Hey guys, Im thinking about installing a new muffler on the F150 to give it a little more sound. Ive settled on the Flowmaster 40 series, 2.5" offset Inlet and Outlet. How hard is it just to replace the muffler, and what all will I need to do it? Thanks!
How hard is it to install new muffler?
- Thread starter renegade_987
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Depends.
You'll want to make sure the inlet and outlet are the same diameter as your existing pipe for sure.
Does the factory muffler have a hanger welded to it? If not, it's probably as simple as cutting of the factory muffler and welding or using clamps to install the new muffler.
If the factory muffler has a hanger, it's more difficult and probably a better job for an exhaust shop than DIY, since you'll have to bend and weld a hanger on the aftermarket muffler.
You'll want to make sure the inlet and outlet are the same diameter as your existing pipe for sure.
Does the factory muffler have a hanger welded to it? If not, it's probably as simple as cutting of the factory muffler and welding or using clamps to install the new muffler.
If the factory muffler has a hanger, it's more difficult and probably a better job for an exhaust shop than DIY, since you'll have to bend and weld a hanger on the aftermarket muffler.
If you are handy with a torch go for it. If not bring it somewhere.
Before you do that, I'd like chime in with my experience.
I had a set of Flowmaster 40s on a Chevy K3500 pickup, and they sounded EPIC around town.
Loved them.
Then I took a road trip towing a trailer. It was almost unbearable by the end of it. I sold the truck shortly after, but I would have been taking them off if I kept it.
I had a set of Flowmaster 40s on a Chevy K3500 pickup, and they sounded EPIC around town.
Loved them.
Then I took a road trip towing a trailer. It was almost unbearable by the end of it. I sold the truck shortly after, but I would have been taking them off if I kept it.
You will need a reciprocating saw with metal blades or an exhaust pipe cutter, a hanger for the muffler, and most likely some extension pipe as the aftermarket muffler will probably be much smaller than OE. You will need clamps to connect the pipe as well...getting all the connections welded is better, but clamps will work.
Have you priced a Dynomax/Walker kit for your truck? It might be cheaper than you think. It's only $200 or so for a direct fit kit for my truck that uses all of the factory hanger locations. I put one on my old truck in a couple hours in my driveway without even jacking it up.
Have you priced a Dynomax/Walker kit for your truck? It might be cheaper than you think. It's only $200 or so for a direct fit kit for my truck that uses all of the factory hanger locations. I put one on my old truck in a couple hours in my driveway without even jacking it up.
It can be a real pita! I don't bother doing ghem myself anymore. Just take it to a muffler shop that has the pipe expander and such and pay the $30 and let them do it while you drink free coffee in the waiting room.
I'm a journeyman diesel mechanic for UPS. I myself would have a shop do it. Doing exhaust work at home sucks if your using universal mufflers. Definitely get the kit if you wanna install it at home.
Local exhaust place will do it for 45 bucks in a half hour. Should I just do that?
I also encountered (long time ago) a VW Rabbit where the muffler and welded pipe were long enough that to get the thing into place one needed the car to be off the ground by a few feet, not a simple set of ramps.
Originally Posted By: renegade_987
Local exhaust place will do it for 45 bucks in a half hour. Should I just do that?
ya unless you want to spend 6 hrs under your truck getting dirt in your eyes as well as making 5 trips to the auto parts store and spending $60 buying adapter pipes and clamps because the new muffler is a different pipe size.
Local exhaust place will do it for 45 bucks in a half hour. Should I just do that?
ya unless you want to spend 6 hrs under your truck getting dirt in your eyes as well as making 5 trips to the auto parts store and spending $60 buying adapter pipes and clamps because the new muffler is a different pipe size.
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Originally Posted By: Chris142
It can be a real pita! I don't bother doing ghem myself anymore. Just take it to a muffler shop that has the pipe expander and such and pay the $30 and let them do it while you drink free coffee in the waiting room.
I'd much rather drink free coffee than eat rust! Doing exhaust yourself just isn't worth it.
It can be a real pita! I don't bother doing ghem myself anymore. Just take it to a muffler shop that has the pipe expander and such and pay the $30 and let them do it while you drink free coffee in the waiting room.
I'd much rather drink free coffee than eat rust! Doing exhaust yourself just isn't worth it.
I would go for a SS muffler before I went for one with a loud sound. Is your old muffler shot?
A loud muffler will sound neat for the first day or two.
A loud muffler will sound neat for the first day or two.
Unless you want an obnoxiously loud muffler, don't go with flowmaster. I would get a Dynomax Super Turbo muffler, not to loud, and they have a great performance tone.
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Originally Posted By: MichiganMadMan
Before you do that, I'd like chime in with my experience.
I had a set of Flowmaster 40s on a Chevy K3500 pickup, and they sounded EPIC around town.
Loved them.
Then I took a road trip towing a trailer. It was almost unbearable by the end of it. I sold the truck shortly after, but I would have been taking them off if I kept it.
The original owner had the same system put on my F-150. Was rotted out within 4 years and less than 50k miles. I repalced it with a Magnaflow and very happy. My truck was a bit of a B and I'm not handy with a torch so I took it to a shop.
Good luck.
Before you do that, I'd like chime in with my experience.
I had a set of Flowmaster 40s on a Chevy K3500 pickup, and they sounded EPIC around town.
Loved them.
Then I took a road trip towing a trailer. It was almost unbearable by the end of it. I sold the truck shortly after, but I would have been taking them off if I kept it.
The original owner had the same system put on my F-150. Was rotted out within 4 years and less than 50k miles. I repalced it with a Magnaflow and very happy. My truck was a bit of a B and I'm not handy with a torch so I took it to a shop.
Good luck.
Let a muffler shop do it, not worth all the hassle and you will kick yourself in the butt if it leaks which happens a lot to DIY people and exhaust. I have Dyna 40 series catback Flowmaster system on my Dodge and luv it. Has a nice rumble to it but the inside decibel level for cruising is pretty quiet. That's the way its supposed to sound with the Dyna series.
Originally Posted By: renegade_987
Hey guys, Im thinking about installing a new muffler on the F150 to give it a little more sound. Ive settled on the Flowmaster 40 series, 2.5" offset Inlet and Outlet. How hard is it just to replace the muffler, and what all will I need to do it? Thanks!
You already heard. Take it to the pipe benders.
We do almost EVERYTHING in house here, even replace engines. But exhaust (and transmissions I take out first) are the two things I gladly pay others to do for me.
Hey guys, Im thinking about installing a new muffler on the F150 to give it a little more sound. Ive settled on the Flowmaster 40 series, 2.5" offset Inlet and Outlet. How hard is it just to replace the muffler, and what all will I need to do it? Thanks!
You already heard. Take it to the pipe benders.
We do almost EVERYTHING in house here, even replace engines. But exhaust (and transmissions I take out first) are the two things I gladly pay others to do for me.
Originally Posted By: ClutchDisc
Unless you want an obnoxiously loud muffler, don't go with flowmaster. I would get a Dynomax Super Turbo muffler, not to loud, and they have a great performance tone.
I agree, I have been using these mufflers for almost 30 years on many different vehicles. Yes they have been around that long. Great sounding mufflers.
Unless you want an obnoxiously loud muffler, don't go with flowmaster. I would get a Dynomax Super Turbo muffler, not to loud, and they have a great performance tone.
I agree, I have been using these mufflers for almost 30 years on many different vehicles. Yes they have been around that long. Great sounding mufflers.
+1 for the Dynomax Super Turbo. I have the cat-back on my Jeep. It was very easy to install myself, it sounds great, and gained me a solid 1.5 mpg. Its just a bit louder than stock, and a bit deeper tone. It sounds perfect without being obnoxious or annoying. I have installed flowmasters on a few friend's Jeeps. While they hold up to offroading, they rust out fairly quickly in areas where the roads are salted. My friend had a 40 series Flowmaster on his Silverado that rusted out in 2 years. $80-90 for a muffler that lasts 2 years is not worth it. Get the Dynomax cat-back, its stupid easy to install and you won't regret it.
I installed a mandrel bent exhaust system on my 2003 Saturn ION, and used the biggest Dynomax Super Turbo that would fit, with a Magnaflow round muffler as a resonator. The car was barely louder than stock, and there was definitely more power.
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