I just had flowmasters installed on my EFI 460 in a 88 F350. I am not happy with the sound at all. They are straight piped out the back, but they are just a low rumble. I have a huge catylitic converter, could that be causing it to be sow low? I want the real aggressive sound, and don't know how to get it? Any suggestions?

 

Cats tend to muffle just as much as mufflers, so you could: #1 cut off your cats and forget them (illegal) or #2 buy some high preformace cats (legal in most places). Personally i would just cut em' off because there isnt much enforcement of emissions around here. but thats up to you.

 

I live in Lancaster, Pa. I don't know all the emmissions laws, so I want to cut the cat off, but I also want to pass inspection. Anyone on here know the Pa. State emissions laws? Thanks for the quick reply!

 

Which Flowmaster do you have? The 40 series is usually the loudest one you can get. The cat will definately make it quieter.

 

I have the 40 series on it, the guy who installed them is looking up a high flow cat to put on. My cat is stock, and it's about 24" long and about 8" in diameter. He think's it may be clogged up or something. So we will see. He's cutting me a break on the cat, cause he saw I wasn't happy with the sound. I paid $350 for the flowmasters and piped from the cat straight out to the back bumper.

 

I don't know specifically about PA but I do know that in most states if you put in things to improve like your airflow, headers, exhuast, etc, enough to where its burning most of the gas going to the chambers then you'll be legal. Its not so much losing one component of the system, just keep the entire system above a certain percentage. Not too hard to do actually. Anyways, good luck.

James

 

i wasn't happy with my exhaust, so I just cut the cat off. that will dramatically improve the sound of any exhaust. cats are probably one of the most constrictive exhaust components. of course, it didn't take long for me to want to do something more, so I installed headers and true duals in front of the rear wheels with glasspacks. sounds nice, personally I like the popping sound.

by the way, 350 bucks is alot of money for flowmasters. ALOT

 

I found out the inspection laws, and now where does it state anything about a catylitic converter having to be in place. If you wanna verify it yourself, or make your own opinion of it, here is the link.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter175/chap175toc.html

So check it out!! :-staun

 

I am on the other side of the state. Over here it is screwed up in the emision thing. They go by countys. Not all have it. Mine has it. There is two parts to it, first is a visual, they look for cats, egr's, pvc's, air pumps, charcol canisters, and gas filler pipe restrictors. If your truck is supose to have any of these and they aren't there you failed, even before it is put on the machine. The second is the test. If you fail the emisions part you can't get the safty inspection done. Like I said this is in certain countys and not statewide. Not sure what Lancaster has, but if they go statewide with this you might need the cat. Maybe you can fab a staitpipe to take the place of the cat, and put the cat back on to do the emisions. It a little more work, but how bad do you want the sound. Hope this helps.

Chad

 

I installed the Edelbrock HD mufflers with a center I/O. I don't have cats and they produce a raspy sound when you get on it.

Reggie

 

Okay, two basic questions for everyone here. First question I have is what is the chance of going through the emissions tests over there? I live in WA and the only chance I have of putting my truck through an emissions test is if I live in or very near Seattle and if I take it to CA. Other than that, I'm pretty set as far as never being checked. Guess thats also part of having a '96. Second question, why not find some chunks of steel, weld them together and make yourself like a dummy cat. I've never tried it and have no idea how hard it would be to do but not hard to find cheap metal and a buddy to weld it for ya. Anyways, Goodluck everyone.

James

 

You could cut out the cats and leave off the pipes from the mufflers back. That has a good sound then and if you don't like it you can always put the back pipes back on. The truks I've seen like that sound realy mean.

 

You could take the cat off and gut it.I've used 500MCM copper cable and ram it through.It breaks the insides up empty and reinstall.Then you still have your cat for inspection.

 

It's probably too late to answer this, but here's my 2 cents worth! One of the best sounding F150 pickups I ever heard had the stock Cat still installed, but the mufflers removed. Just straight pipes from the cat to the rear of the truck! I don't know how/if it affected performance, but it still passed emissions testing and sounded great.

Superbru
2002 F150 Super Crew
5.4 4X4 Lariat

 

The loudest mufflers i've seen are the Delta Force Flowmasters, they are single chambers and VERY loud... just to give you an idea, 40 series flowmasters a 2 chamber mufflers