Hey Guys-
Thought I'd throw in my setup. I've got a '97 5.0 AWD.
I'm presently running a Magnaflow Dual 2.5" inlet, Single 3" outlet with an immediate turn down (dumped right before the rear axle). This muffler is a straight through muffle and damn long, about 2.5 feet long. I have run this explorer with the stock setup, no muffler, and then this setup. I can say this is definitely a nice setup.
At idle and low RPM, it gives a nice mellow rumble, but nothing terribly obnoxious (a little louder than the 50 series Flowmaster I ran on my old 4.0 SOHC). When you really step on it, it definitely gets throaty, but it sounds more like a race muffler than a 40-Series flowmaster on a V8. Flowmasters are definitely "Louder" in my opinion. The thing I like about it is that if you're not on the throttle, it quiets down at higher RPM's, but if you get into it, it wakes up. The best part is, with the turn down the way it is, you barely hear anything while driving (except at idle/low RPM where you feel it more than hear it). From outside, its got a very deep sound. I can hear it rumbling from a good 2 blocks away, but its not obnoxious... its sound from a distance is as mellow as its sound up close, it just carries well.
With all this said, I do agree with 410, I did lose some low end after installing this muffler. On the flip side, it really opened up at higher RPM (read above 3,000 RPM). I bet that going with a 2.75" outlet (and a longer tube than I have) would probably add just enough backpressure to gain back some of the lost torque.
Below are some pics. I took some videos with my Digicam, but the sound is so much of a "Feel", that the camera barely picks it up. I will try to get something better to post for the sound side of it.
