Any other thoughts?
improved mileage
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2009
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improved mileage
So the muffler has corroded right at the exit port on the old '93 F150. I hear rumors that if I put a high performance muffler on the beast I could possibly improve gas mileage by 1 maybe 2 MPG. Does anybody know if this is actually true or another generalization. Has anybody done this for themselves on a similar vehicle. 
1993 F150 supercab shortbed, 5.0 EFI with manual 5spd tranny
1993 F150 supercab shortbed, 5.0 EFI with manual 5spd tranny
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
If the cats are still on the truck just cut the muffler off and leave it like that or put a straight pipe on it, this won't make a hugh difference to power or milage but it may just be enough to notice. It won't be too loud either.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Boone, NC
By cutting the muffler off, it will be very loud, louder than flowmasters or cherry bombs or any after market exhaust, which is still a muffler. I did this on my 1990 F150, I love it, but it is very loud. I set off car alarms quite often to give you a perspective.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
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From: Kentucky
What Conanski was alluding to is the factory converters on these trucks are very restrictive. Many on this forum have tried installing glass-packs and other mufflers looking for a louder truck, but they found the overall sound level did not change much, just the tone. Your best bet to realize any mileage or performance gain is to replace the factory converters with a single high-flow converter then choose a muffler of your choice.
Without opening the bottleneck at the front of the exhaust you are not going to gain much by opening up the middle or end.
To answer the OP's question I replaced the entire exhaust on my '93 F350 4x4 w/5.8L engine. I used a Bassani 3" y-pipe, Magnaflow 3" high-flow converter and a single in/out muffler. I finished it with a 3" Dynomax mandrel bent tailpipe. I have netted a gain of approximately 2 MPGs overall on the highway, not much change in city driving. The truck sounds good without being too loud. It definitely has more butt-o-meter power now. I should have made some baseline 0-30 and 0-60 times for an apples to apples comparison of any real gain in power. Oh, well.....
Without opening the bottleneck at the front of the exhaust you are not going to gain much by opening up the middle or end.
To answer the OP's question I replaced the entire exhaust on my '93 F350 4x4 w/5.8L engine. I used a Bassani 3" y-pipe, Magnaflow 3" high-flow converter and a single in/out muffler. I finished it with a 3" Dynomax mandrel bent tailpipe. I have netted a gain of approximately 2 MPGs overall on the highway, not much change in city driving. The truck sounds good without being too loud. It definitely has more butt-o-meter power now. I should have made some baseline 0-30 and 0-60 times for an apples to apples comparison of any real gain in power. Oh, well.....
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Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
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With both stock cats in place it won't be very loud with no muffler. I have heard several like that.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Boone, NC
its not legal here either. I have a clamp that i use to clamp it back on when inspection time comes. I am running one Cat, originally it came with two. Around here anyways its one of the loudest trucks around and I normally attempt to not use any gas while around cops to avoid being pulled for sound ordinance violations. But if y'all want it louder go for it haha.
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ok, so if I understand correctly, nothing that I do will really have much effect as long as the cat converter is still there right? The '93 has one, dual pipes in one out with single muffler and exhaust. I am almost positive you can not remove the cat so I guess I am screwed. I suppose at this point a stock muffler replacement would be as good as any right? Ideally I was looking to improve MPG along with some power and while I was at it I would like to aquire a nice deep tone of sound. Nothing too loud just a nice rich sound. After all, its a 302 not alot to work with there as far as power is concerned anyway. Any thoughts?
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your nuts its a 302 there alot of 302 truck add ons that will add power i dont no how much but do it lil by lil. open the headers get a nice exuast cats and all it will give you the sound your looking for then get a cold air intake that will help some.then intake plenum and manifold the better ur car breaths the better on gas it is and lil by lil you will be adding power i think it was around 37 hp just with the intake manifold maybe a small turbo to get you going not tocrazy other wise ur defeting the gas savein. then u got the tornadoexpensive but will give you a little the there throttle body spasers with swirls to get the mixture better and then plenum spacers to give it a little more time to mix little by little you will be doing something to improve the power or mpg except turbo thats just power
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 475
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From: MI
Sorry but i have to disagree with just the muffler cut off with the stock cat. still on its not very loud at all. Right now i am running a 2 1/2" Y- pipe into a 3" I pipe back in 2 1/2" duals with 4 1/2" tips so it has not cat. or muffler and its not VERY loud. Yes its loud but nothing out of the ordinary around here and it sounds alot better because it resonates from the tips and has a very "clean" sound to it. The loudest setup (having a complete exhaust system, not like open headers) but i do not recommend because depending in your area will probably get you pulled over is true duals with no cats. or mufflers that is ALOT louder then the setup i have. The stock cats. on these trucks are absolutly garbage and flow like poo... Ditch the cat. and buy a high flow cat. if you need to have one and as far as a muffler gos it depends on your want and needs (How loud you want it) it will increase the power and tq or course and mybe the mpg by alittle because the increased flow allowing your engine to breath more.
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On my 95 Bronco 351 I think I have a single cat left and I think it sounds pretty good. Mine goes from the factory y back in a straight to another y to take it out dual 3.5 tips out the back. It has a nice rumble all through the rpm range and roars at WOT ha. And the cops dont give me too much trouble.