ok i have 97 4.6 with glass packs and it sounds pretty good but i want it louder, so if i cut of the glass packs and replaced it with just a pipe (straight pipes) would it be noticable louder. and also if i didnt like the sound could i clamp the glass packs back on???

 

It will be louder

 

is anyone running an open y pipe or some sort of cut out valve. how do you like it

 

This will be different as I have the 5.4 but...

I had the opportunity this past Friday to hear both true dual glasspacks and straight pipes on my truck. The straight pipes were noticably louder and had more "pop" to the exhaust tone. I went with the straight pipes and love it!

 

how are your straight pipes done? two individual pipes off of the stock exhaust manifolds? or did you cut the stock exhaust after the cats and install a Y pipe out to the rear ? im just trying to figure out what the common route on straight pipes is since the name is sort of misleading, i know used to straight pipes meant two individual pipes coming directly off of the stock exhaust manifolds, one per side with no crossover. but i dont see that actually working out anymore, i have the Y pipe with duals out the rear after the factory cats and im wondering if the truck could be any louder with a different setup

 

well... i have no muffler but i still have my cats... where the two pipes use to meet up and run as one i had that cut and ran to all the way back...