did you replace that balancer thing that is in front of the muffler? the little black tube that is clamped to the pipe? i just had my y-pipe, 3" pipe, and flowmaster put on, and i totally forgot about that little part. i havent noticed anything yet, but i think it might be kinda hard to hear any vibrations with a dumped 40 series.

 

98 f150 supercab 4x4 4.6L intalled 3"single exhaust with a flow pro V-force muffler much more horse power than the flow master
1/2 the price and throatier sound. also intalled the hypertech programmer added hp and torque

 

did you keep the vibration dampner thing? that is the question.

 

When I installed a gibson kit on my truck, part of the instructions were to remove this piece. They called it the alignment pipe. So I think it may have been used at the factory to align the exhaust system. I don't think you need it.

 

I put mine back on about a week after the install. There was a thread over at FTW on this and they said it helped with vibrations so I just put it back on.

I didn't notice any diference with or without it so I just left it on.

~j

 

I took it off on my 2000 truck and replaced everything from a new Y-pipe back and drove several years with no problems whatsoever.

 

max mitchell

Would you say that is was worth it replacing everything from a Y pipe back?

 

Yes, having larger pipes and muffler diameters behind the factory Y-Pipe is a waste of time IMO. I don't know if you saw the other Y-Pipe posts, but there are many. The factory Y-intersection, to correctly label it, is a POS. The driver's side pipe is reduced in jagged fashion to less than 2" internally, then the intersection itself has poor flow characteristics. Most importantly, it provides your entire engine flow to exit at 2.5". Flow goes from front to back, so, at this Y-intersection exit point of 2.5", this is all you get from there rearward. The Flowmaster Y-Pipe that I welded in, allowed a smooth dual 2.5" inlets, high flow transition area, and a 3" exit. This allowed me to fully utilize 3" mandrel bent pipes rearward as well as a 3" in/out straight through design muffler. I did the rear section as a cat-back kit first using the factory Y-intersection and replaced it later. The difference was night and day; immediate second gear scratches.

 

max mitchell:

thats the same set up i have, except with a magnaflow y-pipe, and a 3" flowmaster si/so. i did notice a big difference, as well. i would have the tire scratches, but instead i have a slipping belt

i guess next mod is the gatorback!

 

Sounds Good...Definately the right way to go. A few members posted pictures of their Y-Pipe's interior and mine looked the same way. My belt screached immediately after installing the Superchip, so I know how you feel. I got a Gatorback at Autozone for under $30 and had instant resolution of the problem. Later, I installed a BE shift kit and had great second gear scratches at will.