Since my truck was new back in 2005, I have been running a MagnaFlow #16615 SIDO (dual out the back) cat-back system on my truck. This weekend I decided to mix things up a bit and install a MagnaFlow #16617 Side Exit (in front of passenger side rear wheel) system. After my initial test run with my new system, here are some thoughts:

Sound:

The side exit exhaust has a far more aggressive note than the dual out the back system -- especially under acceleration. Since the actual muffler on the two systems appears to be the same, I suspect this is attributable to the minimal piping after the muffler, the location of the muffler itself (more under the cab with the side exit / more under the bed with the dual out the back) and the actual exit point of the tips.

In fact, I would have to say that if my truck were a daily driver, I'd be tempted to go back to the dual out the back system, which can be heard nicely under acceleration, but mellows out to a low rumble at highway speeds. The added noise of the side exit system might prove to be somewhat annoying if you're trying to have a conversation or listen to the radio while on the road -- especially over long distances. However, since my truck is merely a weekend cruiser (only 2200 miles on the clock since I picked it up in 2005) the more aggressive note (at least for me and how I use this truck) simply adds to the driving experience.

Potential Tire Issues:

Another point of concern I had with going to the side exhaust system was whether the exit point of the tips would impact my passenger side rear tire in any way -- primarily from the heat of the exhaust. To answer this, I used my laser thermometer to measure the impact during my inaugural test drive with the side exhaust system -- about a 50 mile run through the Texas countryside with a mix of city and highway driving.

Here is the data:

- Driver Side Tire Prior To Test Run = 60-degrees.
- Passenger Side Tire Prior To Test Run = 56-degrees.
- Driver Side Tire After Test Run = 78-degrees sidewall / 90-degrees tread.
- Passenger Side Tire After Test Run = 99-degrees sidewall / 98-degrees tread.
- Nearest Body Panel To Tips After Test Run = 78-degrees.
- Exhaust Tip After Test Run = 315-degrees.

As you can see from the data above, the side exit exhaust appears to have increased the sidewall and tread temperature of my passenger side tire by about 10-20 degrees over the duration of my test run. Touching the tires set-off no alarm that they were overheating, but the laser reading did indicate a difference between the driver and passenger side tire temperatures. Additionally, note that the surface temperature of the nearest body panel to the exhaust tips appeared to have been unaffected (temperature wise) by the exhaust.

Also note that tip temperature -- no wonder you can get a good burn if you come into contact with them!

Miscellaneous:

Lastly, just a random observation of the two systems -- I like the way the side exit system mounts overall on the truck. The SIDO system is a conglomeration of various pipes that are all clamped together, while the side exit system is one solid unit that simply bolts up to the factory Y-pipe. The hanger for the side exit system also mounts in a much more secure fashion to the frame of the truck when compared to the SIDO system.

There are a number of pictures of the two systems in my gallery -- take a look if you wish. Hopefully this information will help provide some input for any guys who are trying to decide between a dual out the back or side exit system for their truck......

 

I am sure glad I found this post because Ihave ben looking to install this same setup on my truck which is a reg. cab short bed and have been trying to decide on magnaflow or the roush off road set up , I can get either kit for around $400 or can have the magnaflow setup built at a local shop for $275 the only difference being that the muffler is satin rather than polished. Can you tell me the length of the tips on your side exit kit . The only thing keeping me from making a decision is sound ,which one sounds best and if I should go with a 14" or 18" muffler . Also do you think you picked up any power or mileage.

Thanks,
Kenny

 

The tips on my side exit system measure approximately 14" in length from where they are welded onto the system to the end of the tip. Keep in mind that the side exit system comes as one self-contained unit that is welded together by MagnaFlow at the factory.

As far as any power or mileage gains go, I can't help you. I went from one MagnaFlow system to the other, so the overall "feel" of the truck did not change as far as I could tell. And I never check my mileage, so I couldn't tell whether it's changed -- I always say I never check my mileage on this truck or my Mustang because I don't want the knowledge of how bad it really is to interfere with my enjoyment of the vehicle.....

And lastly, sound is such a subjective thing it's really hard to say. I can tell you that with the 18" muffler of my side exit system it's loud enough for me -- so much so that I certainly wouldn't want the 14" mufflers on my system. Any louder than it is right now and it would become annoying in the cab -- but that's my opinion, and my opinion might have been different when I was 18 years old versus now.

 

Thanks for the info , as far as the unit itself my local shop guy says he can duplicate the kit with parts he has in stock and the noise part is certainly a personal preference the only system Ive actually heard in person was a flowmaster setup with 14" mufflers and I did not like the sound . The magnaflow and roush as well as the MBRP all have a mean performance sound .I have been trying to fid local guys with modified exhaust to give them a listen ,but not much luck , I know guys in my part of Maryland are doing mods , where are they ?

Thanks Again,
Kenny

 

Good report. Very nice. If I were you I would have used your current Magnaflow muffler from the dual rear exit kit for the 16617 kit because with it being 5 years old its definitely broken in nicely and loud. If that was your goal for the 16617 exhaust, maybe consider going out and installing it and seeing if you like it more? Then you could sell the brand new Muffler for a little under MSRP. Either way after a few thousand miles your new Magnaflow muffler will break in and rumble as much as the 16615 kit muffler will so thats why i'm mentioning it.

Does that really matter? The only difference between the two is the polished is just shiny. Both mufflers are stainless and will not rot out from inside to out. The satin is t-409 which is what Magnaflow uses for their exhaust pipes, and what the current Roush Exhaust system company is using sicne they recently sold. The only negative thing about t-409 is it may get surface pit rust spots, which is nothing to be concerned about. It will for sure last.

The 14"er will sound a little louder than the 18", they both sound the same, the 14 has a volume advantage is all.

 

Yeah -- except I've only put a little over 2200 miles on my truck since I've owned it. The original MagnaFlow system went on when there were about 100 miles on the vehicle, so over the past 5 years I have put about 2100 miles on the SIDO system.

I mainly went with the new side exit system because I am in the process of changing the look of my truck. I had no expectations regarding what I wanted for sound, although I suspected the side exit system would be slightly louder. I was right about that.....

My original intent was to sell the SIDO system, although I might just throw it up in the attic in the event I ever want to go back to a "dual out the back" set-up. I plan on keeping the truck forever, so who knows how I'll want it to look 20 years down the line.....

 

2100 miles in a 5 year timeline! WOW! Thats incredible haha, yet cool too. You'll probably barely have 40,000 miles in twenty years . So I'm going to guess you use your truck as a towing tool, and a fun hobby? No daily driving?

 

Easy does it, Buster -- it's more like 10,000 miles in twenty years......

Actually, the plan for both my Mustang and my F-150 is to keep them as extremely well-kept examples of FoMoCo products from this era. Both are garaged, and neither is driven in anything but perfect weather. I plan to put around 500 miles on both of them every year, and then eventually leave them to my son as pristine vehicles that he can take and possibly enjoy with his son.....

 

10k miles lol wow. Still pretty cool. Must be nice to have that option. Cool plan though. I bought mine used and i'm racking up miles and planning to trade it for a newer, younger model once it gets a bit too old, 100k miles old

 

Hey guys thanks for all the helpful info ,I am now rethinking the side exit install on my truck. My initial thoughts were ,it looks cool and you dont see it too often ,afterall we want our trucks to be our own. I am certain that I am going to install a new exhaust ,love the sound ,but here are a few concerns , I live in a townhouse , the significant other which rides in my truck often and I drive around 70 miles a day highway to/from work . I dont know what is meant by drone which is meantioned in another post about a MBRP set up but I probably dont want to hear it , also too much noise in the cab. I am going to have my system built rather than buying a kit because it is cheaper , I like the sound of the roush off road set up but cant find components .As mentioned before sound is about personal preference ,but the noise or how loud it is can be of concern. I also plan on doing gotts mod and gryphon tuner will this affect sound/noise. I want to hear a nice rumble but not thunder. Thanks for any input you guys can give me , you both seem to have the knowledge and experience to get me in the right direction.

Thanks,
KennyDay

 

Wow.. are you an engineer? You are very thorough with your report and findings, not to mention real world testing. Sounds like you put a lot of research into your decision. Great writeup!

 

Going by the description you are giving about how you will use your truck, I would run a "dual out the back" set-up. With the side exit exhaust, plus the added noise that often comes about with the addition of a CAI, I suspect you might not have the most pleasant cabin environment for a 70 mile round trip ride with the wife.

As stated earlier, I like the louder exhaust note provided by the side exit system for how I use my truck, but if it were my daily driver I suspect the added noise would become annoying after a short period of time. Whichever way you choose to go, good luck with your new system......

 

Your right about the cabin noise and the Mrs. , and something I have heard Darren mention is that the magnaflow set up will get louder ,Gee more for me to think about . It sounds as though your old set up might not have been "tuned " in yet .

Kenny

 

My wife will pretty well not have anything to say about what mine sounds like. I think I broke her in with the "cut off" 40 flows and no cats!!! ha ha

 

I have my 02 f150 true dualed with my rear cats deleted dynomax bullets side exit "lightining style" sounds great ill post pictures up soon