Hello everyone! 89 4runner, stock 22RE with an RV cam.
My exhaust is toast. Been gathering information on here and other forums on exhaust setups. I would like to keep the stock manifold. The consensus with using a stock manifold is to use 2" pipe to the cat then 2.25 the rest of the way. Local muffler shops tell me they can't fab the down pipe to the cat so I'll have to use a stock replacement. Then from the cat back, use 2.25. is this an acceptable set up? I would like to keep my low end torque. Another option is to cough up the money for LCEs header kit and build off of that. With my stock-ish engine I doubt it will be worth the investment. What would you do?

 

For a near stock engine, I'd buy OE type pipes and mufflers that just bolt up and use the factory hangers.

The Bosal or Walker stuff from Ebay or Amazon is fairly cheap and has held up for me, but there's no salt and its warm and dry where I am.

Your experience might vary.

 

I agree with Millball.

I don't think it is worth just trying to upgrade part of the exhaust if the exhaust manifold, the pipe between the manifold & catalytic converter, and the catalytic converter itself is stock. I don't think just a tail pipe will gain you anything power wise.

In my opinion, it would be best to go with a stock Bosal or Walker muffler / tail pipe replacement assembly, or do a completely new exhaust system with larger diameter pipes.