Getting ready to run dual stacks. I have most of the old pipe pulled out, it's hanging there about a foot short of the bed. Here is my plan I just want to make sure nothing flags with you guys this is my first time doing any of this type of thing.

I want to cut the 3" stock exhaust about 6" after the first exhaust hanger. Then I want to bump up to 5" pipe and run that down to the transfer case, then T/Y pipe off of that (I'm going to try and find an angled T section) and run more 5" between the transfer case and the fuel tank. Then that'll run up the frame rail to the bed. 2 90* pieces going up to the stacks.

Unless I should just upgrade my entire exhaust? I thought that would only bump up the size to where it runs up to the engine, and that all the headers and whatnot would stay the same size.

 

get a new down pipe if you have the stock mashed one


5 inch wont help you out unless you are going for mad HP, the noise might not be worth it in the end


my 3 down and 4 MBRP exhaust out before rear wheel is loud enough I keep the passengers side windows up all the time


don't forget to add heat shields if you plan to put anything In the bed that could melt

 

The OEM down pipe causes the most restriction in the entire system. Like mentioned above, 5" is a waste unless you are going for 600+ HP or have the pipe sitting around just collecting dust.

Stacks are not my style, but I am interested in seeing pictures of the project along the way and when completed.

 

after multiple people telling me, I am now shopping for downpipes haha. Currently checkin out the Diamond Eye 4" Aluminized, anything wrong with this selection?

The 5 inch diagram was a result of it being late last night when I devised my plan, I measured the inlets on the stacks (5") and just for some reason my head said 5" all around. . . Im now thinking, 4" downpipe, to 4" pipe, then Ill bump it up to 5" right before the stacks, or find some kind of adapter deal.


Oh 600hp isnt far away haha, Im getting close to runnin out of stuff to do to it haha, planning to get some bigger injectors when the current ones fail (Still factory at 320k plus miles) I got the cash sitting there, just waiting for one to give me an issue haha.

I addressed the rest of your concerns above

Yeah, it had a 5" single black stack on it when I got it last year. Somebody was selling dual chrome 6"s for $25 so I went and grabbed those. I needed to pull the drop in bedliner out and get the rusting stopped before it was to late, so I went ahead and pulled the old stack out. Had to do a bunch of grinding they mustve pulled the bed to install it, so its not going back on.

Now that Im seeing it without stacks, Im having second thoughts about continuing haha. 1 day I am a stack advocate, the next I think they are disgusting haha. I will have to wait to get the spray liner installed and whatnot so I may just live with it the way it is and see if I wanna just go to an axle dump or maybe exit behind the passenger rear door. IDK yet. . . Ill get on my phone and attach some images of it both ways ya'll can tell me what looks good from your view

 

Just be aware that a 4" down pipe is a tight squeeze in the later Powerstrokes and is even tighter in the early '99 and older models.

 

But still possible right? I have a production date from the last week in April, so its a late 99 motor early 99 chassis right?

What size is the downpipe thats in there already?

 

April should be a late production date. I believe that April or May is when they actually start the next year model production.
I think that my 01' was 3.5 inches to begin with. I did not change it when I went to 4". The Magnaflow engineers say that the smaller diameter down pipe provides better low end torque at the sacrifice of top end horsepower.

 

I thought the early 99s had a 98 production date?

Low end torque vs high end HP eh? Decisions. . .

 

My 4" downpipe was easy to install, the stock pipe however was a PITA to get out and I had to cut it...

Like Sous, stacks aren't for me, but will be curious to see the build.

 

For the engine sometime in 12/98 is when they become "late", the suspension items were used until they ran out and were all "late" by sometime in March of '99.

 

Thats odd that the small one would be harder to maneuver. Yeah stacks arent the popular choice, but we will see what I end up doing.

Yeah thats what I was thinking, I know my suspension is actually got some mixed parts, had to keep calling and getting parts switched out on my lift kit. Took me like 2 weeks to get everything right. . .

So, is the 4" down pipe worth getting?

 

I'm going to take a wild stab and guess that it has to do with the length of the tail on it. If there's six feet running under the cab it will be harder to get out of there than if there's only 18"-24" on it.

 

This! The overall length is what makes it a pain, going over the transmission crossmember.

 

Ohhhh I gotcha. I don't mind doing a little cutting.

There re isn't any brands to avoid is there? As far as exhaust.

And, what's on the end of the downpipe that I will attach the rest of the exhaust to? Say if I get a diamond eye I can use any system with it or fab my own?

 

Mine is just like regular exhaust pipe and the front section slides inside of the rear section and gets clamped with a muffler clamp. If I was doing the job I believe that I'd go with SS front to rear so I wouldn't have to monkey with it for a long time, if ever.