Attention: TDR Forum Junkies I installed a new 4" stainless steel exhaust by Bullydog today. Just thought I'd share the experience with the rest of you Cummins freaks out there.
I bought the exhaust at a somewhat nearby truck show at Carlisle Pennsylvania. The Bullydog vendor there was knowledgeable and helpful.
The box the exhaust came in included a packing slip with hand written checkmarks indicating everything that was supposed to be in there was packed -- including instructions. Unfortunately there were no instructions in the box which for a mechanical idiot like myself, I thought... . uh oh
Opening the box, I found the packing to be very average. Most everything was wrapped with bubble wrap. Unfortunately part of the bubble wrap was missing off the polished 5" tip and as a result there was a pretty good scratch on the tip
The tip was the only part in the box that I even cared if it were scratched or not. I know. . I know... picky picky... . I can't help it though... . I like my stuff to look good. 
Installation began taking place and I found things easy enough to figure out. Bullydog numbered the hangers which was helpful to know what went where. I mimicked the stock exhaust to piece the BD exhaust together. I was surprised to find out that i had to cut about 8-12" inches off one of the straight pipes in order to get the system to fit. I guess I just assumed that the system was custom made to my truck and that I wouldn't have to cut anything. Easy enough though..... I just broke out the handy "sawsall" and off it went.
Next, I found one hanger provided by Bullydog really difficult to get on. I looked at it over and over ... . looked again... only to come to the conclusion that it was made improperly. The welded arm was on the wrong side of the "S" if that makes sense. I brought my brother in law over to double check it to make sure I wasn't just being an idiot... . he also came to the same conclusion as I did. Comparing it to the hanger that came with the stock exhaust, verified that the part was not what it was supposed to be. Without the hanger installed, the exhaust still seems sturdy enough. However, I will be reaching out to Bullydog hopefully tomorrow to see what they can do to help me out here. Perhaps they will send me the proper fitting part. Or coach me through it if I did something wrong. If it turns out that I was doing something wrong (couldn't be!!!), I'll post a new note on this thread to let you all know.
I was a bit dissapointed that the 5" tip was simply cut at the end versus having rolled edges. But I only blamed myself for not looking into it before I bought it. Otherwise, the new 5" shiny polished tip really stands out and looks great (I tried my best to hide the scratch on the underside).
Finally, the moment I had been waiting for. Installation complete (well... except for that hanger)... . I was finally ready to start it up. Vvvvrooooooom!! My initial impression of the sound was... WOW! It sounds great... . not overbearing... . just sweet as heck.
Unfortunately I don't have gauges yet..... so I am unable to tell you whether or not the system is helping to reduce EGT's. I'm just going to have to assume, based on my reading here at TDR, that my EGT's will be better. If there was any horspower increase, I couldn't feel it... . but I have yet to take it on the highway.
All in all... . I can only give Bullydog 3 out of 5 stars for their exhaust. I would have rated it higher had it not been for the missing instructions, scratched tip, and the improper hanger.
I will end with this note though... . I've spoken to Bulldog reps via the telephone on many occasions. I've only found them to be very professional and courteous regarding all my questions.
I bought the exhaust at a somewhat nearby truck show at Carlisle Pennsylvania. The Bullydog vendor there was knowledgeable and helpful.
The box the exhaust came in included a packing slip with hand written checkmarks indicating everything that was supposed to be in there was packed -- including instructions. Unfortunately there were no instructions in the box which for a mechanical idiot like myself, I thought... . uh oh
Opening the box, I found the packing to be very average. Most everything was wrapped with bubble wrap. Unfortunately part of the bubble wrap was missing off the polished 5" tip and as a result there was a pretty good scratch on the tip
The tip was the only part in the box that I even cared if it were scratched or not. I know. . I know... picky picky... . I can't help it though... . I like my stuff to look good. Installation began taking place and I found things easy enough to figure out. Bullydog numbered the hangers which was helpful to know what went where. I mimicked the stock exhaust to piece the BD exhaust together. I was surprised to find out that i had to cut about 8-12" inches off one of the straight pipes in order to get the system to fit. I guess I just assumed that the system was custom made to my truck and that I wouldn't have to cut anything. Easy enough though..... I just broke out the handy "sawsall" and off it went.
Next, I found one hanger provided by Bullydog really difficult to get on. I looked at it over and over ... . looked again... only to come to the conclusion that it was made improperly. The welded arm was on the wrong side of the "S" if that makes sense. I brought my brother in law over to double check it to make sure I wasn't just being an idiot... . he also came to the same conclusion as I did. Comparing it to the hanger that came with the stock exhaust, verified that the part was not what it was supposed to be. Without the hanger installed, the exhaust still seems sturdy enough. However, I will be reaching out to Bullydog hopefully tomorrow to see what they can do to help me out here. Perhaps they will send me the proper fitting part. Or coach me through it if I did something wrong. If it turns out that I was doing something wrong (couldn't be!!!), I'll post a new note on this thread to let you all know.
I was a bit dissapointed that the 5" tip was simply cut at the end versus having rolled edges. But I only blamed myself for not looking into it before I bought it. Otherwise, the new 5" shiny polished tip really stands out and looks great (I tried my best to hide the scratch on the underside).
Finally, the moment I had been waiting for. Installation complete (well... except for that hanger)... . I was finally ready to start it up. Vvvvrooooooom!! My initial impression of the sound was... WOW! It sounds great... . not overbearing... . just sweet as heck.
Unfortunately I don't have gauges yet..... so I am unable to tell you whether or not the system is helping to reduce EGT's. I'm just going to have to assume, based on my reading here at TDR, that my EGT's will be better. If there was any horspower increase, I couldn't feel it... . but I have yet to take it on the highway.
All in all... . I can only give Bullydog 3 out of 5 stars for their exhaust. I would have rated it higher had it not been for the missing instructions, scratched tip, and the improper hanger.
I will end with this note though... . I've spoken to Bulldog reps via the telephone on many occasions. I've only found them to be very professional and courteous regarding all my questions.
Better yet, I don't know if it was my imagination or not, but at higher speeds she really felt like I might be getting some added HP. It wasn't dramatic enough to know for sure though. 
