The original Ford F-150 was a revelation for the mid-size truck segment. It's hard to know if Ford knew it at the time, but it was about to stumble upon a winning formula: aggressive looks, a big V8 engine, off-road capability, and a relatively affordable price. Then everything changed when Ford revealed the second generation Raptor a few years ago.
While most attributes stayed the same, the big V8 was replaced in favor of a twin-turbocharged V6. Ford said the change would make the Raptor more livable and more fuel efficient, but some enthusiasts still missed the throaty V8. Luckily, a company in Texas called PaxPower has heard the cries of enthusiasts and has brought back the V8 Raptor.
We reviewed the EcoBoost Raptor last year and frankly didn't have any issues with the engine, but it's hard to say no to two more cylinders. The sound of hissing turbos can be fun, but few sounds beat the growl of a V8. PaxPower says its OEM-quality Raptor conversion will fit on any 2015-2019 Ford F-150. Instead of starting with a V6 Raptor and switching out the engine, PaxPower takes a base F-150 5.0-liter V8 and adds the Raptor suspension, body, and chassis components.
The 5.0-liter V8 is then upgraded with a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger and dual-exhaust system that combine to bring the output up to 758 horsepower - far more than the V6's 450-hp figure. The prototype (pictured here) started out as a 2018 F-150 Platinum FX4, which means it had a few options not found on a Raptor including massaging seats and power-folding steps. PaxPower says that this conversion is commercially viable because trucks like the F-150 Platinum tend to sell for $5,000-$10,000 under MSRP whereas Ford dealers are asking over MSRP for Raptors.
In terms of pricing, the Raptor suspension will set you back $7,500, while the whole chassis, suspension, and body conversion is a bit pricier at $25,000. Suitable base F-150s for the conversion are available for as low as $35,000, making this a viable alternative to a real Raptor. PaxPower says the conversion takes around three to four weeks to complete and the parts will be warrantied for two years, but can also be extended to three years for supercharged cars.
