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Designed for 3.5L V6-powered Ford F150 pickups the Spectre air intake system adds power and response

Although named Duratech in advertising distributed to the public, it was a clean sheet of paper design internally designated as the Cyclone; it had nothing in common with earlier generations of Duratech engines. The Duratech 35 developed 282 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. Not surprising it was selected by the automotive industry magazine Wards Auto for its 10 Best Engines list.

Introduced in the 13th generation of F150, the Duratech 35 was positioned as the base engine. Above it in the line were the 325 horsepower 2.7L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 and the 385 horsepower 5.0L V8. For 2018 the 3.5L V6 was replaced by a 3.3L V6 that actually produces more power than the 3.5 – an increase of eight horsepower.

The Spectre HPR air filter utilizes a non-woven synthetic filter media

The Spectre 9048 adds performance and response by feeding your Duratech 35 cooler, fresh air than the stock system can provide. Fresh outside air is now fed to an oversized seven-inch tall HPR9892 tapered conical air filter protected within a two-piece heat shield that installs into the space of the factory air box. The HPR9892 is a low-restriction air filter, constructed of a non-woven synthetic filter media.

Once filtered, intake air is directed through a velocity stack into an aerodynamically-verified polished aluminum intake tube that accommodates the factory mass air meter, IAT sensor, and other required hoses. Installation is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in a few hours or less and requires only a few common hand tools and no drilling.

And once you’ve installed your Spectre 9048 air intake system you’ve eliminated the need to buy another air filter for the life of your covered 2015 – 2017 Ford F150 powered by the Duratec 35 3.5 L V6 engine. The only maintenance required is a simple service you can do all by yourself. That’s because the Spectre HPR9892 air filter element is washable and reusable.

The Spectre 9048 is designed to fit the following vehicles:

2017 FORD F150 3.5L V6 Fuel Injection - Exc. Turbo
2016 FORD F150 3.5L V6 Fuel Injection - Exc. Turbo
2015 FORD F150 3.5L V6 Fuel Injection - Exc. Turbo

Jimi Day, President and CEO of FM3 Performance Marketing and OUSCI Director of Racing

The “Invitational” has become the ultimate street car event by which a participant can earn his or her way in on points garnered at qualifying events. OR by receiving a golden ticket invitation, at the SEMA show, should your badass built streetcar capture the attention of the likes of Cam himself or partner Jimi Day.

Greg Thurmond's 1965 Candy Tangerine Chevrolet Corvette - SCAR in Optima Alley at SEMA

Predicting a full week that began with a midnight load into Optima Alley at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the OUSCI participants spent time with their sponsors and other competitors. They attended SEMA build unveilings, stood in line to meet some iconic and legendary movers and shakers in the automotive industry. They attended educational seminars and mixers hosted by SEMA’s 10 diverse councils learning and exploring all the workings that SEMA has to offer. They took part in OPTIMA’s most recent virtual reality experience at the OPTIMA Booth and even made appearances of their own at OPTIMA’s Annual SEMA Press Conference. Finally, these competitors would endure the gut-wrenching critique of the judges for the Lingenfelter Design and Engineering segment the first of five segments of this monumental event. Seriously this was a big deal! You can bet they were all itching to get out to Las Vegas Motor Speedway to see if the improvements they made to their rides would actually make a difference in their final position when it was all said and done.

SCAR sitting front and center at the 2015 SEMA Show in the Spectre Performance Booth

Greg Thurmond with SCAR in 2015 post SEMA Thrash

The midwest sweetheart, Lynda Jacobs in "Wimpy" on the autocross track at OUSCI 2017

Spectre Performance had great representation at OUSCI this year in the GTV Class with returning competitor Greg Thurmond in his 1965 Candy Tangerine Corvette Stingray Resto-Mod known throughout the pro-touring world as SCAR. Along with midwest sweetheart, Linda Jacobs and her incredible Spectre Performance-equipped 1966 Butter Yellow Convertible Chevelle affectionately named “Wimpy”. Both Greg and Linda came to the 10th Anniversary ready to race with their “A” Game.

This is the third consecutive year that Spectre Performance team driver Greg Thurmond made the big show. You might remember in 2015, Thurmond’s Vette sat front and center in the Spectre Performance booth at SEMA where it did indeed catch the eye of possibly tens of thousands of SEMA show goers. More importantly, he nabbed a golden ticket invite. For 2016 and 2017 Thurmond raced his way into OUSCI and has been a force in the GTV Class each time, bringing home an 8th place GTV overall finish at this years OUSCI. When we caught up with him he shared that the Detroit Speed and Engineering Autocross, “was a bit tougher for us this year and finished up 11th in the GTV Class,” Thurmond said. However, he was rather pleased with his success at the Powerstop Brakes Speed Stop securing a 6th Place position in his class.

Jacobs 1966 Butter Yellow Convertible Chevelle Wimpy

This year OUSCI saw the crowning of a new Grand Champion, Ken Thwaits in his 2006 Mitsubishi EVO. The racing was tight and the competition worthy. Ken also took the GTL Class Win.

Jacobs at grid for the Falken Tires Hot Lap Challenge

GTV: Larry Wood, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

GTS: Austin Barnes, 2010 Dodge Viper

GTL: Ken Thwaits, 2006 Mitsubishi EVO

GTC: Scott Budasalich, 2006 Honda S2000

GTE: Matthew Scott, 2017 Hyundai Ioniq

GT: Bryan Johnson, 2013 Chevrolet Camaro

Click the image to see an interview with owner and builder of the Rambler, Suzy Bauter

Starting with a solid, straight 1963 Rambler American 440 Station Wagon, complete with engine in the back of the wagon, Suzy started by having the flathead 6 rebuilt. With all of 130 horsepower and a three-on-the-tree gearbox, Suzy took the Rambler out to autocross with her husband and ace autocrosser Rodney Prouty. Rodney, by the way, is well-known for killing cones in his “Plain Jane” 1968 Camaro.

So Suzy’s Plan A wasn’t working, so it was time to move to Plan B.

Easily spotted are the Spectre intake components that easily fit within the confines under the hood

The Camaro front clip is supplemented by Global West upper control arms and Detroit Speeds lower control arms.

By 1963 parent company AMC, was holding on for dear life. They tried to squeeze as many models out of common components as possible, which is how Suzy ended up with a wagon with a 99-inch wheelbase but 100-inches between wheel well centers. As the plan was to flare the fenders to the extreme, that inch would cause problems. So the wheelbase was stretched to match the car.

The Flair Witch Project was completed inside the Bauter-Prouty family garage

While under the car, the couple installed 14-inch rotors and six-piston Baer Pro+ 6P brakes with 18x11 wheels from US Mags, fitted with P315/30ZR18 BFGs all around. Perhaps the most trick system on the car is the cutting-edge Viking Berserker ASM (Active Shock Management). It’s an intelligent system that collects data from yaw-rate to steering wheel position through a battalion of sensors and adjusts the damper valving up to 1000 times per second. All variables are adjustable through a laptop-based program, so the tuning can be adjusted for almost every handling state between runs, if needed.

The ginormous fender flares were formed and fitted in the Bauter-Prouty family garage as well, earning the nickname of the “Flare Witch Project” around the garage for the amount of toil required to get them fitted and blended properly. While all the cursing was going on in the garage, Suzy was inside sewing all new seat covers and carpets.

Suzy herself stitched the interior including seat covers and floor mats

Ask about their relationship Spectre, Suzy replied “We been loyal to Spectre for years. They supported us on our Camaro build and have become good industry friends.”

We’d love to report on how the gonzo ‘63 Ramb-aro faired in its first autocross, but that event is still to come. Suzy and Rodney had committed to having the beast on display in the Spectre Booth Number 22755 at the 2017 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.