I put on a flowmaster exhaust on my 01 F150 and was not satisfied with the sound so i cut the muffler off right after the cats and just threw a turndown on.... are there any problems with doing this? Was this a dumb move for performance and overall wellness of my truck?

 

All depends on your location as the local laws about decibel levels. Here in south west TN. I run straight exhuast (no cats or mufflers) on '96 powerstroke. I would be worried as to putting turndowns right after the cats as the exhaust fumes will rise into the cab while your sitting still. I would route the exhaust to come out somewhere behind the cab.

 

Items of concern......as previously stated the possibility of exhaust gas entering the passenger area while in traffic very high...use to be a very popular mod to cars in the late 60's early 70's.

Illegal? techcially probably.....anything that increases the OEM decible levels is citable but knowing the Ford cats...you should be ok.

Illegal #2: technically you are in violation of EPA fed rule for smog cert 9no muffler), so just be carefull who you go to for your smog check so you don't get a jerk and emd up having to go to a federal smog station for the rest of your life!

 

Hey Beechkid,
I used to live in ventura county, Hated putting up with the ****'s on the smog laws.
Moved to Tennessee 11 years ago. We don't have any smog laws at all here in this county. Also my registration on my '96 F350 is $55.00 a year. Also about not having mufflers, I got stopped by a TN. state trooper for exceeding the need slightly. After all the reg, ins., license check we spent about 35 minutes talking about the straight stacks on my truck and how he was thinking about doing the same to his '01 PSD. Smog ****'s in Cali would of had me arrested! LOL! That is why I told dirtJb18 depends on his location.

 

I can relate! although I was never hasselled over the straights on my F150, unfortunitely it's a federal reg and even if the local smog cops don't cite, although it is very unlikely, even a state Air Resources Board staffer can issue a cite in the mail!

 

I just chopped the muffler off my '97 last week as well. Virginia doesnt have emissions testing where Im at, and in Virginia, you dont need a muffler to pass inspections. But, the exhaust must exit at least 16" past the back of the cab...