Hello,

This might have been asked, so please bear with me.

Ours is the:

2005 Dakota with the 4.7 V8. (not the H.O.)

It uses the 100% odd exhaust that has a front resonator, Muffler, and a rear resonator....

The muffler was deleted just to get past for a few months- I just installed a "universal" type muffler and the rear resonator was replaced with the piping. (The generic is a bit shorter then a stock muffler, but has a good tone and fitment is a bit tight, but no rattles- It's a bit close to the frame, but not touching)

After all that nonsense, I do a full leak check. Low and Behold! The front resonator is cracked and blowing out exhaust on the frame.

Is there a suggested pipe or bypass that can eliminate that front resonator? I just think it might be best to eliminate the front 'muffler' and pipe it.

S-

 

I don't recall any 'Direct Replacement' pipe available for the front resonator (or rear either). Any muffler/exhaust shop can cut and replace it for you though.

 

Had to do a short update.

For some daft reason they used the front resonator and pipe for 2005 and 2006.

It appears to have been discontinued after that date and replaced with Walker part number 55701. (Everything else except the converter would be the same from 2005-2010.

The local NAPA had the resonator in stock, as well the pipe. And she (the counter person) brought both out for comparison. The pipe is maybe 1/4" shorter than the entire resonator assembly. And about $60 cheaper. Sense it matched the layout/bends of the resonator assembly, I picked up the replacement pipe yesterday evening.

Sorry, I should have updated at that time. When we looked over the bends in the resonator assembly, Dodge put in some minor pipe bends that would have made using a straight pipe fairly difficult.

So that's the Sunday project. Sucks that I'll need to purchase another extender pipe as the generic muffler is not as long as the factory one. But that's life.

S-

 

Yeah, I had two resonators on my truck, I ditched them a very long time ago when I installed a Magnaflow muffler. The shop cut and welded a pipe in it's place since I left the front resonator on to check the sound. I immediately went back and had the front resonator removed because it was still so quiet. A few years later some parts of the exhaust system rusted out, so I went with a Borla SS T304 single out Cat back system. This system will probably outlive the rest of the truck, and sounds awesome.

 

I'd say that "sounds awesome" but I'll have to take your word for it LOL.

Yeah we've done the rear tailpipe with the baby resonator on it. (It's so cute!!....But it fills up with water?? Drain hole does little to nothing)

NYS just passed another stupid law that says shops and end users can't modify their exhaust due to "Noise" pollution. Love this part:

Quote: "Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation that increases penalties against motorists and repair shops that illegally modify mufflers and exhaust systems to make them excessively noisy — an act associated with aggressive driving that harms community health, safety and comfort."

So while freedom of speech and expression used to be 100%! (and include volume!...Until after 9 or 10 pm....) Must be someone with a broken muffler drove past her home a few times and woke her up from nappy time.

That's more or less why we're trying to keep this with a nice tone, but not get snagged in the stupid.

These rules have a lot of exhaust shops scared of the fines, so most in our area will quote OEM only and that's it. Can't say I blame them- The fines are a bit hefty.

S-

 

Quite a few states have been cracking down on exhaust noise. Exhaust Noise Laws By State | SEMA ACTION NETWORK (semasan.com)

 

Wonder what the legislation language is re " illegally modify mufflers and exhaust systems to make them excessively noisy". Must be a max decibel level or some such fine print possibly where you can still legally change to say a Magnaflow legally. We have had local laws for years re decibel levels, aimed mostly at the Harley Davidson glasspack bikes that scream on acceleration - doesn't really do anything cause the police don't really enforce it.

 

Depending on the community, this may or may not be enforced. The fine is a bit on the hefty side, and IMO is just another excuse as a cash grab. Some towns and local courts really do not want to be bothered by small potatoes proceedings. Other areas may look at it as "Here's a way to get funding....."

I still think someone was reeving their engine in front of one of the legislators homes. Then they had the 'awakening'.. "Other states make serious bank off nuisance abatement laws..... We can make some serious bank. All while claiming "It's for the children/community"..

Each area already has sound violation rules in effect. I'm okay with the bulk of them, as anything after 9pm really isn't 'proper' when working people are trying to sleep.

This latest one about only allowing 'OEM' exhaust is ridicules and will really only effect exhaust shops. The DYI'er will still go to the local auto store and get what ever they want...and the risk is on them. The repair shops already have the state crawling up their 'assets' enough as it is. A general 'jiffy exhaust' shop that does the slap on welded on the cheap systems won't last long IMO.

S-