Rusted Out Another Weld, Time For A New Cat-back. What Should I Get?

jkbetker21 · January 25, 2010

Rusted out another weld and should probable replace everything from the cat back.

Currently I have 2 1/2" true duels with glass packs. Sounds mean as hell at idle and down low but real raspy up high.

What kind of cat back system should I get? I am on a budget so stainless is out of the question. I want a real aggressive sound to go with that awesome 350. I would like to stay around 2 1/2" pipe for the low end torque. I like real loud exhaust but it has to be street legal, this is my daily driver. Currently, my tail pipes exit on a 45 to the tail gate at either side of the back bumper with angle cut tips (looks sweet). I pull a boat in the summers and don't like completely submerging the exhaust, although it sounds awesome.

I thought about a flowmaster with super 40's but i am not sure they are loud enough.

Any input would help...

Stevens03 · January 25, 2010

Well besides the fact that flowmaster will rust out in a short period of time, I'd look at something stainless steel like Magnaflow. But if FM-40 isn't loud enough, then Magnaflow sure isn't either. I've had both, and the flowmaster was a little louder than the the magnaflow, but the magnaflow was deeper sounding.

If you want it louder than that, then straight pipes or cherry bomb maybe's your best choice

trucc_boi · January 25, 2010

i'd say splurge for the magnaflow muffler (you can find em online with free shipping for around $80).. check the link in my sig.. might need to get one the right size/length for your truck.

maybe consider getting a side-exit like mine so you dont have to worry about water when you launch your boat?

jkbetker21 · January 25, 2010

i'd say splurge for the magnaflow muffler (you can find em online with free shipping for around $80).. check the link in my sig.. might need to get one the right size/length for your truck.

maybe consider getting a side-exit like mine so you dont have to worry about water when you launch your boat?

I, personally don't really care for the 90° angle. I have heard that with the tail pipes straight out the back the gases can be sucked back into the cab from a back draft. Is there any truth to this?

trucc_boi · January 25, 2010

Straight out the back as in straight pipe or the 90 degree pipe like I have?

i have no clue if that is the case, but mine is under the bed and pointed far enough out that it does not risk being 'sucked back into the cab'.. i have had all four windows down and have never smelled exhaust.. with the current emissions i dont think it is that big of a deal anyways.

i would be more worried with that with an exhaust dump pre-axle at idle or something..

do it or not, just a suggestion. i did it to be different and it is one solution if you dont want your exhaust to get wet when launching your boat.

nubuilder · January 25, 2010

I know you said it is out of your budget, but stainless is the way to go. They way I look at it is I paid more up front, but I'll never have to replace my system again. The aluminized steel system that was on my truck only lasted 45k. I learned the hard way with the old system. You might love it in town and cruising, but if you're going to tow or haul anything you'll hate it. The old system too came out at 45's at the bumper. I could not find a bolt-on system that had this. Everyone wants to go straight out the back, out one side, or a few wanted to go 90's behind both wheels.

I love my MagnaFlows. MagnaFlow has a kit that starts behind the cats and exits on both sides straight out the back or they have one that just goes out the one side (like factory). The problem with these kits is I think they are like $700+.

If you want cheap, you'll get cheap quality and probably have to replace it 2 or more times (depending how long you keep the truck). Keeping it cheap means you'll probably have to sacrifice some features you want (probably where they exit the truck). You might want to check out Heart Throb.

The only other thing you could do is buy mufflers and straight pipe (my truck took 15ft from the headers back; but I think you have to buy it in 20ft lengths) and have a shop custom make it. Most shops will do aluminized steel, but it won't be mandrel bent.

If you want more data on stainless, check out the forum I had that took 6 pages to get things figured out. I bought everything myself (and saved a lot on parts) but then had to pay someone to install everything. I went this route because I know I'll have the truck a long time and I got EXACTLY what I wanted. Oh, and if you don't plan on keeping the truck forever and are on a budget, don't go custom stainless.

trucc_boi · January 25, 2010

^^ what he said. i just bought the muffler and tip and got custom bent tubing out the side.

if you have any exhaust guy worth his salt you should be able to take him something and he can make it work. helps if you get the right size in/out on your muffler though.

the guy i got mine installed from warrantied all his welds and said he will replace anything if it rusts (i will be long gone from this town before it does).

i paid $80 for muffler, $90 for installation/tubing/hangers, and $40 for 12x3" magnaflow SS tip. which brings it to about $200 overall including labor/shipping.. pretty good for an exhaust i think.. i coulda got it much cheaper if i would have just replaced the muffler instead of redoing the tubing.

you could easily get a good exhaust tech to re-bend new pipes for you however you want, and they should just charge you materials and time and will be way cheaper than ordering a full kit and getting that put on.. plus you can deal with someone locally if it rusts, breaks, etc instead of someone over the phone.

just my 2 cents. i could talk exhaust all day.

nubuilder · January 25, 2010

Just thought of another option.

Buy an aluminized kit that comes straight out the back and have a shop put 45's in the tailpipes to make them come out at an angle.

That's what I ended up doing.

amtz.zero · January 25, 2010

Well besides the fact that flowmaster will rust out in a short period of time, I'd look at something stainless steel like Magnaflow. But if FM-40 isn't loud enough, then Magnaflow sure isn't either. I've had both, and the flowmaster was a little louder than the the magnaflow, but the magnaflow was deeper sounding.

If you want it louder than that, then straight pipes or cherry bomb maybe's your best choice

I have Flowmaster super 40 on my truck and it's pretty loud and sounds good. Now, about the rusting, I live in Southern California where it's bone dry for about 95% of the year, so I don't really worry about rusting. I'm pretty happy with it. But if I lived in Seattle or something where it's always raining or somewhere where it snows alot, maybe I would go with something else.

jabo052 · January 25, 2010

Borla full system w/ side exits.

Glass packs suck.

hockeypro1411 · January 25, 2010

I'm in the same boat. My Magnaflows are rusting out and starting to leak/sound raspy. The exhaust system on my truck is completely custom, and besides the same mufflers, nothing really fits. I'm leaning toward just taking the bandsaw and cutting out the mufflers and welding in some pipe. Cheap and effective. But I have a feeling that true dual straights with no mufflers is going to be like dating a fat chick; fun for about a week, then you've had enough.

nubuilder · January 25, 2010

Your MagnaFlows rusted out?

Weren't they stainless?

I'm not entirely sure, but I think MagnaFlow mufflers are made out of 400 series stainless. This series does get a rust coating on the outside, but I thought they weren't supposed to rust through.

hockeypro1411 · January 25, 2010

Yep. One had a hole rusted entirely through it which I patched with the torch and some filler rod. Now they're beyond fixing. The metal that is left is too thin/rusty to do anything with.