I have a 96 f-250 7.3 powerstroke. Looking to order new exhaust for it. trying to figure out if i should go with a 4in or a 5in. any info or tips would be greatly appreciated. thank you

 

4 in fits along the frame rail nicely. And it should be big enough for our trucks in stock or modded form. Unless you are running huge injectors and are worried bout egts.

 

I'd agree, 4" is plenty big.. That being said I just did a Diamond Eye full 5" SS strait through system; it was a breeze to install (I already had a down pipe installed), I've noticed my EGTs have dropped a noticible ammount and it sounds cool as hell!! Couldn't be happier... I've read some say you loose some bottom w the 5" but I haven't noticed anything seat of the pants...

 

Did you have any problems fitting the 5in or did it fit just like a 4in?

 

No, no problems. I semi-permanently mounted the ball/socket pipe from the down pipe and used rubber bungee cords to dry fit the rest of the system (I had it in/out a couple times). I'd recommend buying some stepped 5" or 4" (if you decide to go that route) SS band clamps insted of using the supplied crude U-clamps; they pinch the pipe and make it difficult to split the system if you need to. You will have to use a few of the supplied clamps because they have adaptors welded to them in order to mount the system to your factory rubber hangers.. I'll be welding mine up except for 1 joint so I can remove it if needed..

 

Corey, how did the 5" fit with the factory spare location?
I know that's stupid but I can't stand my spare Rollin around in the bed.

 

Good question and a valid one. The long and short of it is, I removed the spare a couple weeks ago to gain access to the aft frame rails for fluid filming purposes, so it wasn't there at the time of install. I'd say it wouldn't have cleared unless I custom bent the tail pipe; even then it would have been iffy.. I do have a strange (previous owner installed) Reese hitch back there that's welded (bird turds) to the frame that was close but cleared. I can take some pics when I get home if you fellas are interested. I digress; that spare is useless to me anyway, I run 35s and have a LS rear so a no go using it in the rear and using it in the front is a strange situation too (ask me how I know).... I have a spare 35 in the bed but it doesn't move, lol...
EDIT: two things to note, 1 being that I'm not super keen on the way the tail pipe exits, it's on a 45 and I like the factory look that's closer to if not a 90; and If you think you can get it rebent more power to ya, NO ONE even remotely close to me had a 5" for their mandrel machine... Rose bud and sand I suppose would work.. Second would be I have a 5spd so I don't know if you auto guys would run into any issues further up the pipe that didn't plague me, just FYI...

 

I only have 285s but the 285 spare prob makes the proposition of tailpipe making it even less likely. I would like to see a pic to compare for future reference.

 

Gotcha.. Yeah, I'll take a few when I get home around the 21st...

 

From what I read the 5" goes in much better on a 4by4 then on a 2wd. I would love a 5" but I'm afraid to try it, heck, I still think my 3" DP rubs after I've porta powered the firewall two different times now.

 

My 3" DP rubs on my bell housing... Oh well...

 

haha, that's what I said, oh well!! At 1500-1600 rpm mine will vibrate, I have gone over it several times and can't find any thing that could rub. Corey, are you running a 3" in a 5"?

 

I've got a 3" DP and it necks up at the DP ball and socket joint to 5". I had the DP on already but the full 5" systems from Diamond Eye come with 3" DPs..

 

Good to know i'm not the only one dealing with this... Starting to wonder if it's just a bad harmonic issue with the thin wall down pipes and the way the exhaust comes through the exhaust housing? That stock cobra head down pipe was pretty beefy.

 

2WD with 235 85 R16s. I have a 5" Diamond Eye now. It was a bear to get in. I'd say with 2WD, you really need to stop at the 4" (unless you want to spend more than 8 hours fighting 4 pieces of exhaust pipe in). But, my spare tire is still in the carrier. Not that it matters much since I discovered the trailer hitch blocks the lowering bolt anyway.

That said, the sound is good.