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5" exhaust on 04.5 600 (impressions and thoughts)

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mac performance cold air intake

Does AFE exhaust drone/vib.?

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I purchased the 5" system from City Muffler and finally had it installed this morning. The kit I purchased is for 03/04 and was told it fit the 600 so I bought.



City Muffler got it out, I received everything in two days, everything was marked, great job!



As the system was being installed I noted several things. The factory exhaust was 4", from the turbo back. The downpipe I got in the kit is the same size as factory. We pulled the factory off and decided to reinstall it instead of going with the aftermarket piece. The rest of the install was straight forward and took about 90min from start to finish. The so called resonator sure looks like a Cat on the inside. I'm not going to cut it apart to see, but based on DC is getting for the pipe as a replacement, mine may be headed for EBAY.



Upon fire up I expected more noise - my first gen's sound like a cummins, no other way to describe it, but the 04. 5 is still tame. When you pop the throttle it sounds like a tractor. When I backed out of the shop and was giving it a little throttle, there still wasn't a whole lot of sound. I pulled on the road and hammered it. That thing flat out comes to life about 1500rpm. It sounds like a Peterbilt rolling down the road. I stayed into it through 4th. As long as you are into it, the truck sounds great. But if you settle at 2000rpm, it will drive you nuts. The drone zone you enter rattles everything in the cab. I found every bit of loose change I'd lost:eek:



I passed a Ford Dealership and it grabbed their attention;)



It gets you noticed that's for sure. I could do without the drone though. I may look into dynamatting the cab just to quiet it down. No more stealth speed runs through the country. I'm just hoping it doesn't draw to much attention when I'm towing. The turbo is much more apparent, and when you come to a stop you can hear it spool down nicely - just need to remove the silencer ring and open up the air box quagmire.



As far as power goes, it feels a little peppier. I need to drive it more to make sure it actually feels faster than just sounding faster.



Fuel consumptiom seems to have gotten a little better (based on the computer). Before it would look like a NASA countdown when I stepped on the throttle, now it holds a little more steady. Also of note, my temp gauge reads pretty steady at what I'm assuming would be 210ish. It's now showing at under 200* on the gauge.



I head out tonight to go to NJ, so we'll see how it pulls, runs and drinks on the trip.
 
Keep us posted on your MPG improvement. I'm interested to see if it makes a difference. People swear the CAT is not at fault on the 600's, but it has to be SOMEthing.
 
I think it's BS. That thing is full of black soot. You've got a screen on each side and when it was still on the truck you could see the other side. When we pulled it out and stood it on in, black soot began falling out the end and covered the screen up. Considering I've got 12k miles, that's a fair amount of blockage.
 
Originally posted by TX Gooseneck

I think it's BS. That thing is full of black soot. You've got a screen on each side and when it was still on the truck you could see the other side. When we pulled it out and stood it on in, black soot began falling out the end and covered the screen up. Considering I've got 12k miles, that's a fair amount of blockage.





Of course, I would NEVER remove a piece of required smog equipment from my truck, but I have a feeling I might wake up one morning and the cat will mysteriously be missing. :-laf
 
not sure if anything from the muff forward will fit an '03 HO, but if it does you wanna sell any of it:D

I'm really wanting a 4" from the turbo back

email me direct at -- email address removed --
 
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any news on the proformance of the new open air box filter systems. i had straight 3'' pipe on my 1998 dodge and it sounded great. dieing to put a straight 4'' on my new 04 600 dodge. keep us in formed
 
The stock exhaust measures out at 4".



After driving this thing home last night and to work this morning I don't know. I like sound as much as the next guy, but the drone that comes on at 2000rpm and 70mph is friggen nuts. To the point I was trying to determine some type of supertrap setup to kill the vibration. I'm debating putting a bullet muffler further up stream, possibly after the downpipe.



It vibrates the coins in my ashtray.



Other than that... I like it:)
 
Update:



I talked to Jon at CM and he suggested a resonator. I went by a semi dealer/parts supplier and I can get a 5" that is designed to cut the harmonic distortion. Hopefully this will cut the drone out.
 
Sean, glad you like it!!



the amount of resonance in my truck when I lined the cab with lead was NIGHT AND DAY!!!! not sure how much sound deadening the new trucks have, but my '97 was severely lacking!!!



Forrest
 
I just got back from my trip. Rolled over the scales at 22,5xx total weight. I was seeing about 8mpg loaded. With one trailer (weight approx 15xxx) I was seeing 12. 5mpg. Coming back empty I was averaging just under 17mpg. This was doing 80+ and stopping several times to sleep. Best tank was 546 miles on 31. 7 gallons.



The negative - The noise inside the cab. The drone when you are pulling is unreal. I found myself running out fifth to keep out of the drone zone. Pretty much anything from 70 - 80 under load is almost untolerable. As I drove I found myself becoming more numb to it, but I'm going to put either a semi style resonnator or a bullet type muffler right after the downpipe.



But it sounds sweet going through canyons :D
 
I have exactly the same problem. I love the way it sounds with the straight pipe, but the drone at normal hi-way speeds (65-75) is unbearable on long trips. If you can keep the straight and kill the hi-way done tell me about it so I can fix mine. Oo.
 
Ok guys I know my truck is a 12 valve and completely different exhaust (3"). But when I straight piped mine I also had a horrible drone around 2000 rpms. I did a little researching and found where people were clamping 2" angle iron on the exhaust pipe and it was getting rid of almost all of the drone. I used two 20" pieces held on with big pipe clamps and it DID get rid of most of it. Just a cheap suggestion to try.

Will
 
how big of angle iron? where exactly did you put it? close to the cab? tailpipe? I have a little drone I would like to get rid of if this works.
 
I put one piece just ahead of the rear axle and the other is under the back of the extended cab. I think it was 2" angle iron, but I can't remember for sure. I used three clamps on each piece to make sure they didn't come off, and every time I check them they are alwys tight.

Will
 
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