What power gains can be made with a cat back exhaust on 2002HD with the usual mods already in place? Also, what is the coolest sounding exhaust?

 

First, you are going to be hard pressed to find an exhaust system the will produce *measurable* results across the power band. Most systems trade upper and lower power. The factory system is an attempt to balance the two. If you open it up, you get higer mids and top end gains. If you provide better back pressure, your bottom end stays strong...

I am not aware of any aftermarket catbacks that are specific to the HD. Our problem is the up and over the axle and the hanger locations. They will not match up to an L cat back without some cutting and bending and unless you have a local shop that can mandrel bend, I wouldn't waste a bunch of time and money on an expensive catback that you are going to cut up.

From all of the research I have done, the magnaflow 14468 (shorter/louder) and the 14568 (longer/quieter) are the best bet for a sound pick me up. The 14468, from what I have read, reduces back pressure enough that it might cost you some low end. The 14568 won't be much louder than stock but will leave back pressure in place and won't cost you any ponies.

The MAC catback on a friend's L sounds as good as I have ever hear save one exhaust: the spintech. I had a spintech on my 01 supercrew and it sounded amazing. It had a nasty drone in a very narrow rpm band which I couldn't get resolved easily. spintech was more than happy to provide me with pieces and parts to correct the matter, but I opted to go with a magnaflow stainless catback instead.

Magnaflow may get a system together... who knows. If they do, that is where I will go.

Until a cat back is made to take advantage of the stock hanger positions, I am probably going to stay stock...

Ken

 

Ken800

This forum is the best source of info. for the HD truck, it is simply amazing how much help is available from people with actual experience. Thanks.

 

i got about 2.5mph int the quarter from my exhaust , i got jdm headers high flow cats and a magnaflow mufler and tail pipes in the lightning position. its ok if u lose a lil bottom end cause its usless any way it only makes the truck spin more.i have enough bottom end to go 1.91 60ft times on street tires . and still go 104.7 in 85 degree heat

 

Hey cobra... You have a nice setup for sure. I was assuming he was talking cat back only -- probably not a valid assumption... I am a stoplight to stoplight guy and any bottom end loss, regardless of top end gains, is not acceptable to me personally.

How much did that complete setup cost you from front to back? I have given some thought to that setup, but for that kind of dough, I might consider adding a little more and getting a works or kenne bell setup.

Take care,

Ken

 

my set up was like 1800 or somthing , but if u get a bigger blower u will have way to much back presure for the stock exhaust set up. stop light to stop light the ehaust def made the truck faster. just a cat back im not sure how much u would get prob not that much. but if u plan on doin a bigger blower u def need headers and an exhaust. im thinbking of putting a bigger blower also