Trying to see what sounds the best and will give me the most performance:

1. Remove muffler and get a "MUFFLER DELETE PIPE"
2. Remove cat and get a "TEST PIPE"
3. Remove muffler and cat and replace with a complete STRAIGHT PIPE SYSTEM
4. Remove whole exhuast and get a totally new exhaust like from MBRP, Banks, Bullydog.....etc

 

How about removing the muffler and replacing it with an after-market muffler?

 

i removed the cat and mufler, and love it.

 

Cant beat #1.... loud n cheap!

 

Being that I live in NJ.....removing the cat and muffler is not an option. I decided to go with the MBRP muffler kit. I had looked at the complete catback systems but couldn't justify the cost as my system is already a 4" mandrel bent system. I called MBRP and they gave me the part number for just the muffler replacement kit. I ordered it and did the install myself. So far I like the MBRP kit. It is not much louder at an idle...just a deeper tone. While at highyway speeds it is not any louder than my stock system but push the go pedal down it has a nice deep growl. I am noticing a fuel economy increase with just the muffler but I want to put a few tanks through it first before I comment on the fuel savings. The butt dyno shows a little more snap to the acceleration and where I live there are a lot of hills to pull every day and it seems to hold gears a lot longer before it needs to downshift while pulling grades.....I can't wait to hook the camper up to see what gains I accheive with the muff. MBRP quotes only 7 - 10hp and up to 16tq.

 

Do #1 for lower egts, then do #2 for even lower egt reduction along with a intake kit. Then bombs away.

 

MBRP quotes those #s with the just the DELETE PIPE? By just removing the muffler?

 

I've heard that removing the CAT sounds too RASPY and when removing both, it doesnt sound good at all, any sound clips of both removed?

 

it does sound raspy if you are comparing it to a 1st or second gen, being their sound is so smooth. But all in all it sounds pretty good and is not as loud as most people would think.

 

I also live in NJ I used the Banks Cat back system. It eliminated the highway speed drone I had with the stock. It was louder at first but I got used to it.
The reason I went with banks which was a bit more money was the lifetime warranty.

 

Viking..........that was with their replacement muffler.

 

So then, there woule be more power with a straight pipe.

 

Mufflers/Exhaust/Lack there off do not make horsepower. Fuel makes horsepower. 04.5 and newer only need a cat test pipe and muffler swap to support mucho horsepower from Fueling Enhancements, Turbo Swap, Intake Swap, etc. 03-04 need a 4" dp and a muffler swap to do the same.

 

I yanked my muffler and went to a straight pipe, and I love it.. Alot of people complain of drone while towing, but I just got back from a 400 mile trip towing 8500 lbs with no issues.
Scott

 

I yanked the whole system. Once you compare the stock bends to an aftermarket mandrel bent system you will know the difference. I went 5" all the way and I couldn't be happier.