Hey everyone,

ok, I have a 2005 F-150 5.4L 2wd stock, I been having a flowmaster 40 series, since I bought it, and the sound had declined over time, the muffler I had it redone today and still sound like crap, i mean... my wifes uncle has an 07' chevy silverado 4.8L and has a 50 series SUV, and it sound GREAT!, and my 40 series sounds bad, when I start up is deep and loud, but as it levels the RPM it gets quiet, then if i rev up it sounds less deep, till there is just a high speed air flow sound, if im driving the more I step on it, the less deep it gets, but the sound from the high air flow takes over, so it sounds like a v6 stock at high RPM... is really hard to explain, today the muffler shop, cut the 2.25" stock pipe comming from the cats/manifolds, and replaced it with a 3" then the opened the 40 series to accept the 3", on the out side they fitted a 2.5" and installed just a 90 degree and exit before the axle, it looks like *****, but it was a test, why is it that a 4.8L chevy on a 50 series sound better (loud and deep) than this ford 5.4L on a 40 series? not even the muffler shop can figer it out, and it is driving me nuts, I don't have engine lights or errors, I only have 40k on this truck, and I just had the dealer install new plugs, I did noticed that it performs better, I have faster acceleration now as it has better flow, but where is the sound?

what muffler combination is everyone runnign on a 5.4L that sounds good? I want it deep and not super loud, but sport/performance sound, not like a 4 cylinder on duals or a BUICK getto style.

 

There are alot of dfferences between GM engines and Ford engines. GMs are push-rods which are naturally louder, and perform better, Fords are modulars which perform well in high rpm, but dont accept mechanical performance modifications, and are real quiet, and the 4 cats that '97 - '05 trucks have dont help.

Basically, a chambered muffler will always sound good on a push-rod V8, a 3" single 40 series with 2.5" tailpipes will sound ok on a modular V8, but i personally think that modular engines sound best with straight through mufflers. Have a listen to mine and you may be impressed.

 

ok I seen the videos, so you're saying that flowmaster will not sound good on our trucks? also you listed on your videos that you removed the rear cats, why? and does it affect the smog check, im in california and here they are very strict about it. what do you suggest i should do? I like the way the ROUSH exhaust tips come out from the side before the axle, but the shop did a crappy job, but i knew i was going to bring it back for more changes since the 40 sound like crap, what should i do?

 

Yes I more prefer the sound of a straight design muffler over a chambered one for these trucks. I removed the rear converters because they were not O2 monitored, and keeping my truck too quiet, and restricting flow. My front cats are just fine, no CEL, and great sound and flow. You could not pass a smog with removed cats though.

The Roush off-road sounds good, replicating a system like mine would sound good too. I have a video of it with stock cats and the true dual 11"s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui4td6sPIVg

 

To add to Darren's insight, you could also look at a magnaflow 14" muffler. I have one and love it. Nice and deep and loud under acceleration and then just a low rumble at cruise. It is just a tad quieter than the video of Darren's system with all his cats in place.

 

do you know the correct part # for your magnaflow 14"? was it stainless/chrome or just regular, today I went to a shop and they wanted $400 for a 18" Magna si/do and they didn't had long double wall tips, so I passed on the offer. plust I think it was too expensive.

 

Find a shop that is willing to swap out your stock cats for some hi-flow cats. That is what's keeping your truck so quiet.

 

Part number is 12198. It is stainless, not the highly posilshed one. I love it so much After college I may do hi-flows for a bit more growl, but no complaints here.

 

That brought up some questions. If a push rod performs so much better why is GM the only one running them while everyone else has overhead cams? Secondly I've found GM gas motors to suck the big one downlow, especially the gutless 6.0L, but come alive over 3500-4000rpm while the ford modulars 4.6L 2V and 5.4L 2V were awesome down low and mid range (5.4L 3V is weird, good power down low and up top, but with a weird flat spot in the middle). Seems to me the modulars accept performance mods just fine. Look at the lightning or any mustang. Also why would the pushrod be louder? Biggest difference I see in this case, next to the pushrod vs OH cam, is the 4.8L is a short stroke motor (83mm) while the 5.4L is a long stroke motor (105.8mm).

 

Push rod motors are inherently loud because of more moving part, push rods, and rocker arms while SOHC engines don't have any of those. It's a simpler and more efficient engine. GM motors are also built for maximum horsepower, they don't care what RPM it's at, as long as it's high. They build their trucks with tons of high end power, but nothing on the low end.

 

I'm not sure I understand how that translates to the exhaust being noisier but I'll take your word for it. Again if its simpler and, in particular, "more efficient", why doesn't everyone make that kind of motor? Today's market is all about efficiency, no?

Sorry, I think I hijacked this thread. Just hate having these questions bugging me.

 

Well you can see where Chevy and Dodge have ended up for refusing to produce what people want.

 

haha too true.

 

I still whish I had a Chevy Motor on this FORD :P

 

imagine how cool it be a SPECIAL EDITION F-150 SCREW LS7 7.0L