Exhaust Choices

[X6StringerX]

My newly acquired '01 5.0 needs to be livened up a little. Being my 3rd 5.0 Explorer, I've had some experience with a couple different exhaust setups.

My first one was a true dual setup that retained all 4 stock cats. They went straight into 18" glasspacks and exited straight out the back via 3" chrome slashcut tips. I loved the sound, but I didn't like the fact that I sacrificed my spare tire, the ability to have a heavy duty hitch, and some ground clearance. I grew old of the tips as well.

My second one was a non-true dual setup that again retained the stock cats, but this time went into a Flowmaster Super 40 dual 2.5" inlet/dual 2.5" outlet and then exited toward the ground over my leaf springs. Again, I sacrificed my spare tire and a hitch, but retained ground clearance. The sound on that setup was decent, but it wasn't quite as aggressive as I would have liked.

Now for my current Explorer, I'm contemplating the idea of losing the rear two cats and doing a 2.5" to 3" Y-pipe with no muffler, only a 3" tailpipe, that will exit at or near the stock location. I say near because I'll probably angle it more toward the ground and have it tucked up behind the bumper a little so you can't see it. I'm just wondering if it would be unbearably loud... it should be really deep, which is what I'm looking for. Since this method will not include a muffler, should I retain the rear two cats? Losing the rear two cats wouldn't cause the X to throw a CEL, correct?

Any alternative ideas?

 

[97sprt4x4]

First and formost, i have a SOHC v6, so my exhaust is a little different. with that being said....

Now for my current Explorer, I'm contemplating the idea of losing the rear two cats and doing a 2.5" to 3" Y-pipe with no muffler, only a 3" tailpipe, that will exit at or near the stock location. I say near because I'll probably angle it more toward the ground and have it tucked up behind the bumper a little so you can't see it.

This is kinda what i have (tucked dual tips) but i lost my spare tire, but seeing as i'm A4wd, and i'm going to 33s i can't use it anyway.

I'm just wondering if it would be unbearably loud... it should be really deep, which is what I'm looking for. Since this method will not include a muffler, should I retain the rear two cats? Losing the rear two cats wouldn't cause the X to throw a CEL, correct?

Any alternative ideas?

If you want to be legal you should keep the cats. But....... people have done it and haven't thrown a CEL, as far as resonance i don't think it will be that bad, mine wasn't too horrible when it was dumped under my truck, but when i had tails run it cut the noise by a 1/4th so now it's perfectly fine. what are the plans for the truck lifting it up? stock height? lowering it? all of those things will affect what your options are as far as availablity of exhaust set ups

 

[X6StringerX]

Oh it'll be an off-road rig, that's for sure, lol. I probably won't lift it beyond an AAL/Shackles and a TT, but it'll be an off-road rig all the same. I'm not concerned too much with clearance issues as I'm going to have a single exit. I know for 100% sure that I do not want to have a dual setup this time because I already have a hidden hitch and I'd also like to retain my spare tire this time around.

Are Mac catbacks still readily available? I recall reading something on here recently about a bunch of Mac stuff being backordered indefinitely.

 

[rileyrs]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=256037

there is my exhaust thread, towards the end i have some links to youtube vids.
these are the straight pipe vids.
this is my dd tho, so this exhaust is pretty extreme, and is only temporary, im considering adding either a cherry bomb pro, or possible a flowmaster hushpower.

keep in mind, this is only a 4.0 so yours will be a bit louder and deeper than mine with straight pipes, but it will give you an idea.

 

[X6StringerX]

That's a pretty nice sound from your 4.0sohc.

 

[rileyrs]

its not bad, highway drone is almost unbearable, but around town i like it.
i plan to add a single chamber muffler, or a glasspack soon just ot calm it down a bit