Guys,

I know eveyone has an opinon, but what Cat back system has proven, document HP gains for the F150? I don't care about how the system sounds, but how well it will improve HP. I hear alot about Gibson on this board, but many say that Borla is better because it conform to truck's system over time. Is there a site that compares different systems?

 

I don't think there is an unbiased test out there comparing different systems as far as torque and horsepower go done by an independent third party.

Every manufacturer says "theirs" flows better than the other, sounds better, is built better, etc. It's kind of a coin toss.

This is my system: http://www.fordf150.net/howto/exhaust.htm

 

Try a 3" single exhaust like the Gibson Sweptside. Or a si/so Magnaflow with a 3" pipe will fit the bill perfectly. TJMO.

 

I have studied this quite a bit.
From everything I have read, and all info I got, it seems like Magnaflow might be a top pick.

However, just know that I have no hard evidence to back this up.

Also, and this is only my opinion....
I would venture to guess that a few of the top performing cat back systems would be relatively close as far as HP goes.

Perhaps one will have an extra 2HP, but I doubt any human would be able to tell the difference for something so subtle.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think most of the big names are all good systems.... Gibson, Borla, Magnaflow, Bassini, etc....

Anyone of these will be such a huge improvement over stock, that you will be happy.

My apologies if I left out a good exhaust, I can't remember them all.

Regards
Habibi

 

What about Flowmaster.

 

they sound bad-***

 

I've had Borla on a 94 Bronco and my 86 5.0 Mustang. I have had the Gibson Super Truck on my 5.4 F150 for 2.5 years now. Just my 2 cents, but for quality and longevity go with the Borla. You can't go wrong with Borla. The Super truck is nice, I love the sound. As for as HP increase I don't think you'd notice the difference between them. The pipe leading into the muffler on the Super truck broke clean off, welded it back with no problem. You will never have that happen with Borla. Borla is stainless steel, so is Gibson swept side, the Super truck is aluminized.

If $$$ is no problem go with Borla or Bassani.

 

I'll toss in my 2 cents, although my view may be somewhat dissenting. I bought a Gibson cat-back 4 years ago and the muffler was a rattling rust bucket by last winter. I had the muffler cut out and installed a Flowmaster 50 DF and did the y-pipe mod. If I had to do it all over again, I would simply cut out the stock muffler and replace it with a good performance unit and also do the y-pipe mod all within the stock pipes. For looks you could also add a nice stainless tip. To me, the cat-back systems don't offer the benefit for the high cost that these simple mods provide.

 

My "home-made" system with a flowmaster y-pipe, 3" aluminized piping (flowmaster) and a slightly used dynomax ultra-flo welded muffler plus 3.5" stainless tip cost me under $300 cdn but I did the work myself. A cat-back kit is easily that much money and you don't get the y-pipe.

http://www.fordf150.net/howto/exhaust.htm

 

roden,
I have asked about the Y-pipe in several posts and the only one I hear about is the 3" Y pipe from flowmaster.
Do you or anyone know where I can get a good Y pipe to fit the stock size pipe (2.5 inch)?
I don't want to loose any torque so I am going to maintain the stock size pipe with the side exit.

 

crain---

I went with a Magnaflow, 3" SI/SO custom system with custom "Y". It sounds great, quiet until I get on it, and no noticeable loss in low end torque.

 

WLF, I'm quite sure that Flowmaster makes a 2.5 y-pipe, although for some reason I couldn't find anything about y-pipes on their site. Also, FYI, when I brought the y-pipe to the shop that did the install, the guy said that they could have fashioned a y-pipe for me. Not sure if it would have been as decent as the FM unit, but it may be a question worth posing if you have an exhaust shop that you trust.

 

You might want to look into Spintech also. Do your research and you can't go wrong. Just about anything is better than stock.

 

Part Number Suggested Retail Description
Y200250A 44.96 2.00" x 2.50" Y-Collector: Aluminized
Y214300A 44.96 2.25" x 3.00" Y-Collector: Aluminized
Y250300A 44.96 2.50" x 3.00" Y-Collector: Aluminized
Y250350 47.88 2.50" x 3.50" Y-Collector
Y300350 52.36 3.00" x 3.50" Y-Collector
Y300400 52.36 3.00" x 4.00" Y-Collector
Y350400 62.09 3.50" x 4.00" Y-Collector
Y350450 69.24 3.50" x 4.50" Y-Collector
Y350500 69.24 3.50" x 5.00" Y-Collector
YV300350 74.41 3.00" x 3.50" Y-Collector: Venturi
YV350400 74.41 3.50" x 4.00" Y-Collector: Venturi

Looks like they don't make a 2.5 dual in to 2.5 single out collector. You'd have to use the 2.5 dual in, 3 single out and then run a 3 to 2.5 reducer cone.

BTW, I didn't lose any torque with my 3 inch system. I'm not sure who started that old wive's tale about torque loss.

 

Flowmaster is wicked good.

Friend has the single out the rear Gibson on his new 4.6 SB, and he likes my Flowmaster Dual Rear exit better.