You have heard the term KISS, "Keep It Simple Stupid" and we've learned that sometimes it's the simple things that contribute the most to revitalizing a factory ride. Each month we demonstrate modifications of suspension lifting or lowering, adding new wheel/tires, and bolting on an intake and exhaust system so that you can separate your truck or SUV from the rest of the daily drivers on the road. We recruited a Blue Oval faithful who was willing to make some mild aesthetic and engine performance mods to his everyday driver, an '07 Ford F-150 equipped with a 5.4L. We contacted Stylin' Trucks and ordered a mild 2/4 suspension drop using a pair of McGaughy's Suspension 2-inch lowering coil springs up front and a pair of McGaughy's Suspension 4-inch lowering leaf springs in the rear. To finish the look, The Custom Truck Shop, in San Dimas, California, took care of the new wheel/tire combo for the F-150. A set of black Raceline CR2 22x9-1/2-inch wheels with General Grabber 305/40R22 rubber were bolted on and really got the Ford ready to cruise the streets.
Under the hood, we observed an unmolested factory 5.4L three-valve V-8 Triton powerplant that was in need of some bolt-on performance upgrades. After placing an order at Auto Anything, the top of the list was an Air Flow Engineering (aFe) air-intake kit that would improve throttle response, feed fresh air into the engine, and help squeeze out a few more miles per gallon. Sandwiched between the engine's intake manifold and the throttle-body was an aFe Silver Bullet billet aluminum throttle-body spacer. To complete the Triton's improved cardiovascular system an aFe after-cat exhaust would be installed.
A Street Scene front urethane lower valance was a last minute addition that gave the Lariat a more stylish, aerodynamic leading edge.
We teamed up with Louie Morosan, the owner of The Custom Truck Shop to install the modifications and the F-150 was looking good in less than a day's worth of work. On the following pages you will witness as Louie and TCS install technician J.T. Turner transformed a ho-hum daily driver into an intimidating boulevard prowler.
To acquire the desired 2/4...
To acquire the desired 2/4 inch lower ride height, a pair of McGaughy's Suspension 2-inch lowering coil springs were to be installed up front. A pair of McGaughy's Suspension 4-inch lowering leaf spring packs were to be installed out back.
Measurements were taken before...
Measurements were taken before the lowering procedure was begun. A four-inch clearance margin factory ride height was recorded.
After unbolting and removing...
After unbolting and removing the tie rod from the lower control arm, J.T. removed the front strut and spring.