I need to do something with my '96 Bronco's exhaust because the weld broke between the muffler exit and the tailpipe. My criteria for the repair are: DIY, cheap, retail parts. I just clamped a straight pipe on my '95 with a 302 when it's muffler rusted away. It wasn't very loud at all outside the truck - actually a nice, quietish rumble and nothing at idle - but it really droned inside the cab on the highway.

For the '96 w/351 I'm thinking about getting a cherry bomb from AutoZone ($22.99 IIRC). This truck has the bigger motor but being a '96 it has the dual cats so I don't know what effect those two differences are going to make, whether louder from more cubes or quieter from more plumbing. I'm not looking to get more HP or nicer sound. All I really care about is whether or not this will make it louder inside the truck on the interstate. Not that it's exactly a tomb at 65MPH in an old Ford but why make it worse?


EDIT: DOH! just realized this one was supposed to go in the Big Bronco forum. If a mod could move it that would probably be good otherwise oh well.

 

I use the Cherry Bomb Extreme with side Exit, it drones in the cab, but sounds great !!

 

The F150 I bought a while ago has a Cherry Bomb on it, and doesn't make a sound at all!

Dunno witch model it is but makes no noise at all.

 

Okay, I just realized that they make more than one kind of muffler under the Cherry Bomb name. What I'm looking at is the old style glasspack.

 

If you run the glasspack with the stock cats it will sound good. It will have a mild tone. Actually this is my prefered type of muffler to run with cats. You will be able to hear it inside the truck but it shouldn't be bad and not much drone. It will be mellow though. Keep the tail pipe, don't dump it.

 

i have dual thrush tubes, 90s out the back, and no tips. no drone at all

 

it depends.

what is the rest of the exhaust?

where does it exit?

cats on or off?

 

stock manifolds, dual cats, side exit behind right rear wheel - 2-2.25 pipe the whole way

 

would probably not drone then.

 

I think alot of drone has to do with where the exhaust exits.

Mine is dumped under the cab and drones bad on highway.

 

the new vortex ones are said to not have any drone at all... but dunno.. thats just what ive heard about them...

 

go glasspacks. no drone. dont go with flowmasters whatever your do. i hate mine on my Flareside. so much drone it aint even funny. when i get some extra money itll be gone for for somthing in the Cherry Bomb lineup.

 

Should be fine with the stock cats in place... as long as they aren't hollowed.

 

I finally got the glasspacks installed and I think I'm going to like this setup. I was worried because they are a little dramatic around town. Although it's not loud at all I can definitely hear more of the engine noise from behind me than in front. It's like a nightmare where a 351 is sneaking up on me but it never quite catches me.

Once I got out on the interstate and up to cruising speed it's actually pretty quiet. I'd say that at 55+ there's only a small increase in volume versus the standard type muffler. Also, the sound I do get - both in town and on the interstate - is more of that sweet V8 burble and not a maddening drone.

Thanks again for all the comments.

 

glad you are happy. ;-)