2024 STX build

[James1980]

It's time to start my own thread here I suppose. I'm not really building this truck per se, but personalizing it and tinkering.

This isn't my first F150, it's my 4th. Back on '02 I had a XLT 5.4. I dont have any pictures unfortunately
I dont keep cars for very long 2-3 years on average.

Many years later I bought my 2018 STX. It was a 2.7, 3.15 rear axle. I loved that truck.

I put Ford racing wheels on it. rear lowering shackles, and a few other things. I loved that truck but I ended up trading it 2 years later for a 2019 XLT

I bought the 2019 on March 23 2020. I remember the date as it was the day the Covid restrictions started. Car dealers panicked and I got one hell of a deal on it. $10k off, 0% for 72 months and no payments for 3 months. I couldn't turn that down as I was unsure about how long I'd be out of work. Turned out I wasn't out of work long at all, 1 single day, lol.
Anyway, I went a bit wild with the mods on that truck. It was a 3.5 eco, max tow. This was my favorite F150, so far, and I wish I never sold it. But gas prices skyrocketed, the cam phasers were getting a bit noisy so I ended up trading it for, a 2022 Nissan Frontier. That was mistake.

So fast forward to March of this year and I corrected that mistake.

My daughter photobombing, lol

Truck prices have gone nuts as you all know. So I went down to the STX again. Fortunately they are equipped with a lot more that my previous trucks were. So it doesn't feel like much of a down grade from my '19 XLT.
I went with the 2.7 again because I always liked the engine in my 2018, it felt almost as strong as the 3.5 in my '19. And the reliability of the 2.7 is legendary, lol

I always liked the blue Ford offered so I made sure this go around I got it.

It's a 2024 STX in Atlas blue with the 2.7, 2wd. It has a couple options, but not too much. I like to mod, so I'll get this truck the way I want it in time

Shortly after I bought it the truck graced me with this, a check engine light. Oh boy. Turned out to be a bad sensor for the EGR. Dealer took care of it and its been fine ever since

First mod was window tint. I just tinted the fronts and left the rears alone. 35% was the shade if I recall

Next up I got rid of the ugly STX side vents. Really Ford? The Ford racing ones look really nice and aren't too much $$

After that I got myself a tonneau cover.
I went with the BAK Revolver X4S
I had the backflip on my 2018, that fell apart. I got the Paragon cover for my 2019 that I really liked, but it wasn't without issues. So I'm trying something different this go around

Next was wheels. I'm a black wheels kind of guy as you can probably tell from my previous trucks. I agonized over just getting wheels like I did with my 2018 or a new set of wheels and tires like I did with my 2019. Cost ended up being the deciding factor. The set on my 2019 cost me $2400. To get something similar today would have been over $3000. Crazy. So I just got a set of used OEM wheels and threw them on. I considered the Ford racing wheels but I like a busier wheel design. I also considered powder coating my stock wheels black. I like the design but not the color. That's a huge hassle though.
I ended up getting a used set of wheels off I believe off a Platinum and I couldn't be happier.

I found some black lug nuts on eBay for them aswell.

I wanted painted mirror caps and door handles. The cost for those are a bit much. I found these covers on eBay paint matched for $175. They aren't perfect but they're really really good. Paint match is spot on and appears good quality.

You can also see the AVS flush window visors I added. I'm not sure I like these. They look great but I think living with the standard tape on ones is better

I found the stock pedals in the truck a tad boring. So I found these on amazon

I was afraid they would be a bit gaudy, but I really like them.

Next up was some power mods. This truck has felt a bit sluggish to me compared to my previous trucks. Especially my 2018 2.7. That one always punched above its weight.
So I added the S&B intake first. Mainly for fun noises but I actually felt a difference with it. I'm fully willing to admit it could be all in my head

Then I added the JB4 piggy back. Stage 1 for now. Not a massive improvement, but noticeable

I've done a few other little things also. Got some OEM used running boards on eBay.
Ford Racing black exhaust tip
Husky mud flaps
I do have an exhaust on this truck and I had one on each previously.
I went with the B2 muffler replacement rather than a full system. No it doesn't sound great, neither did my previous trucks. I dont care, I like it. I like to hear my cars/trucks, good or bad. I never took a picture of it but there isn't much to see.

That's where I am for now.

Future plans involve some suspension work. This truck feels way more floaty than my previous trucks. I'd like to stiffen things up just a tad.
I had a Hellwig rear sway bar on my 2019 so that's on the list. Maybe leveling in one way or another
I may add katzkin leather, I had those on my 2019. I'd like to add heated seats to the new one so I might aswell add leather while I'm at it

I'm sure some other goodies will make their way on the truck too. I can never help myself

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[JCsTruck]

I like the wheels and very nice looking truck. I’m curious to know If you drive an accord as a daily driver then what is the STX for?

 

[James1980]

The Accord is perfect at what I use it for, commuting to work, taking the wife and kid to the Zoo, Disney etc. But it's not exactly the most exciting thing to drive.
I learned long ago that I like having a variety in the garage vs a 1 car to do it all type deal.

The truck is more for pleasure. Ski trips, shooting range, taking the dogs to the beach etc.
All stuff that could be accomplished by my Wife's Explorer or the Accord, but I just like having a truck.

 

[Truckguy24]

Looks good! Love the color and your touches look very nice

 

[Jmitchelltfo]

Looks great!

Wheels, fender vents and paint matched bits

pedals

Eibach is my suggestion if you want to get rid of the floaty feeling.

 

[James1980]

I almost forgot. Wheel well liners.
I found these on amazon, they were $109 when I bought them
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097GTQ6BR?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

I didn't read the description, oops. They aren't plastic, they're felt. I was going to return them but I remembered my wife's Explorer has felt liners from the factory. So I installed them. So far they're holding up just fine. They sag a tad around the arch as you can see but not too bad. I dont do any driving that will put them through much, at worst they'll get wet. So I think they work out just fine

 

[REDRAGN]

Nice. So would you recommend a JB4 for the money or not? Basically is it worth the spend?

 

[Graygoose2021]

Nice build, nice to see the blue!

 

[honda250xtitan]

Cleannnnn. I say drop the rear to match the front and go with bilsteins all around. Front at stock height.

 

[James1980]

Nice. So would you recommend a JB4 for the money or not? Basically is it worth the spend?

If you plan to go beyond stage 1, it's 100% worth it. The support they offer with data logging is great. I haven't taken advantage of that yet, but I'm limited by 91 octane here.
If you only plan to just use stage 1, I still say it's worth it, just maybe skip the extras. The app is cool and I love the gauges but it makes it pricey, imo.
Stage 1 is a noticeable difference but not the "wow what a difference" like a custom tune would be, but we can't do that on the '24 yet. So this is the best we have

 

[James1980]

Cleannnnn. I say drop the rear to match the front and go with bilsteins all around. Front at stock height.

That's the more likely outcome. Its a tad cheaper and a lot easier to install

 

[James1980]

Added a bumper step. I had the Amp research one on my previous truck. I went with the Rough Country one this time around. It was over $100 cheaper and appears to work just as well

 

[BenMara]

You can also see the AVS flush window visors I added. I'm not sure I like these. They look great but I think living with the standard tape on ones is better

Ive used WeatherTech Window Deflecters since 1994

 

[FiveOsvt]

Great looking truck so far, it’s amazing what a few simple mods can do. I personally bought the stripped down STX to build it the way I want, knowing darn well that if I paid for all the extras on a higher trim I would have changed them anyway. Atlas blue was my first choice walking into a dealership, as I owned a 2017 raptor in lightning blue and loved that color (atlas is pretty close). They sold the thing just before I got there and had none on order. The only other one they had was an XLT covered in chrome accents. I ”settled“ for Avalanche, which I don’t regret one bit, but still love atlas.

 

[James1980]

Thanks! That a good looking truck.
I wish I had the black grille on mine. I was unaware of the black accent package when I bought mine.

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