I recently purchased stock pipes for my 86 4runner 22re. These stock pipes are around 1.5". After reading a few threads, most are saying to go with 2.25" or 2.5" pipes. What type of performance should I expect from my 1.5" pipes? Is this bad? and what muffler should I run? I have a friend that has a flowmaster 44 and I would like to have that, but will it work on my setup?

 

it will be alright for everything under 3krpm. bigger pipes only help after that.

 

Should I go with a stock muffler? I would like a flowmaster but the smallest size is a 2", can I make this work and will it mess with the exhaust flow?

 

a 22re isn't affected by the exhaust as much as it is the intake. you should be alright either way. a muffler shop could easily make a $5 adapter. (autozone or pep boys have 'em also)

 

ideally a header with a 2.5 inch collecter into a 2" pipe to the cat, then catback with a 2.5" pipe, but thats only if you want your power available above 3krpm. below that; 1.5" while puny, should be efficient.

 

For stock everything I've read has pointed to 2" to the cat, 2.25" cat back (muffler-tailpipe).

I'm a lil pissed about the job the muffler shop i went to did. They used a pipe bender to bend the pipe so really, the pipe behind my cat is 2" with ugly bends that probably narrow it to 1.5 and booger welds and all sorts of things that'll piss you off

i had this stuff done a few years ago and didnt really think it was bad then but now, knowing what i know i woulda chewed them the eff out.. not to mention I HAD TO FIX the head pipe leak cuz of their crappy craftsmanship.

anyway 2" from manifold to cat, 2.25 cat back

 

I've said this before, I'll say it again - if you want a good exhaust pipe size for the 22RE - run 2" mandrel bent from the manifolds, or from your header. This will give you the best, widest, power range.

I would look the way of a Borla Turbo Muffler for your muffler. Short, compact (14" long roughly), and good, but not obnoxious sound.

 

OEM for the win, love quiet cars

 

I'll second that!!!

 

actually, you don't want to reduce size at all in exhaust. Go with 2.25" collector and 2.25" exhaust....mandrel bent.

If you have a muffler shop put something together, they will use a crush bender, so have them put on 2.5" exhaust, because the crush bends severely decrease the diameter.

 

that's the only thing OEM is good for. OEM is terrible for power and efficiency.

 

2.5" is too big for the 22RE and you'll kill a noticeable amount of lowend. Even with my NA V6 I wouldn't go bigger than 2.25".

 

notice I said crush bend, go 2.5". Are you familiar with the differences between mandrel and crush bending of exhaust?

Mandrel bends maintain pipe diameter throughout the bends, no decreases in diameter=good flow, consistency.

Crush bends crush the pipe in order to bend it, severely decreasing pipe diameter in bends/turns. Many times, a 45* bend via crush bend will reduce diameter .5" or more. So in essence, a 2.5" crush bent exhaust would end up averaging exhaust diameter between 2" and 2.25".

 

you go with a smaller pipe before the cat to keep the heat up. this will make your cat work better. cars with pipes that are too big need an airpump for the cat.