I found a shop that will make/install a flowmaster catback system out of stainless steel with chrome tips for $884. The same kit from Flowmaster will cost $466 uninstalled. Should I go with the stainless and never worry about rusting out, or should I go ahead and get the aluminized version for cheaper? I'm mvoing to Texas in 2 months but not sure where I'm heading a year after that (re-assigned).

 

I bought a stainless system about 2 months ago....that stuff about it not rusting is partially false. My system has rust on it in some spots. So it is gonna rust, but not nearly as much as aluminized, and most good systems come with life time limited warranties. I don't know about that price for a custom exhaust...I do know that if you get a cat back system, it's not hard to install at all. It took me about an hour to remove and replace my OEM system from start to finish. A dual system could take a little longer, mine is dual, but it's side exit. Personally, I would only go with a custom exhaust if I was gonna go from the headers back...and re-route the pipes with two mufflers and a high flow cat...but that's a little more money than I want to spend.

Where in Texas are you going...my wife is stationed in Fort Worth, and my brother-in-law is Del Rio...?

 

i bought Stainless, well i just got it like yeasterday so i dont know... my friend has Stainless and he hasnt had anyproblems.. just wax's it every time he washes his truck so the mud and dirt and crap will just wash off eassier when washing..

 

I'm actually getting stationed at Del Rio. Fun town? I hear about alot of truck thefts.

Both systems are catbacks and from what I hear, true duals on a HEMI will decrease horsepower, so I was gonna stick with a kit for the HEMI. I'd like the stainless but...DAMN, expensive. I just don't know if I have the cash right now.

 

i have a stainless cat back on a jeep which i have had for 4 years and it has never had any rust and i run it in mud just about every weekend but the stainless tips did change color form the heat i just got a ram 1500 about two weeks ago so i have not started to buy anything for it yet

 

It all depends on your personal preference. If you want to keep your exhaust forever, then get stainless. If you want to change a couple of years down the road, then get aluminized. The latter is the reason I got aluminized. And it was a lot cheaper. That way, when the current exhaust I have rusts, it gives me an excuse to get another one.

 

Borla has the dual stainless for less than that. Besides, the flowmaster mufflers aren't stainless anyway.

 

Stainless steel.

Are you getting the duals, or sticking with a single outlet?

I have a JBA single exit cat-back. It is stainless steel and I love it. But, I don't have the HEMI. So, I can't attest to the performance grades you would get on the HEMI. It did greatly improve my 4.7.

$884 seems like a lot of money. Flowmaster doesn't make stainless steel mufflers, as far as I know. Rainbow Muffler installed my cat-back system for $66. I think you may be getting ripped off with that quote.

Whether you go duals or single, spend the extra money on stainless steel. And shop around for a good installation price. I highly recommend JBA products. Go to their website and check out the system for the HEMI. They even have a sound clip. www.jbaheaders.com

John

 

You can get some Flowmasters in stainless.

stainless usually rusts at the welds if it's going to rust - perhaps a sign that the welder didn't use stainless wire?

I haven't had a rust problem on any of the flowmasters I've had, nor any exhausts in general, and my ram's underside spends a fair amount of its life caked in mud.