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JohnnyO
Moderator Emeritus
TRS Event Staff
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2002
- Messages
- 6,858
- City
- Pittsburgh
- State - Country
- PA - USA
- Vehicle Year
- 2020
- Vehicle
- Ford Ranger
- Drive
- 4WD
- Engine
- 2.3 EcoBoost
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Total Lift
- 1.5"
- Tire Size
- 265/70-17
- My credo
- "220, 221, whatever it takes."
Finally had a minute of spare time to get my Gibson exhaust on my '08 this morning. Still cold and wet so I took it to my friend's shop where we had a lift. Saved a bunch of time.
Things we learned:
* There is a split and a clamp directly above the LR halfshaft, same spot as the Gibson system, so you can take the tailpipe out.
* The mid pipe and muffler still won't come out without cutting. It might on a 4x2 but no way to get the pipe around the t-case on a 4x4 to pull it forward far enough or get it below the crossmember to get the rear out over the axle.
* At least on my V6 there is an unused hanger support on the frame near the front. The Gibson system has another hanger bracket on it at that spot (the OE system did not), but my bud had a spare rubber hanger laying around so we put it on. Possibly it is used on a V8 Trac, I dunno.
* All the Gibson hanger brackets line up perfectly. Needed to twist the muffler a bit to get the tailpipe away from the rear diff. It didn't touch but it was close.
* Important...the OE mid pipe bolts (the flexy ones with the springs) do not fit the Gibson flange, the shoulder is too long. We reused the OE donut and my bud had some shorter bolts and springs. You need a little flex at that connection to allow for engine movement.
* I took someone's advice and painted the system and clamps with silver high temp paint. Scrubbed it all with Dawn to get the oil off then roughed it up with #400 sandpaper.
* We had a lift so that made it easy, the whole thing took about 45 minutes to do. At home laying on my back it would probably take half a day and trip or two to the parts store.
* It's not loud but has a nice rumble. A bit loud inside for my taste around town but at part throttle on the highway you don't hear much.
Things we learned:
* There is a split and a clamp directly above the LR halfshaft, same spot as the Gibson system, so you can take the tailpipe out.
* The mid pipe and muffler still won't come out without cutting. It might on a 4x2 but no way to get the pipe around the t-case on a 4x4 to pull it forward far enough or get it below the crossmember to get the rear out over the axle.
* At least on my V6 there is an unused hanger support on the frame near the front. The Gibson system has another hanger bracket on it at that spot (the OE system did not), but my bud had a spare rubber hanger laying around so we put it on. Possibly it is used on a V8 Trac, I dunno.
* All the Gibson hanger brackets line up perfectly. Needed to twist the muffler a bit to get the tailpipe away from the rear diff. It didn't touch but it was close.
* Important...the OE mid pipe bolts (the flexy ones with the springs) do not fit the Gibson flange, the shoulder is too long. We reused the OE donut and my bud had some shorter bolts and springs. You need a little flex at that connection to allow for engine movement.
* I took someone's advice and painted the system and clamps with silver high temp paint. Scrubbed it all with Dawn to get the oil off then roughed it up with #400 sandpaper.
* We had a lift so that made it easy, the whole thing took about 45 minutes to do. At home laying on my back it would probably take half a day and trip or two to the parts store.
* It's not loud but has a nice rumble. A bit loud inside for my taste around town but at part throttle on the highway you don't hear much.
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