What's the best cat back for decent sound

[91stranger]

So my exhaust is shot from the cat back right in the middle of the truck pretty much. I've seen a lot of exhaust kits but I don't know what these would actually sound like on a 3.0 engine. I want something to help the engine breathe better (already got a K&N cone filter) so now the exhaust needs some help. It broke at the flange after the cat and we welded it back up at work. I want a nice rumble (if possible) and I don't want it where I can't talk to the person in the seat next to me while driving. I don't want to spend more than $200 at MOST. I'd be a lot happier around $100. We got a good welder at work so we could fab it up at work no problem as long as pipe doesn't need to be bent. Anyone have any input on what some of these exhausts sound like? I just think a more throatier sound would be nice if the little 3.0 can even achieve this lol. Thanks.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

Get an intermediate pipe. And tail pipe from rock auto. Then get a thrush welded muffler. Should cost around 100 if you can do it yourself. And will give you a nice little rumble without being too loud.

 

[Craig0320]

I had cats and no muffler on my 3.0 ran to duals. It was loud. Only reason it was on there because I bought it like that. I don't like duals on anything but a v8. Just me though.

 

[decipha]

I have learned that its best to stick to stock exhaust on stock vehicles.

 

[Craig0320]

I have learned that its best to stick to stock exhaust on stock vehicles.

Why?

 

[91stranger]

Obviously I don't want a stock exhaust if i'm wanting a different sound lol. Stock is boring and restrictive. I want to get the engine breathing better instead of sounding like a slow turd. Exhaust is already broken/welded/broken again/ welded again and I know the 3.0's can sound good with a full exhaust but I don't have the money for a full exhaust. I just want a good throaty exhaust. Doesn't have to be a dual exhaust either. I like true dual's not the fake ones where most of the exhaust is a single pipe. I know turbo mufflers are fairly cheap and sound decent but I'm willing to pay a little extra for a better sound. I live in central Ohio and my county does not have any kind of emissions laws or checks of any kind.

 

[Ranger850]

I once saw a 3.0 ranger that had 3" exhaust( not just 3" tips) and that thing sounded like a V8. but idk if it was a Catback system or from the headers???

 

[sgtsandman]

Obviously I don't want a stock exhaust if i'm wanting a different sound lol. Stock is boring and restrictive. I want to get the engine breathing better instead of sounding like a slow turd. Exhaust is already broken/welded/broken again/ welded again and I know the 3.0's can sound good with a full exhaust but I don't have the money for a full exhaust. I just want a good throaty exhaust. Doesn't have to be a dual exhaust either. I like true dual's not the fake ones where most of the exhaust is a single pipe. I know turbo mufflers are fairly cheap and sound decent but I'm willing to pay a little extra for a better sound. I live in central Ohio and my county does not have any kind of emissions laws or checks of any kind.

If you want the engine to breathe better, you have to open the other end up too. Just changing the exhaust isn't going to do much and in some instances actually hurts performance. As far as changing the sound, it's as easy as changing the muffler to something else with else.

 

[91stranger]

by opening up the other end are you talking about the air intake? I already did that for the most part. I had a K&N cold air intake off a Mitsubishi engine I had years ago and I was able to get the cone filter onto my stock air tube once I removed the air box. So I have the front of the engine breathing better now I just need to get it farting better lol.

 

[sgtsandman]

by opening up the other end are you talking about the air intake? I already did that for the most part. I had a K&N cold air intake off a Mitsubishi engine I had years ago and I was able to get the cone filter onto my stock air tube once I removed the air box. So I have the front of the engine breathing better now I just need to get it farting better lol.

Sort of. The air filter is part of it. A more efficient intake does more. Again, there are catches with that as well. For example, many "cold air" intake systems actually aren't and suck heated engine compartment air in negating any benefit they intake could other wise provide. A good system isn't going to be cheap and probably would need to be setup by someone with experience in do that. Think of an engine as a glorified air pump gases going in and out have to be matched and tuned for best performance of whatever measure you are shooting for (horsepower and/or torque) and when you want peak whatever to happen (low, mid, or high rpm). There is a lot that goes in to it.

 

[lvwill]

The best cold air intake is what originally came on the vehicle

 

[Craig0320]

I really can't help you with the sound. I

The best cold air intake is what originally came on the vehicle

This ^. I am putting the stock air box back on a my truck I just bought. It's a k and n cai setup and my iat's are 136 and its not even hot outside yet. The stock box flows plenty of air.

 

[sgtsandman]

The best cold air intake is what originally came on the vehicle

I agree. I would like to have a snorkel for intake dust ingestion mitigation but since one doesn't exist, stock it stays.

 

[91stranger]

The best cold air intake is what originally came on the vehicle

I doubt that. Why is there such a large market for aftermarket intakes? in the last week I've had the stock air box with a stock air filter, stock air box with a K&N air filter, and now the K&N cone filter with the air box and the plastic crap removed and I've noticed the best results from the cone filter. I noticed my truck cruises better with less down shifting and it towed my trailer loaded with heavy firewood a lot easier than it used to. it's a very noticeable difference for sure. the stock air box seemed really sluggish. my next plan is to get something to help shroud the cone from the engine heat. I haven't figured that one yet but I'm not terribly worried about it.

 

[Ranger850]

I doubt that. Why is there such a large market for aftermarket intakes? in the last week I've had the stock air box with a stock air filter, stock air box with a K&N air filter, and now the K&N cone filter with the air box and the plastic crap removed and I've noticed the best results from the cone filter. I noticed my truck cruises better with less down shifting and it towed my trailer loaded with heavy firewood a lot easier than it used to. it's a very noticeable difference for sure. the stock air box seemed really sluggish. my next plan is to get something to help shroud the cone from the engine heat. I haven't figured that one yet but I'm not terribly worried about it.

I am having a similar discussion in a different thread (Tuners working their magic), me and you seem to be in the minority on this