Had a Ravin Z55 muffler and the Flowmaster y-collector installed today at a local Midas. My mod was to install the FM y-pipe, and swap the stock muff out for a 3" in/out Ravin Z55 (RA554301). Midas is too expensive for anything fancy, and they would not give me the same price ($299) that they gave Scooby on his dual job, even though it was the same shop and the same truck (WTF?). I finally decided to keep the stock tailpipe for now and just upgrade the y and muffler.

First impressions: a very deep powerful rumble and LOTS of interior resonance at any acceleration, but very quiet when idling or coasting. I haven't had the chance to check highway cruise drone, but I will do that tomorrow. If it is as loud as when accelerating, I will have no choice but to rip it out and write it off. Hopefully it does not drone in OD at 75, or out it comes, and bye bye money $$.

As for power and torque - it definitely has more but not a lot more. Mainly it just sounds more powerful. What I'm after and hoping for is better highway mileage (I get around 17 mpg hiway), and a little rumble when I get on it, but not this much. I have filled up, zeroed the odometer, and will be checking mileage carefully, as well as resetting the computer (superchip) first thing in the morning.

Bottom line: it's louder than I wanted, and there is a small but noticeable increase in power, more so in the high bands, but no torque loss that I can tell.

I am going back to Midas because the system moves when shaken, and there is no support/hanger between the y and the muffler - there was a stock clamp/hanger in that location, but none now, and I can wiggle it. Also the things on the clamps (some kind of counterweight/resonance damper?) are gone now. It look like they rushed it without taking the time to do it perfect, the welds are amateurish and gloppy, and I'm disappointed and a little pissed at their workmanship. I plan to check it carefully for leaks and workmanship in the light tomorrow, and I will make them do it right Monday. However, hear me now or hear me later, I will NEVER let another Midas goon touch my pretty after this, that's for damn sure! My advice - buy the muffler only at Midas ($139 no matter which one I wanted, go figure), and find a real performance exhaust shop to do your work! If you think you are going to get a good job at Midas you're MISTAKEN. And don't believe every recommendation you hear on the internet! Midas are NO EXHAUST EXPERTS!!!

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2001 SuperCrew Lariat 4X4
Gen II,Amazon green (thats right!),medium parchment leather,5.4L,limited slip,skid plates,C3 tow package w/dealer replaced 1.47" YL3H-GA radiator,capt chairs,6CD,keyless entry,auto lights.
Mods: SuperChip, 3" cold airbox mod, K&N air filter, WMS velocity tube, Westin black step bars, foglight switch mod + 9005 bulbs, Catch-all mats, Husky mud flaps, Fumoto oil drain valve, decals peeled off, 35% front tint, Lightning tails, 5.4L badge on tailgate from Howie!
Soon: new 3" SISO catback exhaust mod w/Ravin Z-55 + Flowmaster y-pipe + stainless tip, Line-X, more later

 

Hey RamblinWreck -

Thanks for the info about Midas. My Y-pipe just arrived from Summit and I am trying to find someone here in Denver that will weld it on without hacking up my baby. Most of the chains around here seem to be somewhat ignorant of any performance mods and some even refuse to do anything but exact OEM replacements.

I have heard that the single 3" Flowmaster exhausts are fairly loud but I thought the Ravin Z55 would be pretty mellow. My Flowmaster Force II system got louder when I installed my Airaid intake, and it will probably get even louder/deeper with the new Y-Pipe. My wife isn't going to like this one bit.

I have heard that most mom-and-pop type muffler shops tend to do better work than the chains, simply because the owner or a qualified and experienced employee will be doing the work rather than some 17yr old pot smoking hack. (no offense to you 17yr old pot smokers out there, just don't touch the truck!)

By the way, that is one nice looking 5.4L badge on the tailgate!!

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2000 F150 XLT Supercab Flareside
5.4L 4x4 with 3.55 L/S + ORP
Mods: Superchip, Airaid, Flowmaster Force II, Scorpion Spray in Liner, fogs + hibeams
Billet 5.4L Badge on Tailgate
Soon: Flowmaster Y-Pipe

 

take some pics so we can see how you routed the Y.

Has anyone looked at the F150 Harley exhaust as a replacement?

 

take some pics so we can see how you routed the Y.

Has anyone looked at the F150 Harley exhaust as a replacement?

------------------
2001 SuperCrew
4.6L
Sunroof
Power Sliding Rear Window
Five Spoke wheele, Captains Chairs (old style)
CD Changer
Ford Soft Tonneau
Saris Roof Rack/yak saddles
Bed extender
Deltacycle bed bike rack
towing pkg

towing an Aliner Expedition

next step
Expedition console (ordered)
velvet-ride shackles
Y into stock muffler

 

gaurdrail,
Go to my web site and at the bottom of the page click on more pictures and you will
see how the Harley Exhaust System looks under my Screw.

http://www.***-internet.com/jimwalker/newpickup.htm

 

After testing further today, I've decided I like it. The drone is only when getting on it, and it drops off quite a bit when cruising. My friends all say two thumbs up on the tone, and I compared it to a friend's dual FM setup and his is way louder. The Ravin is deep and powerful, but not obnoxiously loud or blatty. I doubt if the neighbors will wake up when I drive in very late after playing a blues gig. (PS R.I.P. John Lee Hooker, the boogie master is gone ).

I could detect no leaks, and the welds, while a bit gloppy, look complete. I still want another hanger installed and the installation beefed up. I don't have a digicam, but I will try to borrow one and get some pics posted. Because of where the O2 sensor is on the passenger side, there is not a lot of room to install the y-pipe. You have to cut the factory pipe aft of the sensor, but not too close to the y, and there is this shield on there that has to come out as well. Get under there and look and you'll see what I mean.

I've decided the mod is a good one, and I'm getting used to the rumble when I put my right foot down. For some reason, it makes me smile every time I do it. After resetting the computer this morning, and starting fresh on an evaluation drive, I have decided the truck definitely has more power, and maybe a bit more torque, even. I will monitor the gas mileage and report on that in a few tanks.

If I had to do it again, I would still use the same components, but I would have a good shop do the install, not a busy Midas on Friday afternoon.

 

Hello all, this is my first post after reading everyone's post's for a while,My ? is as follows: I have a 98 F150 XLT EC with a 4.6, auto trans. i have a a K&N air filter with the air box mod i read about and a dual exhaust with dual maramont turbo mufflers. Had the exhaust installed a few months ago but never reset the computer. Do i need to do this and if so how and why ? Thanks

 

RamblinWreck:

Sorry you had a bad experience. The day I took my truck in it was mid week and I was only one of two vehicles. I told them up front that I was picky and would inspect it closely. Maybe that helped (????). They did a good job on mine. I cannot understand why they charged you more!! That is bad business. I told them that I had referred some more customers for them, but when I get back from a work trip next week I am going to call Randy and tell him that I was not going to refer any more because of this.

I am very sorry that I recommended them and you had a bad experience.

------------------
ORDERED 4/16/01 - WOOHOO!!!
Built 5/14/01
Shipped 5/15/01
Delivered to dealer- 5/23/01
Accepted - 5/25/01
2001 F-150 Supercrew XLT 4wd. 5.4V8, 507A, 3.55LS, Captains chairs, bed extender, cab steps, power moonroof, power seat, skid plates, trlr towing, aluminum wheels, AM/FM cass with 6 cd changer. Bright red clearcoat with DARK graphite interior, 265/75/16 Michelin LTX M/S tires

MODS:
Wet Okole seat covers
Fox Weatherboots front and back
Lightning headlights, corners and tails (they look great on red)
RAVIN Z-55's exiting out the rear @ 45 degree angle. LOVE IT!!!

Keep it looking good with:
KLASSE AIO
KLASSE SG
Blitz wax
EF Hi-intensity
Vinylex
Eagle 1 QD
Microfiber and 100% cotton towels

FUTURE MODS:
LINE-X liner
front tint

E-MAIL: SCOOBY14B@AOL.com

 

Scooby: Please don't mention me if you call Randy! I got a 2-yr warranty with those guys and I don't want 'em pissed at me. My job cost around $350, and I did not even get a tailpipe! They wanted $180 for a mandrel-bent 3" single side.

PS: Sorry I was a no-show at the Varsity. I was gonna come down with my kids - until I found out this weekend is - hold your noses - "gay pride weekend" in Atlanta, and I didn't want to be anywhere near that. I'm not homophobic, but they disgust me.

 

RAMBLINWRECK:

I wont mention you I promise.

The VARSITY thing isnt until next month. JULY 21st...you can still make it. I wouldnt have done it this weekend either cause of the gay pride thing.

------------------
ORDERED 4/16/01 - WOOHOO!!!
Built 5/14/01
Shipped 5/15/01
Delivered to dealer- 5/23/01
Accepted - 5/25/01
2001 F-150 Supercrew XLT 4wd. 5.4V8, 507A, 3.55LS, Captains chairs, bed extender, cab steps, power moonroof, power seat, skid plates, trlr towing, aluminum wheels, AM/FM cass with 6 cd changer. Bright red clearcoat with DARK graphite interior, 265/75/16 Michelin LTX M/S tires

MODS:
Wet Okole seat covers
Fox Weatherboots front and back
Lightning headlights, corners and tails (they look great on red)
RAVIN Z-55's exiting out the rear @ 45 degree angle. LOVE IT!!!

Keep it looking good with:
KLASSE AIO
KLASSE SG
Blitz wax
EF Hi-intensity
Vinylex
Eagle 1 QD
Microfiber and 100% cotton towels

FUTURE MODS:
LINE-X liner
front tint

E-MAIL: SCOOBY14B@AOL.com

 

Sorry to hear that, RamblinWreck. Sounds like your local Midas dealer really rrrrrrrr--ripped you. My local Midas shop installed my Borla split for $100. They even asked if I wanted to come in and watch....which I did. They answered questions while they worked, pointed out a lot of things as they were working, and the two guys working my truck checked each others work before lowering the lift. The manager even walked over a couple times thruout the install to check his crew (as he did all the other installs going on..........and it was Friday afternoon). I was in and out in just over a half hour. That Midas shop may suck in your area, but the guys in my local shop acted like real pros. What a bummer that you didn't have a similar experience.

------------------
01 Black SuperCrew 5.4 (Gen II, 4X2); Airaid, Borla Split Rear, Line-X, Matched Tint windows. Black. Black. All Black.
-------------------
Blaupunkt "Munchen" HU; JL Audio Stealthbox, DiamondAudio M551 components, Kicker Impulse coax (rear), RF250a and Kicker 350xi amps

 

I was a district manager for Midas for 5 years. I have also owned my own Meineke shop. Midas are parts changers and only want fast and profitable jobs. They are good when it comes to stock exhaust but suck at anything custom. If you have a Meineke around, check them out. Most of the time the owner is in the shops and these guys are eager to do anything it takes to get your business. They made there name by bending pipe and doing the custom work that Midas was too good to "touch". Good luck.

------------------
Tropical Concrete Designs
99 F150 Ext. Cab. Lariat
Just got in June after Expy.
5.4L, Bug Shield, Vent Visors, Leer Topper

[This message has been edited by robpaul (edited 06-25-2001).]

 

Lou,
The computer has probably adjusted to the mod, since it's been a couple months from the eshaust install. I didn't reset mine and no problem with performance issues.
Area 52