Parts Used In This Episode

Ford Performance Parts
Ford Racing Cat-Back Exhaust Sport 145 - Wheelbase F-150 5.0L 2011-2013
Ford Performance Parts
SVT Raptor Skid Plate, Front, Aluminum, Gray Powdercoated, Ford, Pickup, Each
Hellwig
Hellwig Street Performance Sway Bars
Hypertech
Computer Chip/Module, Interceptor, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, 5.7L, Hemi, Each
Matco Tools
EC100K - Master Heat Gun Kit
The Eastwood Company
Eastwood Hot Stapler Plastic Repair System
The Eastwood Company
Motor Guard - Magna Stitcher Stapler for Stud Welders
The Industrial Depot
The Industrial Depot - Fasteners, Hardware, and Shop Supplies

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY WE'RE GETTING OUR HANDS ON FORD'S ALL NEW TREMOR SPORT TRUCK, AND WE'RE ALSO TAKING A 2014 RAPTOR OUT FOR SOME FUN. THEN WE'RE GONNA FLIP A GRAND CHEROKEE, NOT BY JUMPING IT BUT BY RAISING ITS VALUE WITH A FEW PARTS AND A LOT OF ELBOW GREASE. IT'S ALL TODAY HERE ON TRUCK TECH.

(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO TRUCK TECH.

TODAY WE'RE GONNA DO SOME FUN TEST DRIVING. AND I'M SURE BY NOW YOU GUYS ARE MORE THAN AWARE OF FORD'S RAPTOR. THEIR GO FAST OFF ROAD MACHINE. BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY TRUCK WE'RE GONNA BE DRIVING TODAY.

(KEVIN)>> YOU MAY NOT BE SO FAMILIAR WITH THIS TRUCK. THIS IS FORD'S NEW TREMOR. AND I KNOW YOU SPORT TRUCK GUYS LIKE ME HAVE BEEN REALLY MISSING THE LIGHTNING EVER SINCE THEY DISCONTINUED THAT. BUT WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR IS THAT THIS IS FINALLY ANOTHER ENTRY FROM FORD INTO THE SPORT TRUCK PERFORMANCE MARKET. BUT TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE HAMMERING ON BOTH OF THESE TRUCKS. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE THINK.

(ROB)>> RYAN COME ON BACK.

(RYAN)>> ALRIGHT ROB, YOU CALL IT BUDDY.

(ROB)>> GO!

(RYAN)>> NOW OBVIOUSLY TENNESSEE'S NOT THE DESERT, BUT WE WANTED TO TEST THE RAPTOR AT OUR NEXT BEST OPTION, WOOLEY'S OFF ROAD PARK.

(MATT)>> RAPTOR STARTED OUT IN 2010 AS A FACTORY BUILT DESERT RACER. THE TRUCK IS EXTREMELY EXCITING, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL ENTRY INTO THE F-150 MARKET FOR US. SINCE 2010 THEY'VE UPGRADED THE POWERTRAIN. IT STARTED IT OUT WITH THE FIVE POINT FOUR LITER. THEY'VE MOVED UP TO THE SIX POINT TWO. SO IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE DISPLACEMENT, LITTLE BIT MORE HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE FOR THE OFF ROAD ENTHUSIAST.

(RYAN)>> WHAT SEPARATES THIS TRUCK FROM MOST OTHER HALF

TONS IS THE SUSPENSION.

(MATT)>> TOOK THE TRUCK DOWN TO BAJA WHEN IT WAS COMING OUT IN 2010 JUST TO TRY AND MAKE A POINT THAT THIS, IT'S BUILT FORD TOUGH. SEND A MESSAGE TO THE MARKET THAT THIS IS AN OFF ROAD

TRUCK THAT CAN REALLY COMPETE OFF ROAD AND IN THE DESERT.

(RYAN)>> BUT IT'S NOT A SINGLE PURPOSE PICK UP. IT'S A PRETTY SOLID AND WELL ROUNDED TRUCK FOR SOMETHING RIDING ON 35'S WITH A SOFTER LONG TRAVEL SUSPENSION. IT DOESN'T WALLOW AND MARSHMALLOW AROUND LIKE A BIG HEAVY TRUCK. IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY REFINED. YEAH, GETTING UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED IS EFFORTLESS. THE TRUCK THIS BIG THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. ONCE YOU OPEN UP THIS SIXTWO, IT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD TOO.

YEAH, THIS THING DOESN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS ACCELERATING. FOR A BIG HEAVY TRUCK ON SOME 35'S AND 411 HORSEPOWER COMING OUT OF THE SIXTWO VEIGHT, SURE GETS IT DONE.

(MATT)>> THE 2014 RAPTOR HAS A FACTORY FUNCTIONAL BEAD LOCK WHEEL. THE CUSTOMER CAN TAKE IT TO A TIRE SHOP, HAVE THE BEADS MOVED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE WHEEL, INSTALL THE LOCKING RING. AND THEN HE'S NOT GONNA ROLL A BEAD WHEN HE'S OFF

IN THE DESERT WITH LOW AIR PRESSURE.

(KEVIN)>> NOW THAT IS WHAT A RAPTOR IS ALL ABOUT.

(RYAN)>> NOW THE RAPTOR, WELL IT'S BEEN OUT FOR A FEW YEARS AND WE KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT BUT THIS TREMOR, IT'S A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME WITH THIS TRUCK.

(MATT)>> THE 2014 F-150 TREMOR WAS ENGINEERED TO

BE THE LATEST ENTRY IN THE SPORT TRUCK MARKET. WHAT WE DID IS COUPLE A REGULAR CAB WITH A SIX AND A HALF FOOT BED AND CREATED A SMALLER PACKAGE WITH THE PREMIER POWERTRAIN THAT IS IN THE F-150 BUT THE THREEFIVE ECOBOOST. WITH 365 HORSEPOWER AND 420 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE, THIS POWERTRAIN PACKAGE MAKES THE TRUCK EXTREMELY FUN TO DRIVE.

(KEVIN)>> NOW WE'VE DRIVEN ECOBOOST TRUCKS BEFORE, BUT NEVER THE TREMOR. IT'S JUST NOT BEEN AVAILABLE TO US TO TEST DRIVE, BUT IT'S REALLY COOL TO BE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF ONE NOW. SEAT OF THE PANTS IMPRESSION ARE, WELL FORD WAS GOING FOR

NIMBLE WITH THIS TRUCK, AND IT'S NIMBLE AND THEN SOME.

NOW FORD'S GOAL FOR THIS TRUCK WAS VEIGHT POWER WITH VSIX FUEL ECONOMY AND I THINK THEY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. WITH 365 HORSEPOWER, 420 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE, ON REGULAR FUEL, THIS THING IS AMAZING.

IT HAS OLD SCHOOL FE BIG BLOCK POWER IN THE FORD WORLD. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THIS THING'S GOT THE GRUNT. I MEAN YOU GET YOUR FOOT IN IT, AND IT JUST COMES ON AND IT JUST DOESN'T STOP.

NOW THE PEOPLE AT FORD ARE CAUTIOUS TO SAY THAT IT'S A REPLACEMENT FOR THE LIGHTNING AND LETS FACE, IT'S NOT. HOWEVER, THEY TOOK WHAT PEOPLE LOVED ABOUT LIGHTNING AND THREW IT OFF ROAD. THIS THING'S FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, FOUR LOW, FOUR HIGH. SO YOU CAN TAKE THIS PLACES THAT YOU JUST COULDN'T TAKE YOUR LIGHTNING TRUCK.

(RYAN)>> BUT IT DOES CARRY OVER SOME OF THE

LIGHTNING STYLING CUES.

(MATT)>> ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THE LIGHTNING WAS THAT IT CARRIED THAT SIDE EXHAUST ALL THROUGH THAT LIFE SPAN OF THE VEHICLE.

(KEVIN)>> THE TRUCK'S GOT AMAZING STABILITY ON THE

ROAD, AND THAT'S PARTIALLY DUE TO THE ELECTRONICS AND STABILITY CONTROL AND ALL THAT KIND OF GOOD STUFF. WHAT REALLY NAILS THE FEEL OF THIS TRUCK IS 90 PERCENT OF THE PEAK TORQUE IS AVAILABLE FROM 1,700 TO 5,000 RPM. THAT'S A VERY WIDE POWER BAND, BUT OFF ROAD IT'S VERY

STABLE, VERY PRECISE, AND EASY TO HANDLE. TORQUE IS AMAZING. IT'S GOT ELECTRIC LOCKER OUT BACK AND THE FRONT IS LIMITED SLIPS.

IT JUST PULLS AND IT CRAWLS WHEREVER YOU POINT IT.

(RYAN)>> NOW THE RAPTOR IS AN OFF TRUCK THAT YOU CAN

DRIVE ON THE STREET, WITH THE TREMOR BEING A STREET TRUCK YOU CAN DRIVE OFF ROAD.

(KEVIN)>> YEAH, WHEN YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, ALWAYS OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT. BUT WHEN YOU FLAT FOOT THIS THING IT FINDS A GEAR AND IT JUST KNOCKS YOU BACK. THIS IS A VSIX, THIS THING IS CRAZY FAST. I THINK THE TREMOR IS A HOME RUN. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE TRUCKS IN MY DRIVEWAY. AND MAYBE IF WE SWEET TALK THE GUYS AT FORD RACING AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY, MAYBE THEY'D GIVE

ME A LITTLE DISCOUNT.

(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCK TECH, WHERE WE'RE GETTING IN A LITTLE TEST DRIVE ACTION ON A BRAND NEW TREMOR AND A RAPTOR, PUTTING ITS SIX POINT TWO

LITER VEIGHT TO WORK. NOW OBVIOUSLY BOTH OF THESE TRUCKS SOUND GREAT, AND THEY SHOULD. THEY'RE HIGH PERFORMANCE VERSIONS OF FORD'S BEST SELLING TRUCK. BUT THE MAJORITY OF FSERIES PICK UPS THAT ROLL OFF OF DEALER LOTS, WELL THEY'RE JUST STANDARD F-150'S.

(KEVIN)>> BUT THE GOOD NEWS TODAY IS EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT LEANING TOWARDS ONE OF THESE PICK UPS, IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A NEWER F-150 OR YOU ALREADY HAVE AN F-150, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO WONDERING OFF INTO THE AFTERMARKET TO FIND A BOLT ON PERFORMANCE EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOW FORD RACING OFFERS A FULLY STAINLESS STEEL PERFORMANCE EXHAUST FOR YOUR F-150 REGARDLESS OF THE DRIVETRAIN. THE FORD RACING KIT COMES WITH BEAUTIFULLY POLISHED STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIPS, AND IN MY OPINION NOTHING BEATS THE LOOK OF A MANDREL BENT STAINLESS EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOW WHETHER YOU HAVE A LONG OR SHORT WHEEL BASE TRUCK, THE MID PIPE IS THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGES LENGTH, AND IT'S TRULY A BOLT IN EXHAUST, NO

CUTTING, NO DRILLING. THIS IS A SINGLE IN DUAL OUTPUT CONFIGURATION. IN TRUE MUSCLE CAR FORMAT YOU'VE GOT TWO PIPES COMING OUT THE BACK THAT LOOK AS GOOD AS THEY SOUND. THIS SYSTEM COMES WITH ALL THE EXHAUST HANGERS AND

ISOLATORS THAT IT TAKES TO BOLT IT IN YOURSELF USING FACTORY LOCATIONS. BUT AS COOL AS THIS STUFF LOOKS, LETS TAKE A LOOK INSIDE AND SEE WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS.

(RYAN)>> NOW THE MUFFLER IS AN ALL STAINLESS STEEL SHELL. IT'S GOT STAINLESS STEEL PERFORATED TUBING, AND IT'S SURROUNDED BY A SOUND ABSORBING CERAMIC MATERIAL. AND AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S A HIGH PERFORMANCE STRAIGHT THROUGH DESIGN.

(KEVIN)>> NOW WHETHER YOU WANT TO GO DOWN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM INSTALL YOUR EXHAUST FOR YOU, OR YOU WANT TO BURN AN AFTERNOON WITH A COUPLE OF BUDDIES, PUTTING YOUR NEW KIT ON IS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD.

(RYAN)>> WE'RE STARTING THE INSTALLATION OUT WITH A MID PIPE OR INTERMEDIATE PIPE, AND LOOSELY BOLTING IT TO WHAT'S LEFT OF THE FACTORY EXHAUST SYSTEM. ENOUGH FOR NOW, GOOD. NEXT WE'RE INSTALLING THE MUFFLER USING THE ORIGINAL HANGERS. NOW WE'RE LEAVING ALL THE BAND CLAMPS AND HARDWARE LOOSE FOR NOW UNTIL WE GET EVERYTHING BOLTED TOGETHER. WE CAN GO THROUGH, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S ALIGNED,

AND SNUG THINGS DOWN.

AND SINCE THE STOCK EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS A SINGLE OUTLET

SIDE EXIT, WE NEEDED TO ADD A COUPLE OF HANGERS TO THE REAR OF BOTH LEAF SPRINGS TO PROVIDE A MOUNTING LOCATION FOR OUR DUAL OUTLET TAIL PIPES.

NOW THE SPARE TIRE DOES TAKE UP QUITE A BIT OF ROOM UNDERNEATH THE BED OF THE TRUCK, BUT FORD RACING ENGINEERED THEIR SYSTEM WITH A DUAL OUTLET TAIL PIPE WHERE THE SECOND TAIL PIPE ROUTES AROUND THE SPARE. SO YOU GET TO KEEP IT AND STILL HAVE YOUR DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOW THIS SYSTEM LOOKS NICE, AND I'M SURE IT'LL FREE UP A FEW PONIES, BUT THE NUMBER ONE REASON WE WANTED TO DO THIS INSTALL WAS TO UNLEASH SOME OF THAT FIVE LITER VEIGHT'S GREAT SOUND. SET IT DOWN, SEE IF THE TAIL PIPES ARE ALIGNED.

(KEVIN)>> HEY, WELCOME BACK. WELL SAY HELLO TO OUR NEWEST AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIMENT. THIS IS A 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, MILED UP, WORE OUT, 164,000 MILES. SO EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT FLIPPING CONDOS, FLIPPING HOUSES, FLIPPING VEHICLES. SO OUR EXPERIMENT IS THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE A POPULAR VEHICLE VALUE GUYS ON THE INTERNET, EVALUATE THIS VEHICLE IN THE ROUGH CONDITION THAT IT'S IN, AND SEE HOW MUCH MONEY IT WOULD TAKE TO TURN A PROFIT ON IT, TO BASICALLY BRING IT UP TO A GOOD CONDITION AND SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPENT. SEE IF WE CAN FLIP IT FOR PROFIT.

(RYAN)>> NOW UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WE'VE GOT A FOUR POINT SEVEN LITER VEIGHT MAKING 235 HORSEPOWER AND ALMOST 300 POUNDS OF TORQUE. IT'S BACKED UP BY A FIVE SPEED AUTOMATIC. IT'S GOT THE QUADRATRACK TRANSFER CASE, MEANING THIS IS A FULL TIME ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. AND JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD THAT'S GOT OVER 150,000 MILES, THIS ONE COULD USE A LITTLE ATTENTION.

(KEVIN)>> SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO REPAIR IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST OBVIOUS BITS OF DAMAGE ON THIS VEHICLE.

RIGHT HERE WE'VE GOT A URETHANE BUMPER COVER AND IT'S SPLIT. THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON REPAIR. THERE'S A LOT OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH THESE URETHANE FASCIAS, OR BUMPER COVERS, CAUSE THE INTEGRITY AND THE STRENGTH OF THE BUMPER IS BEHIND THIS. SO THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON REPAIR. IT CAN APPLY TO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES. AND IT'S REALLY NOT THAT COMPLICATED TO FIX. CERTAINLY LESS EXPENSIVE TO FIX THAN IT IS TO REPLACE THAT ONE. I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW. NOW YOU CAN JUST GO SLATHERING A BUNCH OF BODY FILLER ONTO A BUMPER COVER LIKE THIS TO FIX IT. WELL YOU CAN BUT YOU SHOULDN'T, AND THERE'S SOME ONLINE VIDEO TO PROVE WHY. WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT JUST LIKE SHEET METAL, AND THE WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU SOME GREAT WAYS TO FUSE THIS MATERIAL BACK TOGETHER. IT WAS IMPACT AND PRESSURE THAT SPLIT THIS BUMPER COVER IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT IT'S HEAT THAT'LL BRING IT BACK INTO SHAPE. SO WE'RE USING A HEAT GUN THAT WE GOT FROM MATCO TOOLS TO SLOWLY HEAT THE SURROUNDING AREA AND MAKE IT PLIABLE AGAIN. NOW I SAY SLOWLY BECAUSE IT YOU HOLD IT WITH A HEAT GUN

IN ONE PLACE TOO LONG, YOU WILL BLISTER THE PAINT AND CAUSE YOURSELF A LITTLE MORE REPAIR. THE HEEL DOLLY SERVES TWO PURPOSES. ONE OF THEM BEING HAVING THE CORRECT SHAPE TO PUSH THE BUMPER COVER BACK INTO. THE OTHER, INSULATING YOUR HAND FROM THE HEAT OF THE HOT BUMPER COVER CAUSE YOU WILL BURN YOURSELF. NOW IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO HEAT THE COVER UP TO WHERE YOU CAN MOLD IT, BUT IT HOLDS THE HEAT FOR QUITE A WHILE, ALLOWING YOU TO DO THE NEXT STEP, WHICH IS WHAT WE CALL QUENCHING. I'M USING A MOISTENED TOWEL AND HOLDING THE SHAPE FROM THE BACK SIDE WHILE I'M QUENCHING FROM THE FRONT.

QUENCHING SIMPLY MEANS LOCKING IT INTO THE SHAPE THAT YOU WANT IT IN. THIS COULD BE DONE WITH METAL AS WELL, BUT IT'S MUCH EASIER WITH THE URETHANE FASCIA LIKE THIS. QUICKLY COOLING IT WITH THE WATER LOCKS THE MOLECULES BACK INTO THE SHAPE THAT YOU'RE HOLDING. AND YOU CAN USE A VARIETY OF TOOLS LIKE I AM WITH MY AUTO BODY TOOLS. ONCE YOU GET A FEEL FOR THIS PROCESS YOU CAN FOCUS ON SMALLER AREAS AND REALLY WORK THE DAMAGE TO BRING IT

BACK INTO THE SHAPE THAT IT WAS FIRST MOLDED IN FROM THE FACTORY.

YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE PAINT STILL HAS SOME

REFLECTION TO IT. SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A MIRROR, MAKING IT VERY EASY TO SEE THE SHAPE BOTH WITH THE DAMAGE AND WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING IT BACK INTO THE CORRECT FORM. NOT ALL BUMPER COVERS ARE THIS FIRM, BUT THIS ONE REALLY ALLOWS US TO HAVE A GOOD, SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE NEXT PARTS OF THE REPAIR PROCESS. NOW THAT IS PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL SHAPE OF THE PANEL. SO NOW WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT STEP.

ALRIGHT, I'M JUST USING THAT AS A GUIDE SO I KNOW WHERE

TO DO MY REPAIR ON THE BACK SIDE. NOW A POPULAR WAY TO FIX THESE BUMPER COVERS IS TO USE A TWO PART ADHESIVE. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TYPE OF PLASTIC THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH. WELL THE METHOD THAT I'M GONNA SHOW YOU, IT DOESN'T CARE WHAT KIND OF PLASTIC IT IS BECAUSE IT'S A MECHANICAL REPAIR, CHECK IT OUT. THIS IS A HOT STAPLE KIT. THERE ARE SEVERAL ON THE MARKET BUT THIS ONE'S FROM THE EASTWOOD COMPANY. BASICALLY IT'S JUST A STAINLESS STEEL STAPLE THAT GETS FITTED INTO THE HOLES OF THE WAND, YOU HIT THE BUTTON, COMPLETES THE CIRCUIT, HEATS THE STAPLE UP, AND YOU PRESS IT INTO THE PLASTIC AND IT KNITS IT TOGETHER JUST LIKE STITCHES. NOW IF THIS IS NOT IN YOUR BUDGET, OR IF YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THESE STUD WELDERS, THERE'S A LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION TO GET YOU THE SAME THING. THIS IS CALLED THE MAGNASTITCHER. IT'S BY MOTOR GUARD, AND IT FITS ONTO YOUR EXISTING STUD WELDER SETUP. A HOT STAPLE REPAIR SYSTEM DOESN'T CARE WHAT IT'S BEING MELTED INTO, WHICH MAKES IT A BEAUTIFUL REPAIR. YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW ANY OF THE SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY OF WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY FIXING. AND IT WORKS THE SAME WAY A SPLINT DOES ON A BROKEN BONE, PUTTING ARTIFICIAL SUPPORT BACK INTO THE BREAK.

NOW ONE THING YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF IS YOU CAN ACTUALLY MELT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS PLASTIC. SO YOU'VE GOT TO USE A LITTLE RESTRAINT AND BE VERY CAREFUL. ANOTHER THING THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT OF FINESSE AND PATIENCE IS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO HOLD YOUR

POSITION ONCE YOU PUT THE STAPLE IN SO THAT WHEN THE PLASTIC COOLS AND HARDENS AROUND THE STAPLE IT HOLDS YOUR POSITION. THIS IS AN EASY TECHNIQUE TO MASTER, AND ONCE YOU GET A RHYTHM, YOU CAN ROCK AND ROLL. IT GOES QUITE QUICKLY.

THERE'S NO REAL REASON FOR THIS STEP OTHER THAN TO MAKE

IT A BIT SAFER TO REACH IT BEHIND THE PANEL. SO TRIM OFF YOUR ENDS AND GRIND THEM DOWN WITH SOME SORT OF AGGRESSIVE GRINDER JUST TO CLEAN IT UP.

(KEVIN)>> HEY WELCOME BACK. WE'RE SHOWING YOU HOW TO SAVE MONEY BY DOING A DIY REPAIR ON A URETHANE BUMPER COVER. THIS WAS FOR OUR 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. NOW WITH THE BACK SIDE AND THIS SPLIT COMPLETELY FIXED WITH A HOT STAPLE KIT, WELL NOW WE CAN ADDRESS THE FRONT, WHICH IS BASICALLY COSMETIC. TO PREP THE REPAIR SERVICE I'M USING AN ANGLE GRINDER LOADED WITH A 24 GRIT DISC FROM INDUSTRIAL DEPOT TO GIVE IT ENOUGH TOOTH FOR THE FILLER TO STICK. THIS FILLER IS A TWO PART HIGH STRENGTH ADHESIVE DESIGNED FOR BOTH METAL AND PLASTIC SUBSTRAIGHTS.

THE BASIC FUNCTION OF THIS IS ACTUALLY TO FILL IN THE FRONT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, BUT ALSO TO SEAL OUT MOISTURE FROM POSSIBLY SEEPING INTO THE FILLERS IN THE SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ON THE FRONT SIDE.

IN EFFECT IT'S A BAND AID THAT REALLY HELPS KNIT THE PAIR TOGETHER. WITH EPOXY DRY I'M USING 80 GRIT ON A DUAL ACTION SANDER TO SMOOTH IT OUT AND TO FEATHER OUT THE AREA AROUND THE REPAIR AND PREP IT FOR FILLER. YOU MIGHT BE THINKING WHAT KIND OF FILLER ARE YOU GOING TO USE? WELL THIS BUMPER COVER IS FIRM ENOUGH TO ACCEPT A TYPICAL REGULAR POLYESTER BODY FILLER. NOW BODY FILLER RETAINS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY EVEN AFTER IT'S FULLY CURED. SO AS LONG AS WE DON'T CAKE IT ON AND HAVE ANY MORE THAN A QUARTER INCH OF THICKNESS, WE'RE GONNA BE JUST FINE, JUST LIKE ON SHEET METAL. NOW FROM THIS POINT IT'S JUST A TYPICAL AUTO BODY REPAIR WITH FILLERS, PRIMERS, AND PAINT. ALRIGHT, AFTER AN APPLICATION OF FINISHING PUTTY TO FINALIZE MY SHAPE AND FILL IN SOME PIN HOLES, WELL WE BLOCKED TO 180 AND I'M VERY

HAPPY WITH THE SHAPE. WE'RE READY FOR PRIMER/SURFACER, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA PRIME JUST YET BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF OTHER BODY WORK TO DO ON THIS JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. AND IN ORDER TO SAVE SOME MONEY AND SOME TIME, WE PRIME EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.

(RYAN)>> NOW IF YOU WANT TO REDUCE THE BODY LEAN OR BODY ROLL WHILE CORNERING IN YOUR TRUCK OR SUV, WELL HELWIG HAS A SET OF SWAY BARS TO HELP ELIMINATE THAT. THESE ANTISWAY BARS OR ANTIROLL BARS ARE MADE FROM HIGH QUALITY 4140 CHROMOLY STEEL AND THEY'RE POWDER COATED IN A TOUGH LOOKING HAMMER TONE FINISH. THE KIT INCLUDES ADJUSTABLE SWAY BAR END LINKS AND ALL THE BRACKETRY, UBOLTS, AND BUSHINGS YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO COMPLETE THE INSTALLATION.

SPEAKING OF WHICH IT SHOULDN'T TAKE LONG CAUSE IT'S DESIGNED TO BOLT ON WITH SIMPLE HAND TOOLS. SO IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE THE HANDLING AND PERFORMANCE OF YOUR TRUCK OR SUV, CHECK OUT HELWIG.

(RYAN)>> THIS IS THE INTERCEPTOR POWER TUNING MODULE FROM HYPERTECH FOR YOUR FIVE POINT SEVEN, SIX POINT FOUR HEMI, OR THREE POINT SIX PLATFORM VEHICLES INCLUDING JEEP.

LIKE THE NAME SUGGESTS, THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE HARNESSES THAT INTERCEPT THE VEHICLE'S SYSTEMS. ONE FOR UNDER THE HOOD AND ONE THAT INTERCEPTS THE GAS PEDAL AND IT'S COMMUNICATION. BOTH WITH FACTORY STYLE CONNECTORS FOR A VERY CLEAN AND SIMPLE, AS WELL AS AN ACCURATE INSTALLATION. NOW UNLIKE SOME PROGRAMMERS, THE INTERCEPTOR NEVER DOES EXTRACT THE FACTORY CALIBRATION FROM YOUR VEHICLE'S COMPUTER. IT MERELY REINTERPRETS IT TO GIVE YOU BETTER PERFORMANCE

AND BETTER FUEL ECONOMY. SO IF YOU WANT TO WAKE YOUR MOPAR UP, THINK ABOUT AN INTERCEPTOR.

(RYAN)>> NOW IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE THE OWNER OF A 2010 TO 2014 FORD RAPTOR, WELL YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT THIS SKID PLATE OPTION FROM FORD RACING. THIS ALUMINUM SKID PLATE REPLACES THE PRODUCTION SKID PLATE. IT'S GOT REINFORCEMENTS ON THE SIDE AND THE CENTER, AND IT'S POWDER COATED IN A FOUNDRY FINISH GRAY. HECK IT'S EVEN GOT THE FORD RACING LOGO ON BOTH SIDES. NOW THE KIT SHIPS COMPLETE WITH THE ACCESS PANEL, OE QUALITY HARDWARE, AND MOUNTING BRACKETS REQUIRED. SO IF YOU'VE GOT AN F-150 RAPTOR AND YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A SKID PLATE, CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFFERINGS FROM FORD RACING. GUYS, THANKS FOR WATCHING TRUCK TECH, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
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