Exhaust advice needed that I couldn't really find when searching

[RSEOD]

Hello all! I'm in the process of doing some upgrades to my Trac, mainly just to give her more pep. I've done most of what I originally intended, but I'm kicking around the idea of replacing my exhaust with either a Gibson or Magna Flow kit.

I've already cut off the resonator and had a magna flow muffler welded on, but when I look at it I wonder if it's truly as free flowing as possible. The exhaust shop welded two sleeves, one after the cats, and one after the muffler. It sounds great! But the sleeves are much larger than the stock tubing, and I don't know how far the factory piping extends inside each sleeve, so I wonder if the exhaust gasses end up swirling around in the sleeves a little instead of passing straight through... Not sure if that makes sense to anyone besides me.

Anyway, the idea annoys me and its left me thinking about replacing it all with a complete kit. The problem is that the Magna flow kit is a low quality 409 stainless steel that will rust eventually and look like brown crap after a week or two, and for it's price I'm not sure I want to spring for it.

The Gibson offers a 2.5" and a 3" choice. Aluminized steel and a better quality 304 stainless option. I can paint the Aluminized steel and save money, or go with the higher quality stainless... So it seems like an easy choice, but I read a review on Gibsons website from a 4.6 Trac Owner, said the exhaust sounded tinny and raspy.... Not at all what I'm looking for. I really like the way my magna flow muffler sounds and wouldn't want that sound to change drastically.

Buying the Gibson piping and using my exsisting Magna Flow muffler wont work, as I'd be right back to using sleeves again (I think) because of the difference in muffler lengths.

So that's my Dilemma. Any inputs or advice on any of this would be great. Especially any of your thoughts on my concerns with my current setup (the two sleeves connecting to magnaflow muffler to the stock piping) and the 3" vs 2.5" piping... I've done plenty of searching on multiple forums and have read conflicting things. Some say the 3" is almost a requirement to get the most flow and performance out of a single exhaust, and some say it's too big and it causes a loss of torque off the line (which I don't want because while I don't race, the mods I'm doing to my truck are all designed to make me get from 0 to whatever faster.

Thanks

Rick

 

[06bluez]

I just installed the Gibson Stainless 3" system on my adrenalin. I really like the sound, very similar to an aftermarket kit on a mustang GT. No drone, and has a very aggressive pop on startup.

fitment was another story. the two bolt flange where the catback connects to the y-pipe was not the correct size, so we had to modify it and use some slightly smaller bolts. the holes were closer together than the factory y-pipe flange which put them at a slight angle. also the over axle pipe coming from the muffler was about an inch too long, which caused the over axle pipe to rub on the CV on the first test drive. After discovering the rubbing, I had to cut almost an inch off the over axle pipe where it exited the muffler. And then there was the need to modify the rear most pipe for the adrenalin rear exit, but for a standard ST you shouldn't have to worry about that.

earlier I bought a Magnaflow catback, but wasn't happy with the crushed internals of the muffler that came with it, so I sent it back. Also, the factory exhaust is 2.75" after the y pipe, so the 2.5" magnaflow was a step in the wrong direction i thought.

Overall I'm glad I went with the Gibson 3", even with the minor fitment issues. If you go with gibson, expect to deal with the front 2 bolt flange, and take about an inch off the over axle pipe where it ties into the muffler exit.

 

[09STAdrenalin]

Or...cut out the muffler and resonator all together...the 4.6 sounds awesome with straightpipe

 

[06bluez]

or not... won't pass inspection anywhere in the US without a muffler, not to mention that you will be annoying everyone on the road... very few appreciate a muffler-less NA gas v8 driven on the street.

 

[JohnnyO]

I don't know that gibson sells the pipes separately. Since you already have a Magnaflow muffler I would say just have a muffler shop bend up some bigger pipe for it and get rid of the reducers on each end of the muffler.

 

[kvunck]

What mods did you make for the Adenalin tailpipe?

 

[06bluez]

I'll get some pictures up here soon. I talked with Gibson about my fitment issues with the front flange, and it turns out that 2010 v8 ST's have a different flange bolt spacing than the 07-09 trucks. I'm still deciding on what to do there, but I am considering cutting off the gibson flange and welding on the Factory flange, to also use the stock spring loaded bolts.

 

[JohnnyO]

When I put a Gibson on mine we did have to scrounge up some shorter bolts for the flange but that was the only fitment issue. Like you said, the 2010's can be different.