New Chevy Reaper- Raptor killer?
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 3
From: Cabot, AR
Originally Posted by The article you linked
For the past several years, if you wanted a vehicle capable of rocketing across the desert at freeway speeds, the process was fairly simple - drive to the local Ford dealership and plop down $44,000 for an F-150 SVT Raptor. What if the Ford isn't enough for you, though? Or maybe you're so partisan you'd rather walk across the desert than drive a vehicle from the Blue Oval across it. Your options have been disturbingly limited.
A new project from Lingenfelter and Southern Comfort Automotive could be set to change that, and give fans of the Bowtie a desert-raiding truck of their very own. This is the 2014 Chevrolet Reaper, the result of a conversion kit that takes the average Silverado up to 11.
The body is restyled with a new front fascia and the appropriate skid plates and bumpers, while 20-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch off-road tires will provide the grip. LED running lights, a Corsa exhaust, a racing suspension from Fox (the same folks that provide the suspension for the Raptor) and a custom gauge pack round out the list of performance upgrades.
Optional goodies include a Raptor-esque rear graphics package, a set of 17-inch, beadlocked wheels with off-road tires and, naturally, a supercharger and engine massaging package from Lingenfelter.
According to the Reaper website, conversion kits for the steroidal pickup will be sold through select Chevy dealers. The Reaper is being unveiled tonight to the National Automotive Dealers Association. We're expecting to have the full set of details on the truck, including additional images, early next week. Until then, we want to hear your take on this big, bad Chevy. Let us know what you think in Comments.
A new project from Lingenfelter and Southern Comfort Automotive could be set to change that, and give fans of the Bowtie a desert-raiding truck of their very own. This is the 2014 Chevrolet Reaper, the result of a conversion kit that takes the average Silverado up to 11.
The body is restyled with a new front fascia and the appropriate skid plates and bumpers, while 20-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch off-road tires will provide the grip. LED running lights, a Corsa exhaust, a racing suspension from Fox (the same folks that provide the suspension for the Raptor) and a custom gauge pack round out the list of performance upgrades.
Optional goodies include a Raptor-esque rear graphics package, a set of 17-inch, beadlocked wheels with off-road tires and, naturally, a supercharger and engine massaging package from Lingenfelter.
According to the Reaper website, conversion kits for the steroidal pickup will be sold through select Chevy dealers. The Reaper is being unveiled tonight to the National Automotive Dealers Association. We're expecting to have the full set of details on the truck, including additional images, early next week. Until then, we want to hear your take on this big, bad Chevy. Let us know what you think in Comments.
Secondly, you do know the Shelby Mustangs are built by Ford, in Ford plants with all Ford parts? The Roush is a second party car sold through their dealer network.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,759
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From: Friendswood Texas
dont know why people take things so personal.
competition is good for everyone. i would guess the price is going to be high. really just an option for a chevy guy that doesnt want a ford.
i havent seen, is the raptor returning for 2015, if so what motor?
not a fan of the 5.3 but with a supercharger i would guess it does alright. if you look at the hp, it is a way to make more than a raptor without the expense and mpg of a gm 6.2
competition is good for everyone. i would guess the price is going to be high. really just an option for a chevy guy that doesnt want a ford.
i havent seen, is the raptor returning for 2015, if so what motor?
not a fan of the 5.3 but with a supercharger i would guess it does alright. if you look at the hp, it is a way to make more than a raptor without the expense and mpg of a gm 6.2
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Looks like a Mitsubishi Lancer with a truck bed to me. Might as well throw a wing on the back end.
33" tires on 20" wheels... What's it trying to be? Off road wannabe, or show truck? Should have went with custom fenders with round openings, or made the trapezoid opening larger.
33" tires on 20" wheels... What's it trying to be? Off road wannabe, or show truck? Should have went with custom fenders with round openings, or made the trapezoid opening larger.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 6,677
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From: Houston and College Station, TX
Chris, whether you made them or not . . . 
I actually think the 5.3 is a pretty damn good motor.
Good idea!
I actually think the 5.3 is a pretty damn good motor.
Good idea!
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 3
From: Cabot, AR
It's junk, they eat cams and lifters, have absolutely no ***** off the line or in the mid range.
Last week I was riding with a friend in a VW Touareg Hybrid pulling a steel decked car hauler. Some jackass in a 2014 Chevy truck was being the typical redneck idiot and tried to go flying around us in a way to tight of spot. His loud pipes clearly announced he was giving it all it had. Not wanting to get cut off my friend hit it, a hybrid SUV pulling a heavy trailer got up and walked away from him. If an unloaded truck gets spanked by a SUV pulling a trailer it has NO *****.
Last week I was riding with a friend in a VW Touareg Hybrid pulling a steel decked car hauler. Some jackass in a 2014 Chevy truck was being the typical redneck idiot and tried to go flying around us in a way to tight of spot. His loud pipes clearly announced he was giving it all it had. Not wanting to get cut off my friend hit it, a hybrid SUV pulling a heavy trailer got up and walked away from him. If an unloaded truck gets spanked by a SUV pulling a trailer it has NO *****.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 6,677
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From: Houston and College Station, TX
I had a 2000 5.3 and it was definitely faster, feeling at least, than my 06 5.4. And I trust that motor more than I do my 3V. Very subjective, I know, but that was my observation. Put close to 150k miles on the motor with no issues and it now has close to 180k. Transmissions are a completely different story though . . .
Your examples were plenty subjective as well, to be fair.
Your examples were plenty subjective as well, to be fair.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Joplin MO
i havent seen, is the raptor returning for 2015, if so what motor?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 3
From: Cabot, AR
I had a 2000 5.3 and it was definitely faster, feeling at least, than my 06 5.4. And I trust that motor more than I do my 3V. Very subjective, I know, but that was my observation. Put close to 150k miles on the motor with no issues and it now has close to 180k. Transmissions are a completely different story though . . .
Your examples were plenty subjective as well, to be fair.
Your examples were plenty subjective as well, to be fair.
The older 5.3s had piston slap problems and a few other issues but would last. Which they should since they had 50 odd years of making that basic engine design at that point. Of course the POS 4L60E tranny behind it was absolute junk. The new ones with cylinder deactivation eat the cams up. My friend just had his done under warranty. The dealer he went to keeps a few sets of cam + lifters in stock because they change so many of them. I keep trying to get him to run my little V6 truck but he wants no part of it.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 6,677
Likes: 0
From: Houston and College Station, TX
I would hope it feels a little bit faster, a 4 door Extended cab 4x4 GM from that time frame weighed 4,500-4,700 pounds. Your Ford is pushing 5,500 pounds. We're talking a 1,000 pounds worth of difference.
The older 5.3s had piston slap problems and a few other issues but would last. Which they should since they had 50 odd years of making that basic engine design at that point. Of course the POS 4L60E tranny behind it was absolute junk. The new ones with cylinder deactivation eat the cams up. My friend just had his done under warranty. The dealer he went to keeps a few sets of cam + lifters in stock because they change so many of them. I keep trying to get him to run my little V6 truck but he wants no part of it.
The older 5.3s had piston slap problems and a few other issues but would last. Which they should since they had 50 odd years of making that basic engine design at that point. Of course the POS 4L60E tranny behind it was absolute junk. The new ones with cylinder deactivation eat the cams up. My friend just had his done under warranty. The dealer he went to keeps a few sets of cam + lifters in stock because they change so many of them. I keep trying to get him to run my little V6 truck but he wants no part of it.
And it still felt faster. Both 2wd. 4900 for the 'burban vs 5100 pounds for my screw.My 5.3 did indeed have some piston slap when cold, but not too bad. And yup, couldn't remember the code of that trans, but that's it, and is well-known to be a POS. First one lasted 120k miles and finally gave out after towing the boat around in the hill country, but it spit out a brand new, not rebuilt, one less than 30k later, right outside of either time or mileage warranty, can't remember anymore.
My mom is driving a 2011 Yukon now and I've always wondered what the side-effects of that cylinder deactivation would be, just never looked into it.