Performance Exhaust
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Chippewa Falls, WI
Performance Exhaust
I was wondering if anybody out there had used any of those off the shelf "bolt-on" exhaust kits? I was wondering if you had good luck or bad luck with any particular brand. They are all pretty expensive and I want to make sure I don't spend a lot of money on something I have to cobble together to make it work. I am also interested in upgrading to Headers at the same time. Any input would be appreciated.
1994 F150
Reg. Cab Long Box
351W
E4OD
1994 F150
Reg. Cab Long Box
351W
E4OD
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: La Grande, OR
a buddy put on a bolt-on flowmaster from the cat-back, went together fine and sounds not-to-bad. Have helped a couple other people with other systems, Borla, Magnaflow....they all go together well, and come with good clamping hardware, but in my opinion, always weld your exhaust, and they are really easy to do that to as well.
Had a complete custom exhaust on mine, from the mani's-back. True duals, no kitties, and Flowmaster 40's with 3"Cutouts.
Had a complete custom exhaust on mine, from the mani's-back. True duals, no kitties, and Flowmaster 40's with 3"Cutouts.
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From: The dark carnival
If you know what you are doing you should not have any problems with a kit from a reputable brand...Flowmaster etc.etc. If you try to cut corners, go cheap and what not, then you may run into problems. You get what you pay for.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
drive around to some local muff shops and get some quotes i think you will be suprised and find you get more of a custom job.
cat backs are nice for sound but provide no performance increase. installing headers, new y pipe with hi flow cats and 3" exhaust out stock location will give noticable gains and improved mpg. unless like most of us you like the feel and sound so the skinny peddle gets a bit more work
cat backs are nice for sound but provide no performance increase. installing headers, new y pipe with hi flow cats and 3" exhaust out stock location will give noticable gains and improved mpg. unless like most of us you like the feel and sound so the skinny peddle gets a bit more work
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
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From: Ashland City, TN
I think he ment from the cat and back.
oh well.
The bolt on kits are nice if your going stainless or what not, but your muffler shops can do just as good if you get the right guy working on it.
The guy who replaced my Hpipe though screwed up the rest of my exhaust a little, but there isn't much I can do. I think he was a little late for his last line. haha.
I wanted the old guy there.
If you have a local muffler man, they usually have the best bending equipment, and atleast 3 good muffler mechanics, and they really know what they are talking about.
I got a flowmaster40 knock off from them. took my duals to one muffler, then back again, it friggen rocks hard core!
oh well.
The bolt on kits are nice if your going stainless or what not, but your muffler shops can do just as good if you get the right guy working on it.
The guy who replaced my Hpipe though screwed up the rest of my exhaust a little, but there isn't much I can do. I think he was a little late for his last line. haha.
I wanted the old guy there.
If you have a local muffler man, they usually have the best bending equipment, and atleast 3 good muffler mechanics, and they really know what they are talking about.
I got a flowmaster40 knock off from them. took my duals to one muffler, then back again, it friggen rocks hard core!
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From: The dark carnival
"If you have a local muffler man, they usually have the best bending equipment"
The best bending machine is a manderal bender...
Those things cost about 100,000 dollars depending on which one you get and I have NEVER seen a muffler shop with one. You have to go to some specialty shop that does almost nothing but bend pipe to find someone with a manderal bender.
The best bending machine is a manderal bender...
Those things cost about 100,000 dollars depending on which one you get and I have NEVER seen a muffler shop with one. You have to go to some specialty shop that does almost nothing but bend pipe to find someone with a manderal bender.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Chippewa Falls, WI
Thanks for the info. I beleive in doing things right the first time so there isn't a second. I will get some quotes locally then compare to places like flowmaster. I just want my truck to sound good. Heck I am paying 2.40 per gallon to feed a 351, might as well sound like one and hopefully perform like one. 
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From: La Grande, OR
Originally Posted by eco
"If you have a local muffler man, they usually have the best bending equipment"
The best bending machine is a manderal bender...
Those things cost about 100,000 dollars depending on which one you get and I have NEVER seen a muffler shop with one. You have to go to some specialty shop that does almost nothing but bend pipe to find someone with a manderal bender.
The best bending machine is a manderal bender...
Those things cost about 100,000 dollars depending on which one you get and I have NEVER seen a muffler shop with one. You have to go to some specialty shop that does almost nothing but bend pipe to find someone with a manderal bender.
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From: The dark carnival
"The guy that did my exhaust had one. Of course, you pretty much only bend pipe in an exhaust shop, so I guess it works. and BTW, he said his only cost him 25,000 and it works up to 8" pipe."
Did he buy new? What brand?
And you pretty much only bend pipe in an exhaust? No brakes, shocks, oil changes, welding, answering the phone to talk to customers, installing pipe/mufflers/cats...?
"so I guess it works"
What works?
Did he buy new? What brand?
And you pretty much only bend pipe in an exhaust? No brakes, shocks, oil changes, welding, answering the phone to talk to customers, installing pipe/mufflers/cats...?
"so I guess it works"
What works?
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: La Grande, OR
Originally Posted by eco
......shop that does almost nothing but bend pipe to find someone with a manderal bender.
No he didnt buy new, its about 3 years old, and I didnt ask what brand, so couldnt tell you
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Bassani Y-Pipe, they are the real deal...
http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/exhausts-mufflers/61A2673A0A0.aspx?kc=MOTORH
http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/exhausts-mufflers/61A2673A0A0.aspx?kc=MOTORH
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Chippewa Falls, WI
I know it has been quite a while since this thread was out there but I had to update.
The factory system on my 94 finally gave up and pretty much fell off so after getting some estimates at shops and price quotes from napa and the like I decided to order a cat back system from flowmaster. The price was right and it was easy as hell to install (only took about three hours, mostly removing the old parts).
I must disagree with everybody who said I wouldn't see any performance gains from just doing a cat back system. I won't say it is a race car now, but I do notice it is more responsive and overall seat of my pants tells me it just gets up and goes better. I will let everybody know after this tank of fuel is bunt up if the mpg got any better although I don't expect it to since now I can't keep my foot out of it.
I still agree for the most hp gains one should do headers, high flow cats and such but I am happy for what I have into it.
The factory system on my 94 finally gave up and pretty much fell off so after getting some estimates at shops and price quotes from napa and the like I decided to order a cat back system from flowmaster. The price was right and it was easy as hell to install (only took about three hours, mostly removing the old parts).
I must disagree with everybody who said I wouldn't see any performance gains from just doing a cat back system. I won't say it is a race car now, but I do notice it is more responsive and overall seat of my pants tells me it just gets up and goes better. I will let everybody know after this tank of fuel is bunt up if the mpg got any better although I don't expect it to since now I can't keep my foot out of it.
I still agree for the most hp gains one should do headers, high flow cats and such but I am happy for what I have into it.
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Good advice guys. The only time a kit is a nice attribute is when its specifically designed for your Make and Model. Other than that save your self the hassle of trying to rig a crappy system onto your truck. The nice thing about having it done custom is it will shape to the contour of your vehicle, and it will hide it nicely..It will accomodate for any bends it must take, and look clean. I say you could get a catback system install $250, and that would be for like a 3 inch inlet muffler, and dual 2 1/2 inch outlet. If you replace the cat with a high flow one, and get a set of headers, and a performance y pipe, then you would really be getting some very noticeable numbers. If you put the headers in yourself, and drove to the shop, they could hook into your new y pipe with new 3 inch piping, down to your 3 inch cat, and then into your 3 inch muffler, and out into two 2 1/2 inch outlets, and run a the two pipes behind each tire or wherever you preferred. That would be my opinion, and it shouldnt be too much if you put the headers in yourself. And you could easily see 25% increase in power all across the board with a set up like that man.