Shopping for a 409 stainless exhaust for my 97 PSD. I know one of the site sponsors sells a 3" DP w/ 4" rest of the way system with cat delete and full flow muffler for about $490 to my door. Warpspeed Performance has similar specs for about $360 to my door. The only difference I have been able to determine is the less expensive one uses some stainless hangers and some cadmium plated hangers instead of all stainless hangers (I believe) on the MBRP. I live in PA and want stainless due to the use of salt on the roads as well as my relatively short commute to and from work; both major contributors to exhaust rot.
To me, $130 is a bunch of money. I'll spend it if justified, but I'd just as soon save it if there is no discernable difference between the two.
Anyone have any experience with either of these brands that they can share to help me decide?
Thanks and looking forward to hearing opinions.

 

I have the MBRP kit. I really like it, the fit was good and it sound awesome! Yes, it is pricey but you get what you pay for. I warpspeed website looks ok though...

 

Thanks, fordguy.
Did you get the aluminized or 409 stainless?

 

ckal704,

It just depends on what you're after. The MBRP has a one piece tail pipe, fits and looks like the stock one! It has a muffler packed with a ceramic blanket ansd stainles steel wool, lasts and lasts. So many mufflers today are hollow cores or they use low temp packing that blows out really fast and then they start droning etc. A hollow core muffle ris also a restriction too! Then the MBRP expands the down pipe to 4.0 inches at 21-22 inches from the turbo for best flow and lowest EGT's! Finally the MBRP has soem welded hangers just like the OEM system and the hanger s are plated on the stianles systems, the one you are looking at has bare mild steel hangers that will liekly be rusty as you remove them from the box if anyone with sweaty hands packed them anyway!

Lots of options these days, but you still get what you pay for in almost all cases. Call us we'll be glad to help you with questions etc.

Mark @ DPPI

 

I have the $tainless $teel.

 

Well, UPS dropped off my MBRP 4" exhaust today.

I'll have to wait until Saturday for the install.
Anyone have any tips to make this go easier? Especially cutting out the old downpipe?
I haven't opened the box yet to look at the instructions, but I am sure any real-world experience you folks have to offer will be a useful supplement to even the best installation instructions.

 

I cut the original downpipe with a sawzall with a 10-12" blade. Cut off the head of the dp, near the turbo exhaust housing as far down as you can. Be careful not to cut any fuel lines back there! As for the firewall, just bend over the seam and pound it back a little. That was the most time consuming part, I bet it took me 6-7 hours to do the entire thing by my self (just couldnt wait to put it on). I also stripped the old exhaust clap on the turbo, so dont over tighten it. Good luck

 

Yeah, you gotta cut that downpipe. I cut the ridge at the base of the firewall with a sawzall (for new downpipe clearance) and during that I got frustrated with the heat shield just cut out a chunk of truck. So then I had to make a patch to cover my hole! So be carefull down there! Also connect all the pipes on the hangers before you start tightening things.

Just wait until you hear it, ahhhh.

 

Well, I couldn't wait until Saturday to get started. I brought it into my shop last night. Had the old exshaust out in about an hour and a half. Plasma cutters rule! (note to those who cut out the oem downpipe with plasma cutter: stuff the area in front of the valley of the engine with old leather welding gloves or equvalent. There is usually some small quantity of oil laying in there and mine got to smoldering a little bit. I put it out, then covered with leather.)

Anyway-I am thinking "Daggone, boy! You are moving right along"
Well, 6 hours later the best I have is the downpipe attached. For the life of me I can barely get the midpipe and downpipe to line up right. So I figure its about quittin time for the night and I'll just throw one hanger on and run straight pipe until I finish it tonight. I can't figure out the midpipe hanger! I read the instructions and looked at the pictures umpteen times and am sure I am using the right hangers, but that midpipe sits so high I have to install the hanger upside down to make it align and hang on the rubber isolator. I wasn't happy with that at all so i took the midpipe off and just ran it with the down pipe. So-for those who have installed MBRP pipes-What am I missing here?
The only thing I can figure is that I need to move the firewall further. I did what I did manually becasue most people who posted said it wasn't all that hard to push it out of the way with a piece of pipe and such. I am borrowing a Porta Power for tonight. From the looks of things, I'll really have to move a chunk of firewall to get this right.
Am I on the right track? I concede that after 10 pm my thought processes were probably a little diminished (no beer-just fatigue), so it seems like I must be missing something simple. Will jacking that firewall back one or two inches do the trick? And what about that midpipe hanger?

Thanks to all that can shed some light on my situation!

 

I had the same problem with the hanger right after the dp too. I had to drill new holes to mount the bracket with the two rubber holes. I have been told that a porta power is the only way to do it, dont get carried away because you can see the dent you put in the firewall in the floor board. I had to have someone hold the top piece of the dp while I fought with the lower part to get it aligned. Once you get the dp in it will be a snap to put the other pieces in. Dont worry this will all be worth it when you can hear that turbo spool up

 

I used the same kit, when I was 'making room' for the downpipe I removed a generous amount of heat sheild off of the firewall/floorpan so then I could see the body seam and then I cut that (along with a bit of floor, ooops) after that cut the downpipe went in with minimal force. I did not have any problems with any hangers. If you have to change any hangers then maybe something isn't lined up right. When you go back with a fresh set of eyes things should be apparent. If not, go ahead and have that beer and take another look!

 

Would that I could!
I am a school shop teacher and am working on this in the evenings in the school shop.
I would be out of work in a heartbeat if I partook of the "thinking man's beverage" while on the campus.
That is why I'd much rather do this in my driveway at home, but the weather is kind of iffy for the next few days and I just can't wait to get the d**n thing in.
It did sound pretty awesome running just the downpipe on the way home, but I don't think I want to hear the turbo all of the time.
Thanks for your help, fellas. I also talked to MBRP today and they said the same thing. On our trucks it is one tight fit. I'll have at it again tonight with the porta power. Probably good I didn't get my hands on one late last night. I was in a mood to push that firewall all the way back to the front passenger seat!

 

Well, it is in. For better or worse.

I am not happy with the way I lined up the downpie and midpipe. I don't know what else to do. I moved a buch of firewall and still things didn't seem to go together quite right. From the midpipe back all the way to the tailpipe everything is good except I think something is wrong with the location of the hangers.
I am going to call this installation a "draw". I did not conquer it, nor did I give up until I at least had a working system. Fortunately, I have a great relationship with my inspection mechanic and he is also a highly competent exhaust man. The truck goes in for inspection on Monday and I'll have him look at it and tweak it into place.
I gues it is kind of like doing a drywall project on your own: You can get it done yourself, but if you get someone who works with it every day to do it, the difference is apparent.