Summit Cat Back??
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From: Iowa
Summit Cat Back??
I am getting close to ordering a cat back exhaust for my 91 w/5.8l. I'm thinking hard about the Gibson Swept side single. Mainly looking to improve mileage and don't really want it any louder. I read a lot of people recommending the Flowmaster, but I'm thinking it is going to be louder than I am looking for. However, at half the price has anyone used the Summit system or is it just that, worth half as much???
Also: I am not so much looking for top end horsepower. I am most interested in increasing the performance/efficiency around 1500-2500 rpms (that is where most of my driving happens) With a 3" exhaust will I maintain proper backpressure if I 'clean' the cats and leave the stock manifolds on?
Thanks for the help,
Kurtis
91 F-150, Xcab, 4x4, Lariat, 5.8l, auto, 3.55
Also: I am not so much looking for top end horsepower. I am most interested in increasing the performance/efficiency around 1500-2500 rpms (that is where most of my driving happens) With a 3" exhaust will I maintain proper backpressure if I 'clean' the cats and leave the stock manifolds on?
Thanks for the help,
Kurtis
91 F-150, Xcab, 4x4, Lariat, 5.8l, auto, 3.55
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From: AK
Summit Cat Back??
kwebb--
I installed the Summit 3" catback system on my '90 F-150 SingleCab Shortbox 351w about a month and a half ago. It has a fairly mellow tone to it, not all that loud... clean sounding tho. Nice lil' burble to it. (i'm a little partial to blub-blub-blub of the flowmaster tho) I was honestly lookin forward to it being a bit louder but its alright. Its recently gotten louder in the past couple of weeks, probably due to break-in and my K&N filter gives it a bit more resonance as well. The hp gains are in the higher rpm range, about 1800rpms and up...at WOT it'll get yer *** a lil' closer to the back of yer seat
About 8 more ponies is wut I suspect. It was kinda tough putting it in, didn't seems to fit like a glove...but it took about 2 hours total for installation. Overall this is a decent kit for 150 dolla... Hope this helps--
Ray
I installed the Summit 3" catback system on my '90 F-150 SingleCab Shortbox 351w about a month and a half ago. It has a fairly mellow tone to it, not all that loud... clean sounding tho. Nice lil' burble to it. (i'm a little partial to blub-blub-blub of the flowmaster tho) I was honestly lookin forward to it being a bit louder but its alright. Its recently gotten louder in the past couple of weeks, probably due to break-in and my K&N filter gives it a bit more resonance as well. The hp gains are in the higher rpm range, about 1800rpms and up...at WOT it'll get yer *** a lil' closer to the back of yer seat
About 8 more ponies is wut I suspect. It was kinda tough putting it in, didn't seems to fit like a glove...but it took about 2 hours total for installation. Overall this is a decent kit for 150 dolla... Hope this helps--Ray
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From: Davenport USA
Summit Cat Back??
Thanks AK! I was looking for input on that setup...
I was tossing around that, or the Dynomax Super turbo setup (dual outlets, pass side)
I reallllllllly like the sound of super turbos, so that was what I was leaning towards. However, the dual pipes always look cooler coming out the back.
What was the trouble getting it on? Just general fitment?
Chris
I was tossing around that, or the Dynomax Super turbo setup (dual outlets, pass side)
I reallllllllly like the sound of super turbos, so that was what I was leaning towards. However, the dual pipes always look cooler coming out the back.
What was the trouble getting it on? Just general fitment?
Chris
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From: AK
Summit Cat Back??
Umm.... the installation was a bit frustrating actually. Everything fit perfectly together, but when it came to placing under/over things it took a little patience to clear the gastank...rear axle... make sure it didn't hit the springs...and my pipes are even a lil' cockeyed 
(i was like son-of-a...) when they didn't center up perfectly 
... but no matter... I'll get her all lined up this weekend after I get my 4" tips in. Had to drill holes for the exhaust hangers as well. I think a more expensive system may be easier to install, but I really enjoying the nice blub-gurgle my 351 puts out ...was worth it!! Note: The passenger side outlet of the super-turbo kit you are considering will have more interior resonance. Well... hope this helps...
Ray
(i was like son-of-a...) when they didn't center up perfectly ... but no matter... I'll get her all lined up this weekend after I get my 4" tips in. Had to drill holes for the exhaust hangers as well. I think a more expensive system may be easier to install, but I really enjoying the nice blub-gurgle my 351 puts out ...was worth it!! Note: The passenger side outlet of the super-turbo kit you are considering will have more interior resonance. Well... hope this helps...Ray
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From: Davenport USA
Summit Cat Back??
>Note:
>The passenger side outlet of the super-turbo kit you are
>considering will have more interior resonance. Well... hope
>this helps...
>Ray
Thanks for the info!
Now, do you mean "good" resonance, or more of a vibration?
So many choices, and so little money!
Chris
>The passenger side outlet of the super-turbo kit you are
>considering will have more interior resonance. Well... hope
>this helps...
>Ray
Thanks for the info!
Now, do you mean "good" resonance, or more of a vibration?
So many choices, and so little money!
Chris
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From: On the farm near Loveland
Summit Cat Back??
Hey, kwebb, the Flowmaster 70 series isn't loud at all, if that's important to you. I didn't want loud myself, just more free-flow on my truck. I've got a 3" Flowmaster 70 on my 460, even after long-tube headers and it has a low, low grumble to it. Just a very bass sound, more of an echoey rumble than anything else. No bark, not even when I wind it out. We measured the exhaust back pressure by putting a guage temporarily in one of the oxy sensor bungs and there wasn't any- very free flowing. My truck sounds, well, like a truck with a great big motor. 
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From: Iowa
Summit Cat Back??
Did you see any sort of a mpg increase/decrease on the 460 when you went to the headers and 3" exhaust? Assuming same driving habits of course. Right now I'm getting 11 on a very routine basis and just have to make an improvement. This is driving a hilly (not mountains), curvy 30 mile trip to and from work everyday. Love the truck and it drives great, I'm just afraid I'm going to wear out the fuel lines from the inside out with all the fuel flowing through them.
Kurtis
91 4x4 Xcab Lariat 5.8l auto 3.55ls
Kurtis
91 4x4 Xcab Lariat 5.8l auto 3.55ls
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From: AK
Summit Cat Back??
Hey--
I've heard two exhaust setups that had the same mufflers but different pipe routing. Two of my friends have Gibson exhaust (very very quiet if you ask me...) One of 'em has the dual outlet, rear exit and that is a whole hell of a lot queiter than my 3" Summit Catback (given he's rollin' a D*dge 5.2) and then my other bud has the Gibson Super Truck on his F-150 with a 4.6 and that is a very clean exhaust note to it. Not too loud... low grumble and gets a bit louder when he gets on her. With the side exit you will hear more of your exhaust note than with a dual rear exit one. It is not really a vibration you'll get, just the exhaust tone will be more defined inside the cab becuase the direction the exhaust is exiting. You don't want a Gibson anyway (too pricey), but any exhaust that flows out the side will be noticably louder in the cab. I really just wish I bought a flowmaster muffler and turndowns for underneath my truck... that would be a relatively cheap setup and be plenty loud. $80 muff and $30 tips I think.... anyways... my .02
Ray
I've heard two exhaust setups that had the same mufflers but different pipe routing. Two of my friends have Gibson exhaust (very very quiet if you ask me...) One of 'em has the dual outlet, rear exit and that is a whole hell of a lot queiter than my 3" Summit Catback (given he's rollin' a D*dge 5.2) and then my other bud has the Gibson Super Truck on his F-150 with a 4.6 and that is a very clean exhaust note to it. Not too loud... low grumble and gets a bit louder when he gets on her. With the side exit you will hear more of your exhaust note than with a dual rear exit one. It is not really a vibration you'll get, just the exhaust tone will be more defined inside the cab becuase the direction the exhaust is exiting. You don't want a Gibson anyway (too pricey), but any exhaust that flows out the side will be noticably louder in the cab. I really just wish I bought a flowmaster muffler and turndowns for underneath my truck... that would be a relatively cheap setup and be plenty loud. $80 muff and $30 tips I think.... anyways... my .02
Ray
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: On the farm near Loveland
Summit Cat Back??
>Did you see any sort of a mpg increase/decrease on the 460
>when you went to the headers and 3" exhaust?
I put the Flowmaster exhaust on first, and I didn't see any change in mileage. I didn't see any change after the headers. But adding the headers was an tremendous performance improvement and didn't cost any mileage, either.
Empty, I get right around 11 myself, driving rural two lanes about 60% of the time and driving in town the rest. Yes, the expense bites.
The three things I did do that did help mileage after I bought the truck was to do a major tuneup with good plug wires and platinum plugs. Also when I went with taller tires- the 4:10 in the back doesn't help matters much. I also went to Red Line synthetic ATF and axle lube and Mobil 1 10W-30 in the engine. All of this might have given me 1-1/2 MPG improvement.
Hey, that's 10%!
>when you went to the headers and 3" exhaust?
I put the Flowmaster exhaust on first, and I didn't see any change in mileage. I didn't see any change after the headers. But adding the headers was an tremendous performance improvement and didn't cost any mileage, either.
Empty, I get right around 11 myself, driving rural two lanes about 60% of the time and driving in town the rest. Yes, the expense bites.
The three things I did do that did help mileage after I bought the truck was to do a major tuneup with good plug wires and platinum plugs. Also when I went with taller tires- the 4:10 in the back doesn't help matters much. I also went to Red Line synthetic ATF and axle lube and Mobil 1 10W-30 in the engine. All of this might have given me 1-1/2 MPG improvement.
Hey, that's 10%!
