"Im not going to pay a lot for this muffler". That is for sure.

 

You SHOULDN"T Have TOO!

 

Carnivore, ChrisAdams speaks the truth. Go to a local shop that someone is running independently (not a chain) and you will have better luck. Also, you might want to price mufflers on your own (look around the web) and be armed with the pricing when you talk to the manager. If their mufflers are more expensive, toss out the price you can get it for and see if they will match it. I am pretty confident the muffler cost me $40 and the labor $40 since it probably only took 30 minutes to do. Anything in between $75 to $125 is a great deal. North of that you are starting to get hosed in my opinion.

Hope that helps some.

T

 

THanks. Im looking around now. Now another question. A good friend of mine just email me this..... "I have no doubt that it sounds awesome. Check the horsepower gains/losses though. And I don't mean going to flowmaster site and seeing what they have to say. Opening the exhaust without opening the intake and changing calibration might end up with a net loss of horsepower. Specially low end."


Can anyone verfiy that I won't lose horsepower? I do have a K&N filter.

 

Hi,Carnivore, your rig looks like it would have a 5.4. My reg cab 4.6 didn't drop in horsepower, I doubt any of our trucks would. But, losing low end torque is possible, though I didn't.

When you reduce the back pressure, you move the power curve up the RPM range, much the same as adding a higher lift/duration cam shaft. I can only go by my truck. I noticed more 'off the line' punch after reducing the back pressure. And much better wide open throttle response.
This is with a K&N, and a Superchips. I have since reverted to stock tune, as my Superchips is being reprogramed (second week they've had it). Still good off the line, still better wide open.

I have the Stock Mich tires, 30.8 inches tall, stock 3.55 rear gears, and a complete catback system.

If you just install a muffler with better flow, while keeping your stock exhaust, I don't think you will lose any bottom end torque, and you will probably gain some, even off the line. Certainly at freeway speeds.
There won't be enough change to make it 'peaky'. That's the way they get when you kill your bottom end, with a too much cam or with an open exhaust.
When the motor is peaky, it stumbles ,or is weak out of the hole, then booms upwards as you get more RPMs. Fun in a hotrod, but lousy in a daily driver.

Unless you have HUGE tires, I sure wouldn't worry.
Chris

 

Thanks. I have stock tires (32 inches (275/65/18) and only plan on replacing the muffler. I don't care to gain anything, only want the rumble sound. Looks like Meineke has some really good prices and I shoudl be able to get their Vortex installed for $150 or less if I can negotiate. There are 3 series that vortex has. 40, 60 and 80, with 80 being the loudest. I assume that because 40 is the quietest of the bunch, they would have more backpressure? Maybe that is the safest way to go and also get a little rumble.

 

I don't think the quietest muffler will 'rumble' very much. I first had an 18 inch Magnaflow. With the short cab, it was too loud. Drone when going up hills, pressure on the ears. Great at full bore, or on the freeway. I switched to a 24 inch Magnaflow, (no cost, like I said, I like this place,) still a little drone. On your truck, you wouldn't hear it at all inside. Longer cab = further from pipe.

When you talk to the muffler guys have them compare the sound to the Magnaflow. You want something between the 18-24 probably. Since your pipes will be smaller diameter, you probably could use almost anything.
When comparing, ask about Harmonics.
Fancy expression for when the exhaust hits a certain note, and the truck viberates in harmony. I have had a couple of exhaust systems that had a wicked viberation at high idle, usually on small engines.

Good luck,
Chris

 

truckasaurus,

can you please read to me the exact model you got? There are a couple models of Ravin at midas and I want to know which one has the least internal noise. If you are happy with your internal noise being quite for high way speeds ill take your word for it.

 

Carnivore, I am pretty sure it is the Ravin 33 series, but will have to check the receipt in my truck. I will look at it tonight and post for you. As far as your earlier post about losing low end torque, I think if anything I gained but its not really discernable in my opinion. With an intake kit, I think you'd have little to fear anyway. Will get back to you on the Muff part number.

T

 

I had custom dual Ravin system put under the Bronco at Midas. Pipes exit behind the rear wheels. It doesn't sound like sewing machine anymore at idle and really the only time you can hear is when you are accelerating, slight drone at highway speeds. When they did it I asked for quitest Ravins they had. Complete from the exhaust manifolds to the rear wheels including new cats was 650 bucks.. The mufflers are steel, but the pipes were custom bent stainless. It's a nice system and it definitely helped the 351 breathe.. Here's the web site. http://goravin.com/

 

As it turns out, its a Ravin 55 series (middle between the 33 and 77). Part no. RA55554302.

T

 

I'm cutting mine in half and making a fajita pit out of it. Texas thang I guess

 

God bless you texans.

Truckasaurus.

Thanks. I assume the 33 is quieter and the 77 is louder? I need to figure out how to hide it from the wife and just pretend that the sound was always there. any suggestions?

 

hey,
since u already did this, what size inlet/outlet do i need to just replace muffler with stock pipes. i have 04 xlt 5.4

 

Can't help there, my trucks a 4.6. Don't have a clue if it's the same pipe. I would measure just for fun, but the pipe and muffler are up in the rafters above my garage.

Chris.