Ford Archives - Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security

Anchorage Ford Transit in for Audio and Comfort Upgrades

04/27/2021 By John Schwartz

A client from here in Anchorage recently brought his 2020 Ford Transit van to Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security for an audio system and sound deadening upgrade. The big cargo van was a bit too noisy inside for the client’s liking. He also wanted the stereo system to sound better with improved clarity and better bass performance. After inspecting the vehicle, one of our Product Specialists put together a simple yet elegant upgrade solution that would deliver exactly what the client wanted.

Ford Transit Sound Deadening Improves Comfort

The first order of business was to remove the entirety of the interior on the Transit so our technicians could install 12 rolls of SoundShield SSD1 acoustic deadening material. This deadening was applied to the floor, the rear side panels, the rear doors and the outer front door skins.

SoundShield’s thick butyl, aluminum and foam material helps prevent sound energy from the tires, exhaust and drivetrain from entering the cab. The difference in comfort is instantly apparent, and it makes driving the van much more enjoyable. A secondary yet equally important benefit is that the clarity of the outgoing audio of the Bluetooth hands-free communication system is much improved.

Audio System Upgrade

We replaced the front door speakers with a set of Morel Tempo Ultra Integra 602 6.5-inch point-source coaxial drivers to improve the stereo. These speakers offer a dramatic improvement in both frequency extension and clarity. The result is that every genre of music sounds clearer and more detailed.

The next step was to install an Alpine PWE-S8 powered subwoofer to the vehicle to add some warmth and extension. This compact subwoofer system features an 8-inch woofer housed in a cast-metal enclosure. It includes a 120-watt amplifier to drive the sub and has all the connections we needed to integrate it into the factory radio. Of course, the key to making it sound good was to configure the crossover and level controls to work with the rest of the van’s speakers.

Alaska’s Vehicle Enhancement Experts

After a few days of work, we had this Ford Transit upgraded and ready to roll again. The client was amazed at how much quieter the vehicle was and loved how the audio system sounds with the new speakers and subwoofer. If you have a car, van or truck that could be more comfortable with a quieter interior, or you want to upgrade its audio system, drop by Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage and speak with one of our Product Specialists. We’d be happy to design a custom solution that addresses your needs. If you can’t visit the store during regular business hours, give us a call or send our team an e-mail using our contact form.

Let Perfectionist Install Your Pickup Truck or SUV Leveling Kit

04/21/2021 By John Schwartz

Whether you’re looking for that perfect stance or want to run taller tires, a pickup truck or SUV suspension leveling kit from Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage is the perfect upgrade. We don’t just supply the parts; our expert technicians can install the strut or spring spacers or new keys to get you back on the road quickly.

What Is a Truck Leveling Kit?

If you’ve looked at any of the popular pickup trucks sitting on the dealership lot, you’ll see most of them have a slight nose-down rake and usually more clearance around the rear wheels. A leveling kit allows us to raise the front of your vehicle between 1 and 2.5 inches (depending on the model) to put the truck level to the ground. Once level, you can run a larger front tire to increase ground clearance, and your truck will look “right” whether it’s rolling down the road or parked.

Depending on the design of the suspension, leveling kits come in different styles. Some use upper or lower strut spacers, while others use spring spacers, new torsion keys or redesigned upper control arms. We carry popular brands like Zone Off-Road, Ready Lift, Rough Country, BDS and Fabtech. While working on the truck, we can replace the struts and shocks with upgraded units from Fox Racing or adjustable solutions from Bilstein.

Our leveling solutions include all the hardware required to ensure that brake lines are routed for safe operation and ABS sensors continue to function perfectly. Some kits, like the Zone Offroad solution for the Jeep Gladiator, include bump-stop extensions and sway-bar end links.

After everything is installed and all the fasteners are torqued back to factory specifications, we’ll make sure your vehicle is aligned to handle properly and not wear out your tires. We can even re-aim your headlights, fog lights or driving lights to ensure that you can see safely and won’t blind oncoming drivers.

Alaska’s Truck and SUV Accessory Experts

If you’re considering running a 33-inch-tall tire for your Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ram 1500, Nissan Titan or Toyota Tundra, or just want that level-to-the-ground look for your truck, drop by Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security and talk to a member of our team about a leveling kit. We can help you choose a set of wheels and the right tire for your driving style, then set you up with the suspension upgrades required to ensure that the package functions flawlessly and looks great. Please drop by our store today and let us know your goals. We’d be happy to design and install a solution! You can also reach us by phone or by e-mail using the contact page here on our website.

Ford Ranger Upholstery Upgrade for Anchorage Client

04/12/2021 By John Schwartz

A client from here in Anchorage recently dropped by Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security to inquire about upgrading the upholstery on his 2019 Ford Ranger seats. The STX trim-level pickup truck came with cloth seats in the front and rear, and the client wanted something a little classier. After looking at the truck, we worked with the client to choose a set of custom-stitched Katzkin leather upholstered seats that would look great in the vehicle.

Ford Ranger Upholstery Upgrade

Ford Upholstery — The client’s time on the road would be very comfortable now.

The Katzkin website is designed to make it very easy for clients to mix and match different color leathers and stitching to create a truly custom look. Our client chose black leather for the seats and added coffee-colored wing inserts on either side of the center panel and coffee-colored French stitching for a subtle accent. Katzkin created the front and rear seats’ upholstery and sent them to our shop for installation.

Once the new Katzkin upholstery arrived, we scheduled an appointment to begin upgrading the Ranger. After going through our check-in process, our team disconnected the battery to keep the airbag system safe, then set to work removing the front and rear seats from the truck. We removed the cloth and installed the new leather upholstery.

Expert Upholstery Installation

The new seat upholstery kit includes the backs and bottoms of the front and rear seats, along with all five headrests, as well as the armrest in the center of the back seat. Our technicians use genuine steel hog rings to secure the new leather to the seats. Some shops take shortcuts with zip ties to speed up this process. Unfortunately, plastic zip ties or wire ties can become brittle in the extreme cold conditions we experience and can break. The last thing we want is for the client’s new upholstery to shift and look unsightly.

With the seats recovered, we reinstalled them in the vehicle and torqued all the fasteners back to their OE specifications. We also reconnected the airbag and occupant detection sensors to ensure that all the truck’s safety systems would function properly. We finished by going through our check-out procedure to make sure everything else in the truck was flawless.

Alaska’s Vehicle Upgrade Experts

The client returned to Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage, excited to see the new upholstery in his Ford Ranger. He loved the color choices he made and was impressed with how well everything fit. If you’re interested in making your car or truck more comfortable or upgrading your vehicle’s look, drop by our store and speak with one of our product experts. If you can’t get to us during regular business hours, give our team a call or send us an e-mail.

2015 Ford F-150 Gets Major DD Audio Bass Upgrade

09/08/2020 By John Schwartz

A client recently came by the shop, looking to add some more bass to his 2015 F-150 by adding subwoofers as an under-seat solution for his truck. After talking to the client and finding out exactly what sound he was going for, we wrote him up a quote for three subwoofers. We decided to go with an MTI Acoustics box, a brand of subboxes we’ve recently become exclusive dealers for. We chose a Stage 1 ported enclosure that housed 3 DD Audio 2508 8″ subwoofers. They were powered by an DD Audio M4 amplifier.

To ensure that the subs would be happy with the amount of air space, we had to lift the seats to allow more room for a bigger box. We did a 2″ rear seat lift, and the box fit perfectly. The customer was so happy with how loud the subs hit and loved the sleek look of the box.

Here at Perfectionist, we can accommodate and create any sound to fit your needs. Stop by the shop and one of our sales associates would be happy to build a system with you.

2018 Ford F-150 Gets Custom Katzkin Leather Seating Upgrade

07/22/2020 By John Schwartz

A customer from Anchorage, Alaska, recently came to the shop looking to upgrade the interior of his 2018 Ford F-150 to something with leather that better matched the outside of his truck, to give it a clean and sleek design.

Here at Perfectionist, we use the brand Katzkin, a seat cover replacement that comes in many designs and colors of leather. After this customer talked to us about what he wanted, we decided to go with a cardinal-red look with contrast stitching to complement the black of the vehicle, along with perforated seats. He was ecstatic on picking up his vehicle and seeing how well the interior matched the exterior.

If you (or anyone you know) are looking to upgrade the interior to better match your vehicle, or you’ve simply grown out of your factory seats, stop by Perfectionist Auto Sound and one of our sales reps can get you fitted with new seats.