I have the 4.6, and I ran true duals with 2.25 inch pipes out the back, 30" packs, and a balance tube just before the glasspacks. Sounds and runs great! Probably a little TOO quiet for some. Can get 24" or 18" packs for a little more volume.

Just thought I'd throw another option out there.

 

Just thought I'd second that. I'm running duals with 18" glasspacks. Sounds great! Sometimes I think that Flowmaster and similar mufflers create a "generated" sound. The glasspack have a low all encompassing sound.

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2000 F-150 XLT
4.6 Triton V8,3:55,AT,2WD
SuperCab, SB, StyleSide
Gold + Wedgewood Blue w/ tan interior, Captains chairs,
Mods:Kenwood 40x4 CD player/changer, True Dual exhaust w/ 18" glasspacks
w/ chrome tips out the back, bug/rock shield, K&N air filter,tinted windows
265/75/16 BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA's
Chrome Westin nerf bars.
Soon: Spray-in bedliner, maybe 3" spindle liftn eventually.




[This message has been edited by 19-SeventyFord (edited 01-30-2001).]

 

19-SeventyFord, my truck looks exactly like yours...

Tan with black on bottom, Westin Nerfs, K&N filter, tinted windows, vent visors on door windows, bug visor, spray in liner, Eaglite Superwhite headlights (80/100W) & fogs (80W), & Les Schwab All Terrain SXT's (267/75/16).

The only difference is 4wd & no captains chairs. I hated the BFG AT's on my old '91. (31x10.50/15)

I haven't chipped mine yet either. Price of premium now, let alone in the near future, scares me.

 

I just replaced a set of 3-year old 'packs with a Ravin DI/DO muffler. Probably should have just bought new 'packs. Nothing sounds a sweet as a fresh set of "long" packs with that mellow sound!

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1997 4x4 Expedition- 4.6L, true dual exhaust w/Ravin DI/DO, K&N air filter, SuperChip, airbox mods, Edelbrock shocks, 285/75R16 BFG ATs, 2000 F150 "XLT" wheels, 4.10 gears, Auburn LS, Clarion In-dash CD player, Smitty Bilt push bars and nerf bars.

2000 4x4 F250 SD XLT SuperCab SWB- 6.8L, Offroad Pkg, Camper Pkg, 4.30LS, Tape & CD player, Remote Keyless Entry, Sliding back glass, tinted windows, 265/75R16 OWL tires, Smittybilt nerf bars & Line-X bedliner.

NoMo's site

 

Hey nomo, what was involved in cutting your airbox in half? Did you try just the K&N first? Does half an airbox prove more effective? Thanks for the info...

If it works, I'll buy a used one from someone that has bought an FIPK or Airaid and try it !!!

 

I used a hacksaw to cut it so that the mounting pegs were retained. Prior to the "chop", I had fashioned a retaining ring. But I didn't have a proper bracket to attach everything back to the fenderwell. After a while, started getting a small hole in the filter from rubbing, so I decided to cut the box.

Yes, I installed just the filter to start with. Not much (if any) difference.

The "free" airbox mod would have to be at least 90% as effective as a full FIPK. I also removed the silencer. Not a bad mod- especially for the price. Probably wouldn't worry about the silencer if I had it to do over. Overall, the largest benefit seemed to be improved throttle-response. When the air is requested, it's there.


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1997 4x4 Expedition- 4.6L, true dual exhaust w/Ravin DI/DO, K&N air filter, SuperChip, airbox mods, Edelbrock shocks, 285/75R16 BFG ATs, 2000 F150 "XLT" wheels, 4.10 gears, Auburn LS, Clarion In-dash CD player, Smitty Bilt push bars and nerf bars.

2000 4x4 F250 SD XLT SuperCab SWB- 6.8L, Offroad Pkg, Camper Pkg, 4.30LS, Tape & CD player, Remote Keyless Entry, Sliding back glass, tinted windows, 265/75R16 OWL tires, Smittybilt nerf bars & Line-X bedliner.

NoMo's site

 

nomo, I like it. I'm not going to spend $200 for a FIPK. 90% effective is free, and good enough for me! I don't know what the silencer is, but you say removing it isn't effective, so that'll save me the hassle. The K&N rubbed inside the factory box somewhere???

I still think I need a chip also. 99% say it really wakes up the 4.6 plus improves the sloppy tranny.

 

We do some off-roading and I don't want anything moving around under the hood. So, I "made" a bracket for the completely housing-less filter assy to "bolt" to the fenderwell. The filter was rubbing on this home-made bracket. I could have made a better bracket, but it was just too easy to cut the factory housing.

 

BTW, I just noticed you're in Spokane. My in-laws live over in Cour d'Alene (however it's spelled). Absolutely beautiful around there! And, my favorite restuarant- HOT ROD Cafe

 

nomo, Small world, isn't it? This area is very nice, especially for camping, hunting, ATV'ing, and off-roading. Email me at: AARONCARRUTH@YAHOO.COM and we'll chat. Who knows, maybe I know someone that knows your in-laws.

The only downside about this area is big companies are moving in to the CDA and Spokane area because they don't have to pay people nearly as much here. I haven't done a lot of research on it, but I am willing to bet the average income per person is 18-24K.

In fact, a new call center is going to open up in Couer d'Alene that will house about 500 employees. I've sent my resume in to try for a middle-management position.

 

Hey-
Back to the glasspacks, I met a guy on the jobsite today that had a 99 5.4 with 18" glasspacks on backwards! He said that the fiberglass gets hotter and falls out and its basically strait pipes. Something bout runnin water up the pipe to make the glass
fall out? Anways it sounded great! I rode with him while he got on it with windows up and down. The only thing I didnt like was the crackling when he let off the gas, also something bout running a hose up your tailpipe dont sound right!! It cost $160 .
Have any of y'all herd of this or done it? Any input ? Thanks,
>>>-ONE->

 

Bryan, I have heard of running cold water on packs to crack some of the fiberglass to make them louder, but I thought they ran the water over the outside once they were hot enough?

I'm not sure if the ones I had installed can be backwards & the 30" ones don't pop at all on my truck, and I tried them without a balance tube first.

I would imagine if you wanna run straight pipes, run'em without wasting money on buying glasspacks, unless it is illegal in your area. If so, why not rip out the insides somehow before installation?

 

What Bryan was told is correct. Get the pipes hot then run water up inside them. Just be sure that you don't use too much. Don't want the pipes to fill all the way up to the engine!

Installing glasspacks "backwards" doesn't have a huge effect on anything. The louvers on the "baffle" usually aren't large enough to noticeably constrict flow or sound.

I think the popping on deceleration is cool. Sounds kind of like the old musclecars.

 

I have glasspacks on my truck (18" I think). It sounds pretty bad-a** when you accelerate fast. When I go down the highway, it actually quiets down pretty well. I was actually surprised it did that.

BTW, I LOVE that popping/backfire sound too. When in park, I rev the engine and it goes- vvvvvaaaaarrrrroooooommmmaa, vvvvvaaaaarrrrroooooommmmaa... POW! ..it turns me on...


[This message has been edited by silent1 (edited 02-04-2001).]