Ok guys I know you have to be sick of this but I have read and read topics and I am unsure of a thing or two.

I want some better sound out of my truck but not too loud. I will be towing the race car alot.
I would like to just replace the muffler and a nice tip.

any suggestions?
I keep seeing the donaldson 51", is that one good?

what size is my factory exhaust? early 04 305/555.

thanks again

 

why replace the muff?

mine is 4", my 01 was 4", so I would assume all the others are 4" too

 

I have been told that the early 04's were 3.5 but maybe that is just the down pipe.
I just want better sound than the factory muffler. I think straight pipe would be louder than I am looking for.

 

if you want somthing a little louder than stock but not as loud as straight pipe then id go with the donaldson or nelson 28" or so... if you want something not any louder at idle or at cruise then go with the 51" donaldson or nelson. there are a lot of good threads about the nelson 51" try a search. im going to go with the 51" nelson because i dont want anything loud but have a nice deep big rig tone when i hit the go-go juice

 

I went with the 51" Nelson. It is louder with out being too loud. It is a straight thru design so the EGT are a little lower. I got mine from Cummins Atlantic in Kenly NC for about $75. I found a muffler shop that put it on for $30. So far I like it. I have not pulled my travel trailer yet to see how loud it is under load.

 

THE front pipe is 3.5" and tailpipe is4" and flowmaster makes a nice sounding muffler.

 

Thanks for the input guys.

Will get something soon.

 

i put an AERO Turbine on mine and am very happy, sounds good with nice throttle response

 

I have the 36" Donaldson model...and a nice 2100-2200 RPM drone I could really do without, it is particularly loud on accel. I have been thinking of putting an aeroturbine at the bottom of the downpipe and before the crossmember....anyone think this would help?

 

from what ive heard the aeroturbine should delete that drone. ive heard a lot of good thing about the aero doing that

 

Only the 04.5s have a full factory 4" exhaust. Starting in 03 it started at 3.5" all the way past the muffler and flares to 4" right after the muffler. I have a Magnaflow which I think sounds pretty good. I would recommend listening to some trucks in person because from what I've seen here, what one guy likes, another thinks sounds bad! Mine definitely has a much deeper tone at WOT now that I have installed the Banks 4" downpipe...

bdramsey, if your 01 was 4" then someone put it on there. They were still coming with 3" pipes back then......

 

I tried the 30" Magnaflow. I've never experienced such horrible drone, so now I'm apprehesive about trying anything (reinstalled the OEM muffler). I too have read that the Areotubine (installed just in front of where the exhaust mounts to the tranny) will eliminate the drone. Currently, I'm thinking about a 4" DP from Rip, and running a 51" Nelson.

 

You know, come to think of it, the 51" Nelson and Donaldson are the only mufflers I have consistently seen people report absolutely no drone with.

 

I did the cat back and used the Banks Monster Muffler. Pieces are quality stainless and went together easily.. Sounds great too !!

 

The 04 uses a 3.5" DP and pipe and changes to 4" after the stock muffler. I would recommend a Banks Monster exhaust to get the free flowing exhaust with nice sound. This system is the only one that the DP is a true 4" and replaces the cast elbow on the turbo. Banks also puts an expansion area in the inlet to the muffler which helps keep the dreded drone away.