Need Exhaust Info...

[20Explorer02]

What is the best exhaust for a 2002 Explorer 4.0 SOHC?? Obviously, it seems that most people like the flowmaster for it's easy installation, power and noise. Does anyone recommend the magnaflow?? anyhow, any advice will help...i'm planning on buying my new system around december/january....

Regards,

Sheldon

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

I got dual 40 series flowmasters on my 01 sport and i love it to death its real loud and deep.

 

[20Explorer02]

I got dual 40 series flowmasters on my 01 sport and i love it to death its real loud and deep.

That is exactly what i want.. Plus, everyone tells me that the flowmaster comes with all the right clips and parts to easily install the system by yourself... Did you do it yourself or did you have someone do it for you... and if "Yes", how hard was the installation...

 

[bigapple]

That is exactly what i want.. Plus, everyone tells me that the flowmaster comes with all the right clips and parts to easily install the system by yourself... Did you do it yourself or did you have someone do it for you... and if "Yes", how hard was the installation...

well to address a few things, no matter what u get, its all going to make about the same noise... the thing with purchasing a muffler is seeing whether or not the muffler has a straight-thru design or if it has more baffles to reduce the decibel level... as a point of reference, the flowmaster 40 is basically a straight-thru design with a small baffle in the middle to create minimal backpressure to keep ur engine running at max efficiency (figuratively speaking)...other options from flowmaster include the 50 series and 70 series which have more baffles to decrease the decibel level at idle... the options of buying are a full exhaust system (headers, cat converters, muffler), a catback (from the cat converter and back) or just a simple turndown (muffler with a tip turned down to resonate the sound off the ground)... obviously the turndown is the loudest and the full exhaust the most efficient but i would say a catback is ur best bet... these clips will give u an idea of how loud a 40 is

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YCyyIgZ4Xds
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bNBvkETtaCI
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4vOZ-zQqyPo

and to address what to buy, not all flowmasters are made alike... if u buy a full catback system, u can get the full ease of a bolt-on installation, if the system is a bolt-on.... if u get a non-bolt-on system, u may have to do some welds... if u get just the muffler as i did, u can get the muffler welded in with ur stock exhaust tubing for a decent price and get the same sound... using larger piping doesnt make a huge difference so my suggestion would be to get the muffler for 50 bucks off ebay and getting it welded in... i also got the stock tip cut off and welded a magnaflow chrome tip to make it look a bit better... here r a few pics... get the offset inlet and a center outlet

(the tip)

 

[20Explorer02]

I think that you make a great point. Having only the muffler replaced and doing the tip may be the best direction to go with. Especially since the full Flowmaster system is around $300.00 =/... Since I work at a place that does custom fabricating (www.televisionlifts.com), it is not a problem to get some of the guys cut/weld the pieces into their respectable places. Thanks for your assistance...

 

[Redtrac01]

The sound is not going to be the same. It depends on which muffler you use. The Flowmaster 40 will be loud, the 70 will be quieter. I couldn't find a bolt on cat back kit with a Flowmaster 70 series muffler for my truck, since I want quieter, so I ordered a Gibson cat back kit. What you get with the whole cat back kit is the muffler and 2-1/2" pipes going out(and a 3" tip). The stock pipes behind the muffler are 2-1/4", so if you don't replace the pipes and just put a new muffler and tip on you'll have to get a 2-1/4" inlet/oulet muffler. Get the cat back kit or get a 2-1/2" muffler and replace the pipes.

 

[bigapple]

I think that you make a great point. Having only the muffler replaced and doing the tip may be the best direction to go with. Especially since the full Flowmaster system is around $300.00 =/... Since I work at a place that does custom fabricating (www.televisionlifts.com), it is not a problem to get some of the guys cut/weld the pieces into their respectable places. Thanks for your assistance...

no problem... since im uptight about money i thought i could help u save a buck or two... i cut my tip where it makes the turn to go straight back and made it diagonal... if u want a pic further back to see where it is, ill take one... if u look in that pic though u can see the hanger rite behind it... use that as a point of reference

The sound is not going to be the same. It depends on which muffler you use. The Flowmaster 40 will be loud, the 70 will be quieter. I couldn't find a bolt on cat back kit with a Flowmaster 70 series muffler for my truck, since I want quieter, so I ordered a Gibson cat back kit. What you get with the whole cat back kit is the muffler and 2-1/2" pipes going out(and a 3" tip). The stock pipes behind the muffler are 2-1/4", so if you don't replace the pipes and just put a new muffler and tip on you'll have to get a 2-1/4" inlet/oulet muffler. Get the cat back kit or get a 2-1/2" muffler and replace the pipes.

thats what i meant... a "decibel level" is the "loudness"... im saying a V6 will still sound like a V6... a V8 will sound like a V8... its just how it is

 

[Redtrac01]

You are so right that a V6 will never quite sound like a V8. The question of this thread was "what is the best exhaust"? I would ask what's the objective, sound or performance? The cheap thing to do would be to just put a loud muffler in. The best thing for performance would be to put the whole cat back in.

 

[20Explorer02]

no problem... since im uptight about money i thought i could help u save a buck or two... i cut my tip where it makes the turn to go straight back and made it diagonal... if u want a pic further back to see where it is, ill take one... if u look in that pic though u can see the hanger rite behind it... use that as a point of reference
----------

Please! I could definately use a photo... =)... I talked with the guys in the shop, and they said that they could do it for me...

 

[bigapple]

You are so right that a V6 will never quite sound like a V8. The question of this thread was "what is the best exhaust"? I would ask what's the objective, sound or performance? The cheap thing to do would be to just put a loud muffler in. The best thing for performance would be to put the whole cat back in.

actually best performance would be no muffler at all due to no backpressure but ur performance would only be temporary because having little to no backpressure on the engine can cause valve-tapping and can damage ur cylinders... the best safe thing to do is a turndown muffler because it has less piping to go thru, resulting in less backpressure but just enough for the engine to run well.. that is if u can withstand the noise... i had one for about a month and was about to tear my hair out at some points

no problem... since im uptight about money i thought i could help u save a buck or two... i cut my tip where it makes the turn to go straight back and made it diagonal... if u want a pic further back to see where it is, ill take one... if u look in that pic though u can see the hanger rite behind it... use that as a point of reference
----------

Please! I could definately use a photo... =)... I talked with the guys in the shop, and they said that they could do it for me...

sure ill get one when i get home and post it up

 

[bigapple]

as requested....

hopefully that should give u an idea of the location... pretty much just rite where the pipe turns... that tip has a 3 1/2'' outlet and 3'' inlet... the inlet fits perfect over the pipe and i just did a weld on top and bottom to not melt it too much... sorry for the low res... camera phone... o and that chrome isnt too chromy haha... ill clean it when i get a chance but picture it shining

 

[khx]

i love everything about my gibson except the fitment, which i am getting a new pipe this week free from them, so not too ad..they are wiling to do a lot to help me and to make me happy which i obviously like about them.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

20Explorer02 I got my dual 40 series setup at a muffler shop. When I bought my 01 sport it was used and the previous owner had the 70 series big block II muffler and it was so quiet.

So I went to a muffler shop and asked them I want a loud and deep sound flowmasters on my 01 sport. They told me to get the 40 series so I got those and I paid like 275 bux for mine.

I got dual 2 1/2 inch tips but i wanna get bigger tips like 3 or 3 1/2 inch tips.