Your opinion...
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 1
From: Illernois
Your opinion...
Well im fixing up my 1981 ford f-100, and i wanna make it louder.
It currently has "duals" but they arent very loud at all.
I dont know much so any suggestions are great. But yesterday i talked to a few guys and they suggested a few things.
First off my the exaust comes from just one side of the engine, has a cat, and 1 muffler, than right after the muffler it branches out to duals.
Now the guy i was talking to said to have my muffler removed and replaced just with a pipe and see how i like that. He said if i want it louder after that to see if the guy will remove my cat...
Now by removing this muffler is it going to change my MPG much, or change how my truck runs any different?? Also what do you think i should do?
We have a local guy that works on exaust very cheap and does a good job. So i plan on taking it to him. I think im going to talk to him this thursday and see what he thinks i should do/what he can do, so the suggestions are very well thanked!
It currently has "duals" but they arent very loud at all.
I dont know much so any suggestions are great. But yesterday i talked to a few guys and they suggested a few things.
First off my the exaust comes from just one side of the engine, has a cat, and 1 muffler, than right after the muffler it branches out to duals.
Now the guy i was talking to said to have my muffler removed and replaced just with a pipe and see how i like that. He said if i want it louder after that to see if the guy will remove my cat...
Now by removing this muffler is it going to change my MPG much, or change how my truck runs any different?? Also what do you think i should do?
We have a local guy that works on exaust very cheap and does a good job. So i plan on taking it to him. I think im going to talk to him this thursday and see what he thinks i should do/what he can do, so the suggestions are very well thanked!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 141
Likes: 1
Running without a muffler (straight pipes) will definitely be louder. The mileage gain/loss will be negligible. It might run a little better, but that may just be what it seems like. Removing the cat will result in more power gains, but it may be illegal wherever you live. But that would also make it louder. There are different types of mufflers that are louder than others, like glasspacks or cherry bombs. You have a lot of choices.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 4
From: patricia ab canada
running straight pipes sounds cool,plus i ran a 75 f250 390ci that way,but,burned the valves.it all depends what you want.strait pipes very loud,glass pacs loud, (ie) chery bombs,purple horniesi have chambered mufflers on my 81 ,nice rumble at idle,roars at wide open,(ie)flowmaster 40,thrush welded.turbo mufflers low nice rumble at idle,louder at wide open throttle. when you decide what one you are going with,make sure it conforms with noise bylaws.check out youtube for different exhaust sounds,there hundreds there.have fun.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 712
Likes: 0
From: Blue Eye, mo. hwy 86 & JJ
well what motor do you have? and i'd try getting true duals put on after removing both cats, and perhaps mufflers.... you SHOULD gain power, sound, and MPG from removing cats and muffler and adding true duals...
just my opinion
just my opinion
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 1
From: Illernois
Okay well, i live in illinois and i know we have a law where your too have your Cats. But there are SO many others around here that already have em off. I aint seen no one ticketed or pulled over for having too loud exaust.
An if taking the cat off will increase power and sound and not hurt MPG than im ALLLL for taking them off. Now my only problem is if the guy i plan on taking my truck too will take the cat off. From what i heard he doesnt take them off anymore cause of the law i believe. But a friend said that if you tell him you think your cats are starting to rust or something, that he might take em off cause it could hurt the engine??
If i can get my cats off, do you suggest doing it? An would i want my cats and muffler off??? Thanks!!
An if taking the cat off will increase power and sound and not hurt MPG than im ALLLL for taking them off. Now my only problem is if the guy i plan on taking my truck too will take the cat off. From what i heard he doesnt take them off anymore cause of the law i believe. But a friend said that if you tell him you think your cats are starting to rust or something, that he might take em off cause it could hurt the engine??
If i can get my cats off, do you suggest doing it? An would i want my cats and muffler off??? Thanks!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
What part of Illinios do you live in? I live right across the border in Indiana and my relatives and a couple of friends live in Illinios and they have to get emissions tested. Something you might want to look into. If your taking it to any kind of reputable shop he prolly wont cause thats a huge huge fee if he gets caught doing it. The only thing that taking a cat off will do is alter the sound a little it wont make it louder (I've done this in about 8 off-road trucks). If your so gung ho to take it off what I would do is hollow it out and put a pipe through it so that if you ever do get pulled over it looks like there is a cat on there still.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 335
Likes: 1
From: Spokane washington
I hollowed out the cat, from the cat straight into a purple horny then 90* out in front of the rear passenger tire... i don't like the sound.. yes its loud, but it sounds like a tractor at idle...
in my opinion... chambered mufflers (flow masters or like) sound the best
in my opinion... chambered mufflers (flow masters or like) sound the best
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 1
From: Illernois
Mid illinois. 45 minutes from Champaign, IL.
Im not exactly gun ho on taking it off, its just from what ive been reading that it could help the preformance of my truck and thats alright with me haha.
As for gutting the cat, i have no idea what to do and how to do it, so ill prob just leave it on before i tried doing that.
Im not exactly gun ho on taking it off, its just from what ive been reading that it could help the preformance of my truck and thats alright with me haha.
As for gutting the cat, i have no idea what to do and how to do it, so ill prob just leave it on before i tried doing that.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 335
Likes: 1
From: Spokane washington
when i gutted my cat i just took a piece of rebar and put a 1.5in. bend in it at the end of a 2 foot bar piece and put it on the ol dewalt drill and grinded up the honeycome cat matter... then start her up, blow all the crap out.. repeat till its all out!
Methanoholic
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 6,442
Likes: 8
From: Maine (NorCal Native)
A muffler shop buddy of mine won't remove a cat, but what he will do is put flanges in front and behind the cat(s) and create a flanged straight pipe(s) that you can swap after you leave his shop.
Then you can go back to the cat(s) anytime you want.
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
Then you can go back to the cat(s) anytime you want.
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 1
From: Sweetwater Texas
My 87 in my sig had true duals no cats with 30'' cherrybomb glass packs with 32'' cowboy tips. It sounded real good in town, pretty loud on the highway tho, but nothing a loud stereo and ZZ top couldn't cover tho.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
Your not going to notice any difference in preformance if you have the cat or if you dont. Unless that cat is completely plugged up it isnt goin to make a difference. I agree with the flanges idea if your insistent about getting rid if the cat. But what I would do is either leave it, or take it off and knock all the crap outa it then put it back up or run a pipe through it. I did what forum155pl suggested on one truck and after an hour I still didnt have everything out and now it sounds kinda weird cause you can hear it rattle a little in the exhuast. So i would not suggest that method personally.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 1
Also you might want to check this website to find out if your truck needs to be emission tested. Because you will not pass without a cat.
Air Team - Illinois Vehicle Emission Test Program
Thats the website for the state of Illinios and I know from personal experience Illinios can be a real bitch when it comes to emission regulations.
Air Team - Illinois Vehicle Emission Test Program
Thats the website for the state of Illinios and I know from personal experience Illinios can be a real bitch when it comes to emission regulations.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 4
From: patricia ab canada
it's been proven that cats don't restrict flow like everybody saysthey have run tests on the dyno's and not much difference.unless they are bad/plugged.aftermarket cats flow really well.just a thought.