help with new muffler

[guitarman124]

ive got a 1996 ford ranger 2.3l im gonna put a flowmaster super 44 on it

what size inlet do i need to get for my new muffler to work ... my truck still has stock pipes on it and im not messing with them right now.

any help is greatly appreciated

 

[cr_the_machinist]

I believe they use 2" dia before and after. It's been a while since I've had a stock exhaust. If I have any doubts with pipe diameters I just measure the circumference of the pipe with some cord and divide the measurement be 3.14. That will give you your diameter without any eyeball tape measure guess work.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

just to let you know, flowmasters sound like @ss on 4 bangers.

magnaflow would sound better IMO

 

[kcm1582]

just to let you know, flowmasters sound like @ss on 4 bangers.

magnaflow would sound better IMO

I've never really heard an exhaust on a 4 banger that I liked, but Flowmasters have always sounded better on trucks to me. And I'll second a 2" factory exhaust.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

I've never really heard an exhaust on a 4 banger that I liked, but Flowmasters have always sounded better on trucks to me. And I'll second a 2" factory exhaust.

subaru wrx is the ONLY 4 banger exhaust that sounds good.

yeah i 3rd the 2'' thats what mine was a very VERY long time ago

 

[kcm1582]

subaru wrx is the ONLY 4 banger exhaust that sounds good.

yeah i 3rd the 2'' thats what mine was a very VERY long time ago

True the flat 4 engine has a very distinct exhaust note.

 

[cr_the_machinist]

just to let you know, flowmasters sound like @ss on 4 bangers.

magnaflow would sound better IMO

+1

I'd go for the Magnaflow or any comparable glasspack crossflow muffler. Those the 4 cyls just have too much of an exhaust pulse for a chamber muffler like a Flowmaster.

 

[TechmanDan]

So what would you recommend for a 2002 4.0? I need to replace my muffler since it has a hole in it, but I want some ideas on having less crap under there. Does anyone make a product that acts as both a catalytic converter and a muffler? And what exactly does a glass pack do?
and is there any reason I can't end the pipes at the rear of the muffler, under the truck, maybe with some turn downs?

 

[stangdroptop351]

gibson sport truck catback on a 4.0 sounds great it gives it a little rumble but dont make it sound like a rice burner

 

[kcm1582]

So what would you recommend for a 2002 4.0? I need to replace my muffler since it has a hole in it, but I want some ideas on having less crap under there. Does anyone make a product that acts as both a catalytic converter and a muffler? And what exactly does a glass pack do?
and is there any reason I can't end the pipes at the rear of the muffler, under the truck, maybe with some turn downs?

It depends on what you want out of the exhaust. Dumping the exhaust under the truck is not a good idea, you are much better off kicking it out the side of the truck. Glasspack mufflers have a pipe running straight through with holes cut in it that is surrounded by fiberglass batting to absorb some noise. They are supposed to be the least restrictive muffler you can get but they are also really loud. As for the muffler/catalytic converter combo I have never heard of them.

 

[TechmanDan]

Thanks for all the info. I know I have to replace my muffler, since mine has a hole in it, but i've got a couple concerns:
I don't want loud or obnoxious. I want my Ranger to sound like a real truck, but something relative to it's size. I get that a V-6 will sound like a V-6 no matter what. I don't drive a rice burner, so I dont want it to sound like one
I don't want the pipes coming out the back anymore if possible, since they lower my departure angle, and might get banged up when I go off road.
I want something less restrictive to get better power/fuel mileage.
I also want to stay away from having pipes by the tires because they'll get mud/rocks/dodge parts/ crap slung all over them when I go off road.

 

[kcm1582]

Thanks for all the info. I know I have to replace my muffler, since mine has a hole in it, but i've got a couple concerns:
I don't want loud or obnoxious. I want my Ranger to sound like a real truck, but something relative to it's size. I get that a V-6 will sound like a V-6 no matter what. I don't drive a rice burner, so I dont want it to sound like one
I don't want the pipes coming out the back anymore if possible, since they lower my departure angle, and might get banged up when I go off road.
I want something less restrictive to get better power/fuel mileage.
I also want to stay away from having pipes by the tires because they'll get mud/rocks/dodge parts/ crap slung all over them when I go off road.

That's what I was looking for when I did my exhaust a few months ago. I ended up getting the Flowmaster 50 series delta flow put on my truck. Sounds great, it has good tone and is not to loud. I'll get some videos up tomorrow.

 

[TechmanDan]

@ kcm1582, thanks, i'd like to hear it. I'm not overly concerned with the sound, but i'd like to know what i'm getting before I weld it in. Which is something else... is welding better than bolting when i'm putting my exhaust back together?
and while my muffler's been "holey", i've seen better gas mileage. Anyone else seen that?

 

[kcm1582]

Finally got around to uploading the videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7pWKujRdG0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gnyKaPXBLw