I have 00 Dodge Ram with 5.9l and want to get a new exhaust.
I know I need to replace one exhaust manifold, it's pretty rusted and corroded up, so I am going with headers next month.
Question is-
Should I go for broke and go "True Dual" exhaust (more $$ and definately will have to wait a lil longer to install) or
go with a Cat-back system ($250 installed locally) after I install the headers?

Is there a big difference between Cat-Back and going true dual exhaust?

 

I have a 5.9 with true dual and headers. I can tell a big difference between mine and my friends with cat backs. Not only with sound but performance. I guess the the biggest thing you need to keep in mind is speed costs money. How fast do you wanna go?

 

True, I guess I will just get the headers and wait till I can get the rest.........Thanks.

BTW, I have been trying to get stationed in AK for 16 years (Army), I hear it's pretty nice.

 

AK is a great place if you like outdoors. Plenty of stuff to do. As long as you dont have a problem sleeping in 24hrs of daylight. Just more time to work on the truck. HAHA.

 

I have a one pipe 3" Gibson cat back system on a 96 5.9L and I would say that i have gained more from that than I ever expected to get with just exhaust...

 

amanda has edelbrock headers into the stock y-pipe, with tha ultra high flow cat, into a 3" dynomax muffler and a dump...the problem with true duals is that you have to eliminate the stock y-pipe and run seperate cats...i dont know where you live, or how the emissions laws are, but in PA, thats illegal...also, i think that the OBDII rams might have a post-cat o2? in which case you would have to run more cats.

 

I think the cat-back is the most cost effective set-up. If you get a flowmaster and 2.25 dual outlets you should be fine. That way you will have good sound and performance will be better than it was. Just my opinion though.

 

I think the headers + cat back system is the way I am gonna go for now.
My local exhaust shop owner carries flowmasters but tells me he has another brand of muffler that actually tested 8.5% more flow than a flowmaster.....might check that one out too.

 

Yeah that sounds like a good choice. No doubt that a true dual set-up would give you more benefits as far as performance but I think there is too much expensive involved. I have had flowmaster and this knock off brand called Vortex put on other vehicles before and I couldn't tell any difference. It just happens that the place I took mine only likes to deal with flowmasters.

 

if you go duals...in any type straight piped or cat back... stick with 2.25... that diametere is the happeist medium between allowing flow for perfomance but doesnt flow too much and loose your low end tq, low end tq is what gets you off the line and is what improves your mpg... its also common to run a 3" single tube ,, witch is really really close by square inch to dual 2.25's and still gives you the same results or close to that... single tube is cheeper..less bending...