My Flareside's Progress

4.6 Punisher · #1 05-05-2012, 12:38 AM

I think my truck is finally at the point where it deserves a progression thread. Thanks to my meticulous nature, I've documented and photo'd every mod I've done to it, and I feel like sharing lately.

First day I brought it home back in August of 2008 during that nice little gas crisis that turned out to be nothing. Bough it used with 11,000 miles on it. The previous owner didn't have much sense in taste IMO.

The first mod I did was have a knock-off Flowmaster 40 series installed with a pair of 3.25" chrome tips coming out of the back. Thankfully I moved on to a more "refined" exhaust. The giant Harley sticker was from the previous owner as well. It eventually had to go.

Then came the bed liner, which every truck should have.

Then came the cheap eBay billet grille. Also tore the plate holder thing up front as well as giving my tail lights a tint job that has yet to catch on.

By November of 2008, I had learned quite a lot from this website and started to smarten up. Picked up a Roush grille while they still made them. I also got a Roush windshield sticker (which I later regretted), took the bug deflector off, and took off the goofy chrome mirror covers.

Back when Patriot Decals was able to make the hood stripes for the F150's, I had to have a set.

Finally the Flowmaster got scrapped for the Magnaflows. This is the exhaust I should have started out with from square 1. A pair of Magnapacks and an H-pipe ending with a set of stainless rolled 3.5" tips.

...and then the hi-flow cats

I eventually switched from the H-pipe to a Magnaflow X-pipe to help get that final tone that I wanted. At first I wasn't too thrilled with it, but it grew on me and I'm really glad I went with it.

By this time the 2009 F150's were rolling around and their fancy looking emblems caught my eye.

The double sided tape under the stock emblems seemed to be removed best with a plastic spatula...

...which later broke :rollin:

Now I finally decided in a direction I wanted to go with my truck. Chrome was definitely out for me, so the PTM journey had begun.

Finally took the step bars off and put them on my step fathers' truck. Also put a blacked out 3rd brake light from Recon.

Performance was always a big thing for me. I took a big step and put a lot of money into getting some rear axle work done and expected a lot. The stock setup was a 3.55 set with an open differential. I went with a Motive Gear 4.30 ring and pinion set and a Ford Trak-Lok limited carrier. I could feel a difference, but no where near what I was expecting. The biggest negative from was the MPG hit and the whining. If I ever get any more axle work done, 4.10's from Ford Racing might be in order.

4.6 Punisher · #2 05-05-2012, 12:38 AM

As all Ford owners know, our brakes love to generate vast amounts of reddish brown dust and it covers EVERYTHING. In December 2010, I had enough and had my entire brake system retrofitted. I had a set of Centric front hubs installed so I could use the cheaper and more reliable 4WD rotors up front instead of the 2WD rotors that have the hubs integrated into them. Slotted rotors looked cool and still do, but the ride was negatively affected. Also went with some Thermo-Quiet semi metallic pads to finally end the dust plague.

As progress was being made, something happened that I hoped would never. I got into my first and only accident with my pride and joy. The front bumper was trashed, the painted piece above was damaged, my left Hella headlight was scuffed pretty bad, and so was my newly painted Roush grille. Luckily no one was hurt, but the car I hit was beyond totalled. The entire side was caved in, the windows were blown out, and the wheels were ****ed inwards (no pictures of the car).

Insurance took care of everything, but I regret the shop I chose to do the work. I recently found shortcuts they took to get the truck in and out and get their money.

Then I made the biggest investment to date with my truck, a set of KMC Rockstars and Yokohama's. Even though the Yokohama's were recommended, they've been fighting me since day one. Always running into balance issues even to this day. Maybe a set of Michelin's in the future.

Then I had the rear lowered with a set of 2 inch drop shackles. Even though I thought that they were enough last year, I want to do a full 2/5 inch drop kit.

In August of 2011, I finally got tired of something I thought I never would. I got tired of listening to my Magnapacks. I had a set of Magnaflow 11" oval bodies installed in their place. They've been a lot more tamed then the Magnapacks, but still retain a good amount of aggressiveness, which is what drew me to the Magnapacks to begin with.

Now we fast forward to this week. It was always my plan to ditch the front chrome bumper for a painted one with fog lights. This time I chose a shop that even the nearby Ford dealership turns to. They did an awesome job with the paint and installation. Even though the front mounts are still a little off from the wreck and the first shop didn't want to fix it properly, the other shop was still able to perfectly line it up with no problems.

I still have a ways to go. It still needs the fog light hardware and to be wired up, and the rear bumper still needs to get powder coated, but the big picture I have in my head is finally materializing! It's been a fun (and expensive) ride to get where I am with it, and I plan to still go further. Thankfully, there's always something to modify and customize to keep me busy with it.

sweet_n_low150 · #3 05-05-2012, 12:56 AM

Looks damn good dude. Man, that PTM front bumper made such a big difference. They did an awesome job on it. You ever thought about doing a Harley exit on your truck? I think they look very good on the Single Cabs. Very good progress. Keep it coming.

M4Madness · #4 05-05-2012, 09:17 AM

You gotta love a Flareside. Looks good, man. When the day comes for me to get exhaust for mine, you'll have probably tested every make by then and save me the trouble. LOL! My only complaint on my Flareside is that the painted back bumper is starting to get some rust bubbling (the only rust on the truck), and has a shallow dent on the bottom where it rolls under below the license plate. For the heck of it, I priced a rear bumper and was shocked! I guess I'll just have to have mine repaired. LOL!