Cleveland Autorama 2012 & Sinister 1967 Ford F-100

This spring I had the opportunity to go to the Cleveland Autorama at the IX Center. There were some really nice custom vehicles there, but this 1967 Ford F-100 really stood out. The truck is owned and built by Wild Wes Adkins of Dover Ohio.

Some of the features on this truck are:

Paint:

• The truck was painted by Wild Wes Paintworks using Dupont Hot Hues True Blue Candy over Cosmic Dust base.

Engine:

• 1,100 Horsepower 545 Ford Big Block
• Blue-Thunder Cylinder Heads
• 8-71 Littlefield Supercharger
• (2) 950 cfm Holley Double Pumper
• MSD Ignition
• NX Nitrous System

Transmission:

• Ford C-6
• 3500 Stall TCI Convertor
• Cheeta Reverse Valve Body
• B&M Quarter Stick Shifter

Pictured here left to right: Doug Scott, Ford Truck Group Marketing Manager; Mike Herzing, President of TAW; and John Felice, General Manager, Ford and Lincoln Marketing

Ford Truck Team Presented with Supersize Truck of Texas Trophy at Houston Auto Show

• Truck Line of Texas: Ford Motor Company
• CUV of Texas: 2012 Ford Edge
• Heavy-Duty Pickup Truck: 2012 Ford F-250 King Ranch Super Duty
• Luxury Pickup Truck: 2012 Ford F-150 Platinum EcoBoost
• Full-Size Pickup Truck: 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
• Mid-Size CUV: 2012 Ford Edge Limited
• Outstanding Feature: Ford EcoBoost Engine Technology

Specifications:

• 2011 Ford F150 Raptor fiberglass desert body
• Concussion Motorsports chassis
• 565 CID engine
• Abruzzi 2-speed tranny
• ZF planetary axles
• 66x43x25 Firestone tires

Keep an eye out for this truck in 2012.  Dan Runte is tentatively scheduled to debut Bigfoot #18 at the Toughest Monster Truck Tour event in Southaven, MS during the second weekend of January, the first stop in his quest to capture the inaugural Toughest Monster Truck/Monster Nation dual-championship.

Now if Bob could just get past his feud with the USHRA and put this truck in the Monster Jam series.  Bigfoot #18 could truely return to the king of the monster trucks and get the proper recognition it deserves, instead of being a fairgrounds car crusher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZwVRWX_zk8

2012 Ford F-Series Super Duty Delivers Best-in-Class Power, Towing Capability and Fuel Economy

• 2012 Ford F-Series Super Duty tow rating is best-in-class at 17,500 pounds with conventional bumper hitch, and 24,500 pounds with fifth-wheel hitch
• Ford-engineered heavy-duty Power Stroke® diesel produces best-in-class 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque with best-in-class fuel economy
• Super Duty leads in both sales and customer satisfaction

The Ford F-Series Super Duty launched with best-in-class performance and capability, and a continuous stream of improvements for 2012 keeps this heavy-duty pickup at the head of the pack.

A beefed-up frame and hitch enable best-in-class conventional trailer tow ratings of 17,500 pounds for both the Ford F-350 and F-450 (dual rear wheels) equipped with the available 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 turbocharged diesel engine.

That’s 1,000 pounds more than the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 4×2 and 500 pounds more than the Silverado and Sierra 4×4. The F-450 with 24,500 pounds maximum fifth-wheel tow rating exceeds the 22,700 pounds of Silverado’s fifth-wheel rating.

“The 2012 Ford F-Series Super Duty delivers best-in-class rankings in the attributes that matter most to heavy-duty pickup truck customers: towing capability, power and fuel economy,” said Brian Rathsburg, Super Duty marketing manager. “Super Duty customers rely on their trucks as the tool to help them do more, do it faster and do it as cost-effectively as possible for their bottom lines.”

Higher-strength steel in a frame crossmember and an upgraded trailer hitch give the truck the additional towing capacity. These actions also boosted the F-350 DRW 4×2 pickup maximum payload to 7,110 pounds and maximum fifth-wheel towing to 22,700 pounds, each best-in-class ratings.

The hardware upgrades to the Super Duty complement software upgrades to the powertrain control system of the new Ford-engineered 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel to make towing even easier.

The Power Stroke delivers best-in-class 800 lb.-ft. of torque and 400 horsepower. In an industry-first customer loyalty program, Ford provided the power upgrades free of charge to all first-in buyers of the 2011 Super Duty diesel pickup.

Quality
Super Duty’s customer satisfaction with overall quality tops all competitors with a rating of 83 percent. That compares with 77 percent for the comparable Ram and 73 percent for the comparable Chevrolet trucks. The quality ratings are according to the 2010 Global Quality Research Survey conducted by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and commissioned by Ford.

Super Duty dominates the heavy-duty pickup segment with nearly 50 percent of total heavy-duty sales, an increase in market share of 4 percentage points over the same period last year and its highest share since 2001. This is according to a Ford analysis of registration data by R.L. Polk.

Furthermore, Super Duty accounted for 80 percent of the heavy-duty segment growth last year. In 2010 the segment was up 17 percent over 2009.

Green
The Ford-designed and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine delivers as much as 20 percent better fuel economy than the 6.4-liter it replaced. The new Power Stroke isn’t just fuel efficient, it’s also the most powerful diesel pickup engine money can buy, rated at 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine also can run on up to B20 biodiesel fuel.

The standard 6.2-liter V8 gas engine has 15 percent better fuel economy compared with the previous engine and produces a best-in-class 405 lb.-ft. of torque and 385 horsepower. It is capable of running on E85 ethanol. New for 2012 is a compressed natural gas/propane prep engine option.

Each Super Duty pickup – diesel or gas – is mated to a heavy-duty TorqShift® six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission.

Safe
Standard on all single-rear-wheel configurations are AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) and trailer sway control with hill start assist.

The AdvanceTrac control module uses additional software to monitor the truck’s motion when a trailer is attached. Trailer sway control can determine from the yaw motion of the truck if the trailer is swaying and take measures – such as applying precise braking or reducing engine torque – to help reduce the trailer sway.

For further peace of mind, the available integrated trailer brake controller, factory-installed and covered by a Ford limited warranty, offers smoother and safer operation due to its ability to interface with multiple vehicle systems.

Normal braking is proportional to driver brake pressure for smooth brake stops at all speeds. If the vehicle’s Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) is engaged, the special trailer brake kicks in to minimize the potential for trailer wheel lockup. In Super Duty trucks with trailer brake control towing trailers with electric brakes, the Ford system can, during a sway event, also apply brakes to the trailer to help stabilize it.

Smart
In addition to the best-in-class trailer towing capability, the Ford Super Duty offers an array of towing options from inside the bed thanks to the first-ever factory-installed and warranted fifth-wheel and gooseneck substructure directly attached to the frame. The electrical connection is mounted in the side of the bed wall, providing a clean installation.

New for 2012 is availability in models with the 6.75-foot cargo box. Factory gooseneck and fifth-wheel hitch kits are available as well.

The available 4.2-inch productivity screen helps customers get the most out of their Super Duty. Menu options, which include information related to fuel economy and towing performance, among others, are accessed through a five-way switch on the steering wheel. A towing checklist for conventional, fifth-wheel and gooseneck applications is available to help even novice towers tow like a pro.

Available Ford Work Solutions™ features Crew Chief™, a telematics and diagnostics system to inform fleet managers of their fleets’ locations and maintenance needs; and Cable Lock, a security system to secure large tools or equipment in the cargo area.

Production location
The 2012 Ford F-Series Super Duty is built at Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky.

• 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor demonstrates Ford’s focus on raising the bar for off-road capabilities in a production truck, offering customers more of the tools they need to tackle everything off the beaten track
• New Torsen front differential is one such technology that increases grip significantly on the front end of the truck and improves its capabilities in handling obstacles, slippery conditions and steep grades
• Class-exclusive and patent-pending new front camera system makes its debut on F-150 SVT Raptor, enabling drivers in off-road terrain to see what’s directly in front of the vehicle, even when their view from the driver’s seat might be blocked
• 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor also adds style upgrades with a new wheel design, unique bodyside graphic and upgraded optional interior package with aluminum accents

DALLAS, Sept. 29, 2011 – The 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor is set to deliver a new level of the no-compromise off-road performance the truck is famed for and, with a variety of new technologies and interior and exterior updates, it won’t disappoint.

“A major element of the SVT Raptor program is our work to continuously expand the capabilities it offers to customers. We want to cover all dimensions of off-roading – from desert running to rock climbing,” said Raj Sarkar, Ford F-150 Marketing manager. “We always aim to keep the product fresh and exciting, and all of our changes for 2012 reflect that.”

Additional capability for the 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor comes from a new Torsen front differential. The system increases grip significantly for the front end of the truck and allows it to pull itself over obstacles and up steep grades, even when the traction is split between the front tires.

An internal helical gearset is used to help force torque from the wheel that is losing traction to the wheel with traction. The system is set with a torque bias ratio of 2.5:1 to help multiply torque from wheel to wheel and the preload is set to zero to help minimize steering feedback.

“This system is key for letting Raptor customers tackle new ground in their truck,” said Kerry Baldori, Ford SVT Global Performance Vehicle chief functional engineer. “Its extreme capability lends itself well to rock climbing situations.”

SVT and Torsen worked with the traction control team to further enhance the brake traction control system to improve the Torsen’s capabilities. It was put to the test both in Ford’s powertrain labs and in real vehicle durability testing, where it had no issues coping with SVT’s unique off-road 1,000-mile torture test.

Special modifications were made for the differential’s use on F-150 SVT Raptor, with a redesigned case created specifically for the truck’s high-torque application.

Looking ahead
A new class-exclusive and patent-pending off-road front camera system also makes its debut on F-150 SVT Raptor, giving customers a new and unique view of what’s happening in front of their truck. Activated through the 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen, the system uses the 8-inch navigation display and helps drivers see what’s directly in front of the vehicle, even when their view from the driver’s seat might be blocked.

The front camera can be ordered with the Navigation System and is designed to aid at speeds of less than 15 mph in challenging off-road environments. The display from the camera will appear on the navigation screen on the center stack and includes dynamic and static overlays to help drivers determine where their wheels will go.

The camera is mounted in the front grille and includes a dedicated washer function that is activated by pressing a lever on the left steering column stalk.

Exterior and interior upgrades
The 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor will offer owners new ways to add a customized touch to their truck with a fresh bodyside graphic.

Similar to the hood graphic, it now features the distinctive Raptor logo. The graphic is based around two diagonal stripes, with jagged lines and shapes that give it both a racing and off-road feel.

The graphic uses gloss, matte and textured black finishes to give it a one-of-a-kind look. The textured finish complements the other black-grained exterior parts, such as the hood vents, fender air extractors and running boards.

Additionally, a new matte anodized blue interior color accent package will replace the existing one, which will be available with every paint color except for the newly offered Race Red. The package includes accent leather-trimmed front seats with unique leather inserts and accents on the center stack, rear seat inserts and door panels. Aluminum trim also is used on the instrument panel and flow-through center console.

Also new for 2012 is the addition of cooled seats to the optional luxury package and a new Euroflange wheel, which has weights on the inside to better protect from off-road debris and obstacles.

Hot seller
The 2011 F-150 SVT Raptor is proving to be incredibly popular. Ford is seeing a significant increase in overall volume, as well as increased interest in the new SuperCrew option, with take rates at more than 80 percent.

High-performance off-roading
The F-150 SVT Raptor is the first-ever high-speed off-road performance truck offered by any manufacturer and highlights 34 years of Ford truck sales leadership by emphasizing F-150’s Built Ford Tough durability, innovation and engineering.

Developed with the DNA of an off-road pre-runner, the Raptor has comprehensive modifications focused on chassis and suspension enhancements.

The F-150 SVT Raptor is 7 inches wider than a base F-150 to make room for the additional suspension components that give Raptor its unparalleled off-road abilities. The wider stance also gives the truck an aggressive appearance.

Internal triple-bypass shocks by FOX Racing Shox – the first on a production truck – provide position-sensitive damping and extra suspension travel for extreme off-roading and a smooth ride on the road.

Raptor also has unique cast-aluminum front control arms and SVT-tuned 35-inch BFGoodrich®
All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tires. These components give Raptor 11.2 inches of front suspension travel and 12.1 inches of rear suspension travel on either SuperCab or SuperCrew.

The 145-inch-wheelbase SuperCrew adds to the extensive list of F-150 SVT Raptor features. While contributing additional space and flexibility for the customer, the SuperCrew still delivers outstanding performance as well.

The standard 6.2-liter V8 engine, which produces 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque, makes F-150 SVT Raptor the most powerful half-ton pickup on the market.

Bringing this all together in a comprehensively engineered factory offering adds up to a Built Ford Tough truck that is truly in a class of its own.

I wanted an easier method to post information to the site and decided to add a blog section. This will hopefully help to get some content flowing on the site.

I hope you enjoy!

Jim