Any options for an exhaust that doesn't look like it's going to fall off? These factory systems look terrible for what was a $60k vehicle when new..

 

i have an 06 navigator that I installed a cat back magnaflow system. Nice throaty rumble to it with only a bit of hiway drone. I've had it on over six years now still looks/ sounds great. Also it moves the outlet to the side like an Expedition.

 

That's not a fully loaded navigator. The ultimate trims come with chrome tip .

 

It is an ultimate, perhaps the chrome was removed along the way.

However the build sheet shows "without ehaust extension" and I found the chrome tip mentioned with the monochrome appearance package which was in addition to the ultimate package.

Ours is a 4x4 ultimate with power running boards, rear dvd, and tow package. The various sources I find show original MSRP to be between $59-61,000. Sadly I don't have the ofiginal sticker and Ford/Lincoln don't seem to archive that far back.

 

So underneath the Navigator during my last oil change I noticed the offending section of exhaust appears to be removable.

Is it possible to just get this rear extension from an Expidition to eliminate the falling off muffler look?

 

Well nobody seems interested in this topic but

A) I confirmed the part number for the main "cat-back" section of the exhaust is the same between Navigator and Expedition. The difference is the Navigator gets the resonator and the Expedition does not (why? no idea). Walker Exhaust and a couple others make the axle-back extension for the Expedition for about $20.

B) I decided to do that, but came across a Summit Racing sale on the Gibson cat-back that nets <$300 ($308- $25 mfg rebate), so I just ordered that. More expensive than what I was planning but resolves my cosmetic issue, and should open up the sound a little too.

 

The resonator makes the exhaust quieter, which people expect with the Navigator since it's the luxury version of the Expedition.

 

While that's the obvious answer, I can't imagine Expeditions are that loud... basically any modern vehicle is nearly silent from the factory. And they could have at least done it in such a way as to not look like the resonator is falling off!

 

Don't kill the messenger, I just answered your question as to why the Navigator has a resonator.

 

Nothing against you at all. It's just one of those things I don't get about why it looks like that. Also interestingly they eliminated it in 05, and went to a common exhaust (along with common engine and transmission) with Expedition.

I actually wondered if there were some different harmonics with the DOHC engine that dictated the resonator, though I also remember reading somewhere of all the hours Lincoln put into tuning the exhaust to make it sound "just so"

I love the Navigator, after living with it for a little over a year now, but the resonator from a cosmetic standpoint has been driving me nuts. Apparently it doesn't bother others that much

The other issue I had was with the straight back exit, it's annoying when hooking up/disconnecting a trailer to have the exhaust blowing on you, so I'm pretty excited about the new exhaust from sound, cosmetic, and convenience.

 

Big improvement!


Installing was a bit of a pain, as one of the connections was out of round. Sound is a little quieter than I was hoping for but it does have a rumble now. And cosmetic is resolved, as well as side exit so no more hot exhaust while disconnecting trailers.

 

Is that system stainless? I agree with you on the less than stellar look of the rear part of the exhaust.

 

It is available in stainless, but I got the alumunized version. Living in central NC salt/rust aren't really a big concern and it was <$300 for this version with the various promotions.

 

Looks much better that way. The Expy is fairly silent already with the stock exhaust, so can't imagine there's much different with or without it. The sound in my expy opened up quite a bit when I removed the cats, but that's not possible everywhere obviously. There's no requirement for cats where I live, my cats were toast and new ones were prohibitively expensive (>2000 dollars).