I bought a 2004 fx4 with a 66in bed. Looking for a replacement to the stock exhaust. I'm looking for a single in/dual out. Of course I want performance but also want a decent amount of sound but not too much cabin drone. I've been checking around but the few shops that I spoke with don't want to install a kit that I purchased. So my question is what's a good exhaust that will fit my application, a price I should expect, and would installing it myself be out of the question? I'm no mechanic but can figure things out pretty well and a catback install seems straight forward enough. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

A SI/DO catback really won't improve the performance, it will just sound better. The stock system is a lot lower restriction than you may think. Why not just ask a local shop how much to put on a SI/DO and bend you a pair of tailpipes? You may be surprised how inexpensive that might be, and you will have a warranty of some sort. It will also fit right. A local shop did mine that way with a Gator glasspack for $228 out the door. No cab drone if the pipes go out behind the rear wheels. If you tow, don't put them straight out the back, run them to the stock location.

 

I bought a flow master 40series and had a local shop do the rest of the pipes, cost me $200 total for the muffler and work they did.
Much cheaper then buying and expensive kit, also sounds mean as hell. I wasn't going for performance, the gains from exhaust alone aren't worth paying for.

 

I did have one place give me a quote finally for just that. Think they were gonna use a flow master 40 and custom bend the pipes but wanted about $750!! This is in the Lansing, MI area and for some reason the shops are irately expensive!

 

A chambered Flowmaster is actually a downgrade from stock, perf-wise. Low-end torque takes a small but measurable hit. Two reasons - all the silly baffles, and the much smaller enclosed volume.

Stock is also stainless - FM40 is not.

If you want some noise AND wish to eliminate the TQ penalty, have a shop install a 14"-22" oval body SS Magnaflow.

http://www.hottexhaust.com/pages/fin...-mufflers.html

 

Yes mangaflow was definitely one of my main choices but finding a place to do it reasonably seems to be the challenge.

 

Get the muffler of your choice with the sound you discover via YouTube, and buy the exhaust tip(s) you want over the exit you want, and have a shop fabricate it up.

If you want stainless you can either settle with a stainless cat-back, possibly change the muffler out for something else.

Last option is to find a shop that will fabricate stainless tubing and welds, this unfortunately will cost much more in cash.

My exhaust with a Magnaflow Y pipe replacement, 3" mid pipe, Magnaflow #14419 Magnapack, another Magnaflow Y pipe, shop fabricated 2.5" t-409 stainless tailpipes mandrel bent to 45 degree exits, & Magnaflow #35117 4"x18" rolled edge tips.

I'm not a Magnaflow by-heart fan, they just offered every piece I wanted for a great price, and the Magnapack was a low price with a great sound. I feel no seat of pants power increase with the system, sounds fantastic and did not slow the low end torque down.

 

Thanks. Ya I've just heard a lot of good about the mangaflow mufflers. I honestly don't have a preference as long as I don't give up any power or torque. My major problem is finding a decent price for work to be done. I've contacted two places now and for a basic muffler and pipes bent to duals out the back, no stainless or higher end muffler, they are wanting $600-$750ish. Seems way high considering what others have had done out here. I tried finding someone in the area via the forums but it seems kinda dead out here for the Michigan area.

 

^^^ Just Leverage Google fer potential shops in yer region & pull contact info.

Then call/email them fer costs.

MGD

 

I had a Magnaflow system on my '07, after a year or so the drone was so bad it gave me headaches.

I scored a factory cat back from a 6.2 Raptor and it works flawlessly. The mounts lined up perfectly ans sounds great with no drone.

 

Ended up going to Muffler Man on Michigan Ave in downtown Lansing. They had some great prices and definitely knew their stuff. SI/DO magnaglow muffler with pipes bent straight out the back for $450. Great service and quality!

Sound was much better but I think the 4 cats are definitely holding back any large amount of rumble.

 

Good to hear. Glad you came back to report your opinion. And yes, those 2nd set of cats are holding back your volume well. I increased my 2004's sound by like 30% removing those suckers.

 

Thanks! Can they be removed without any sort of code errors or would it be better to replace them with high flow cats? Not sure it's worth replacing them on this track since its a 2004 and high mileage.