im geetin my exhaust done but i keep seein people run a single out let as opposed to dual outlet and want to know why and what would be the best as far as sound and performance i think goin to the shop and havin them make me duals maybe better then buyin them but i dont know

 

ok the problem with dakota's and exhaust is backpressure for the engine. it has to have a certain amount or it wont run properly. running dual exhaust causes it to let out way to much exhaust unless the pipes are only 1 and a half inches wide and that looks and sounds stupid so the only way to get the proper back pressure with a decent size pipe that sounds good is to run a single but you can get good sounding duals by runing your single pipe to just behind the cab and just put a Y pipe on it and run the same size pipe on each side because the short length of single will give it the proper back pressure and have it come out looking like duals you can either have them come out the same side together, one out each side, straight out the back, put stacks up the side of the cab, whatever you want the posibilities are endless and no one will know you arent running true dual exhaust. do this with just one glasspack before the pipe splits and then put some of the biggest exhaust tips you can find and it will sound really good

 

lies, LIES!!!



Back pressure is the devil, no matter what engine.

What you need is VELOCITY, not pressure. Pipe that's too big makes the gasses slow down. Think of a garden hose versus a fire hose. You need velocity at low RPMs because it'll actually pull the spent gasses out of the cylinders. IF you go to big on the pipe, the gasses slow down and they don't pull inert gas out of the cyl so you can't burn as much and therefore you lose low-end power. Large pipes also have more surface area, which allows the gasses to cool off faster, which makes them more dense AND it slows the velocity down further.

I tend to go with single pipe on my trucks because I read somewhere that a single 3" is about the perfect size for a mild 360, keeps good torque down low and still is open enough to make decent top end. Since I work my trucks hard sometimes, that's what I wanted.

 

so it would still be ok to run a single in dual out muffler provided u have the right size pipes and all??

 

does running headers change any of the things you have just said and a glasspack will sound better then a pre made exhaust kit

 

I just put on a flowmaster with a Delta 40 one into two dual exhaust and the truck loves it. So do I! It sounds great and gets better mpg.

98 4X4 V8 Magnum

 

Flowmasters arent loud enough run a glasspack single in dual out and you still have to have backpressure i dont care what that guy says if you dont you'll burn out the valves in your engine just stick to the stock size pipe and put a Y pipe on it

 

Glasspacks sound so ghetto on a Dakota, now on an old school hot rod say a 55 Chevy BelAir or any pre 60's cruiser you tend to expect that kind of raw sound with the added snap crackle and pop.......but when it comes to Flowmasters I know they are pref. 7 to 1 over all the other mufflers out there based on sales......and as for backpressure well you say potayyyto I say potaaaato....my brother is automotive engineer for Ford....yeah Ford ick hehe....anyway he said we all are correct to a point but there are so many factors for each set up having to do with the type of power you are looking for, size of engine, and so on.......you need or should have proper back pressure and a desired flow for good velocity you can't have one without the other and if it was ALL about velocity then why even have a header just let the exhaust come directly out of the head without any pipe at all or have like 12" dia. exhaust pipe...because you need a balance of both velocity and back pressure......is it any wonder they make "back pressure exhaust gauges" say if you have a super charger you want a faster flow than without one or you will over heat your engine in no time.....so as always it is moderation and personal choice.....and I think we all agree anything is better than stock

 

of course anything is better then stock

 

well as long as everything has a proper balance make ur truck sound how u want flowmasters are going to have a clean sound and glasspacks are gonna have a snap to them so its all a matter of preference after you get past the point of what is healthy for the engine