Just wrapped up the MKO 4" exhaust install on my truck. My initial impressions are ! For a long time I debated going to a 5", and I must say my hats off to you guys with a 5" system that cleared the spare tire. Wow, that had to have been tight. Of course I had the usual pain with the downpipe clamp, but a little reefing from below on the DP and wala, it turned loose. Anyway, I am happy to been gone with the stock pipe.

 

Glad you got the new exhaust on. Did you go with a muffler or straight pipe? I really like your avatar.

 

congrats on the install...if you hear some jingling put some RTV around the washers on the hangers..i have the MKO 5" strait piped..i have about an inch between the spare and the pipe...

 

I went with the muffler. We spend a fair amount of time camping with our slide in truck camper, and running in and out of the camp grounds with an obnoxiously loud exhaust was kinda inconsiderate. What I had was the stock pipe, minus the muffler and it was pretty loud. Now it has a lower tone and is quieter, but the turbo whistle is still very noticeable, which I like. I think the DP may be touching the tranny dip stick, and giving me a little bit of a vibe, no biggy, I'll get to it. But first I got a set of Firestone Ride Rite air bags with in cab control to get installed.

I really like my avatar too.

 

Drudging one up from a while back. Ron, I didn't realize you had an MKO 5". I've been in the process of installing one for the last several hours. Thanks for the tip on the washers.

My question to you and any other people out there with this 5" MKO kit, is how the hell do you get the 2 piece tail section to not hit/rub on the shock and still get the tailpipe to come out reasonably straight?????? I've been battling it for a while now and am still not satisfied.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

it took me some time too..i put everything in loose and messed around with it till i got it right..i have a super cab so i had to cut the last strait pipe down a bit..took me a couple cuts so it would miss the shock..gainded a little room by sliding the spare tire to the very rear driver side tail light as far as i could...its a tight fit but it went in..

 

I went with the muffler and have a CC longbed so I didn't need to cut anything. I guess I'll go loosen up the midpipes again and see if I can get it to stop touching the shock. I don't have the spare under there anymore so that's no problem. Just don't want the damn thing banging on the shock.

With the way it is right now, I can get the 1st section of the tailpipe to clear it by an inch or so, but then the end of the tailpipe is almost touching the tires.

I'm going to try one more time tonight and if I don't like it then I'm off to bed for a little bit. Tackle it in the morning.

Thanks Ron. Might hit you up with some more when it's daylight.

 

try to loosen all the clamps and streach the pipes out one at a time till it sits where you want it..i can take pix a little latter if you think it will help you out..

 

Thanks Ron. I got it to not rub finally. Loosened all the clamps from the bottom of DP back. Then I pulled the 1st tail section out of the muffler an inch or so and about 1 1/2" at the joint in the middle of the tailpipe. That got me enough. I shimmed the tailpipe hanger with more washers to hold it in place. There's about 3/8" clearance, if that, between the pipe and shock now. Also removed the spare tire brace thingy that hung down from the x-member. That helps a little too. Tailpipe is level. Pulled it out of shop and it's got a pretty good sound. I'll see more later today when it's fully warmed up.

Later today (after I get some sleep) I'm going to weld the 2 mid-pipes together as well as some bar-stock on for the hangers. All total it'll get rid of 5 clamps and clean it up a bunch!! Not going to do the tail section right now cause I'm wanting to mount an Excursion fuel tank back there. So when that time comes (if it'll fit now with this big a$$ exhaust) I might have to do some tweaking.

Off to bed as the sun comes up!

 

glad to help and to hear you got it Ryan... i ended up getting chrome band clamps to replace the U bolts..a lot cleaner look and i can still take it apart if i need to...

 

Well today's been a dandy to say the least!! Had clearance on the shock but after driving it up the driveway, it's still rubbing. Went over to a neighbor's to use his MIG about midday and just got back. Guess what, I'm only running the downpipe for now. Went to dismantle everything so I could weld that stuff up and I tightened the clamps down too tight last night. Nothing would come loose. Litterally destroyed the muffler ends getting it off as well as the 4" ID that goes over the end of the DP. I'm going to pull the downpipe off tomorrow to make sure it's still ok after wrenching on it all day.

So this means that I'm going to end up running a straight pipe cause nobody has a 5" muffler around here. I'm going to the local big truck shop on Tuesday to see if they have one, if not then getting some straight pipe to weld in.

I know others have had good luck with these MKO's but I'm not very satisfied. Fitment was ok at best and because of the long hours spent on last night and all afternoon and still have a F'd up exhaust, I should have just paid a couple hundred more and got a MBRP.

Anyway, rant over. Ron, how's the noise and drone from your exhaust with that tip? It it a 6"? The drone was my main reason for going with a muffler. My old 4" straight pipe on the OBS had a horrible drone until I put a 5" turndown tip on it. Still had that deep, throaty sound but not much drone. Was wondering if the 5" straight with a 6" tip acted the same way? Thanks for all the help!

 

Even though mine was not 5" it still took a little messing around to get it like I wanted it, but I am super happy with it myself. I actually think the whistle is more pronounced with the muffler than when it was straight piped. Quieter, but with more whistle.

PS I seem to have lost my "subscribe" capability for some reason. Post I made in threads used to auto subscribe, now for some reason they do not, and I get no notices of new posts. Anybody got any ideas?

 

Perhaps the muffler is lower quality with the mko kit. Good luck

 

I have the 5 inch as well...I was very satisfied with it. I thought it fit great, and you couldn't beat the price. In fact yesterday I helped my buddy install the same kit on his ext cab 250. His fit perfectly as well maybe even a little better than mine.

 

Sorry to hear this Ryan.