Just wanted to ask if there is a "quiet" performance cat back system that anyone would recommend. I understand that with muffling you trade off some performance. Is there any larger exhaust that would out flow the stock exhaust but retain much of the "quitness" of a stock exhaust.? I still enjoy duals with straight pipes. But would rather enjoy them on my other "rides" and not my family hauler/ camper towing daily driver. Thanks.

 

the delta flow flowmasters are pretty quiet. it will be louder then stock but alot more quiet then glasspacks or just even the regular flowmasters... its not as annoying as some mufflers and u can find them on ebay for under $100.

 

magnaflow or borla prolly the best bet for quite and best performance.

 

Look at the flowmaster 70 series. They are about as loud as a factory dodge ram. You cna hear a slight rumble, but overall it is really quiet IMO.

 

Borla....straight-through design (lazy S in their terms), stainless steel, nice bump in HP, and quiet.

 

I understand the Gibson swept-side exhaust is pretty quiet, with decent HP gains!!

 

I've read the same about Gibsons, though I've only personally heard one at idle - and it was about like a stock setup at idle, pretty quiet.

 

I think I can give you some direction here. I have had: Gibson side swept on my '99 5.4l super cab 4x4, Magnaflow replacement muffler (I don't remember the part #) with stock pipes on my '02 5.4l super cab FX4 and I now have the Borla single inlet/single outlet side swept on my '03 5.4L FX4 Supercrew. Here's what I thought of each:
GIBSON: Nice and easy install, looks the best out of all the systems. Really quiet at idle but a good growl in upper rpms. I did notice there was a substantial drone in the cab while cruising @70mph. Noticed better mpg and more power.
MAGNAFLOW: Very quiet all around. Most likely due to use of stock tubing. Not much different than stock, but a bit deeper sound. Didn't notice any power gains
BORLA: Very easy to install. Great fit and finish with only one negative, the supplied chrome tip is too big for the truck. I didn't use it and to me, the tubing looks almost factory. The sound is the best of both worlds. It's deeper (read lower tone) all around, yet quieter than stock when cruising @70 mph. There is no cab drone whatsoever and it sounds very aggressive when you go above 3000 rpms. Noticed similar power and mpg gains as Gibson.

Price wise fo all systems installed: Gibson cat back~$320, magnaflow replacement muffler ~$120, Borla cat back~$400

For my $38400 (MSRP) truck I vote Borla all the way!

 

I have to agree with W08FX4. I had a 1998 F150 with a 4.6L and a five speed. I had a Borla system #14808 (single in, dual out) put on it, was pretty mellow around town, even at 65. When you punched it, there was a pretty aggressive tone but nothing that really annoyed anyone (none that I know of, at least). It was a little pricey, think I paid $560 back in 1999 for it, but definitely worth it IMO. My wife even liked it, now if I can just convince her I need the same system for my 2003 Heritage Edition for Christmas...

 

On my 2003 Screw with the 5.4, I have ran two different systems.
The first was the dynomax 3" cat back with their "super turbo" muffler. It has a nice sound to it, just a tad louder than stock at idle. Under throttle a nice low rumble to it. I really liked it but I decided to try a different muffler. I switched to a magnaflow 3" muffler and it is a little louder than the dynomax and I swear the truck seems to have a little more pep to it...probably my imagination.

The magnaflow "drones" a little in the cab at highway speeds and the dynomax did not.

 

Just put the magnaflow 15821 on my 04 and it sounds great. Quiet under normal driving and above 3k it sounds powerful. No drone on the highway either. Great system, perfect fit.