Exhaust recomendations per...
Exhaust recomendations per...
Hey Gang,
This is my first post and I know that discussions like this have been posted in the past; I've read through as many as I could find here but there's only so much one can read to get a better understanding of what I should be considering for my new exhaust system.
First-off, I have a 1998 Dodge Dakota (base), 6Cyl, 3.9L, 4x4, Club-Cab with a 6.5' bed.
Aside from (tastefully) blacking out the body, windows and head & tail lights (I've just always wanted to do that) I'm not looking to do more than get it running as efficiently as possible and as close to peak performance as possible. I have an Airaid air intake and now I'm due for a new exhaust system. I'm not sure if I should go Cat back or full replacement - and here's why:
The cab gets mighty hot and it's evident that the heat is coming from the floor of the cab. The catalytic converter is right there but the pipe from the Cat to the muffler has broken away from where it connects to the muffler twice now so, it would seem that the exhaust is able to flow through the Cat without issue. I'm kinda scratching my head as to what to do. Any suggestions would be much appreciated with that issue.
On to the Cat back end of the exhaust:
(In order of what is most important to me)
1. More MPG though I've read that a hi-flow exhaust will make no difference. Thoughts?
2. Increased horse power.
3. I imagine the desire for increased MPG and HP will command the sound of the exhaust but I'd prefer a less loud/obnoxious sound as possible...as my third choice.
I find myself gravitating towards MagnaFlow as the best fit for what I am looking for. Reading about FlowMaster makes my head spin - the reviews and opinions are very black or white to me and I haven't read anything (so far) that looks inviting to me.
Gibson reviews/opinions that I have read seem to be somewhat similar to FlowMaster but with a more feisty underdog stance.
Moroso doesn't seem to be very popular in the hi-flow community(?)
Dynomax... Another one that I can't seem to get a good read on.
Borla looks like a GREAT FIT for me but cost prohibitive...for me.
That's about all that have come up strong on my radar.
This is really long... sorry about that BUT I MUST CONTINUE!
I have 2.5" stock pipes; would going to 3" be worth it or matter?
Stainless Steel setup; hype? Is it worth the money? ...Does stainless last remarkably longer that alumified/galvanized? Lifetime warranty, actual lifetime warranty?
Tailpipe termination: "straight" to the rear bumper or tailpipe "curved" behind the passenger-side rear tire?
Everything that I have written here in this thread is a culmination of all the questions I have after reading/researching the best possible fit for my exhaust situation. I didn't intend for this to be as long as it is but I wanted to be as clear as possible as to what I would like to accomplish.
Thanks for suffering through this huge thread. I hope to hear back on suggestions, tips, tricks or anything helpful or to look out for.
This is my first post and I know that discussions like this have been posted in the past; I've read through as many as I could find here but there's only so much one can read to get a better understanding of what I should be considering for my new exhaust system.
First-off, I have a 1998 Dodge Dakota (base), 6Cyl, 3.9L, 4x4, Club-Cab with a 6.5' bed.
Aside from (tastefully) blacking out the body, windows and head & tail lights (I've just always wanted to do that) I'm not looking to do more than get it running as efficiently as possible and as close to peak performance as possible. I have an Airaid air intake and now I'm due for a new exhaust system. I'm not sure if I should go Cat back or full replacement - and here's why:
The cab gets mighty hot and it's evident that the heat is coming from the floor of the cab. The catalytic converter is right there but the pipe from the Cat to the muffler has broken away from where it connects to the muffler twice now so, it would seem that the exhaust is able to flow through the Cat without issue. I'm kinda scratching my head as to what to do. Any suggestions would be much appreciated with that issue.
On to the Cat back end of the exhaust:
(In order of what is most important to me)
1. More MPG though I've read that a hi-flow exhaust will make no difference. Thoughts?
2. Increased horse power.
3. I imagine the desire for increased MPG and HP will command the sound of the exhaust but I'd prefer a less loud/obnoxious sound as possible...as my third choice.
I find myself gravitating towards MagnaFlow as the best fit for what I am looking for. Reading about FlowMaster makes my head spin - the reviews and opinions are very black or white to me and I haven't read anything (so far) that looks inviting to me.
Gibson reviews/opinions that I have read seem to be somewhat similar to FlowMaster but with a more feisty underdog stance.
Moroso doesn't seem to be very popular in the hi-flow community(?)
Dynomax... Another one that I can't seem to get a good read on.
Borla looks like a GREAT FIT for me but cost prohibitive...for me.
That's about all that have come up strong on my radar.
This is really long... sorry about that BUT I MUST CONTINUE!
I have 2.5" stock pipes; would going to 3" be worth it or matter?
Stainless Steel setup; hype? Is it worth the money? ...Does stainless last remarkably longer that alumified/galvanized? Lifetime warranty, actual lifetime warranty?
Tailpipe termination: "straight" to the rear bumper or tailpipe "curved" behind the passenger-side rear tire?
Everything that I have written here in this thread is a culmination of all the questions I have after reading/researching the best possible fit for my exhaust situation. I didn't intend for this to be as long as it is but I wanted to be as clear as possible as to what I would like to accomplish.
Thanks for suffering through this huge thread. I hope to hear back on suggestions, tips, tricks or anything helpful or to look out for.
Wound up getting:
Magnaflow 15735 97-99 Dodge Dakota Dual Exhaust stainless. I got it for a steal on Ebay for $325 W/free shipping. It arrived in TWO DAYS!! I couldn't wait to get it installed ...but there were several problems between my truck and the exhaust; the two major ones being:
1. No hole nor boss for the oxygen sensor.
2. The passenger-side tailpipe wouldn't route properly especially around the hitch (I did take the hitch off to see if it would be OK but no-go).
I'm sadly returning that in a few days.
In the meantime; I ordered:
Dynomax 17219 Ultra-Flo Welded Muffler (2.5")
Magnaflow 15031 Stainless Steel Exhaust Tail Pipe (2.5" I/O)
Hundred buck & change shipped.
I already got the muffler and it looks/feels to be made outta high quality materials - the thing looks/feels bomb-proof compared to other mufflers, verging on the performance level, that I have purchased in the past. Though, looking through the inlet & outlet was mighty sobering....it's straight-through with SOME grating to the one side. This thing is going to be LOUD. Loud wasn't something that I really cared to take on but hell, it cannot be any louder than what has been falling outta my Dakota since a week after I got it. I guess we'll see how it goes later this week when install it.
Magnaflow 15735 97-99 Dodge Dakota Dual Exhaust stainless. I got it for a steal on Ebay for $325 W/free shipping. It arrived in TWO DAYS!! I couldn't wait to get it installed ...but there were several problems between my truck and the exhaust; the two major ones being:
1. No hole nor boss for the oxygen sensor.
2. The passenger-side tailpipe wouldn't route properly especially around the hitch (I did take the hitch off to see if it would be OK but no-go).
I'm sadly returning that in a few days.
In the meantime; I ordered:
Dynomax 17219 Ultra-Flo Welded Muffler (2.5")
Magnaflow 15031 Stainless Steel Exhaust Tail Pipe (2.5" I/O)
Hundred buck & change shipped.
I already got the muffler and it looks/feels to be made outta high quality materials - the thing looks/feels bomb-proof compared to other mufflers, verging on the performance level, that I have purchased in the past. Though, looking through the inlet & outlet was mighty sobering....it's straight-through with SOME grating to the one side. This thing is going to be LOUD. Loud wasn't something that I really cared to take on but hell, it cannot be any louder than what has been falling outta my Dakota since a week after I got it. I guess we'll see how it goes later this week when install it.
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,849
Likes: 10
From: Texas
When it comes to the muffler I think that's just opinion and preference. I'm running a 2.5 in/out single Flowmaster 40 series.. I've had it 3 years now; and has been on this truck and my previous car thats now my wife's.. I've had no problems out of it and it sounds great. Ppl def. turn their heads when i come up.. but then again my truck also has this "lope" sound to its exhaust..
