLE LOT WIDER AND MEANER!

(IAN)>> WE'RE BACK ON XTREME, AND WITH THE BACK HALF OF OUR F-150 LOOKING LIKE A RAPTOR, IT'S TIME TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE FRONT END.

ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT OUR F-150 IS HOW THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK IS PUT TOGETHER. INSTEAD OF HAVING A FENDER WITH AN INNER FENDER THAT'S BOLTED TO A RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT, THE FRONT END OF THIS TRUCK IS FULLY WELDED AND IT'S PART OF THE CAB. IT'S WHAT'S OFTEN CALLED A BASE SUPER STRUCTURE. KINDA LIKE A UNIBODY CAR, IT'S ALL ONE PIECE SPOT WELDED TOGETHER. NOW THE REASON THAT'S NICE IS EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD STAYS PUT. THINGS LIKE THE RADIATOR, THE ELECTRONICS, EVEN THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW CAN, ALL THE MOUNTS ARE THERE EVEN THOUGH WE'VE PULLED BACK THE ENTIRE SKIN ON THE FRONT OF THIS PICK UP. NOW IF YOU HAD A TRUCK THAT WASN'T LIKE THIS, MAYBE YOU PULL THE FENDER OFF AND THE INNER FENDER OFF AND EVERYTHING BECOMES LOOSE UNDERNEATH. YOU NEED TO REBUILD MOUNTS FOR ALL OF THOSE ITEMS. NOW HERE'S A LITTLE SHORT CUT THAT I HAVE FOUND. INSTEAD OF BUILDING A MOUNT FOR THAT RADIATOR CATCH CAN, JUST PICK UP ONE OF THESE. THIS ONE'S FROM MISTER GASKET. IT'S AN AFTERMARKET RADIATOR OVERFLOW KIT. IT'S FULLY POLISHED, SO IT LOOKS GOOD, SMALL SO IT FITS INTO TIGHT PLACES, AND AS A SIGHT GLASS SO YOU'LL SEE HOW MUCH FLUID IS IN IT. BUT THE NICE THING IS THAT IT'S EASY TO MOUNT UNDERNEATH THE HOOD ANY WHERE YOU NEED IT. AFTER MARKING THE HOLES IN OUR NEW FIBERGLASS FILLER PIECE, WE'LL DRILL THEM OUT, AND THEN BOLT THEM INTO THE FACTORY LOCATION.

SLIDE OUR ONE PIECE FRONT END INTO PLACE AND CLAMP IT WITH SOME VICE GRIPS. NOW WITH FULL ONE PIECE CONVERSIONS LIKE WE'RE DOING ON THIS TRUCK, YOU DO NEED TO BUILD CUSTOM MOUNTS FOR THE FRONT SIDE OF THE PIECE OF FIBERGLASS. THE FILLER PIECES IN THE BACK BOLT INTO THE STOCK FENDER LOCATIONS JUST IN FRONT OF THE DOOR, BUT THERE'S NOTHING UP HERE TO HOLD THIS HOOD UP. YOU SAW US SLIDE A SMALL BLOCK IN PLACE JUST TO GET IT SITTING AT THE RIGHT HEIGHT. I'VE FOUND THAT THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT A PIECE OF FIBERGLASS THIS LARGE IS TO BUILD A SIMPLE TUBE STRUCTURE THAT'LL SIT BEHIND THIS LIP OF THE HOOD AND HOLD IT UP INTO PLACE. NOW WE'LL BUILD SOME MOUNTS OFF OF THAT THAT'LL OBVIOUSLY NEED TO BE REMOVABLE SO YOU CAN PULL SOME HOOD PINS, UNDO SOME LATCHES AT THE BACK, AND JUST LIFT THIS WHOLE PIECE OFF IF YOU NEED TO CHECK UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. OUR LATCHES ARE JUST UNIVERSAL RUBBER HOLD DOWNS THAT WE GOT FROM SUMMIT RACING. UP FRONT WE'LL ROLL A PIECE OF INCH AND A HALF TUBING THROUGH OUR TUBING ROLLER, BUILD A FEW STAND OFFS TO GET IT INTO THE RIGHT POSITION, ADD SOME TABS, AND SOME MISTER GASKET HOOD PINS.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, HIGH TECH LIGHTING FOR OUR F-150 AND SUSPENSION SEATS FOR OUR TJ.

(IAN)>> OUR FRONT END KIT IS DESIGNED TO ACCEPT A FACTORY FORD RAPTOR GRILL SHELL. NOW WE'RE GONNA MODIFY THIS GRILL SLIGHTLY TO LET US GET SOME NICE, QUALITY OFF ROAD LIGHTING UP ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. NOW FROM THE FACTORY THE GRILL HAS SMALL CUTOUTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ACCEPT SINGLE AMBER LED'S. NOW THOSE ARE JUST ACCENT LIGHTS, THERE TO MAKE THE TRUCK LOOK COOL. NOW WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THOSE AND INSTEAD INSTALL SOME OF THESE ORACLE LIGHTING SINGLE LED SETUPS. NOW THESE ARE SUPER BRIGHT ONE LED LIGHTS, AND THEY'LL PUT OUT A LOT OF LIGHT OUT OF THE FRONT OF THIS TRUCK EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE JUST THREE SINGLE WHITE LED'S. WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP THERE THOUGH. WE'RE GONNA REBUILD A CUSTOM BUMPER FOR THE FRONT OF THIS TRUCK, GET RID OF THAT OLD FACTORY ONE. AND IN IT WE'LL MOUNT TWO OF THESE ORACLE LIGHT PANELS. NOW THESE ARE MULTIPLE LED PANELS. THEY'LL THROW A TON OF LIGHT OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK ALL WHILE DRAWING A VERY LOW AMPERAGE. WITH THIS SETUP ON THE FRONT OF OUR TRUCK, NOT ONLY WILL IT LOOK MEANER THAN A RAPTOR, BUT WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF LIGHT FOR WHEN WE'RE RIDING AT NIGHT.

THE LIGHTS MOUNT DIRECTLY TO THE GRILL SHELL USING THE SUPPLIED HARDWARE.

OUR NEW GRILL SHELL WILL SIMPLY BOLT UP TO THE BAR THAT WE ADDED TO THE FRONT GRILL TO SUPPORT OUR ONE PIECE FRONT END.

THEN WE'LL MEASURE AND CUT THE EXTRA FRAME PORTIONS OFF.

ROLL A PIECE OF TUBE FOR OUR NEW TUBE FRONT BUMPER. ADD SOME SUPPORTS DOWN TO THE FRAME, AND FINISH IT OFF WITH AN ALUMINUM SKID PLATE.

WITH THE FRONT END OF OUR TRUCK COMPLETELY TAKEN CARE OF, THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DEAL WITH IS THE TAIL GATE, OR IN THE CASE OF OUR TRUCK, THE LACK OF A TAIL GATE. NOW WE'RE NOT GONNA INSTALL ONE BECAUSE WE WANT TO INSTALL A FULL SIZE SPARE AND WE WANT TO PUSH IT AS FAR BACK FROM THE AXLE CENTER LINE AS WE CAN. NOW WE DO THAT TO HELP THE SUSPENSION WORK BETTER. WHEN YOU HAVE A FULL SIZE SPARE LIKE THIS 37 INCH TALL FALKEN ON A HEAVY DUTY RACELINE BEADLOCK. IT WEIGHS IN RIGHT AT ABOUT 125 POUNDS. NOW BY MOVING IT BACK OUT OF THE BED AND HANGING IT OFF THE BACK IT WORKS WITH AN ADDITIONAL LEVERAGE EFFECT ON THE LEAF SPRINGS. HELPS THEM DO THEIR JOB. WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THE TRUCK QUICK THROUGH THE DIRT. INSTEAD OF THE BACK AXLE CONSTANTLY BOUNCING UP IN THE AIR AND CARRYING THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK BACK AND FORTH ON THE TRAIL, BY HAVING THIS ADDITIONAL WEIGHT IT JUST KEEPS THE TRUCK PLANTED. ALLOWS THE LEAF SPRINGS TO DO THEIR AND ALLOWS THE SHOCKS TO CONTROL THEM. SO ONCE WE GET THIS MOUNTED ONTO THE BACK OF OUR TRUCK, WITH A LITTLE TUBE STRUCTURE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE, NOT ONLY WILL THE TRUCK LOOK BETTER, IT'LL ACTUALLY PERFORM BETTER. AFTER CUTTING A PIECE OF INCH AND A HALF DOM TUBING IN OUR COLD SAW, WE'LL GIVE IT A WIPE WITH SOME SCOTT PRO SHOP TOWELS, AND BEND TWO 45 DEGREE ANGLES AT EITHER END.

SO WITH ALL OUR NEW BODY PANELS IN PLACE, OUR TRUCK FINALLY HAS THE SAME AGGRESSIVE STYLE AND MEAN LOOKS AS THE FORD RAPTOR.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, WE FRESHEN UP UR TJ'S INTERIOR WITH TRAIL READY SEATING.

(ANNOUNCER)>> XTREME'S DOUBLE DUTY TJ IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOUR WHEEL PARTS, YOUR TRUCK AND JEEP ACCESSORY SUPER STORE ONLINE AT FOUR WHEEL PARTS DOT COM.

(IAN)>> WE ARE ALMOST READY TO TAKE OUR DOUBLE DUTY TJ OUT ON ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE. BUT BEFORE WE DO, WE WANT TO ADDRESS ONE LAST ITEM ON THE INTERIOR. SURE, OUR SMITTY BUILT ROLL CAGE IS GONNA KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE IN THIS RIG, BUT THE SEATS THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE RIDING ON, WELL THEY'RE NOT THE BEST LOOKING SEATS, THEY'RE KIND OF WORN OUT, AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT UP TO THE ABUSE THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT THEM THROUGH WHEN WE TAKE THIS TRUCK HARDCORE WHEELING. SO THESE SUCKERS ARE GOING OUT AND SOME NEW SEATS ARE GOING IN. NOW WE'VE TOLD YOU GUYS MANY TIMES BEFORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS TO UPGRADING TO A SET OF SUSPENSION SEATS. NOW WHAT MAKES THEM BETTER THAN A STOCK SET OF SEATS IS WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THE COVER. INSTEAD OF A STAMPED STEEL CONSTRUCTION, IT IS A FULL TUBE FRAME THAT IS COMPLETELY WELDED. INSTEAD OF SPRINGS AND FOAM TO HOLD YOU UP, IT HAS PARACHUTE CORD DRAPED IN BETWEEN THAT FRAME TO HELP ABSORB THE SHOCK WHEN YOU'RE ON THE TRAIL. NOW FOR OUR JEEP WE CHOSE THE NEW SMITTY BUILT XRC RECLINABLE SUSPENSION SEATS. NOW THESE WILL MOUNT ONTO THE STOCK BRACKETS IN OUR JEEP, AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE RECLINE FEATURE, WE CAN FLIP THEM FORWARD TO MAKE IT EASY TO GET INTO THE BACK.

THE FRONT SEATS WILL BOLT ON TO THE FACTORY SEAT RISERS USING THE ADAPTER BRACKET INCLUDED WITH THE KIT.

THE REAR IS A COVER THAT WILL SLIDE OVER THE FACTORY SEAT AND MAKE IT MATCH OUR TWO FRONTS.

NOW THE INTERIOR OF OUR JEEP LOOKS JUST AS GOOD AS THE OUTSIDE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S READY TO HANDLE THE ABUSE OF THE HARDCORE TRAILS THAT THIS JEEP CAN NOW CONQUER. ALL THAT'S LEFT TO DO IS FILL THIS RIG UP WITH SOME GAS AND THEN HIT THE ROAD AND THE TRAIL, WHOO! FOR DETAILS ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS SEEN IN TODAY'S EPISODE, HEAD ON OVER TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM.