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Quiet, budget exhaust ideas

Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:58 PM
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Default Quiet, budget exhaust ideas

Well, long story (See my other thread if you care) but I gave away my flowmaster dual exhaust in an effort to get a stock exhaust and what I have now is no muffler at all. It's loud but I actually expected louder.

I'm probably the odd ball here but I really don't care to hear the engine do its job any more than necessary. Sure it's fun to be loud when getting all up on it but I don't want to make a bunch of noise leaving my house at 6:15 AM or any other time for that matter. At the same time I don't mind the small boost in power and MPG that a more free flowing muffler can potentially offer.

Anyway, I have an '04 1500 Hemi quad cab so I don't have high hopes about finding an OEM bolt on muffler and exhaust pipe since the only other possible bolt on match is an '05 Hemi quad cab. My research and first hand experience indicate that those were the only two years that are an exact match.

So, assuming I can't find a bolt on match what's my best option for a near stock sound that's cheap without being too nasty. I don't mind a little more rumble under heavy acceleration but I don't want it to be loud under normal use and I definitely don't want any drone on the highway. In my other thread several suggested Magnaflow for less racket but nobody mentioned a specific muffler and they seem to make a ton of variations.

Someone else suggested just installing a turn down after the muffler in the interest of being cheap. I like the idea but is there any downside to this? Like rusting out the bed with some kind of exhaust chemical?

I could just take it to a muffler shop and tell them to do it up OEM like but that's not really my style an I'm sure it would be $2-300+.

BTW is the OEM exhaust stainless? It's obviously not polished but there's pretty much no corrosion on the factory parts while the flowmaster and the dual rear pipes looked like they had been to war (Hence the give away).

Thanks,
Jeff
 
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 12:11 AM
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I believe you would be happy with a magnaflow muffler. Magnaflow has a clean tone at idle, and lower RPM's, and still has a bite when opended up.

I ran a tun down on my dodge for over a year. The draw back to this is, it opens the exhaust up earlier, making it louder outside, and inside. I had a pretty good drone in the cab of my truck at 75 mph. I would recommend taking it out the rear like in OEM specs.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 12:27 AM
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Well, a turn down is definitely out for drone reasons then.

Do you have any details on which Magnaflow?
 
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 12:31 AM
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FWIW the factory exhaust definitely isn't stainless. At least not the post cat pipes that come together and dump into the muffler. I just went out and stuck a magnet to it. So, what explanation is there for it not corroding like the flowmaster and aftermarket pipes? Better steel?
 
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 02:52 AM
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I needed to quiet down mine a little and went with the Magnaflow 12589.

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/s...e=main&id=8545

It can be found for around $100 shipped if you look around a bit.

This is one of the larger Magnaflows. Pretty quiet at cruising speeds but still has a nice sound to it at WOT.

The flowmasters rust from the inside out. The stock piping doesnt collect moisture/condensation like the muffler does.
 

Last edited by Duroc; Jul 19, 2010 at 02:55 AM.
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 06:09 AM
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If you want quiet and no drone then I would advise to stay stock. Everything is just gets louder.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 08:45 AM
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i have a flowmaster super 44 single in single out on my truck its not in ur face loud at all time because i didt cut out the resonator.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by weedahoe
If you want quiet and no drone then I would advise to stay stock. Everything is just gets louder.
This is probably my ideal option. Quiet, bolts right up, etc. The problem is finding one. I have a craigslist WTB ad posted right now and will be checking one of the local junkyards this week.

I know I could hit up the Dodge dealer but I'm assuming that would be priced very high to order new OEM parts.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 11:31 AM
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get yourself an aeroturbine 3030xl, leave both resonators on. Look up videos on youtube, it's an awesome muffler. It's not that loud.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by mike_r
get yourself an aeroturbine 3030xl, leave both resonators on. Look up videos on youtube, it's an awesome muffler. It's not that loud.
Not sure if I made it clear earlier but I currently have no exhaust past the first clamp after the two manifold pipes come together after the cats.

Unless I can find a junkyard post-muffler resonator I don't have that option because it was removed by the previous owner.

Does anyone know how a DynoMax 17233 would sound?

There's this @ RockAuto for $290:
http://info.rockauto.com/Walker/Deta...l?510-5297.jpg

It would be all pre-bent with the hangers in the appropriate places but I wouldn't want it if it's loud.

Are there any other off the shelf systems like that for not a lot of $$? The magnaflow bolt on systems are pretty steep ($600+).
 
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