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Old Oct 5, 2010 | 08:50 PM
  #1  
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From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
Question Opinion on Exhaust

1978 F250 custom with 351m and 4spd manual

I would like to have some peoples opinions.
Right now, it has the stock 2.5 true dual exhaust without cats, and the stock mufflers. I've been exploring my options, and I've narrowed my decision between:

1: Flowmaster headers with 3 inch straight pipes that dump out right behind the cab, or
2: Same Flowmasters with 2.5 inch pipes into dual Cherry Bomb 24 inch glass packs.

The straight pipes sound like its going to rip your head off, but the glass packs make it sound like the truck will kick you *** in a race.


This is my first time working on a custom exhaust, and would like a opinion from some people who might have done this before.
 
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Old Oct 5, 2010 | 10:59 PM
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HIO Silver
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IMO, 3-inch exhaust is overkill for a 351... any 351. A little bit of backpressure is actually good for HP.

Dumping down and behind the cab is not advisable. The bed will act like a sound chamber and resonate. IMO, dump the exhaust out the back or the sides. The PO of my rig cut off the tail pipes where you are stating and it was super annoying. I don't have a sliding rear window so luckily I didn't experience the gases rising and backdrafting into the cab.

Personally, I don't like glasspacks nor those new VT mufflers on the market. I don't want any moving (the VT's little trap door) or soft parts (fiberglass) in the exhaust stream.

Flowmasters, Magnaflow, Dynomax mufflers or bullets are okay by me. I went with 2.5-inch exhaust tubing and Moroso's Spiral Flows for space considerations.
 
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Old Oct 5, 2010 | 11:28 PM
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From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
Originally Posted by HIO Silver
IMO, 3-inch exhaust is overkill for a 351... any 351. A little bit of backpressure is actually good for HP.

Dumping down and behind the cab is not advisable. The bed will act like a sound chamber and resonate. IMO, dump the exhaust out the back or the sides. The PO of my rig cut off the tail pipes where you are stating and it was super annoying. I don't have a sliding rear window so luckily I didn't experience the gases rising and backdrafting into the cab.

Personally, I don't like glasspacks nor those new VT mufflers on the market. I don't want any moving (the VT's little trap door) or soft parts (fiberglass) in the exhaust stream.

Flowmasters, Magnaflow, Dynomax mufflers or bullets are okay by me. I went with 2.5-inch exhaust tubing and Moroso's Spiral Flows for space considerations.
Thanks for the response. i'm not a fan of the normal style mufflers, which is why I like the glasspacks.

I understand that a little back pressure on a engine is good, so would shorty or long pipe headers be better? I've heard that the longer the pipes, the lower your torque curve, which I find kind of hard to believe.
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010 | 12:27 AM
  #4  
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I am running a set of Hooker Headers, Flowmaster Mufflers, 2.5 inch exhaust that is fed straight out the back.

It sounds straight mean - like someone stirred in two quarts of nasty.
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010 | 10:30 AM
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Cool. To each their own

Shortys aren't worth much power gains over stock manifolds. I would definitely go with full length headers. Headers really helped my 390 wake up.

If you're going custom DIY, I suggest looking at Jeg's hot rod exhaust kit. Typically $220 for the 2.5-inch kit but sometimes they run a special for $199.
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010 | 01:18 PM
  #6  
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opinion

Opinions are like something else everyone has one. Three inch will probably hurt your performance due to loss of back pressure. 2.25-2.5 is good. If you are looking for good sound put some resonator tips on your existing system and you will be surprised.

Doug
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010 | 01:24 PM
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I have full length headers with Flow master mufflers, 3 inch. Exhaust dumps out the side in front of the rear wheels. This was on the truck when I bought it. It is pretty loud at highway speed. If I redo it I will likely look at running the exhaust further back.
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010 | 07:37 PM
  #8  
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From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
anyone have a good suggestion for headers? i'm looking for full length pipes, and would prefer to have them under $250. I know that doesn't give me many options. I have looked at Flowtech and Hooker headers (which I hear are both great brands).
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010 | 07:48 PM
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Put Hedman Hedders on your review list.
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010 | 11:47 PM
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After 10 years with Headman headers, H-pipe and dual Flowmasters straight out the back. I just replaced the whole system with Hooker headers, H pipe and dual stock mufflers turned out behind the rear wheels..... Wow, what a difference, I can hear my cell phone ring at highway speeds now, can have conversations with my passengers, and don't have to crank the stereo all the way up just to hear it over the old race car sound..... Smooth and Quiet,,,, I'm happy with it.... Then again, It's your truck, and only you know how much time you plan to spend in it.... Don't get me wrong, My truck sounded awesome, but after a long drive, What da say??? I have the Big Block Flowmasters on another ride, Still grumbles nice on the highway, and I don't have to yell over them that bad.....
To each there own.....
 
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