For the past few days I've been running a few searches on straight piping and various exhaust systems. No muffler shop in my town carries anything bigger than 3-inch piping but I've read on here by several members that if I wanted to hear what a straight pipe would sound like, just remove muffler and see if I like it, if not put muffler back on.

Well...I removed my muffler and though the turbo flutter and whistling is cool at lower RPMs, when I mash the throttle the truck is LOUD. And it sounds......horrible lol. Anything about 2300 RPMs and over is awfully loud. Is it just loud b/c it's not exiting at the stock location? Right now it just ends at the end of the midpipe where the factory muffler couples on. I don't plan on running it long like this, as I know it blows hot air towards the rear...I'm going to install the muffler back on it tomorrow morning. But I'm debating whether I should just leave it off and then Tuesday order some 4" piping and finish it off to the back like it's suppose to be.

And it seems I've lost some low-end grunt w/o the muffler? Maybe it's just too noisy and I'm not gassing it as hard. I've searched quite a bit and couldn't find answers to my questions, so hopefully more experienced PSD owners can give me some advice.

 

I had the local muffler shop remove the muffler on my '99 F250 SuperCab LWB P.Stroke last week. They replaced the muffler with a pipe for $60. Inside the cab I can't tell any difference in sound unless I roll the passenger side window down. Still at that it isn't very noticable. Outside, however, it sounds great! I have experienced slightly better performance after having this done ie. quicker acceleration. I recommend straight-piping!!!

 

i am in a similar situation myself. cant find a place that does over 3" either. dont know if i have ever heard a straight piped psd but i am sure i will like it. and if it's too obnoxious i will just turn up my radio more!!!!!!!!!

 

Go to your local napa autoparts or go to a Freightliner dealer for semis they have all the different sizes and band clamps.

 

That's what I experienced when I straight piped my truck. Kewl at first, but it was just too loud for my tastes after a while.

That was the case with me. I was laying off the throttle, trying to keep the sound bearable, so my truck seemed weak. Some have reported less low end grunt, buy many haven't experienced that.
What it boils down to is personal preference. Most people like the sound of a straight piped truck, but it's too loud for me, and I can't stand the flutter. Of course, I'm also older than the typical Powerstroke owner, so that might have something to do with it.

 

I just put in the walker BTM from black cloud, sounds great loads of turbo sound and it muffels a bit of the motor. It sounds pretty good, not too loud and the price is really good at $54 delivered. May be an option.

Tom

 

I second the BTM muffler suggestion.

 

Third. I get a little exhaust drone at certain rpm's, but overall very little difference from the stock muffler from in the cab.

 

4th the WBTM!!

 

i have the btm, just can't get it installed...! )(&*&)*(_&*()&)^^(&^...!

 

Very few, if any, muffler shops deal with pipe over 3". They can't bend it. You have to buy the 4" mandrel bent kit. They do, however, carry straight pieses.

 

You need to find a big truck parts supplier in your area, they will have the tubing and clamps you need. Running the exhaust out the stock location as opposed to under the truck as you have it now, changes the sound and tone significantly. I have had run my truck both ways in both 3.5" and 4" and the 4" with the stock exit location sounds great, 3.5" in the stock location is almost as nice. 3.5" under the truck is not too loud but when I stepped up to a 4" DP and 4" tubing exitting under the truck it was too loud so I ran it back to the stock location. It is a nice compromise, louder then the 3.5" but not quite as loud as the 4" under the truck.

 

With the windows up the engine makes enough noise to where the exhaust isn't heard at all. I would imagine if you had a regular cab or something it would probably be too loud.

 

DavidT, I was thinking about taking off my muffler too to see what it sounded like straightpiped and was wondering if you had any problems taking it off. I don't want any of the clamps to break because I need to drive it everyday. Did you need a lot of WD-40 to get it off?

Also if you're interested in going towards the make-your-own system route, then www.airflowonline.com (might have to copy+paste link) has a lot of good parts to make a 4" or 5" system

 

edub, I sprayed WD-40 on the rubber hangers and just used a big pry bar and the rubber hangers came off with ease. I removed the back clamp only (My truck is an 01 and didn't come with a cat) so I'm not sure what's different and what's not with trucks that do have a cat. I took the whole system by tailpipe (That bend there gives you good leverage) and turned it left and right while pulling back. Came off easily. Hope that helps.