I have the 2004.5 dodge ram 2500 diesel. It is completely stock yet. I am looking at amsoil nano filter or a afe stage 2 filter system. But anyways i was thinking of removing my catylyc converter and muffler and leaving it all stock 4 inch pipe. Would this be to LOUD or annoying or just when u hit it?Will I lose power until I get a edge or bullydog system to go with it? Some say if theres no restriction at all it can be worse. How true and what r the facts? Should i remove catalyc converter and just get a str8 through muffler with no baffles. I do however want to leave it single pipe as I think Dual exhaust on a inline 6 serves no purpose.

Also what exactly is a TURBO back or CAT back system? What do they do?

 

Well I can help with the turbo back question. Turbo back exhaust is a complete kit replacing pipe from the rear of the TURBO to the exit. Where as Catback just replaces the pipe behind the Catalytic(sp?) converter.
Also, I THINK that if you have to free flowing of an exhaust it won't perform as well with a restrictive intake, but I don't think that hurts until you get to the 5" pipe. But don't quote me on that, I'm sure other guys will chime in, they probably have more knowledge about this stuff than I do.

 

i gutted my whole exhaust from the turbo back w/ 4" stainless. (stupid because i already had 4" but you learn as you go) i found that running straight pipes is WAY loud and takes away from the sound that i loved so i then searched for somthing to quite down the exhaust and i got into an aero, which IMO is good but i still needed somthing more so then i installed a muffler from borla that i got cheap of ebay and that to was a straight thru design muffler. to make a long story short i love the sound of my truck, my power is back to norm which reminds me to state that straight pipes completly killed my low end speed. maybe it improved power, i dunno.... what i do know is when i steped on my pedal, it dident do what it did for me before i piped it. hope this kinda helps, but you should first try a muffler delelte pipe then maybe cut out the cat and replace w/ 4' pipe and if you dont like it from there look to install a smaller muffler of some sort... i did everything backwards and it costed alot of money[:-]

 

thanks. any1 else with any info. maybe i should leave my piping yet and start with AFE stage 2 intake and looking at bullydog or edge system first?

 

I went with a 30" magnaflow where the stock muffler was and a 4040 aero where the cat was. very happy with the setup. not too loud, egt's are ok (never see over 1200) and part throttle response is good. before I put the aero in there there was some turbo lag and it took more throttle to get the turbo spooled.

 

I have an 06 5.9 and dropped the CAT & muffler - - I'm running 5" back...I personally love it. I can hear everything my truck is doing at any time. Yeah it is loud when I romp on it but honestly it is kinda fun I also have an Jake Brake on the truck so when I have it running it sounds like I'm driving a plane instead of a truck.

Here is a link to a (bad) video of what I sound like now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f45FK1lV-es

Good luck on your choice -- there is no wrong answer; just what will make you happy.

 

lilfroger, That sounds just like mine!!! Sweet!! I love it especially going underpasses and through tunnels!

Whats even more fun, is running through the tunnels/underpasseswith the programmer set at Extreme...an annoying ricer or other smaller then me vehicle, but dumb a$$ driver with their window down.... not only do they get the black clouds but I get to bust a ear drum or two!!!
[sm=badbadbad.gif](I'll probably burn in hell for it... but its gotta be done!!!)

 

Im running dual 5" stacks with no muffler and a gutted cat. I love the way it sounds, not too loud but very powerful. And from what they tell me it sounds freakin awesome going down the track!

 

Don't belive them Sharx. It sounded like the civic that beat you

 

Ouch!!!!! Now that hurt