Yesterday I was bored and got myself into the fixing/breaking type of mood. Rather than work on something important or something in need of work I decided to cut the factory exhaust off of my 2001 F150 with a 4.2L. I've been under the rear of the truck a few times to date but never realized how huge the muffler was. At first glance I had a rough time telling it apart from the gas tank(j/k haha)! But after about 2 minutes of thinking and a trip to the hardware store for some sawz-all blades it was off of there. From here I fired the truck up to decide whether she was getting a glasspack or just straight pipes. I was almost dissappointed in how loud it wasn't. A definitely unmuffled sound, but weak to say the least. What can you say for a truck with 4 cats(2 on each downpipe) though. Needless to say I drove up to the 'Zone and got a couple pieces of pipe and bolted them on there. Now she has a little bit of talk, but I guess not what I expected. Overall, it was an improvement, however, and definitely sounds better.
Thanks for reading!
Scott

 

Yea man, the muffler is pretty big. Nice and heavy. I have the same as you pretty much, all cats on, no muffler, but my piping comes out the side before my right rear tire. I like the sound, but I still wonder what it would sound like with the cats off??

 

Might sound good, but if you remove them without replacing them with aftermarket, the oxygen sensors will read incorrectly to the computer. Is the preformance loss equal to the sound gain?

 

My new exhaust tip comes out just before the passenger rear wheel as well- guess I failed to mention. My friend has a glasspacked- catless chevy 4.3L, and it is rather loud to be honest. I am definitely pleased with the sound, and as for the performance loss- don't count on me doing it...my buddy with the chevy lost 6 mpg when he took the O2 sensors apart.
Scott

 

ouch that cant begood

cameron ur right its not worth the perfomance loss just for sound

 

Yea, better flow Cats would be better in the long run. They may not flow as well as gutted or removed, and you may not get the sound you want...But 6mpg..ewww..not not to mention preformance loss from incorect readings to the ECM...not worth it...