Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 5 inch exhaust - Drone with 2 mufflers?

[PRout]

Hey Mund. . I really appreciate your offer and I would like to do that - Thanks! Maybe some day we'll meet up at one of the events like MM '08 maybe.

Since getting up your way is not really an option right now, I was going to call Rip on friday and take advantage of his year-end sale, but was too stinkin' busy to make the call. . wheeeee!

So, I'll prolly call him next week and order a system with a couple of your donaldsons (if they'll fit-or whatever he says) and just "get-r-done".

The 4" w/ 2 straight throughs seems to be the consensus.

Thanks to all again for the helpful input.
Sorry to be redundant. . Maybe these threads will help someone else as well.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Had a 5" on my '01 HO with 1 regular size muffler and drone was minimal on it, about the same as a typical 4" system. Only got a little annoying when towing. It was definitely quieter than 3" straightpipe. I think with a 2nd muffler it would've been pretty quiet. Here's a video clip of my truck messing around a few years ago that'll give you an idea how loud although it has some background noise. . . http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n228/VMac822/My Trucks/?action=view&current=RamBurnout2.flv

 

[PRout]

Vaughn, That's a great vid and really helpful. Geez, at idle it almost sounds stock and you actually hear the IP & engine sounds over the exhaust output. That is basically what I was looking for, but the same at cruise and towing also. Really do want to go 5 inch. I don't know, guess its just the old basic mentality of least restriction, more heat gets out and less wasted energy doing it.

Your system does still have that cool "throaty" sound when you get on it which is hard to pass up. Its not obtrusive sounding in the vid but probably could resonate at just that right combo of throttle and rpm under load. On long pulls that has been getting a little old.

Your system with one more muffler is a VERY interesting setup, especially because I like (at least from what you can tell from the vid) I like the non-attention getter of the exhaust tip exit point. It almost looks stock except for the diameter. That is also a major criteria, the stock appearance - less attention.

So, its a tuffy. Kinda liking your setup. . Can you give any specifics on the mfg, kit, muffler type, etc? A pm is fine also but it wouldnt help out the other readers.

Thanks!

 

[PRout]

Also, Kent's truck sounds pretty good in the vid also. Having two trucks running at the same time takes a bit of "deciphering" which sounds are coming from what truck. Actually, I may be wrong, but his almost sounds quieter yet.

Maybe its because we hear his more at idle though.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

PRout glad you liked the vid

Yes part of the vid is hard to figure out whose truck you are hearing but the shot over the cam is probably the best for it. Kent's truck has a 4" system, don't know what brand or muffler size, etc. His truck is a skosh quieter since it's a ETC whereas mine was a HO (louder clatter).

I think I had either a Nelson or Donaldson muffler that I picked up at a truck shop, then the rest of the exhaust was pieces I bought there at the shop. I cobbled the system together with some help from Rip and a few other guys at a bomb party (this was about the time Rip started his business). Back then 5" systems were rare (2001) and I don't think more than 1 or 2 vendors had them, and a standard aluminized system was over $600, so I bought the pieces to make my own for ~350. Starting with a 4" downpipe on a stock turbo with 16cm housing I installed a 4-5" reducer, then 12" length of 5" flex pipe, a short section of straight, then the muffler. The tailpipe was a 90* and two 45* pieces welded together and a short straight at the exit. At the bomb party bets were being made as to whether the system could be snaked under a 2wd shortbed since no one had ever done it before. It turned out great, and it was nicknamed "Exhaustasaurus"

After rereading your original post I think it'll still be a bit louder than you'd like. As I recall it starting droning the most around 75-70 MPH (6-speed with 3. 54 gears). I think if you put a standard size and a smaller 5" inline you'd quiet it down adequately.

Over the years there's been many discussions about drone and cures for it. 3 things that guys have found to help to some degree:

1) Install a 12-16" section of flex pipe to the downpipe
2) Wrap the downpipe in header wrap
3) Clamp a length of angle iron to the straight section between the downpipe and muffler

I incorporated item #1 so maybe that's what helped.

Vaughn

Edit: here's another vid of the same truck w/3" straightpipe. . . will have to excuse the camera work done by my 12-year old (the narration isn't too bad though) http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n228/VMac822/My Trucks/?action=view&current=RamBDay.flv

 

[PRout]

Lovin those vids, and Kudos for that fine camera & narration work as well. .

Mine sounds about like the second one right now but has a resonator. Hey, it gets quite a few comments on how good it sounds, but time to move on.

Ok, so far it's stick with the 4 x 2 straight muffs plan. . Would like to go with the flexpipe and downpipe wrap as well then. .

Will see what can be shipped out. Got the sawzall batts all charged up for action - hehe

Vaughn, Thanks for sharing. . It helped a lot. Nothing like receiving help from good 'ol TDR "Pioneers".

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

You're welcome PRout

 

[PRout]

You're welcome PRout

Well, ended up biting the bullet and picked up a new 4" SS monster exhaust from Banks since they are here LOCAL in the so cal area. Think I'm gonna start looking for more local suppliers that i can speak with face 2 face.

It is a nice quality workmanship built kit with lifetime warranty, with heavy material, but only comes with one straight through muffler. Will probably add another (possibly donaldson) inline and sell the polished tailpiece on ebay (unless someone has a stainless 4" muffler laying around that wants a new tailpiece instead - lets make a deal).

Paid top dollar for it, but at least "gettin-r-done" as stated.

Will follow-up with the opinion after I get it installed one of these weekends.

Thanks again to all that contributed to this thread!

 

[PRout]

Following up on the Banks exhaust. .

Overall, with the original kit that utilizes their straight through muffler, sound is pretty good. There is no drone. Whew! They apparently have updated their muffler design and looking through it, you can see the first part is what they are calling an expansion chamber that supposedly handles drone. It is straight through with holes in the sides, not louvers (that i could see anyways). The only time it starts to maybe drone a little is at idle, but not bad.

Compared to the stock exhaust (straight piped - w/ resonator - that had a great sound) it may be slightly louder at idle (maybe its just a deeper tone), but when you get on it, it is quieter than before. . At cruise, its hard to tell much difference, just slightly quieter except the tone is lower.

The fit was pretty good. Needed to shorten the extension piece because I have the short bed. I spent a lot of time trying to get all the tension out of the system, and have it mounted without any "spring tension", but was unable to get all the tension out and it is stretching the rubber mounts slightly at the rear. But for the most part, it fit without needing any tweaking and the exit point is very similar to stock.

Overall am happy with the kit, but will look into what it will take to add a second muffler or replace the existing one with a longer one. Still want it quieter.

Note: Most people would be very happy with the sound of the system the way it comes from the factory. I'm going to want it quieter though.

If anyone knows of a local shop here in southern calif. that will perform the muffler mods/addition, I am interested. Thanks. .

 

[Bob4x4]

I have an LAFD member friend that you need to hook up with :-laf He has been playing with different configs on his exhaust since he bought it.



Bob

 

[PRout]

LAFD AND plays around with exhaust configs. . Those 2 things are worth 200 points right off. What a great guy he is!

 

[ILIANBG]

Hey PRout, where are you located? I have the 4" system with a Donaldson staight-through muffler and I am really happy with the set up. If I had to doit again, I will choose the exact same set up. Let me know if you want to hear it. I am in the Valley- West Hills.

Ilian

 

[PRout]

Haven't seen much difference in performance or spool-up or egts and no steering improvements either, but now I can say my truck's equipped with some of that HIGH end Banks Performance equipment. . :-laf

Added: ILIANBG, that's a winner. . We'll have to get together one of these upcoming saturdays and compare our exhaust systems. Too bad the LAFD guy can't be there. Oo. Will send you a PM soon and we'll figure it out. Thanks.

 

[PRout]

Followup to the Followup:

Ended up going nuts with this thing. First added the BIG 51" Donaldson muffler - P/N M090544. Liked it. . Quieter, good tone / no drone (except maybe a little at idle, but not bad - just being critical here. ) Very acceptable exhaust note, but still wanted quieter (witout added backpressure). FYI - Its a real squeeze job fitting it under a quad cab short bed. We're talking 1 " clearance from the rear crossmember.

Then since the original Banks muffler wouldn't fit up forward between the crossmembers (only 16" clearance between them) :{ (the banks was a decent muffler, especially with that expansion chamber in the inlet side) ended up giving the muffler to a very nice fellow TDR member.

Picked up a Magaflow SS 14" P/N 14770. Here it is: MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust

Had it added in between the transmission & fuel tank/drive shaft protection cross members. Perfect fit! Nice difference. Could tell at first fire up, idle is very quiet sounding coming from the exhaust. During normal driving, or even trying to find an RPM where it might drone, nothing. No drone anywhere, and you can hear the engine noises over the exhaust & tires again. But still has a good exhaust tone, just not loud.

Liking the ability to hear the Injection pump purring at cruise and telling me things are good up front again. Just like when it was stock. Only a slight rumble when put under load, and the turbo sound is distinct.

Standing at the rear of the truck while idling, you can hear the engine noises up front over the exhaust output.

No loss in response or raise in egt's noticed. This thing idles so cool that even with the high idle activated and run up to about 1400 r's, it still stays a hair under 300 degrees. Need to use the exhaust brake to keep temps above 300 while extended idling.

Can hold a comfortable conversation in the cab while cruising, and can almost go through the drive throughs without shutting her down again. No unnecessary attention from the man or diesel hater neighbors here in cali either. Yeah, the straight pipe was fun for a couple years, but this is WAY better overall.

Game over.

 

[Bob4x4]

:-laf:-laf:-laf Knew you wouldn't like the 5".

Joe was very happy to meet you too.



Bob

 

[PRout]

You're always right Dr. Bob. Was great meeting Joe. Heck of a nice guy.

 

[Bob4x4]

Now if I can just talk him into doing a BBq... ... ... ... . love that carne Asada Joe... ... ... ... ... .....



Bob

 

[cArNiVaLwOrKeR]

Bbq?

Now if I can just talk him into doing a BBq... ... ... ... . love that carne Asada Joe... ... ... ... ... .....



Bob

On a Saturday that you work and during warmer weather, I will definately have a BBQ for you and Phil, no doubt about it.



Asada? Nah, lets step it up to some Baby Back ribs and maybe a pork loin, I will use a smoker instead, this way when 4 or 5 pm rolls around it will be just about done

 

[Bob4x4]

Bob

 

[PRout]

Joe already clued me in to what to bring along . . Sounds like it will be a complete situation.