I've got a 75 F-150 w/ 390. I am going to buy some Hedman HTC Street Headers. I'm probably going to go with Pypes X-pipes (any fit advice is welcome).

I am torn as to what mufflers to purchase and I am looking to these forums for some opinions. What do ya'll think? Thrush, Flowmaster, Magnaflow, Glasspacks, etc...?

Also, anyone know of any complete systems? I am not the sharpest crayon in the box, but I can handle clear directions.

Mostly curious to hear what folks have done, why, and if they have any advice for me.

 

im pretty sure summit sells a kit for these trucks. i picked up a set of dougs fenderwells, gona run those into a set of dynomax race bullets, then dump out the side. the bullets are just about straight thru

 

I have just completed my exhaust today. Heddman hedders, 3 inch from the collecters into a 3 inch y pipe, into a Magnaflow muffler. All from Summit racing. It is super quiet in the cab, but when you step on it, it really sounds mean.

 

Cowboy, I have a 76' short bed with a highly modified roller 302. I had headman long tube headers 3" pipe with some original 2 chamber Flowmasters with turn downs dumped before the rear axle....no mid pipe at all. I wanted to change the sound of mine and run a mid pipe because I had this for a while. I done a lot of searches about peoples opinions on the difference between the X and H pipe. I decided on the X. So this past week I welded in a 3" x pipe with same headers and flows and it changed the sound alot. I had to redo most of the pipe it was a bitch to tell you the truth. But it sounds bad *** to me!!!!!!!!! I hope I helped you out a little. By the way I ordered the Summit X pipe kit. They dont give you enough pipe but the extra pipe is easy to come by.

Later
HP

 

Forget the Glass Packs, they sound good for a while, then burn out and sound like crap. Thrush\Cherry bomb used to be a cheap brand, that may have changed. The straight through's have their purpose, but longevity of their "like new" sound wasnt one of them. I love my Flow Masters, but as others have suggested, there are other options.

 

I searched summit for a kit and couldn't find one. The bullets are a definite option. Thanks.

 

I've been following your project - it's really coming along nicely, congrats. Did you install two mufflers or did you use the y-pipes to collect into one? Did you go with the magnaflow because of the lifetime warranty?

 

Thanks for the information, I have heard nothing but good things about the x-pipes. What sort of modification did you have to do to the pipe? Where did you end up putting the "X"? Where are some good places to get 16 or 18 gauge pipe?

 

I completely agree about the glasspacks my truck current has an old pair on it now. Are the "straight throughs" you're referring to the glasspacks or Highboy's Bullets?

 

Cowboy, the bad thing with the 302 and C6 is that the header collector lines up heading right for the trans crossmember so you have to reroute the pipe over it. The X pipe has some tight angles that you have to get to. I placed mine right under the tailshaft of the tranny. You can get sections by the foot from Summit or Jegs pretty cheap. But most muffler shops will sell you some too. I done all mine myself because I dont like paying somebody for something I can do my self. But I worked on it for two days to get it right. hope I helped out. Good luck and when you figure out what you gonna do let me know how it was and sounds.

Later
HP

 

Thanks, I am very happy with how it is turning out.

As far as my exhaust, to be more specific I took 3" pipe out of the collectors, and instantly crossed the drivers side over and "y-ed" it into the passanger side pipe, and bent back over the transmission crossmemeber.






From there I had a single 3" pipe into the muffler, and then out in a 3" prebent tail pipe that I got from Summit. That part was a really good deal too, $50 for a stainless pipe.





I still have to put a 4" tip on the end, I am going to cut the pipe where it bends out, and weld a 3 to 4" reducer and 4 inch pipe coming out the side, that will give me a bit lower sound.

As far as the x pipe, I was going to run one, but the guy who was helping me, the guy who built our racecar, explained to it me like this. X pipes are good for exhausts that have pipes on both sides of the vehicle, that have long bends, and flow into the transition. But for my application, where I would have 2 pipes right next to eachother to avaoid the transfercase and then have all the turns and short pipes to make the x pipe in such a small area will cause a lot of turbulance, and won't be as free flowing.

Most people think that duals are the way to go, and if you keep the stock pipe diameter that is true, but upgrading your pipe size will work the same, plus you get the exhaust pressure equilization with the y pipe. I am producing more low torque and higher end hp with this exhaust set up than I was with dual 2 1/2 inch duals.

I chose to go with the Magnaflow because of the sound, warranty and because I had one put on my jeep when I had it. I could really feel the improvment in power, and noticed an improvment in fuel mileage. I like to hear my exhaust whenI step on it, but I don't like the constant humm while I drive, it gives me a headache (this is why I am not a fan of Flowmasters.) It is hard to really tell in that video, but I can barely hear the engine idle in the cab, and at hwy speed my tires are louder than the exhaust.

 

i didnt do alot of research on the race bullets, but it doesnt feel like theres anything in the things. if they burn out, ill throw something else on, they were cheap enough

 

Well, I've done pondered this for long enough. With all ya'lls, my neighbor, and the parts guy at summit's input I've decided to run with this setup:

Flowtech headers,
2.5" Summit X-pipes
2.5" Thrush Hush Turbo Mufflers
I'm going to paint the entire thing flat black, just like my undercoating, with high temp paint.
It's going to be duel, one on each side dumping out just before the tire.

It's a cheap solution.
I will post a before and after sound recording, if I can figure out how, after I get done next weekend.

Thanks again for the input.

 

I think it funny nobody has asked this yet. Are you going for a nice mellow sounding truck (ie. not loud but still sounds good) or a truck that you can hear miles away? I personally like the miles away, prob because I'm young, or at least thats what I have heard before. As far as the set up, I would say go with the x pipe. For mufflers well that depends on what you want as far as sound.

 

I want it to be pretty mellow which is why I went with the Thrush Hush. I listed what I am going to go with just above your posting. Thanks for the input.