Just purchased this 2004 and I am sooooo pleased with it. Now it's time to do the little "tweaking" and fine tuning.
I was contemplating removing muffler and leave straight exhaust or replace it completely.
Am I going to loose "quieteness" inside ? I really like being able to talk normally in the cab and being able to make long trips without loud noises.

 

Straight pipe (removing the muffler) is going to increase the drone in the cab at highway speeds. It is going to be esp bad when pulling a trailer. Sounds good, but you will lose the quietness in the cab. If your concern is to keep the cab at normal talking levels, probably leaving it stock is your best option. Have heard of one or two guys dyna-matting the interior, but that is pretty extreme. You could possibly replace the muffler with another type of muffler, some have also had good results with the Donaldson 51" (I think that is the name). Hopefully someone can chime in here that has this muffler and let you know how it is. i replaced my stock exhaust to a 5 inch exhaust, which I get a good drone on the highway at 70 MPH.

 

I just put a donaldson 51" M090544 on my truck. I wanted something a little louder then stock, the 51" I think has a deeper tone but not louder. When I do my whole exhaust system next year I will put the 40" donaldson in. If you want something that is quiet like the stock muffler but flows a lot better then go with the 51" donalson, if you want something a little louder then I would go with the 40". The muffler is only $80 shipped from ryder fleet products.

 

Excellent underwoodbits, thank you, I will take a look at it.

 

hi

the 40" if loud as magnaflow or quiter?

chris

 

I put in the muffler delete pipe and it's not much noiser unless hte rear rh window is down and I drive next to a wall of something.

 

i went with a 5"and a donaldson 90535 it is quiet and no drone

 

M090535 is an EXCELLENT muffler!!!

 

I just removed my muffler this past weekend and put a straight pipe in and I am very happy. I notice it louder at idle and the lower RPM while taking off but the freeway is almost no different. I did notice it when I pushed the go pedal to pass a Furd though! Sounded very nice and not too loud at all. I have heard the CC and MC do sound different with no muffler but I can not say for sure myself. I'm happy with mine.

 

I have the 51" donaldson and a 6" HOG tip.
Finaly heard it for the first time on the road from outside the cab when my wife passed me in my rental.

The engine makes more noise than what comes out the tip....Only towed once so far and it was quieter than whenn empty inside the cab.

 

did you leave the cat and the resonator?

 

Yes. They are still in place.

Also it could be wishfull thinking, but after driving for almost 300 miles it sure seems like I gained .1 to .2 MPG also. This is only going by the overhead liar but I will see what I get on the next fill up as I always hand calculate my mileage.

 

it's possible, the muffler is your biggest restriction in that system

 

I sure hope so. I'll take every bit I can get!!

 

I installed a Magnaflow muffler on mine and there is more noise in the cab at all speeds. It will not run you out of the cab but you can tell the difference. Just turn the radio up or do something wrong while driving and listen to your wife for miles and miles
Jay