Magnaflow owners, I need your help! I've been researching all the different si/do magnaflow mufflers available and I am fairly confused as to which one would work best for my set up. I've found aluminized mufflers, stainless steel mufflers, small oval, larger oval etc. What I am looking for is for those of you who know the part number of the magnaflow muffler that is working well for you, can you post it on this thread? I've decided not to do cat back, just the muffler. Can anyone help? Here's what I'm trying to decide between:

14221 3"/2.5" 14" long ss
14218 2.5"/2.5" 14" long ss
12198 3"/2.5" 14" long aluminized
12388 3"/2.5" 18" long aluminized


Any suggestions? Thanks!!!! Sorry if this has been beating to death in other threads, but I gave myself a headache looking for all the part numbers in the search option. To make it worse, I'm dial up! Thanks your your help.

 

From my experience with #12388, I can relate that the 30" will be extremely quiet...similar to the OEM. I have no experience with #14218, but the 2.5" inlet will not match your OEM exhaust pipe diameter (3"). As to aluminized vs. SS, I've had both. If you plan to trade within 3-4 years, why pay xtra for the longevity of SS? But, a nonaluminized...forget it. My nonalum Gibson system lasted about 2 years on my '97...junk!

Curmudgeon

 

Thanks for the advice. I plan on keeping the truck for more than 3 or 4 years so I'll probably go with ss.

Wasn't quite sure of OEM diameter was 3" or 2.5". It must be 3" in to the muffler and 2.5" out. I was able to measure the tail pipe easily and it is 2.5".

It's funny that you should mention Gibson. That's my plan. I love the Gibson super truck tips so I bought a set off of ebay. Now I'm doing a magnaflow muffler and custom pipes. The reviews about the Gibson system was enough to scare me away from their product, but I HAD to have their squared off chrome tips.

Thanks again for the info!

 

The Cat Back is a 3" in and two 2.5" out.

Are you going to have someone install the intermediate pipe and the dual rears?

 

Black and Gray,
IMO spend the money now for a Magnaflow cat back system if you're gonna dual it out. you can get them for less than $400 shipped. The reason I say that is the torque loss is a real issue, if you don't get the exhaust right. If you've read any of my posts concerning this, you know that I spent about 500 bucks that iI didn't need to spend trying to save a buck.
With that being said, if you still want to go the "cheap"route, 12288 is the aluminized version of what Magnaflow puts in their SIDO catback systems. 3" in 2X2.5 out...Kevin

 

Stock muffler inlet is 2.5"

 

I agree with kevhunt, he already saved me money by not going with the 3" pipe at the Y. I would go with the cat back....

 

Hmm.. Now you got me worried.

However, I am not planning on doing duel rear exit. (so i'm not bending pipes to wierd 90 degree angles to get past the spare etc.) I plan on doing dual side exit, in front of the passenger rear tire. Sort of like the Gibson Super Truck system. Still think torque loss could be an issue?

 

Wait a minute....

If stock muffler inlet is 2.5" then why couldn't I got with the 2.5" single in / 2.5" duel out and not have to used the dreaded 3" pipe after the Y?

 

I can tell you that Magnaflow is one of the few companies that actually does flowtesting on these trucks. They give you more HP and torque which isn't always the case.

I talked to Mike Troyer about this exact situation. It doesn't take much to mess up the low end torque in these trucks. They also do mandrel bends on all there pipes just like the factory pipes. I had no idea non mandrel bent pipes can change the pipe diameter so drastically. I would go with what has been engineered for your truck by Magnaflow. You may also want to read this.

http://www.magnaflow.com/05news/maga...reettrucks.asp

 

The pipe behind the y isn't the problem. I changed out the y itself out. BTW, magnaflow does lightning style systems...Kevin

 

The intermediate pipe from Magnaflow is a 3" pipe, but it is designed to fit the stock Ford 2.5" pipe .

 

B&G,
I see the look you're after, and if you can find a muffler shop with a mandrel bender, or the bent pipes from somewhere, you probably would be alright, but it's hard to beat the cat back systems from magnaflow...Kevin

 

Kev & others,

Thank you all very much for the words of *CAUTION* from those of you who have been burned by this issue before. I know what you are talking about. Losing low end torque when you mess with an exhaust system is a real possibility. I had the very issue when I put straight pipes on my mustang. Waste of money because I had to go back and fix it!

One thing I learned from this discussion is that mandel bends are a MUST. I'd like to go with the Magnaflow lighning style cat back system but I can't sport $600 to do it!! That's crazy!

Since I've already got about $80 invested in this project (Gibson tips) I'm going to TRY it. If it sucks, then you guys warned me!! I'll find a well respected custom exhuast shop with a mandrel bender. So wish me luck! Now, with that being said.. any advice on which si/do muffler to go with? I want to keep the 2.5" in pipe if possible. Would the 14218 muffler work for me?? I can get my hands on one of those for under $100.

Thanks again for all the help! I really appreciate it.

 

Do a search on Hot Exhaust, you can get the Magnaflow Cat back for I believe $385.00. There was a recent post with the latest promo codes.