Muffler to Muffler that is what I need to know..

[Stig]

I have an 2002 X-Sport 5speed on the floor.. I drive a good bit of Highway/some intown mileage.. I average about 19 to 20mpg on a tank easy.. sometimes upward to 21mpg.. which is great.

I have seen alot of info on the site as to what mufflers to buy and what not, I think I have settled on Magnaflow or Flows.. But my real concern, since I do, drive alot on the highway, is this. What sort of power gain will I get, If I replace the muffler and get rid of the resonator? I do have a cut breather box and a drop in K&N filter, which helped a little on the response... I pull my motorcycle from time to time, but it isn't like the Explorer is lacking in torque for such a load..hehe.

Summary : what will the Hp gain (buttdyno if you must) be, what will it do to the mileage and will the noise.
And for the record I am not new to the performance world, just new to the Explorer 4.0ltr V6 stuff..

Thanks.

 

[Fish Man]

when i did my exhaust (flowmaster 40 series delta flow) i really did not gain much if any power. i used the stock 2" piping and just made it exit out the side for something different. i was mainly after the sound, not too worried about power cause it would take about 100 hp to make me happy with the power but yeah, if you go with that muffler with 2.25" pipe in a cat back you should gain some power.

 

[rydinhigh]

I did 2.5" from the cat back with a flowmaster. It sounds good for a v6, I also had them make it exit out of the side.

 

[Fish Man]

rydin high- i like your exhaust! looks familiar. cant find a good pic...

 

[SiLenZe]

i believe the stock pipes are 2.25 on your sport.

 

[Stig]

Originally posted by SiLenZe
i believe the stock pipes are 2.25 on your sport.

I think so.. I would leave all the piping the same just needed some flow.. but the thing runs well as is.. I just don't want to get it all noisey if it isn't going to change the acceloration or help with mileage enough to bother with it.. And I have no plans of chipping it; so I am checking to see if it would be a waist.

Stig

 

[Felix]

I personally like the Magnaflow mufflers better. They have more of a mellow sound than the flowmasters. That and I just dont like being like everyone else with the flowmaster thing. The bigest thing to remember is to find a muffler that is a strait flow design. This means it takes the most direct route from inlet ot outlet of the muffler.

Factory mufflers and oem replacement mufflers have crossflow designs. This is pretty much three tubes that each run 3/4 the length of the muffler case. All the tubes have small pererations in the center that allow (suposed to anyway) gases to pass strait accros the center of the muffler. What makes them quiet is they have a double layer case, and that center section with the holes in the tubes to cross flow is wraped in accustic matting.

I hope this has made sence to you and not cofused anyone. This is all information that myself and my father have both resurched. If you go to muffler companies web sites you will see this information. Most likely in a easier to understand format.

 

[Skeets'91EB]

Does muffler length affect loudness?

When I replaced my stock muffler, I had to find a Cherry Bomb that was about 21" or 23" ( I dont really remember) in length, so I'm guessing thats the length of the stock muffler...anyone know for sure??

Also, I'm looking at buying a Gibson cat-back, but I also have the option to buy a used muffler from somebody to save some $$, anyways, his muffler is only 19" so would that make the exhaust louder than what I want it to be or affect the sound?

 

[Stig]

I went with the Magnaflow.. it is an 18 incher, and wow what a difference not low end of course but mid to high end is great.. Thanks for the advise, and the sound is really great too.