We knew it wouldn't be long before the aftermarket embraced the new '09 F-150. With a solid chassis and a world-class interior, it's bound to be a top pick for truck enthusiasts as it has been for years. For this month's Fantastic Four, Industrial Motoring in Anaheim, California, helped us out and let us shoot while they built a blacked-out F-150 to show off RBP's latest offerings. RBP's new 6-inch lift kit will fit 4x4 or 2WD trucks, like this one, and transform a plain-Jane truck into an off-road machine that will draw envious stares on the street or in the dunes. As with all of our Fan 4 stories, this one included RBP's new intake, exhaust kit, and mesh grille. With Toyo M/T tires mounted on RBP wheels, the F-150 went from a run-of-the-mill cruiser, to dominating the freeways and rugged off-road terrain the way only a new custom truck can.
Follow along as Dave Derichsweiler of Industrial Motoring, spends a day underneath the Ford.
The crew at Industrial Motoring...
The crew at Industrial Motoring had already began to strip the Ford when we arrived to shoot the install. You can see that the factory ride height and small wheel/tire package don't really accentuate the large, flat sides of the truck.
The RBP lift kit included...
The RBP lift kit included the upgrade to coilovers. The base kit uses a spacer for the factory coilover.
The bracket holding the brake...
The bracket holding the brake line was removed form the factory spindle as well as the tie rod, before Dave unbolted the caliper.
Both upper and lower castle...
Both upper and lower castle nuts were removed from the ball joints. The front spindel and the hub was then removed.
Four bolts held the factory...
Four bolts held the factory sway bar in position. Once they were out of the way, Dave set the sway bar aside.
There was just enough room...
There was just enough room on top of the spring perch to get the impact gun in position to unbolt it.