I bought this truck with 164k miles on it, dented and pretty rusty. The seller told me upon buying it that he removed the catalytic converter (which I approve of since I've had nothing but trouble with in my past two cars). He also told me that it was going to need a muffler soon, which I could definitely tell while test driving was true.

After putting 8k miles on it since I bought it, my muffler looks like this...

So taking into consideration that I have no catalytic converter and virtually no muffler......I'm thinking about completely straight piping the truck instead of replacing the muffler. I know that some people absolutely love and support straight piping while others frown on the idea. I really don't mind having a loud truck and do drive long distances. I also know some people think have this exhaust setup will lose power and others think that it gains power. I really don't care either way, because I didn't buy the truck to go fast and she still has plenty of torque in four low. My other option is to buy a glasspack or cherry bomb for cheap and put that in there when I repair the exhaust in the next two weeks.

Any opinions? good and bad are both welcome...

 

it needs some back pressure to run right any small muffler like a glass pack will make it loud and annoying

 

Well I knew about the back pressure issue. I've had a few rotary powered cars and those motors are finicky to begin with but I managed cheap exhaust mods on one and got around the back pressure issue but I see your point.

Your other point about the muffler doesn't quite apply to me because like I said, I do not mind a loud vehicle and with or without the muffler I won't be at illegal decibel levels. Those mufflers also provide a small amount of back pressure along with a deeper tone.

 

well run your self a 2.25'' exhaust to a glass pack should be plenty loud

 

the point of a muffler isn't only for you, its also for the people that have to listen to your truck like neighbors and such. Personally i would get a cheap thrush or magnaflow and just weld it on with a turndown or something if you still want it to be loud. Then you have the option of making it quieter later by running the pipe out the back.

 

what motor do you have. the 3vze will have enough back pressure just because of the cross over no matter what you have as an exhaust. the 22re will need some. but from perfect to worst you will most likely not notice a difference other then how loud it is.

 

thanks.

I know mufflers aren't just for me. I also live in a small town where I do most of my driving in. Most trucks there are significantly louder. I don't want to be "that guy" with the annoying exhaust but there are plenty of trucks in my town louder than me. I don't have too many people to annoy with it so its not too big of an issue. I also have access to all the tools needed to do exhaust work so modifying it again later really won't be hard.

Its the 22re and I can already feel that it needs a little back pressure from the way it sounds but the way it runs is really no different. Like you said from perfect to worse...

 

If it's a 22RE, you need some sort of muffler back there. If you have all the tools, then pick up a flowmaster 40 series and weld it in there. It will be cheap and loud enough for you.

 

If I were to do it again and I just might, I have a thrush turbo on mine, it sounds OK from the outside, but I did have to put a resonator tip on it to stop it from popping too much when I lift the throttle at high rpm (probably due to not having a cat though not really sure), I have 2 1/4 from a downey header back but it drones pretty bad.

 

With a 22re it'll sound like a small tractor with breathing problems. I say muffler it. I can understand straight piping a small block, that would sound great. I want no part of that popping whiny wheezing kind of sound I've heard out of old toys with shot out exhausts.

 

I just replaced mine to suit Marta (smog, emission) from about a foot behind the cat, to just about all the way out. For @ 50-60 bucks...

It's easy enough.

I got 2 estimates before I got to Advance and they were both $150

4 clamps, 2 pipes, 1 muffler and one turn down...

Pics if you want...

 

I ended up keeping it catless. I put a glass pack on it and routed the exhaust up through the bed. Total cost $40. Sounds great and runs great. I can feel a power gain. I think the blown out muffler was causing enough back pressure.

 

Let see a pic of that stack

 

i'll try and get one up by tomorrow.

 

i'd like to see the setup if you don't mind....

 

sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this page. i have a few pics but i can't get them onto my computer. soon i will be borrowing my sister's camera to take a couple and they will be high quality.