I just bought a 2003 stx a couple of weeks ago. It is a supercab flareside. I have a 4.6L V8 and a 4x4. My question is what kind of exhaust system should i get? I want something that sounds good, and also increases performance. I really don't know much about it, so any elaboration would be helpfull. Also what kind of price range would i be looking at?

 

Welcome to the boards STX,,, and congrats on the new truck

I used to work at an exhaust shop for several months putting regular stock exhaust systems on to true dual with balance pipe setups. Let the truck break in for alittle while before you go messin with stuff. This allows the computer to adjust to the engine properly. Because during the break in, the engine is different and needs the stock setup to break in right. After about like 800 miles or so, this should be A ok to go ahead and do some mods. For performance and a sweeta$$ sound out the back or side however you want to route it, go for Magnaflow. I would reccomend them and would not hesitate to put that kind of muffler on anything. Keep your stock cats on so you don't ***** up the puter and all, cut out that stupid so called y pipe where the 2 head pipes join and stick a true y pipe in there. Most shopes have a y pipe that they can install custom or you can order one from an exhaust manufactuer. True duals really allows the engine's backpressure to free up and let those horses run! This is why I say keep your stock cats to help out for some backpressure. Helps to keep the heads cool and for 02 sensors to read right. I say Magnaflow because they truely are a straight through design, which means the airflow going through the muffler is not restricted by any means. Flowmaster, borla, etc... have baffles in them to redirect the airflow and allow for more backpressure on the engine. This setup, the shop where I was working at would charge about $300, possibly more?

Then you got glasspacks,,,,you can pick 1 up at your local exhaust shop for about $15 here, dunno about your prices. They sound ok but they to tend to rust out at the clamps and in some cases they do blow out. Like for off roading instances.

Another very popular setup you can do is a cat back dual setup. This means, eliminating that factory muffler and pipes from the last converter out the back. This means you have 1 pipe going into a muffler then 2 pipes out the back. Or you can do it all in 1 pipe. Or just even replace the muffler. But for maximum benefit, replace the stock pipes too as they can cause excess backpressure. The exhaust shop here charges about $225 for a cat back dual setup and about $20 each for tips. Hope this helps you out.,,,,,,91

 

Cut the factory y-pipe
Put in a 2.5" 90deg mandrel bend pipe
Put in a good dual 2.5"/single 3" y-pipe
Put in a 3" high flow muffler
Use a reducer and the stock tail pipe
Add a tip if you wish.

$200-300 depending on what parts you buy and the shop's charges.

 

f-150_91 Flowmaster, borla, etc... have baffles in them to redirect the airflow and allow for more backpressure on the engine.

You are correct about the Flowmasters having baffles however you are incorrect with regard to Borla haivng baffles they
DO NOT have baffles in there mufflers and in fact are a straight thru design very simalr to the Magnaflows. The Borla has a very lazy s but still a straight thru design with no baffles. STX you do not need to do any cuuting either you can always go witha cat back system that simply removes the stock setup and installs a new pereformance muffler Either Borla or Maganflow make these sytems as well I suggest you go to both there websites and do some research it will help you out in the long run.
www.borla.com
www.magnaflow.com

Richard D.

While your here check out my gallery:
https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=2479

 

well if you live in a gay state like cali with emission laws then you cant go straight pipes or any of that, but I like the flowmaster, has a nice sound and has better performance than stock. JMO, read some of the posts here about exhausts because there are a ton of them that answer these questions.

 

I can't say anything bad about Magnaflo, Borla, etc. since I do not have them on my truck. I will say, however, that I love my Flowmaster setup. Great towing or everyday driving.