True duals, split the "y" & run 2 1/4" aluminized pipes out the back, no mufflers, 24" crome tips. I'm like an expecting father in the delivery waiting room. 97 f-150 supercab 4x4 lariat with the 5.4, auto trans. I will keep you all posted, I figured start with straight pipes & check out the sound, I can always add mufflers If I want them. I will take some digital photo's of the system & post them. I don't know what it will sound like, I've heard some say it's the only way to go & others say it's too loud, we will soon see.

[This message has been edited by dlshaw2 (edited 05-08-2001).]

 

If you have this done today can you post and let me know how it sounds. I am planning on the same set up come wednesday and I'd like to know what you think. I am planing on 2.5" tubing though. So maybe I could add some Dynomax Bullits. Let me know how it turns out!! thanks

 

Oh my god...........I love it! I feel like a teenager again. I split the "y" like I said & ran 2 1/4 inch aluminized pipe out the back, I have 3 inch tips 24 inches long. (slash cut rolled ends) no mufflers. I'm the only kid in town with true duals & straight pipes to boot! at idle it has a nice deep mellow rumble. when you excellerate normaly it sounds streetable, very nice deep tone, big block sound. If you get into it to bust the tires loose it sounds like an old ford roadster with a big block & laker pipes, wicked nasty powerful sound! I can't tell for sure if I lost any low end oomf since it is raining today & the roads are wet so the tires break loose no matter what you do...I suspect I may have lost a bit of low end since my flow is so free. I guess I am not sure if I would go any bigger than 2 1/4 inch pipes on a true dual system unless I was doing a cross over pipe or at least some kind of mufflers as I think you might loose the bottom end of your power. I took pictures of my set up under the truck, not real good pics but I will try to post them tomorrow from work (I can't download them at home) I absolutely love the sound, allthough I realize I will have to use caution now in my quiet little neiborhood to keep the peace. If you sit in park or neutral & rap the pipes it sounds so utterly rediculously nasty.......it crackles when you let up, no big sloppy popping sound but you can feel the sound in your rib cage if you are standing behind it when someone gets into the gas. I would say definately not for everyone, you can drive it nice & sound very similar to many of the cat back systems but when you get into the gas hard there is no hideing the fact you have true dual straight pipes. I had new plugs put in as well today (I think the exhaust was easier than the plugs) I will post my findings as far as gas mileage improvements or if it gets worse I will also tell all. For now,
I will be like a kid waiting for morning time when I can fire that 5.4 up just so I can hear it on my way to work.

 

Sounds good, will let you know how mine turn out on Wednesday. I might have a lil fun with them!

 

I tell ya man, I can not figure out how to post my photo's on this message, here is a link, I hope at least this works.......

http://y42.photos.yahoo.com/bc/dlsha...dir=/My+Photos

Meanwhile I will keep trying with the pics, It can't be that hard! I see pics posted all the time! So far I love the exhaust, very deep tone.......seems mellow enough when at cruising speed out on the road.

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97 4x4 supercab lariat with 5.4 auto trans.

 

can't seem to get it but I think the above link works

[This message has been edited by dlshaw2 (edited 05-08-2001).]

 

dlshaw2, I have been agonizing over the same
matter. True duals with or without mufflers.
I have been asking around about the low end
loss of power and have heard several
opinions. Please post your results. I am
also interested in your gas mileage. Thanks!

 

My understanding on this is no matter which way you go you should put the cross-over pipe in line and keep pipe diameter down to 2.25 or 2.5. Even the highend aftermarket tru-dual kits put in the cross-over. This helps with low and mid range. I'll be going true duals on my HD but with a cross-over and di/do magnaflow muffler. I'm thinking more of stainless instead of aluminized though.

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- 2001 F150 Harley Davidson Special
- 1993 Mazda Miata, wifes car
- 1994 Harley Davidson Heritage
- 1976 Honda CB750K, Original
- 1965 Honda 305 Dream, Original
- 1971 Triumph Trophy 650, Original
- 1971 Norton Commando
- 1970 Honda Trail 90, Original
- Yamaha 500 Short Tracker, racing #69
- 1984 Yamaha Virago 1000, wifes bike
- 1981 Honda Passport 70, wifes bike

 

Roads are dry today, I will go out & play a little at lunch to try to varify the low end power loss question, my gut feeling is that I may have lost some, I'm not sure though. Dry pavement should help me find the truth from a dead stop. The sound is addicting, I almost need to sneak out to the parking lot to get a fix. I put $25 worth of gas in the tank last night, sadly it only got me 14 gallons
I figure if I have to pay that damn much for gas I might as well enjoy burning it up. As far as the question of mufflers or no mufflers, I suggest trying it with out, I'm not out anything by trying it, If I decide I need some I will just bring it back in & try to choose the appropriate type & size.

 

lunch time, I went out to test the low end power. Nice dry pavement, from a dead stop, engine at normal operating temp in drive. I stomped it to the floor & rode it out to about 80-90. It still breaks loose from a dead stop (open diff), maybe not for quite as long as before the exhaust mod, it shifts at 4500 RPM in every gear & goes in with good power. Sounds wicked but I do truely think I may have lost just a little bit of low end (uncertain). I stopped by the shop that did my exhaust & he says he can do a cross over pipe for me for about $20. I think I will do it pretty soon. I think the cross over pipe will provide enough of a pulse from the one side to the other to give it back just enough back pressure & even things out to give me back any low end power I may have lost. I don't know if I really did lose any for sure but I think the cross over may also help me get rid of some of the crackle when you let off the gass. I still love the sound when I drive it, the only way to produce the crackle I am talking about is when you throttle it & let off in park or neutral (or I suppose if you downshifted at kind of a high RPM). So in a nut shell I'd say after trying my dead stop runs about three times & some passing simulations at lower cruising speeds my power seems to be so close to the same that I can not tell for sure if I really did lose any, I'm not going to say I definately did not lose power & I'm not going to say I gained low end power. I may have picked up some power above the midrange area. The cross over is next (maybe Friday)

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97 4x4 supercab lariat with 5.4 auto trans. White/gold leather stock except for true duals 2 1/4" pipes, no mufflers.

 

What does it sound like when you let off say going 65mph at 2,000 rpms? What does it sound like? Nice and deep, a little cackle? please explain..

 

Fordman302, If I have the cruise set at 60 or 65 MPH (1700-200 RPM) and I tap the break to release the cruise the deep mellow rumble simply shuts off, dies away just like that. I have an auto trans with O.D. I think you probably would get a mild crackle If you had a manual trans or if you manually shifted your auto down a gear when decelerating. It's kind of fun because when decelerating up to a stop sign or something it is so quiet when you are just running in drive coasting up to a stop, then it comes to life & sounds so tough even if you are just accelerating slowly off a stop, the more you give her the louder she barks! If you bust the tires loose, hide the women & children & someone call 911! I had a friend hear me leave west out of town (from one of our only two stoplights), he was probably 5 blocks away & he claims he heard me leave town. He said "it sounded like a motorcycle gang rolling out of town, like about four Harley's in a synchronized rumble fest." I took that as a complement of course.

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97 4x4 supercab lariat with 5.4 auto trans. White/gold leather stock except for true duals 2 1/4" pipes, no mufflers.

 

Sounds good! I'm getting my pipes put on today! I'll let you know how a '99 with a 5.4 sounds with straights!

 

Fordman302, I saw your other post telling about your new set up. How do you like it? Mine is going in for the cross over tube tomorrow.

 

sorry this took so long. I have had a busy week/weekend. I graduated and have lots of soybeans to play as well. I love the set up. I get compliments from all the old guys in my town that all have stock exhaust! It has a really reall nice sound just idling around, and when you get on the gas you really can tell what it has under it. I don't need a crossover pipe. I retained all my torque. I think i even have more power now, and my throttle response has even increased a little. All in all I'd recomend it to anyone that wants a great sounding exhaust!