1997 5.0 Replace Muffler+

[mbruffey]

Sorry if I should have located the answer to this question by searching. Tried.

1997 Eddie Bauer. My edition has the stainless steel exhaust manifolds. Two cats merge at the muffler. Muffler has single out.

I may need to replace muffler. All I want is a good one that matches exactly what I have, including resonator, and will sound and last like OEM. Nothing fancy. Can I get a complete assy somewhere, one that includes the resonator already attached? Thanks for responses.

Mark

 

[celly]

Sorry if I should have located the answer to this question by searching. Tried.

1997 Eddie Bauer. My edition has the stainless steel exhaust manifolds. Two cats merge at the muffler. Muffler has single out.

I may need to replace muffler. All I want is a good one that matches exactly what I have, including resonator, and will sound and last like OEM. Nothing fancy. Can I get a complete assy somewhere, one that includes the resonator already attached? Thanks for responses.

Mark

SS exhaust manifolds as OEM equipment? Are you certain about that? Never seen a 2nd gen Explorer with such a setup. I'd love to see photos.

You're looking for a "cat back" kit it sounds like. Not many choices out there for the 5.0 especially since you want the resonator (catback kits don't normally come with such a beast). I'd recommend that you hit a muffler shop and get them to weld a Flowmaster 70 series muffler into place (they're pretty quiet). Get them to bend some pipes for you (2.25" is stock) and either weld your old resonator into place, or get an aftermarket one (they're not too pricey).

Complete kits themselves might be an "idiot proof" way to get all the pieces you need, but they're not always the cost effective solution either.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

SS exhaust manifolds as OEM equipment? Are you certain about that? Never seen a 2nd gen Explorer with such a setup. I'd love to see photos.

I bet he is seeing the heat shields thinking he has stainless exhuast manifolds.

 

[techieman33]

Yeah he has the older style design. Just go to a muffler shop and tell them that you want it to sound like stock and they'll put a stock replacement muffler on it.

 

[mbruffey]

Yes, it's shiny stuff around the manifolds. I'm no expert in that aspect of engines, obviously! I take it you guys don't recommend I get an OEM-fit muffler and clamp a resonator assy on back, assuming it's available. I have the tools and patience for it, if necessary. That end of cars I have some experience with . . . . I think the resonator itself is getting some extra holes in its front end anyway. Does Walker still make good stuff, if they happen to have a fit? Mark

 

[techieman33]

That is probably not something you want to do yourself, the exhaust is probably covered in rust and you will never get those bolts out. On my old 91 I had a new stockish muffler and tail pipe put on for under $100.

 

[Steeda90GT]

I just did this on my truck. Went to Autozone and picked up a stock replacement muffler for $80, and the piping with resonaters and hanger welded in place for an additional $70. This is an "idiot proof" system I guess, but I also didn't wan't to pay $400 for Meineke to do the work.

 

[mbruffey]

That is probably not something you want to do yourself, the exhaust is probably covered in rust and you will never get those bolts out. On my old 91 I had a new stockish muffler and tail pipe put on for under $100.

Yeah, I hate that rusty stuff, but I have found that you can extract some extraordinarily rusted bolts with generous doses of Seafoam Penetrant or PB Blaster over a period of several days, and an impact wrench set to low so that it "taps" in such a way as to loosen the bolt without breaking it.