I've looked through some previous posts, but haven't yet located an answer to this.....

Has anyone seen or heard a reason why some SD's are running a restricted "Y" pipe just after the exhaust manifold? Is there any reason, such as emissions why I can't unrestrict this area? Any vendors out there catering in this market?

With the idea running through my head of some better manifolds and cat-back systems, I can't get past what looks to be a 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 throat on the engine's right bank of cylinders.

Oh... The truck is a '01 F-250 with the 5.4liter/5 speed / 4.10 rear gear.

Thanks,

Dave

 

I belive that the new style, restricted Y pipe, is Ford's answer to an exhaust flutter issue.

 

Hey Dave,

I know that the early V10's (mine included) had a problem known as "flutter". It sounded like little rocks or pebbles vibrating wildly on the heat shields of the exhaust system. The flutter was supposed caused by exhaust pulses creating a standing wave in a certain RPM range. Most trucks with flutter will have the vibration in the 1800 - 2000 RPM range. Some will flutter at other ranges, but this seems to be the most common.

Ford's fix for flutter was a "new and improved" Y-pipe that was "necked down" right where the two pipes joined. Many people (sounds like you too) were confused as to why Ford would add this restriction in the exhaust. Some claimed that there was a loss of power with the new Y-pipe and that could be true (seems to me that it would be).

Some folks (me included) took the plunge and bought headers for our V10's that came with a replacement Y-pipe designed specifically for the headers. This cured flutter for everyone that actually had flutter. Some had vibrations due to a dust cover for the torque converter or heat shields that had broken loose from the exhaust system.

Anyway, I didn't realize that Ford was using the crappy (excuse me, "new and improved" Y-pipe) on the 5.4's also. Sounds like they are...


Best regards,

Jeff

 

Well Jeff is all over this subject ! Good response....

Dave, wish you would have posted this in the V-10 forum so us poor V-10 guys had something to read. That forum is dead !

Mark

 

I think... and Jeff's post sorta backs this up... but the Flutter originated in the crappy exhaust manifolds... and was solved by a crappy Y-pipe. That is why I have been reluctant to change the Y-pipe without installing headers.

Matt

 

I just don't want to get into emission issues. Here in my part of Illinois , emissions tests are mandatory. I guess I'll get all that changed at once. Anyone know if someone like Edelbrock or Gibson is marketing a "Y"? I can't seem to find a bolt-on replacement, and I'm not that good on a mandrel or MIG welder!

Dave

 

from what I've read, there is not an aftermarket replacement y pipe for the existing exhaust manifolds... The aftermarket y pipes are designed to fit with aftermarket headers...

But, then again, I could be wrong!

 

Most any muffler shop can fab one up for you!

 

But what about the sensors. Sounds expensive. Why the Y w/o the headers? Maybe if u had it supercharged then a nice Y w/o the headers. But i think mrrottndog would know better. Didn't u take your headers off?

 

Summit sells a Flowmaster Y pipe section. It combines two 2.5's into one 3 inch outlet. It's 12 to 16 inches long, and is real heavy duty. Quality is A=1. I bought one, but havn't had time to go by the muffler shop and have it installed. My plan is to cut the factory "pretzel" pipe off just below the o2 sensors. Custom bend pipes to connect to the Flowmaster premade Y located just forward of the cat. Maybe I'll sneek away tomorrow morning and do this. I will try to post pictures and results ASAP.

Mark

 

DON"T DO IT DAVE!! I thought I had the dreaded exhaust flutter too, had them put the "improved" Y pipe on and noticed what I thought was a decrease in power too. Along with the pipe they also reprogram something in the computer. I let it go for awhile thinking the comp. had to relearn some stuff but it never improved. Finally took it back in a month or so later to have the program reversed only to have them tell me it would not accept the old codes. I also have a 2001 SD 5.4. It seems Ford did actually improve the new(2003) SD's "Y" pipe. My nephew just bought one with the 5.4 so I took the liberty of crawling under it....man what a difference in Y pipes. His does seem to be alot peppeir too. As I know he cannot leave anything alone iI have already told him i'll take his old pipe when he upgrades then I will be able to tell if there is any improvment. I can weld...just wish I had the pipe bender to do the bending. Good luck on your search, if you find something let us all know.


2001 F-250 SD EC SB 4x4 3 1/2" 305/75-16's True Blue

stumpy2

 

I know there has been a couple of guys that have had y-pipes fabbed here... But I don't remember who!

I still have not been able to bring myself to remove my headers... In spite of what Bell says. I have taken the advice of the supercharger guru's over at gotpressure.com and decided to loose the kenne bell boost a pump and replace it with a bosch 255 lph in tank fuel pump and lose the bell fmu and chip replacing them with bosch #42 injectors and a custom chip.

I have everything ready to install if I ever get it back from the 4x4 shop!

 

Did you change anything else in your exhaust setup? I've got a hand-fabbed cat-back system running 3" exhaust, and am still in the search for more low-end power. The "flutter" hasn't been noticed, but then again, I'm not sure what ya'll mean by "flutter". I actually kinda like the note that comes from the pipe, BUT would trade it for more ponies or torque!

Dave