2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Muffler fell off

[Beck]

Hit a bump and my entire muffler fell out, it had 3 inch running from the turbo and 4 inch out the back of it, I'm a novice on this subject, don't most people prefer to run 4 inch exhaust throughout ? Whats the cats *** set up on diameter and brand of after market exhaust ? Thanks for your help

 

[CRodi]

I know quite a few people are happy with the 4"MBRP. IIRC it starts off with 3" at the turbo and almost immediately goes to 4". Geno's carries what I believe is the 409 stainless and also the aluminium version. If you want the 304 stainless you might have to order directly from the manufacturer. Most people don't order the 304 unless they have a show truck or plan to keep their truck until the wheels fall off. (I'm one of them-not a show truck). 6 years now and no problems.

Of course there are other brands, and I'm sure others will shortly chime in.

P.S

Their kits come equipped for ext. cab - long box. You just cut off what you don't need.

http://mbrpautomotive.com/index.php?page=products&make=Dodge/Chrysler&model=3500&year=1998

 

[NIsaacs]

I have the MBRP 4" turbo back, easy install. The hardest part was removing the original drop pipe, even after breaking off the hanger pin it would still not come out the bottom. I had to remove the air box and take it out the top. The new pipe was shorter so it was installed from the bottom. I live in a dry climate so I didn't need the stainless one. I got mine from Summit, free shipping.

Nick

 

[BigPapa]

I'm running MBRP, also. We sold a lot of them too when I worked at the truck shop. The system is 4" all the way back. The flange on the down-pipe is the correct size for the stock turbo welded on a 4" pipe. Not sure what CRodi's talking about.

Mine's aluminized and it's @ 6 years old. I'm not sure about now, but MBRP used to offer a budget system that had a 2-piece over-axle pipe. That's generally where the issues come from, over the axle. I opted for the one-piece. They also offered with and without muffler, too.

 

[Beck]

What's the deal on the no muffler straight pipe, just a sound difference as in louder and no performance change ? She's running lame now with no back pressure/ muffler

 

[gcorron]

Heck, I'm not even certain where I got mine, been a few years! Fairly certain it would have come from Geno's though. I could just barely notice a difference in the sound even though it is all straight through. The cat......somehow.....didn't get put back on, not sure how that happened! If you have to leave the cat in where you live, it requires some fabrication. That's a pain, but I did go ahead and do it in case it just has to happen one day. If I recall, the cat had 3" inlet and outlet, so you had to put the 4" adapters on it. I welded mine and then made sure of the fit before benching it.

I think I got the stainless from Geno's, it did not stay shiny more than a year.

I think this forum was the first place I heard about the band clamps. I went to NAPA and got them for the truck. They are THE best no doubt. I either drive my truck, or my 91 Volvo, and I use the band clamps on both, sure makes your life easier, and a better installation as well. You have to give NAPA, at least around here, a few days notice if you want 4" band clamps though!

Good luck, I'm sure you will be happy with either system you go with, all these folks seem to be on top of their game nowadays.

George

 

[CRodi]

I didn't mean to confuse anyone with the 3"-4" description. What I tried to explain was the down pipe, which comes with the kit. This is a direct bolt on, making it as BigPapa describes a 4" system. I hope this helps.

http://mbrpautomotive.com/index.php?page=products&part=DAL401

Just like gcorron experienced, my cat also for some reason took a detour and ended up in storage in the garage loft. I'm sure there may come a day when it will again be required. I wish I would have taken the time to do what gcorron did with his, prepping it for a very quick reinstallation.

Even though I got the 304 stainless, it too showed signs of what looked like rust. At first I freaked out, but I took some metal polish to it and it came off right away with very little effort. Even though this may look discouraging, the system is solid and has stood up to 6 winters with the highways treated with chemicals and salt as Mr. Wilson has described in previous threads. I know exactly what he's talking about, when he describes "weasel snot".

In closing, mine was an easy installation, and I haven't paid any attention to it once installed.

 

[BigPapa]

She's running lame now with no back pressure/ muffler

If your truck's "running lame", I guarantee you it's not due to lack of "back pressure/ muffler". The largest restriction in your exhaust system is the turbo. Just hook you up a drive pressure gauge and you'll see plenty of "back pressure".

 

[Beck]

I guess im confused whether to get a muffler or not

 

[BigPapa]

If proper "back pressure" was required then all these pulling trucks and race trucks that run a wide open 5" or larger stack would be running mufflers. The muffler will only affect sound. You also need to consider whether or not your local regulations require a muffler.

As to volume, a stock type muffler, not straight through, will be the quietest. A straight through muffler is the next step up in volume and then no muffler of course will be loudest. I run the MBRP muffler that came with my system. Under normal driving it is not loud at all, just a nice sound. When you get on it hard, it is pretty loud.

 

[Tuesdak]

Yes, sound is the reason for the muffler. Sounding "Cool" in town for less than 1 hour a straight pipe is ok. Having a trailer going full power up grades all day gets tiring with a loud drone noise. Esp when you pull off on an off ramp and turn down the radio and go 'wow, the radio was turned all way up'. So yes it sounds good and cool at first, but, after a couple hours fatigue from the extra noise sets in.

I have the Dodge with the OEM quiet exhaust for long trips and the Rat Rod with a straight through loud muffler for less than 1 hour errands.

Hope this helps your decision for your truck's use.

Note they make 4" or larger aftermarket cats so you can pick your size and stay emissions compliant.

 

[Beck]

My mechanic says a muffler in required for saftey inspection so i guess that settles it for me

 

[gcorron]

Excessive noise is reason for inspection failure in VA. . The exhaust from Geno's has a muffler, but it is straight through, I can notice very little difference in the sound between that and the stock system. If you don't have a cap on your truck, the exhaust only has to extend past the cab area to be legal. Good luck,

George

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Beck-- In case you're confused, a straight pipe is different from a straight-thru muffler. A straight-thru muffler is one you can look into the inlet pipe and see out the other end. Typically quieter mufflers (though not _necessarily_ bad-performing) can not be seen thru due to directional routing of the gasses via baffles or tubes.

If you prefer quiet, a number of people have said good things about Donaldson mufflers. They have a long one and a shorter one. The long is the quietest. The shorter is still quieter than the hot-rod stuff most guys run.

With stock exhaust, my truck is already more than loud enough inside on the highway. If I was in the market for exhaust, it'd be the long Donaldson for me.

 

[SSage]

I like the $290 source automotive Rip Rook Fair Shake system. Mine is juts the plain jane aluminumized, here in the SE we don't rust out bad.

I would get the system without the included muffler. The whole stainless straight pipe kit from turbo back is $400, then get a FTE stainless 30" resonator for an aggressive long lasting system. Add a nice tip if you like and you'll spend about $500 in parts for stainless and its a good aggressive growl with no droan. Just put the resonator under the cab.

Since I didn't go stainless my 4" system from the turbo back with the FTE resonator was under $500 with a $80 long chrome turn down tip. Stainless adds about $150 to my system, I probably should have gone that way, but my system looks great after years of use. I added the resonator from FTE this year, the straight pipe gets annoying when towing. The FTE resonator and the Source Automotive muffler would be a good low noise combo. But, I like the resonator only sound myself, its like a straight pipe at idle and then under load it actually mellows out.

Those $800 systems produce more droan than people admit, my FTE resonator has no booming droan while towing, it has less in cab noise than my stock exhausted 2003 actually. Check and see if the system comes with a new down pipe, thats a nice thing to change out so its all new from the turbo back.

Replace the whole system with all new pipe and your good to go for many years.

http://sourceautomotive.biz/1994-2002dodge4turbobacksingle.aspx

http://www.ftediesel.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=89&idcategory=7

 

[Ram Man 02]

i have a 4" stainless Banks turbo back system. I liked the sound so thats why i went that route. Its a direct bolt on for the stock turbo.