Well, I've been off work since yesterday getting ready for a rafting trip this weekend. Sitting around the house I went to visit an old customer of mine from when I used to sell Harley parts. After talking to him, I found out the economy is really hitting him big. Well, long story short I figured I would help him out and let him put a MagnaFlow 22" on the truck! Called the wife and I told her what's up with him and the shop and this will increase gas mileage for the trip this weekend!

Get it put on tomorrow. We are going to swap the muffler and put the extension pipe toward the rear of the pipe putting it further from cab and leave the rear most "muffler/resonator" to see how it sounds in the cab. That was the one requirement by the wife. If it still doesn't sound that loud I'll go ahead and have him cut it out.

Can't wait!

 

Good deal. I'm sure it will sound good. Post some sound clips if you are able.

I strongly suggest leaving that resonator in there though. Sound isn't the issue, a constant steady drone while MDS is active is. Even some people who have only replaced the muffler have noticed drone a little bit, albeit at tolerable levels.

 

Yeah, that's what I've read. My guy had a bender and said he would just assume build a new rear pipe than cut out the resonator and put in a patch. That way if we decide it is too much just a simple swap back to stock. Also, it will give me a chance to move the rear exit where I want it, with a tip in the fender. But that's farther down the road.

 

Ok, just got the truck back. Almost no noise increase at all. Unless you are under heavy accleration. It is much deeper sounding but not loader, if that makes sense? I did however notice much better throttle response.

I am going on a 4 hour drive up to the white mountains for a rafting trip in the morning, maybe it will "break in" and pick up some noise. Alittle quieter than I was hoping for. May have to remove the resonator after all.

 

Hmm.... the resonator removal should make less of a difference than the stock to magnaflow change.

 

Definitely report back. This sounds like what I am looking for. Just a little more sound, but better feel.

 

I'll give a full update on fuel economy and sound when I get back. I'll have about 600 miles on it then (the magnaflow that is).

 

Sounds like you have a single exit like me? When I was at the shop, I was originally thinking of a 24" magnaflow, but their thoughts after looking at the stock single was that the 24" would sound stock and weren't even going to offer one. Sounds like that is exactly what you report as well. I ended up with a 14", and it is nowhere near as loud as in the dual tailpipe setups. Probably more in line with what I've seen in the 18" videos, but the tone is a bit different. If you want a subtle volume increase, an 18" would probably be the ticket on the singles.

 

Ok just got back from the trip. Awesome time, except for the first blemish on the truck, a big a$$ stone hit and chipped my windshield!

The muffler is sounding pretty good now. Nice low rumble in the cab at 80 and when you give it some throttle it sounds pretty good. Not too loud which is what I like. The gas mileage was 18.4 by calculator and 18.8 on the VIC. Not bad for all the speed changes in the towns and the climbing in elevation. The trip was about 220 miles one way. On the way back, down hill most of the way, when I got to I-10 I reset the VIC to see what I can get. I averaged 20.4 between the on ramp the exit, 50 miles total. Felt pretty good. A couple times I actually saw 21.4!

See what I average going back and forth to work