Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 5" exhaust- worth the extra $???

[cluckmaster]

I've been reading through a bunch of exhaust posts, and will keep looking, but am in a hurry so thought I'd post this. Just got my truck back from a rear rebuild, but unfortunately the tags expired while the truck was down. Went through the inspection lane and was failed for no muffler. No cat either, but they didn't seem to care about that. Have to put a muffler on for visual inspection, and I was thinking about upgrading to a 4" or 5" system anyway, in preparation for future power upgrades. Is anyone running a 5" system, and how do they sound compared to a 4" ? Any advantages either way as far as power or EGT reductions? I see Rips and MBRP make the 5" for the '97. Ant preferences? Thanks.



97 4x4 SLT Ext. cab / 248,000 mi / #8 plate / Lukes linked/ 35" MT Claws/ straight piped

 

[bmoeller]

Ran a 5" system before the stacks. WILL need a resonator. Horrible drone. Only saw a 50* reduction in EGTs, vs. stock. 4" would be fine.



Rip does have "cheater" muffler.

 

[FordCummins]

Hmm, I dont have any drone to speak of at all with my straight piped 5" system. But I agree 100% that 4" is almost all anybody will ever need, except for the guys running ridiculous power levels. That being said, I still like my 5" setup... .

 

[Matthug]

I believe the rule of thumb is there's no point unless you are over 500 RWHP to go bigger than a 4'' system.

 

[DJWyckoff]

I have a 5" down pipe and 5" all the way to the stacks where it splits to two 5" pipes then the stacks are welded at the end mitercut and only reach cab hight. they used to be turnouts but I had parking garage issues and had them cut



the diffrence I saw was with the stock turbo the truck was not loud unless towing now with the switzer (4"outlet) it has a drone if you hold i in gear and cruse a around 2000rpm's with the windows open you can not talk to some one this would be verry loud towing witch I rarely do.



my soultion longer larger stacks 6" turnouts to send the sound away and some sort of sound deadener matting under the truck on the passenger side and behind the rear seat I will avoid a resinator because Im stubborn like that



if your goal is 500hp get 5" if not 4" will carry you to happiness just the same

o and I would have installed a dummy muffler and reinspected or find a shop that will inspect it there out there hope this helps.

 

[wildmanben]

I noticed a bit of loss on the bottom end and some gain on the top when I went to 5". EGTs were about 50-100* lower also. I just like the sound. Its insanely loud at 3000+ rpm. That with the 6" MNRP tip too.

 

[Mark Craig]

cluckmaster,



If you're doing mild to medium mods that keep you below 500RWHP you don't NEED 5 inch, but if you want it go for it. Be prepared for some drone at speed when towing if you do. The 4 inch will do all you NEED though and is cheaper too. The AFE systems are very cost efficient if you're looking for that and then the MBRP are more but have 100% welded hangers and do away with the less that pretty hanger at the end of the tail pipe too.



Mark @ DPPI

 

[Matthug]

I got my 4'' system from ebay for $265 SHIPPED and it came with an extra 4' section of pipe for longer wheelbases I guess. But it fit perfect, no trimming at all.

 

[cluckmaster]

Looks like (after speaking w/ a supervisor at the inspection lane) I will probably pass if I just pull the straight pipe and tail pipe off where I cut the muffler and cat off in the first place and throw the old muffler and cat back on. The exhaust doesn't have to technically exit the rear of the truck. Then I can just pull it back off as soon as I get through. That'll give me a little time to decide what I want to do. I'm pretty much sold right now on 4" aluminized OR I may put together some stacks. HAHAHA!!! I'm a little worried about getting too quiet w/ a 4" mufflered system. I don't know anyone around here w/ a 4" system, and it's hard to tell from a sound clip. How does it compare to a 3" straight pipe?



97 4x4 SLT Ext. cab / 248,000 mi / #8 plate / Lukes linked/ 35" MT Claws/ straight piped

 

[kentdiesel]

I've run the stock exhaust, a 4" Rip Rook and a 5" Rip Rook exhaust. Prices may have changed since I bought mine but I didn’t notice much price difference between the 4” and 5”. IMHO a 4" sounds deeper and better than stock and a 5” sounds deeper and better than a 4”. I’ve ran straight thru mufflers on the 4” and 5” systems. The more I looked at the 4” the smaller it got. On the 5” I run a 51” Donaldson straight thru muffler. I know I don’t need a 5” hp wise but had I known how good a 5" sounded I would have never bought a 4".

 

[KHelfrich]

you may want to check and most shops dont relize this but in most inspection guides it says that a turbo counts as a muffler



ken

 

[bmoeller]

Hmm, I dont have any drone to speak of at all with my straight piped 5" system.

Ya, your truck sounds great. I took my resonator off, a while back. No drone with the stacks. Oo. Oo.



I only got the drone at the 2150-2200 rpm range. Above or below that was fine.

But I agree 100% that 4" is almost all anybody will ever need, except for the guys running ridiculous power levels. That being said, I still like my 5" setup... .

Or running twins. Never lost any bottom end with the 5", that some claim to have.

 

[dieseldude]

Looks like (after speaking w/ a supervisor at the inspection lane) I will probably pass if I just pull the straight pipe and tail pipe off where I cut the muffler and cat off in the first place and throw the old muffler and cat back on. The exhaust doesn't have to technically exit the rear of the truck. Then I can just pull it back off as soon as I get through. That'll give me a little time to decide what I want to do. I'm pretty much sold right now on 4" aluminized OR I may put together some stacks. HAHAHA!!! I'm a little worried about getting too quiet w/ a 4" mufflered system. I don't know anyone around here w/ a 4" system, and it's hard to tell from a sound clip. How does it compare to a 3" straight pipe?

I just installed the mufflered MBRP 5" two weeks ago and i love it I had a straight piped 3" before that and hated it. the 5" is much deeper and loud, but it still resonates at about 2000 RPM.

I got a great deal from http://www.dieselnutmotorsports.com