pelotonracer2's build

[John Henry]

Bought my Iconic silver '21 Explorer ST a couple weeks ago and already have 2,600 miles on the odometer. Had the dealer remove the roof bars.

I have already purchased and installed an AFE in box filter and a cute little "Ecobeast" badge for the rear, ordered a Borla Atak exhaust system (because this vehicle is way too quiet), H&R springs to reduce the wheel gap a bit and I'm in line for a back ordered Whipple intercooler. I'm working with Palm Beach Dyno using an HP Tuner RTD (I will switch to a UCal handheld unit when they come off back order). I'm starting with 93 octane and E50 maps. Ordered an Escort Redline 360c radar detector.

I also ordered gloss black 22x10.5 +30 deep concave Forgestar F14 wheels with 305/35R-22 MPSS tires which should be here in 4-5 weeks.

Since this will be my daily driver, I'm not going to go too crazy with the Explorer. I have a 725bhp (672whp/670wt) C7 Z06 convertible to satisfy my need for speed. After the above modifications, I will probably stop with a HPFP and a remap (to run straight E85) with the Whipple intercooler and possibly get an intake if and when they become available (as long as they improve power).

Holy shit, you’ve been busy!

 

[pelotonracer2]

Here are some photos of the prototype Velgen VF5 wheels (gunmetal) for the Explorer ST. View attachment 6341 View attachment 6342 View attachment 6343 View attachment 6344 View attachment 6345

The gunmetal ones look really good too!

 

[pelotonracer2]

Anyone see this video on YouTube? The specs on these wheels are 22x11. I don't know the offset. If I had to guess they are either +28 or +32s and running 285/40-22 tires. For all you fitment experts, do you think this combination would work? I have a set of Steeda springs going on in a few days and have a set of H&R springs on backorder (which I will eventually go with because I prefer the added drop). I really love the CONCAVE look of the Ferrada CM2s but they are 22x11s and I'm fully aware of the 22x10.5 +30 "recommendation".

I might have a set of brand new 22x10.5 Velgen VF5s and Forgestar F14s for sale soon WITH TIRES AND TPMS. ha ha ha

I know I have wheel problems, leave me alone. LOL. I'm picky AF about wheels. I'm looking for a certain look and I really like the slightly rounded sidewall look (see video beow)

 

[pelotonracer2]

I'm also running these M14x1.5 titanium lug nuts. These are MUCH lighter than steel. I ran these on my 350whp/352pft Fiesta ST for 25,000 miles with no issues. I don't like black lug nuts like most people do, and I also like silver center caps on black wheels.

 

[pelotonracer2]

This arrived yesterday (although it was delivered to my neighbor instead of my house lol)

It won't be long before I can run a straight E85 map. =D

 

[pelotonracer2]

....and over here in the corner are Steeda springs and sway bar... really wish H&R would get some springs for us....

 

[pelotonracer2]

front and rear matte black Ford badges...

 

[pelotonracer2]

My Forgestar F14s are being shipped today. They don't look like they are very "concave" and that's the look I'm kinda after, hence why I dropped the boom on a set of 22x11 Ferrada CM2 from a wheel, tire and suspension company (locally). The good news is, no matter what, I'm going to have several sets of NEW wheels WITH tires for sale very soon (with TPMS sensors, ready to be bolted on).

The Ferrada's will be here on Monday and they are also installing the Steeda springs and rear sway bar. I'm hoping the slightly stretched look of the 285/40-22s also facilitate a bit more wiggle room with fender and suspension but I guess it's going to depend ultimately on the offset. Supposedly Ferrada has the 22x11 dialed in using the 285/40-22s and there is no rubbing. Guess we will see. lol

 

[pelotonracer2]

Teaser with 22x11 with 285/40-22s.... Steeda lowering springs, Steeda rear sway bar.

No rubbing.

More pictures coming.

 

[pelotonracer2]

Ferrada 22x11, 285/40-22 Lionheart tires. If I had to guess, the offset is probably 28. I'm certain 305s would rub. The front wheels might stick out 1-2 mm past the plastic fender, but the tires don't. The rears are perfect. I'm a big fan of the slightly stretched sidewall look, v.s. the squared and slightly lower profile of the 305s. The Lionheart LH-5 tires are still wider than stock and surpisingly sticky for such a cheap tire.

 

[MikeyP]

I'm also running these M14x1.5 titanium lug nuts. These are MUCH lighter than steel. I ran these on my 350whp/352pft Fiesta ST for 25,000 miles with no issues. I don't like black lug nuts like most people do, and I also like silver center caps on black wheels.

Finally someone else with titanium lug nuts! Looks great. Agreed, I don't like black lug nuts and don't mind spending the cash on quality parts. I personally wanted closed end, heard great things about ChasingJs. I like the burnished look on most of their parts. I know some people think I got these to match the blue paint, but I'm not concerned about the uneducated masses. I would have gotten the burnished no matter the paint color.

 

[nzaf985]

Ferrada 22x11, 285/40-22 Lionheart tires. If I had to guess, the offset is probably 28. I'm certain 305s would rub. The front wheels might stick out 1-2 mm past the plastic fender, but the tires don't. The rears are perfect. I'm a big fan of the slightly stretched sidewall look, v.s. the squared and slightly lower profile of the 305s. The Lionheart LH-5 tires are still wider than stock and surpisingly sticky for such a cheap tire.

Blah!! Hate how they don't disclose the offset!!! They are likely +35 to +38 to fit an 11" wide wheel. +28 no way.

I'm really curious of the actual offset of these. If someone else orders them I would suggest manually measuring the offset! I am seriously considering them now after seeing them on yours!

Where did you end up ordering them from?

 

[nzaf985]

So I emailed Ferrada and they just give you the runaround and won’t tell you anything factual.

they said they are +20 offset on the 22x11… I find that extremely hard to believe.

Do you have any pics straight on from the front / rear so we can see how much they poke out?

I'm definitely considering these with h&r springs. Do you think I should just go straight through ferrada to order? Since they won't share the offset I don't know how to make sure the fitment is replicated like your's and the yellow one.

 

[nzaf985]

One other question, for your alignment did you have to do anything special? Are the rears set at negative camber to make them line up with the fronts or anything? wondering what the numbers came out looking like.

 

[pelotonracer2]

Blah!! Hate how they don't disclose the offset!!! They are likely +35 to +38 to fit an 11" wide wheel. +28 no way.

I'm really curious of the actual offset of these. If someone else orders them I would suggest manually measuring the offset! I am seriously considering them now after seeing them on yours!

Where did you end up ordering them from?

I got them from Texas Tires #8 about a mile from where I live. You'd think the "offset" would be somewhere on the wheel (probably on the backside). Neither the Velgen VF5s nor the Forgestar 14's have anywhere near the "concavity" of the Ferrada CM2's. Some people may not like the stretched side wall "look", but I actually really LOVE IT.

 

[pelotonracer2]

One other question, for your alignment did you have to do anything special? Are the rears set at negative camber to make them line up with the fronts or anything? wondering what the numbers came out looking like.

I haven't done an alignment yet but I will this week. I've been out of town so I haven't really driven it much. It steers very straight, surprisingly (I drove it back from the tire shop). I will probably ask for a bit of negative camber in the rears.

 

[nzaf985]

I haven't done an alignment yet but I will this week. I've been out of town so I haven't really driven it much. It steers very straight, surprisingly (I drove it back from the tire shop). I will probably ask for a bit of negative camber in the rears. View attachment 6531

And all this time I thought you were ignorning me LOL!

Thanks for the update!

 

[pelotonracer2]

And all this time I thought you were ignorning me LOL!

Thanks for the update!

I wouldn't do that.

 

[pelotonracer2]

Blah!! Hate how they don't disclose the offset!!! They are likely +35 to +38 to fit an 11" wide wheel. +28 no way.

I'm really curious of the actual offset of these. If someone else orders them I would suggest manually measuring the offset! I am seriously considering them now after seeing them on yours!

Where did you end up ordering them from?

I had to replace two of the Ferrada's yesterday due to my own stupidity (I tried driving into a carwash that had a bar on each side. I ended up driving up onto the bar, because I'm still not used to the width of the Explorer. I tried to carefully drive off the bar and the Explorer fell hard onto the face of the wheels on the passenger side. LOL. I can laugh about it now, but I RAGED when it happened. Made me absolutely sick to my stomach. I didn't even have them on the vehicle for 24 hours and I already screwed two of the wheels up. I felt like such a dumbass.

That's the bad thing about not having a sidewall to protect the wheels. The good news (if there is any) is that the Ferrada CM2s come with a snap in rim cap. You curb one or pull a bone headed move like me, you can just remove the old outer rim cap and replace with a new one. $175.00 each, instead of $675 each for a new wheel(s). Unfortunately the rim caps in gloss black are on back order for 30-45 days. While I did used touch up paint and fixed the wheels (and you can't visibly tell they were damaged 5 feet away), they were no longer perfect and in my mind, it irked me. I went ahead and bought two new wheels and placed an order for the rim cap replacements. I'll have two spare wheels if I decide to do something really dumb again haha.

I looked everywhere on the wheel and there is no offset info stamped into wheel, just "22x11". They do have the deepest concave that I have seen for this application (and others) so I'm guessing they don't want other companies copying their design.

 

[Dad_Mobile]

I have done that with some new wheels, it makes ya sick to your stomach!
I’m loving the exhaust. I’m also in Texas and will be taking my ST and SHO over to Dallas to get exhaust done up. What does he charge for his exhaust set ups if you don’t me asking.