Ok so I narrowed it down. I want to change my stock exit in front of the pass rear tire cat back. I love the kits for there quality and direct fit. I am worried about losing bottom end power. If I were to get a kit the one that I'm looking at is the Magnaflow:

PART # 15609
V8 4.6L Extended Cab Pickup, GAS, 78.0 Bed Length
5 x 8 x 24 in. Muffler, 3 in. Tubing, 4 in. Tip, SINGLE REAR SIDE EXIT


The other option is just to buy the muffler and have a local shop make me one with a smaller diameter pipe and maybe a 3" tip just for looks. So my question is, which would be better for what I'm looking for? I have a 169,000 miles on a stock 4.6L other than the Spectre CAI. Again I just want it to look better with out hurting any power. I even like how quite it is. My Lightning was so loud I wanted to blow my brains out after 10 minutes of driving so quite is a nice change.

 

3" single kit like that one ^ should not loose any power.

 

Loosing low end would really bother me seeing how all I'm looking for is longevity and something that looks better than the stocker that's on there now. It's a bit pricey so I'll save up and get done for spring.

Thanks for the input

 

^ Ya I suggest rolling with that set up.

 

Thanks, I went to a local exhaust guy that I've used in the past. He has SS pipe and a Mandrel Bender. A custom set up is very close in price to that Magnaflow kit. If the Magnaflow is half of the quality of the Bassani that i had on my 95 Lightning it will be ok by me. Thanks for your help guys.


While I got you guys, do you think it's to my advantage to replace the cats? If I'm not mistaken I have 4 on my truck. Two resonators and two cats, is that correct? My exhaust is all original but suprisingly enough it's in really really good shape. Mainly I just want to improve power, mpg's (.5mpg if i'm lucky). The only other mod I have and it's still in the box is a Spectre CAI from http://www.autoanything.com/air-inta...A4368A0A0.aspx $140.00 shipped. I will post pictures of the install probably this weekend.

Thanks again for your help, I've been on the http://www.nloc.net/ since it began and just like here with people like you they have been and invaluable help to me. I'm handy with a wrench but by no means a auto mechanic. You guys make it to easy sometimes.

 

The front cats aren't just resonators, they are cats too, but in your model they aren't the real gas filtering cats. If you want a louder sound change them to hi-flow cats.

 

I don't really want a loud/drone sound. A little more rumble would be okay. My main concern is power loss. I also want longevity and that Magnaflow kit looks quality. I'm just trying to make the best decision I can for that kind of money. My last truck cost lots of $$$ just getting the exhaust right mainly because I didn't do my homework. Thanks again for the help.

 

on a 4.6 ,have him him redo tailpipe in oem size in ss, on my 5.4 i put this kit on my 5.4-i noticed a drop in bottom end tq when i towed- food for thought

 

^^ x2 ^^

Noticed the same on a 4.6. 3" on a stock 4.6 is a little too big. You want to maintain, or better yet, enhance exhaust gas velocity (the attribute that exludes FartMasters from any sort of real performance claim - silly little baffles wreak havoc on same).

Go with a 2.5" custom (mandrel). While you are under there, get that factory 'Y' pipe replaced with a Maggie 2.5" 'Y'. If you cut the factory one open you will be astounded with how chitty it looks - a huge , needless restriction.



Phil!

 

Awesome, thanks for chiming in. I remember even with my Gen1 Lightning and all the mods it had, the fatter pipes made me loose a noticable low end loss but it's didn't bother that much to me because the motor work and blower made up for it and then some. On my 97 4.6L I feared it would kill my low end specially when towing. The 4.6L IMO is a bit doggish. I drive her like I'm driving Ms. Daisy around with the high milage I don't want to beat her up ya know.

I hope this isn't a dumb question but where can I get that Maggie 2.5" Y?

 

I got mine from a local exhaust shop who carries/can order Maggie components. It looks like this:

http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...atalogno=10778

The link above details how it is used, but is intended for a 3" system from the 'Y' back.
This is the actual 2.5<--> 2.5" part that will keep the entire system 2.5".:

http://www.troyerperformance.com/cgi...atalogno=10768

As you can see, they are not expensive. Add that piece of mandrel-bent crossover as described in the first linky, and you are golden. 2.5" is best to retain your low-end torque, IMHO. The 4.6 has a dearth of it to begin with.

Good luck.