installing 3inch exhaust
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Freshman User
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installing 3inch exhaust
I rebuilt my351w and its not stock any more and Im getting ready to put on Heddman long tube headers and Im wondering if anyone has run 3in exhaust without mufflers. Im considering running straight exhaust off of the headers. Im curious if it will give me more horsepower or do I need mufflers. I know mufflers do cause back pressure and will decrease horsepower. Right now I have headhugger headers with 2in exhaust with flowmasters and Im not happy with the way it sounds. Any suggestions would be appreciated
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Gateway to the West
Keep in mind that losing too much backpressure loses your low-end torque as well (which is where most trucks develope their HP). There IS such a thing as too little backpressure and that will hurt your performance as much as too much backpressure. Personally, with 3" all the way back, I'd consider putting some sort of muffler in their.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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If you are interested in selling the headhugger headers and flowmasters shoot me an email. tryinhard@hotmail.com
Thanks
Thanks
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Thule AFB, Greenland
I would stick w/ a factory style setup from any of the exhaust manf. I personaaly think that Bassani is some of the best exhaust money can buy for the 351. I know I will have a lot of people disagreeing w/ me, but until you look at the craftmanship and just the performance increase you just can't say much about them. Let the arguements begin.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
Satcom,
I'll heartily second the Bassani support. I have their system behind my 302 and its beautiful sounding and performing. Its single 3" and makes for very nice power and sound level.
I'll heartily second the Bassani support. I have their system behind my 302 and its beautiful sounding and performing. Its single 3" and makes for very nice power and sound level.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Thule AFB, Greenland
Greystreak,
It's nice to see a Bassani lover. They are a great Exhaust. I couldn't believe the sound out of a single exhaust system. AWESOME! The quality is great.
It's nice to see a Bassani lover. They are a great Exhaust. I couldn't believe the sound out of a single exhaust system. AWESOME! The quality is great.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Independence, MO
If your running true duals off those headers then i personal would not go bigger than 2 1/2 because it will rob you of your lower end tork which you realy need in a heavy vehicle, however if your gona run a y-pipe into a single, then a 3" pipe would be fine for single. Good Luck! DW
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Junior User
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I just had a three-inch system installed at a local shop. The guy removed the second cat (I didn't ask him to) so I would have 3" all the way out the back. He used a muffler by "Full Boar Exhaust" . The increase in performance is significant.
But.....The exhaust is too loud. It sounds great accelerating, but when cruising at a constant ~2000 RPM on the highway I get too much "rumble" inside. Maybe I'm getting old (well I know I am) but I can't even have a conversation over the noise. I want to try a different muffler.
I'd like comments on the Gibson, Magnaflow, Basani, etc. I'm much more concerned with quiet inside than a sweet sound outside.
But.....The exhaust is too loud. It sounds great accelerating, but when cruising at a constant ~2000 RPM on the highway I get too much "rumble" inside. Maybe I'm getting old (well I know I am) but I can't even have a conversation over the noise. I want to try a different muffler.
I'd like comments on the Gibson, Magnaflow, Basani, etc. I'm much more concerned with quiet inside than a sweet sound outside.
Last edited by RVCams; Dec 12, 2003 at 09:26 PM.
Freshman User
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From: Lubbock, TX
I have a performance cat and a straight through bullet muffler (basically a bigger pipe with a little restriction). It has good deep sound though it can get a little noisy inside at low RPM.
You will probably want to put some sort of restriction somewhere in the pipe whether it be the cat, the muffler or anything, otherwise you won't be able to hear anything.
I know that my exhaust is installed right below the rear passenger seat and it causes a tone that makes it impossible to hear from that seat.
Also, remember that Ford never intended for the muffler to be dualed out on a Bronco and if you do opt for the dual tips that they will hang your brake-line with tiestraps, you need to check these every so often because a brake line hitting the exhaust is not good (I know from experience
)
You will probably want to put some sort of restriction somewhere in the pipe whether it be the cat, the muffler or anything, otherwise you won't be able to hear anything.
I know that my exhaust is installed right below the rear passenger seat and it causes a tone that makes it impossible to hear from that seat.
Also, remember that Ford never intended for the muffler to be dualed out on a Bronco and if you do opt for the dual tips that they will hang your brake-line with tiestraps, you need to check these every so often because a brake line hitting the exhaust is not good (I know from experience
)
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From: Dallas
Back to the orginal post... I have heard that if you put a set of long tube headers with a cross over pipe for the two it will provide some back pressure. The other option is a set of glass packs or cherry bomb mufflers that provide basically minimal back pressure. Both will be loud like none other though. The cross pipe I have never seen work only heard about, the glass packs I have had myself before without losing any power.
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