Need uptodate info on muffler/cat delete 04.5 5.9

[BigRedDually]

Hi all!
First post since joining 12/17. First 04.5 QC dually ever and 5.9 Cummins 4x4 ever with 73k miles 4.10 gears, AT. All at the age of 60. LOL Didn't really want either but found a great deal from 85 y/o gent who spent winters in Florida since purchasing new. My usage is towing a gooseneck living quarters horse trailer 11-12k lbs. several times per year for trail riding. Truck will see 4-5k mi/yr. Stored winters. So far everything has been near perfect. Replaced pinion seals and new differential oil at that time.
Have gleaned much information from this site. Thanks! Keeping any mods to a minimum- so far an Airaid and found a great deal on an intake tube at Christmas but left grid heater in. Intake tube won't do much good from what I've read but decided why not? Also acquired a Smarty Jr to play with when cruising around but not necessarily towing. Don't want to have problems with transmission. Haven't tried it at this time since truck is still tucked away.
Question #1: what is quietest muffler to replace original? Saw some posts mentioning Donaldson 51" long units. Is the info still correct? Part number? Or is there something better? Will keep single exhaust in stock location. But want quiet. No droning etc. Replaced stock muffler on previously owned 2500HD QC 5.7 hemi and wish I had done more research- had a lot of droning sound when towing.
Question #2: Want to do a cat delete. No smog testing in my locale. Understand this can lower EGT's with a delete and better flowing muffler?
Any links or info will be greatly appreciated. Mainly want to have uptodate info and parts numbers/options. Some of the posts are a few years old when I can find them.
Thanks in advance for your time!
Keith

 

[promisedland]

Good day!
First i would encourage you to add for fuel filteration as oem isnt enough.
My journey on muffs is when i got my Ram the oem muff was leaking & the tail pipe was bent.
Now i had reason to do something!
Flo-Pro turbo back with a straight through 24" muff was first, deff more noise AND a lot of drone, So i added a 17'' FTE resonator. While this helped, there was still some drone at certain rpms. So i swapped to a 30'' FTE res.
Now its a very well mannered sound while still being a lil throaty. If i want more, i just remove the FloPro. The FTE stays put!

 

[promisedland]

Sorry, duplicate post.
I would use the Smarty, low setting & drive with your trans in mind. Better timing then stock, better mpg.
You should have gauges if you are towing...

 

[p-Bar]

Keep the Cat and do a muff delete. Has great sound. A bit of "drone" at constant highway speeds.

 

[BigRedDually]

Thanks! Have read some about the filtration. Will have to upgrade plus add some gauges. Resonator info is a first that I need to read up on some.
Keith

 

[Regcabguy]

Nothing's quieter than the stock muffler. A resonator downstream would help.
http://www.ftediesel.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=7

 

[BigRedDually]

Would a resonator fit aft of the axle? Was thinking the big Donaldsons take up most of the room in front of the axle? Or a shorter muffler and add resonator? Saw that listed a couple of places but not up to snuff on them. Thanks!

 

[promisedland]

The resonator is most often put in the CAT location. I'm guessing the Donaldson might not need a res... When i lost my oem muff drone became a bad word in my household till i found the FTE res.
Use the search feature, Donaldson
Also make sure the exh hangers are all there and everything is secure.
Drone is a vib.
Exh drone is weird,with my FTE in the CAT location, no drone, the farther downstream my FTE is located, some drone starts showing up at diff rpms.

 

[MarkEkberg]

I have a 03. I deleted the muffler and kept all stock piping. It is a bit too loud, but does not have drone at all. In the cab it is quiet until the exhaust pipe it pointed at a wall or barrier and then holey crap its loud.

I am going to haul heavy in a month. Have had this set up for a little over a year, so after this tow I will keep it or throw the muffler back on.

 

[BigRedDually]

Thanks haven't made any changes at this time. Still thinking.....

I have a 03. I deleted the muffler and kept all stock piping. It is a bit too loud, but does not have drone at all. In the cab it is quiet until the exhaust pipe it pointed at a wall or barrier and then holey crap its loud.

I am going to haul heavy in a month. Have had this set up for a little over a year, so after this tow I will keep it or throw the muffler back on.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Ozymandias]

Keep the Cat, it is very free flowing and eats a lot of noise. No win through delete for your setup and desired sound level.

 

[BigRedDually]

Thanks! Been wondering if it was worth it. But do need a muffler before long.
Keith

 

[AH64ID]

I've been running without a cat and a 40" Donaldson M085171 for 100K miles. It was originally too loud with the exhaust brake on. The whistle was deafening, so I added a mega-cab tail pipe that has an OEM resonator. It's louder than stock but not too bad.

I'm in need of a new exhaust and decided on a M090544 without a resonator. We installed one of these on my dads 06 a few months ago and it's perfect. The exhaust note is deep but it's not loud and the exhaust brake is quiet. It's really not any louder than the stock muffler without the cat, which is what dad was running for 4-5 years before this current setup.

 

[BigRedDually]

Thanks

Thanks for the response. Have learned a lot on this site.

 

[cerberusiam]

AuroTurbine 4040XL with an additional 16x4" resonator civilizes a straight exhaust nicely. If you make sure the exhaust dumps out a little past the fender body line it will minimize drone quite a bit.

 

[WalterJ]

2010 @ 157K: Installed MBRP sngl exh & replaced CAT w/"test pipe". the ensuing drone @ 1900-2100RPM was 'cool' at first, but loaded uphill w/7tons of RV, normal conversation was not possible.

2014 @ 292K: Installed (modified to fit) FTE Resonator; what a difference, most quiet, no drone.

 

[promisedland]

^^^ nice! Much like my setup.
Say no to drone !

 

[BigRedDually]

Thanks again everyone!
More than likely will go with a muffler replacement and leave the cat until it goes bad- if at all for all the more it'll be driven. Subsequent owner may need the cat on anyways.

 

[MarkEkberg]

Maybe its because of 8' bed and crew cab, but I have no drone with straight pipe. I do want to split it and have it exit both sides. I like noise, smoke, and cold weather water vapor on both sides.