This is my first post here. Glad I finally found a good online resource for my truck.

I have 2 month old 2004 HEMI Dodge Ram and I'm looking to upgrade my exhaust. The stock one is a little wussy for my taste and I'm looking to give the truck a more mature sound.

Now, I've done a lot of browsing and searching and I am still undecided as to what exhaust I should get.

Some concerns:
1. I dont want something real loud, and would prefer power over sound. A relative of mine has the flowmaster 40's on a 4.7 and its nice but a little loud for my taste. I've been leaning torwards Borla but I have nothing to base it on. If anyone has a resource for dyno's of the HEMI with stock and other exhausts I would appreciate it if you could pass it along.

2. The 2004's (unlike the 2003) have two cats that converge into one input to your stock muffler. What was the reason Dodge did this? Would it be for true dual exhaust?

3. I keep reading about back-preasure and how important it is, and how your PCM will _not_ like you if you goof something up. This includes anything from piping size, true dual exhaust, single with dual outlet exhaust, and other misc things. How can I keep my truck happy as well gain some performance?

Sorry this is lengthy

If you've gotten this far down, Thanks for reading.

-twistx

 

I too have been there done that. I have been researching this information since january when i purchased mine. I had duals w two flowmasters installed and lost all of my bottom end.I was very sick to my stomach when that happened. At the time I had no CAI. After three days I had them re-install the single exhaust with a 50 flowmaster. I instantly regained my take-off power. I was feeling better again. I have the ground effects kit (one outlet) .

I have read several (a whole lot of people) people over several forums saying they had an increase in Hp and Mpg. After installing headers, high flow cats, and so forth. Without losing that back pressure i dont get it! I really want to have the same for my Hemi also. However I have yet to see any Dyno though (with the same mods as mine/yours).

One of the things about setting your (mine too) truck up with mods is finding people that have identical mods like yours (mine too) to get accurate information. I have since made an additional outlet with my ground effects and am in the market for dual outlet exhaust again. However the safest bet is a 1 in and 2 out system. From the information I have gathered over the last 4 months it will not increase your performance and will not hurt it either which is the most important.

The back pressure is "touchy" and should not be tinkered with too much. As far as TB are concerned fastman openly said that the HEMI TB is better than can be made/modified. Your only positive is the sound and looks it will bring you.

Incidentally I had a 03 4.7 with 40 flowmasters and it was deep and loud ALL of the time. I got tired of it after a few weeks. The 50 flowmaster is more suttle till you WOT then it wakes up and gives you a throaty race sound.

I also have a CAI and it will make a difference also (remember about the same mods?)Hope this helps you and anyone else. If anyone has any input to tell help me also please reply.

Im also sorry for it being so long. This issue has been really been beat on and no one has an solid answer to it yet?

 

Thank you for responding!

Ok. So true dual exhaust would be bad.

That makes me curious as to why dodge built in two cats for the 2004... couldn't possibly be for emissions right?

Well. The Flowmaster 50's actually sound like what I'm looking for. I thought they would be louder than the 40's but I'm mistaken. Any CONs about the 50's? A sound byte of the 50's would be cool if anyone's got one.

My next question is whether there's a performance loss with single input dual output exhaust systems. I've read someplace (I'll post the link if I remember where) that the dual output will cause a loss in power. Although I really like the dual output look I'd like to keep as much power as possible, and I'd probably go the Borla route if this is true.

 

ive just spent 3 hrs reading another forum with the same mysterious information on the hemi and its exhausts ......everyone is still guessing. You will not lose any performance with a 1 in and 2 out and you still get the dual "look"(muffler back) I plan on going to that 'look' myself on tuesday. I have read sooooo many replies on theories till im tired of reading blah,blah,blah its all they are saying. Noone knows anything so far. its all too new! but everyone is scarfing up them high flow cats, headers, etc. Not me till I get some hard facts and figures this time.........both of us are not the only ones, I can assure you that are waiting............

 

My friend who sold me my truck told me to avoid duel's period.. I'm pretty happy with my magnaflow exhaust.. =-) not to lound, but sounds damn nice.

 

Each to his/her own....everyone is an "expert"....do your research and go forward!!

 

Conflicting info is never good for research. Thats all I can seem to find. Thats why I'm posting here.

 

I could go through a bunch of math but I am not going to. Back pressure is not the key. It is exhaust velocity. The bigger the pipe the slower the exhaust. If you do not want to make your truck incredibly loud than you should think about a tuned single pipe for a power system.

 

I can't belive flowmaster is still around. Make your own dude, it is much funner, and with all the mathmatical stuff, you might build something better. I have a 40 series gotpower.. LOL That's what I call it. LOL its a flowmaster, but I modified it a bit, it is still legal.

 

Hah! I'll just do the math myself and leave it to the pros to build it.

Thank you for the help guys!