Has anyone installed Magnaflow #16616. It's the cat-back SI/DO side exit in front of the rear tire. I have an 05 FX4 S/Cab Flareside and was wondering how that system would look on these trucks. The item description says the 16616 is for shortbed trucks...my Flareside being 6 1/2 feet.......I'm not sure if that's considered a shortbed. If anyone has this setup or any photos, I would really like to see them.

 

I just ordered the 16616. Can't wait to get it...I have a '05 Flareside FX4 scab. Hope I ordered the right one, I think the 16617 is for regular cabs.

Anyway, I have competing opinions I am dealing with. One friend says to ditch the clamp and weld the pipes. The other friend says that is not necessary and the clamp will do fine. Would appreciate advice from an expert that knows...

 

I am not sure about the exhausts, sorry.

As for the clamps vs welding. I would say its 6 of one and half adozen of another. If you can weld it great, if not I would'nt worry about it. Just torque everything to there specs. written in the directions. I was thinking about the same thing, I was going to weld my Magnaflow si/do instead of clamp it. Then I thought if I dont like the sound or in the future I wanted to change it or even if I was going to trade or sell my truck it would make it that much harder to take off.
Then again, if I were going with the L style its small enough to mock up, mark it and then weld it together. If you know any welding shops that specialize in SS (prefferably Tig) I would go that route. Or you could send it to me and I can do it for you .
Good Luck
Later
M V

 

There is no reason to weld the pipes. I had a Magnaflow cat-back kit on my last F-150, and am about to order one for the new truck.

People who have never had a bolt-on system think that it will have leaks. I have had experience with two cat-back systemns on gas F-150s and one on my Dad's F-350 Powerstroke diesel. No leaks in any cases I've seen.

To me, the point of doing a bolt-on system is to avoid the sloppy welds that a muffler shop will do. Why take a perfectly good bolt-togethere system and butcher it with un-neccesary sloppy welds? Plus, most muffler shops can't properly weld stainless. They'll say they can, and will approach it just like aluminized tubing--not good.

Worts case- bolt it up with the supplied clamps, and have it welded if you're not happy then.

Bottom line is, there really is no need to weld a system that was DESIGNED to be clamped.

 

Brian 5.4
"There is no reason to weld the pipes" unless there is a "Worst case"

I dont know if I should take offense to that about "sloppy welds that a muffler shop will do" or if you were even commenting on my respond. Well, I am a welder and DO specialize in SS and there is no way in hell that any sloppy welds would come out of my shop. You are talking to the most **** welder on the planet .


M V

 

Thanks to all for the advice. I think I am going to go the clamp on route and then weld if necessary...I know a master welder so it shouldn't be a problem if I decide to later. No way I am taking to the corner muffler shop.

Here's to hoping my truck sounds like a V8 should after the install...my hopes are pretty high!

 

Sorry, didn't know you were a good welder. I don't have access to anything but the local muffler shop, and have never seen anything that could be considered even close to good come out of one.

What would be the 'worst case' in which you would need to weld one of these systems? They are designed to work well with the clamps supplied. If you are a good welder, go for it. A nice bead on all the joints would look good on there for sure, it just isn't neccessary.

 

Good Luck JurassicBob


Brian 5.4,
What is and isn't neccessary is all personal preference. Like I said in my first post "its 6 of one and half a dozen of another". You're going to do what makes you feel comfortable, thats what it all comes down to.

Later
M V