OK, i'm sure this type of thread has been beat to death around here. My apologies in advance. I am the proud owner of a 2004 F-150 and I am itching to put a new cat-back on it. My goals are much better sound (deeper, louder) and better gas mileage. I don't want to lose power, but I don't care how much power I gain either. Gibson has a system already available for the '04s and I am tempted to buy it, but every manufacturer claims to be the best. So I ask you, which do you consider to the be the best manufacturer, given my stated goals, and why? Speaking from your personal experience would be great.

I don't need a dissertation from anyone, but I would like to make an informed decision. That decision may well be to wait and see what the other guys come out with. Thanks in advance.

EDIT: here's a link to Gibson's Ford products. The 2004 is listed about half way down. it's only available for supercab short beds right now.

http://www.gibsonperformance.com/applicguide/ford.asp

 

I owned a Chevy Avalanche before my F-150 and at the time it was to new, so no Exhaust Company made a kit for it. So I bought a Flowmaster 50 series muffler and had the pipe custom bent the way I WANTED IT. This way I could have it exit in my own special spot . (Didn't even cost much more than a kit anyway)
O.K. my point is that I loved the sound, not to loud and not to soft...ahhhhhh just right. When I decide to do my Lariat I will do the same thing all over again. I have friends that have Gibson... Not to put it down or anything, but I'm just partial to Flowmaster. Hope you get more feedback on different brands and happy shopping!

By the way... NICE TRUCK!!

LINK TO FLOWMASTER
http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/cgi-bin/flowmaster

 

on your avalanche, was it a SI/SO or SI/DO? did you notice any loss/same/gain ANY low end torque? how about gas mileage? i am trying to decide between flowmaster & magnaflow for my expy. i dont want to lose ANY TORQUE, more MPG(hopefully), & not too loud!

 

Magnaflow and Borla are my favorite. Similar high quality, similar performance improvements, and similar pricing.

 

Before I put the exhaust on my Avalanche the beast couldn't get out of its own way. I would cruise at 50-55mph and go to pass someone...blahhhhhh. After I installed the exhaust I noticed that it came alive and I had no complaints about the giddy up.
My MPG? Consumer reports rated it at 13 overall. After the mod I was getting 16 1/2 mpg with mixed driving. I tested this a few times with the same result. As for torque, I hauled a 4-place snowmobile trailer, 4 sleds, 4 guys and all our crap. (Up hill both ways ) It did outstanding. I have no idea how it would have done with the stock exhaust (probably no difference). I only owned the truck for 7000 miles and traded it. I liked the 50 series with delta flow. Not to loud inside, sounds good on the outside through the gears and mellows out at highway speed.

 

You never really hear too much about my choice and that's O.K. but my pick is JBA! I've run Mangnaflow and Flowmasters in the past and believe both have their place. I like the Flowmasters on a strip car. I've run JBA's EVOL exhaust and their shorty headers. They've been everything they advertise and I have no complaints. Great quality, great fit, easy install and decent performance. That's all I got to say bout' that.

 

How do you like those 285's?

I've been thinking about what size I will go to when I have to swap out in the next 10k or so miles. I tow a lot and don't want to lose a lot of power and such which is easy to do when going to bigger rubber. 285's are at the top of my list or I will go with the 265's again...

So, what are your findings?

Chris

 

They're pretty much what I had in mind. I strongly considered going a little larger when I was in the market but decided that if i jumped to a 35" these wheels would be too narrow (this size tire is too close to a 33" to actually consider a 33") and to go to a 35" and do it right I would put at least a 4" lift on it. I looked at the time and the investment (tires, wheels, gears and lift) and well, here I am. I've always liked BFG's and Michelins and have run both many times before so my mind was pretty well made up on brand.

 

Whoops, dual post.

 

Reelwork, I have the 285 /70R17 BFG's as well. If you are going with BFG, might as well get this size or try for the 315/70 for the price. However, I do not think they are they best thing since sliced bread. My last truck was a 99 Supercab with very similar equipment and drivetrain to my 03 Screw (Lariat, almost all options, 5.4L 3.73 gears for both). I bought OEM sized 265/70R17 Bridgestone Dueler AT Revos as replacements for that truck. My Screw came with Goodyear Wrangler RT/S which had to go right away. After an unsucessful attempt at swapping wheels/tires (different stud size = smaller holes for 99 wheels), a local shop gave me $300 towards a new set. I wanted a larger size and the BFG has quite a reputation around the web so that is what I bought. I am not impressed. They are a little louder than the Revos and the performance down compared to what I was used to. Obviously there is more weight with the new truck and the motor has to break in, but I feel that it downshifts more often that the old truck did while towing on the highway and I get worse fuel economy, towing or unloaded. I have never gotten more than 12mpg with this truck under any conditions vs. 15-16 with the old truck on the highway. That is not to say they are bad tires, becuase they are quite good. And they certainly look cool and I am sure they would perform better off road and have more plys of rubber for punctures. I just warn people about what to expect, or what the could expect with another option.

 

any other opinions on the merits of exhaust manufacturers?

 

Go with the magnaflow! I love the sound, and my gas mileage increased!