Is a muffler really necessary?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,191
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From: SW Washington
Is a muffler really necessary?
Today the muffler and tailpipe broke off at the inlet of the muffler on my 94 F150 with 302. It sounds fine with the stub that's left after the cat. I'm planning on replacing it with just a straight pipe exiting like it did stock but without the muffler. Do I really have to have a muffler because of the way the engine is tuned due to the emissions system. It seems to run fine as it is but the exhaust fumes seem to get in the cab while idling.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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No need for it other than noise. If you run the pipe out far enough to keep fumes out of the cab, and noise is not an issue, you are good.
Think about where and when you drive. If you go by some old codger's house with no muffler at 2AM every day, you may wish to buy a nice quiet muffler so he doesn't shoot at you. Or if the cops are always looking for chicken feather stops in your area.
Think about where and when you drive. If you go by some old codger's house with no muffler at 2AM every day, you may wish to buy a nice quiet muffler so he doesn't shoot at you. Or if the cops are always looking for chicken feather stops in your area.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 2,007
From: SW Washington
Actually the truck is not loud at all because of the catalytic converters. It actually sounds really nice. The only thing I notice is it seems the it idles a little higher than before.
Thanks for the reply.
Thanks for the reply.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Some people claim that a muffler is necessary for "back pressure" and, straight pipes will cause loss of power, or burned valves. Sounds like BS to me, but oftentimes there is at least some truth to the old wives tales. The flathead guys will sometimes run pretty small diameter straight pipes, even plumbing pipe, with no muffler for best sound.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,507
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
in 47 years driving and even longer pulling wrenches i have seen exactly 1 burned valve from no exhaust.
and that was on an irrigation pump with an old chrysler industrial hemi engine that had a crack in the exhaust manifold between the two center cylinders. exhaust was manifolds with pipes that went straight out the hood with rain caps on them.
you could hear it running from 1/2 mile away.
and i still say the burned valve was from running it out of gas to shut it off and not from the cracked manifold.
we would put 10 gallons of gas in the tank, fire it up, and it would run out of gas and shut off 2 hours later.
and that was on an irrigation pump with an old chrysler industrial hemi engine that had a crack in the exhaust manifold between the two center cylinders. exhaust was manifolds with pipes that went straight out the hood with rain caps on them.
you could hear it running from 1/2 mile away.
and i still say the burned valve was from running it out of gas to shut it off and not from the cracked manifold.
we would put 10 gallons of gas in the tank, fire it up, and it would run out of gas and shut off 2 hours later.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
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From: very South Texas
burnt exhaust valve.. Yes 40 years ago.. but rarely ... same with cracked valves... short straight pipes...
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remember before unleaded gas.. valves were made with low grade metal...
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muffler needed NO.. by LAW YES... ( Sound level )....
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remember before unleaded gas.. valves were made with low grade metal...
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muffler needed NO.. by LAW YES... ( Sound level )....
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
I dunno, Henry was always pretty proud of his steel. Good stuff. I think it's a fairly small window where hardened valve seats are actually necessary, even then it's debatable unless towing or high speed highway runs. TEL was an excellent octane booster, but it also kept valve seats from eroding.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 2,007
From: SW Washington
I never had problems with valve seats back in the days of real gas but I had burned exhaust valves on both 1970 Ford Mavericks I had owned years ago. The one with a 200 I6 had two burned valves by 75K-80K miles and idled bad enough that it was noticeable. The one with a 250 I6 had three burned valves at 108K miles but ran great and still idled smoothly. The only reason I found the burned valves on the 250 was because I was pulling it's head to swap it on to the 200. I ended up doing a valve job on both of them.
Both still had their stock exhaust systems in good condition.
Both still had their stock exhaust systems in good condition.
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