The Ford F-150 Raptor R shares its supercharged V8 heart with the Shelby GT500, and now that custom tuning is finally available, one of the top shops in the GT500 world is ready to unleash its potential. In a new video, Ken from Palm Beach Dyno (PBD) begins the Raptor R tuning process, leveraging the shop’s deep experience with the Predator engine. “Longtime PBD fans already know we are GT500 experts,” Ken said, setting the stage for some big power gains.

Establishing a Baseline

The first step was to see what the truck made in stock form. On the dyno with 93 octane fuel, the Raptor R put down 532 wheel horsepower. Ken was quick to address the number, which seems low for a 700-horsepower truck. “Why does it only make 530 horsepower if it makes 700 plus at the engine? Well, every vehicle is different,” he explained, citing South Florida’s heat and the truck’s heavy aftermarket wheels. He stressed that the focus should be on the gains over this baseline.

Serious Gains from a Tune Alone

With the stock numbers recorded, Ken loaded a custom PBD tune into the truck’s computer. Without changing any parts, and just by optimizing the calibration and raising the rev limit to 7,000 rpm, the Raptor R immediately jumped to 622 wheel horsepower—a massive gain of 90 horsepower from the tune alone.

Adding Boost With A Pulley

The next step was to add more boost with an SPE 2.7-inch supercharger pulley and a cooler thermostat. Ken considers the thermostat a mandatory upgrade for these trucks, stating, “The thermostat is very important. I would do it to a bone stock vehicle.” With the new parts installed and the tune adjusted, the truck was run again, this time laying down an impressive 653 wheel horsepower and 551 lb-ft of torque.

Just the Beginning for Raptor R Tuning

The session resulted in a total gain of 121 wheel horsepower with just a tune and a pulley, but according to Ken, this is just the start. He emphasized that looking at the whole power curve is more important than just the peak number.

“When you’re evaluating peak numbers, that’s great, but you also have to look at the curve,” he said. “And when you look at this curve, it’s up everywhere.”

With plans for a new supercharger lid, intercooler, and a custom PBD heat exchanger in the works, the Raptor R tuning journey is far from over.