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Feature: 11-Second Coyote F-150

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By EditorTurner

Feature: 11-Second Coyote F-150

Hauling & Howling

Robert Lee is determined to get his 5.0-liter F-150 into the 10-second zone

By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Robert Lee

We are all too familiar with Coyote-powered Mustangs producing impressive power and laying down incredible performances at the drag strip. Let’s face it, 5.0 Mustangs have a history of running well on the 1,320. However, the Coyote is also in one of Ford’s most important vehicles—the F-150.

You might not expect that Robert Lee’s mild-mannered F-150 could run an 11.09 at 124 mph with stock internals, a stock transmission, a stock rearend, a stock driveshaft, and stock wheels, but it does.
You might not expect that Robert Lee’s mild-mannered F-150 could run an 11.09 at 124 mph with stock internals, a stock transmission, a stock rearend, a stock driveshaft, and stock wheels, but it did.

While it isn’t the path most people take when it comes to drag racing, it turns on that the Coyote-powered F-150s run pretty well at the drags too. Case in point is NWA Streetworks’ Robert Lee and his 2014 F-150, which is on the verge of breaking into the 10-second zone with just a few bolt-ons.

“I previous had a 5.0 F-150 with nitrous and had tons of fun at the drag strip with Mustang, Camaro, and Charger owners. I traded that truck for a 5.0 Mustang that I put a turbo on, which was fun but it was just another fast Mustang,” Robert, SVTP member (Bammartin7), said. “I really wanted to go back to the truck because I really enjoyed the sleeper effect on my old truck. At the time I worked for a Ford dealership and personally ordered myself a base STX truck with the only options a 5.0 V8 and 3.55 rearend with the electronic-locking diff.”

Other than the obvious supercharger and tuning, Robert’s engine is remarkably stock. In fact, the only modification to the exhaust is a Magnaflow muffler.
Other than the obvious supercharger and tuning, Robert’s engine is remarkably stock. In fact, the only modification to the exhaust is a Magnaflow muffler.

At first, the truck didn’t respond as well as he would have liked to the addition of a Roush TVS supercharger. That was just the beginning for his truck, which needed some hotter tuning to make the most of the boosted Coyote.

“The truck initially was slow with the supercharger running a 13.20 at 99 mph,” Paul explained. “Then I got hold of Shaun (Perry) at AED and that’s when the truck really took off. I was very impressed with his tune and the driveability.”

“Getting the truck to hook isn't bad at all since I have Cal-Tracs on and Hoosier slicks,” Paul said. “The truck will cut 1.6 60-foots all day. It’s done a best of a 1.58 60-foot.”
“Getting the truck to hook isn’t bad at all since I have CalTracs on and Hoosier slicks,” Robert said. “The truck will cut 1.6 60-foots all day. It’s done a best of a 1.58 60-foot.”

After dialing in the combination with a Circle D torque converter and a set of CalTracs traction bars, Robert was able to get the truck running like he thought it should.

“…In mid-October at the local BRA Shootout at Mokan Dragway, we threw down our personal best in the F-150 11.24 at 120 mph—even with belt slip!” he said. “That made us as the fastest 5.0 F-150 in the country, and this things drives everywhere. It’s no trailer queen!”

Since then, he has trimmed his personal best down to an 11.09 at 124 mph. It still runs stock engine internals, a stock trans, a stock rearend, a stock driveshaft, and even stock wheels. That’s pretty impressive, and you can watch the run right here:

“Future plans for the truck are to participate in Hot Rod Drag Week 2015 we have received some help from Stainless Works and AED to make it happen but are still looking for some support to make the event,” Robert added. “We took the truck down to Orlando this past weekend to compete in the SVTPerformance Coyote Shootout and take home the trophy in the truck class but it got rained out and rescheduled so we had to head home. The truck did make the 2,400-mile trip without trouble.”

It sounds like the truck is a great candidate for Drag Week, and Robert hopes to win the daily driver class.

Thanks to a Circle D converter, CalTracs traction bars, and Hoosier slicks Robert Lee’s F-150 has run a best e.t. of 11.09 at 124 mph. Thanks to its stock appearance, Robert’s truck is a true sleeper.
Thanks to a Circle D converter, CalTracs traction bars, and Hoosier slicks Robert Lee’s F-150 has run a best e.t. of 11.09 at 124 mph. Robert’s truck is a true sleeper.

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1 thought on “Feature: 11-Second Coyote F-150”

  1. Maybe projects like this can spur Ford into bringing back the Lightning. Even in std cab, short bed 2wd guise a new 2015 F-150 is about 650lbs lighter than the 2nd gen Lightnings and you can get 3.73 E-locker rear end and choice of turbo or n/a powerplants that put out comparable power as well. And seeing as how well the 5.0 and 3.5 take to mods I can only hope someone at Ford sees the opportunity here.

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