I finally got out this morning to get the new 4" SS DPPI exhaust installed. I've been putting it off until I had plenty of time to get it done.

First of all, to everyone who said that the most difficult part was getting the stock exhaust off......you were right. My method was to loosen the clamp at the turbo and then start at the back taking the hangers out of the rubber holders. While fairly difficult, this part of the task wasn't too bad.

Once the exhaust was completely loose from the truck, I had to figure out a way to get it out. My hopes of getting it out in one piece were shot down when I figured out it just wasn't going to happen. My next thought was to remove the clamps and break the exhaust down into two pieces for easy removal. Uh uh.....those things were STUCK!!! I borrowed a grinder with a cutting wheel from my neighbor and cut the exhaust into three pieces. It came out easily after that, but I was hot and thirsty so I decided to take a break (nothing like a nice cold glass of ice water while sitting in the air conditioner).

After the break it was time to put the new exhaust on. I was disappointed to discover that the extension pipe included in my kit was too long. I was under the impression that DPPI had kits available for each truck configuration. Apparently this isn't the case (either that or they sent me the wrong one). I installed the down pipe, tail pipe and muffler and then made a trip to Home Depot to get a metal cutting disc to go on my chop saw. After measuring and cutting the pipe I installed it, put the exhaust clamps on and then took it for a ride.

My first thought was that it sounded like an overgrown ricer on steroids. Needless to say I was a bit disappointed with that. However, after driving around for a while the sound kind of started to grow on me. From the outside it had a nice diesel sound with lots of turbo whine. I had to roll the windows down every time I went under a bridge or drove by a fence or something so I could hear that cool exhaust sound bouncing back at me. From the inside it still kind of sounds like an overgrown ricer on steroids. I'm a bit undecided on whether I like the sound or not, but I'll drive it a while and see. If I don't like it I'll look into a Donaldson or Nelson muffler.

One last note....at least for now I've decided NOT to install the 5" tip. I think it would look sweet on a dually but I'm not sure if I'd like the way it looks on my truck (being 2WD it pretty much looks like a half ton). One thing is for sure.....if I DO decide to install the tip I'll have to cut some of the tailpipe off because it already sticks out farther than the stock tailpipe did.

There's a few pictures in my gallery once they get approved.

Thanks for reading.

 

Ole Hoss is ruined - - he has done bit the bullet. It's called the BOMB bullet. Sad. In spite of all, he was really a pretty neat guy before all this happened.

ShockedBob

 

Hoss, you have any "concrete" evidence of improvements?

Ed









Hope you like it.

 

ShockedBob.....You're getting closer my friend. The very fact that you're browing the "Performance and Aftermarket" forum means you're falling into the trap. Got that new Edge EZ on order yet??

Ed, hehehe....if you're referring to lowered EGT, more HP, etc.....then no. I don't have gauges yet so I have no way of know if there are any improvements. I can say that the turbo seems to spool up faster.....or at least it's a lot more noticable. I can't say I can feel any seat of the pants difference like I did when I installed the EZ. It's certainly louder when you get on it though.

 

Hoss,
I ran the DPPI system for quite a while. I thought the same thing about the sound. Kinda cool but ricey. I just finished putting 5" stacks and the 40" Donaldson on my truck (see my gallery for pictures) and I think the Donaldson is the way to go. Fluttery semi sound at cruise and full semi sound when your into it! This thing sound awesome now.

Richard

 

I drove the truck some more last night while going to some friends' house. The DPPI muffler is definitely gonna have to go. I think it probably sounds better from the outside than it does the inside, but I'm the one that is gonna be listening to it. It just sounds like a big, overgrown ricer to me and I really can't stand that sound.

With that said, I don't really blame the muffler. I ran it briefly with just the downpipe installed just so I could see what the straight pipe sounded like. It pretty much sounded the same only louder. DPPI and MBRP did a good job with this exhaust system. I just don't like the way it sounds. I don't know how you guys running a straight pipe on the 3rd Gens can stand it.

I'm going to be looking into the Donaldson muffler, but honestly, I think any straight through muffler is going to have a similar sound. I've heard nothing but good things about the way the Donaldson sounds though. Are they a straight through design or offset??

I liked the stock sound of the truck, but it wasn't loud enough. What length of Donaldson would I need to get to sound good but be louder than stock?

 

By the way, here's the 4" tailpipe sticking out after the install. I think the 5" tip that came with it would look too big on my truck so I'm holding off on that for now.



And now the whole truck....

 

Hoss,

My tip was able to slide completely over the exhaust pipe. The diameter is big enough to go all the way over with no internal stop. So you can adjust it to wherever you want as long as the pipe doesn't stick clear out. I set mine just a bit farther out than the stock pipe was and, of course, the cut is different. This has kept the truck cleaner than the stock pipe did. Not perfect, but better.
Sometimes I wish it was louder, sometimes I wish it was quieter, but, to me it is always better than the stock hissing sound.

Wetspirit

 

Hoss, that is odd about the pieces not fitting. At least in my DPPI box, the setup was you could use the extension for a long bed or not use it for a short bed I believe. There was one extra piece left out and everything fit perfectly. The tip is installed and it doesn't even stick out as far as the edge of the tire.. I like to keep it kinda tucked behind the mudflap

I also think thats odd about the sound. It's definitely loud and a bit boomy at times, but I'm not sure it sounds ricey. Did you check for any exhaust leaks? Do you still have the sound file from my truck with the DPPI?

 

Hoss,
Here is a shot of a downturn tip. I like it.

 

Another view.

 

My kit came with four pieces. A down pipe, an extension pipe, a muffler and a tailpipe. Without the extension pipe it wouldn't have been long enough and with it then it was too long. I had to cut about 18-20 inches or so off of the extension pipe to get it to fit.

I checked and double checked for exhaust leaks and didn't have any. The sound coming out of the pipe is AWESOME (at least from what I can hear when it bounces back at me off of walls and stuff). It's the sound coming from under the truck (the resonance in the pipe and muffler I guess) that sounds like a ricer. Honestly, I think it would sound better had I gone with the aluminized system instead of the stainless. The softer, milder steel used in the aluminized system would absorb the sound more I think. The volume doesn't bother me. In fact, I like it. It's the sound under the truck I don't like.

I don't have the sound file any more, but if you want to e-mail it to me I'd love to hear it. I wish I had a way of making a sound file for mine.

 

Bob, I'm not a big fan of turning it down (even though it looks good on your truck). Besides, I don't think that would help my sound problem. As I said, the sound coming OUT of the pipe is sweet. It's the resonance IN the pipe and muffler that's giving it a ricer sound (at least in my not so professional opinion). I don't know what to do about it except change to a Donaldson muffler or something similar.

 

Hoss,

Maybe it's the concrete bed liner that's causing the resonance.

Wetspirit

 

Hoss, there should have been 5 pieces. I wonder if your funky sound has anything to do with the fact you had to doctor it up.

Here's a pic of my kit - Downpipe, tailpipe, two extensions, and muffler...