Well Im wanting to upgrade my 04's exhaust.. I really dont want to spend 900.00 on a banks exhaust. But now Im confused.. Everyone keeps talking about the dreaded "DRONE" sound..."Remove the Cat", "Dont remove the Cat"...

Im a weekend 5th wheel puller and am looking to get a few more hp and mpg out of my truck... I've been told I have the most restricted exhaust that dodge made and I should change it before I do anything...
I would love to do something but not spend a fortune or have the DRONE sound...

What do you guys recommend???

 

From what I've gotten out of this whole drone thing is that almost all of them drone. It's not the exhaust, it's the truck. I've read that a couple guys trucks droned with stock exhaust . My droned somethin' aweful; to the point where I was in the market for a new muffler. Then I remembered somebody said if you get an exhaust tip to make sure it sticks out well past the sheetmetal of the bed. I decided to try this. Sure as God made green apples...it worked. Don't get me wrong, you can still hear it a little, but at least I can have a conversation and listen to the radio now. I took my buddy for a ride (he hated my exhaust) and he even said that it almost sounded stock inside the cab. My exhaust is SUPER loud on the outside though. I'm pretty jazzed with it nowadays. The tip probably sticks out about .5" past the stock tire. I can barely see it in the passenger rear view mirror. If want a straight through muffler but still sounds stock, go with a Donaldson or Nelson. No drone, but no aftermarket sound either.

 

My stock muffler is very quite inside the cab.. I have no noise problems at all thats why Im afraid of a new exhaust.. I would leave it stock but Im afraid if I add a Quad XT or Some kind of a small Performance Module Ill run into Heat problems...

 

protool,

You mentoined that you had a cat, that means you have a 2004.5, if so then get the MBRP performance replacement muffler as you already have 4 inch pipes from the factory. If you leave the cat alone it doesn't cost you much EGT reduction you'll have a very quieter no drone truck. If you pull the cat it'll be louder but no drone either.
Now if you really have a 2004 and not a 2004.5 you'll have to go to a system as the stock pipes are 3.5 inches except the tail pipe anyway!!

Mark @ DPPI

 

I would not touch the Cat, leave it there...In a few states its illegal to remove it. I cut my muff off and left the cat. there is drone and sometimes it gets annoying, but that stock muffler is really restrictive. Any muffler thats straight threw will do what you need, best bet is to go to a muffler shop and see what they have there, if you go to a mom and pop place they will probably clamp a few mufflers onto your truck to see what it sounds like before they weld it up.

 

Go with a donaldson or nelson 40" or 51" muffler they have VERY high flow no noise and they drop EGTS about 100-175 deg. You can get them at several semi truck parts houses. Do a search on nelson and donaldson muffflers there is a TON of threads on them with pictures.

 

Protool,
GO with Mark Craig and the MBRP replacement muffler. I installed one on my 2005 2500 HD and man I am telling you I am very pleased. I pull a Travel Trailer pretty regular (upwards of 11k lbs) and absolutely no drone. The power is there, the sound is there and no drone to hear. I suggest you try one, I think you will be pleased.

If you have any questions you can email me or send a private message, I would be happy to answer any questions regarding the MBRP and how it is working out for me.

 

I just straight piped my '06 and unless i pull the rpm's way down like shifting 2-4-6 there is hardly any drone. its loud outside the cab but with the windows up it is tollerable. i pull a trailer almost 7 days a week and have no trouble tipping the scales at 28,000 gross and this truck is much quieter inside then the '02. its the stock down pipe and tail pipe just cut before the cat and after the muff and a guy bent some pipe up to put in there, im very happy with it other then it makes the truck vibrate now.

I made the same run 2 tanks in a row pullin a load the first had the muff and the 2nd did not. Hand calculated the first run was 9.6 mpg the 2nd was 12.45 and the truck ran easier. Now the first load was kind of windy outside so that may have affected the mileage a bit but it still went way up.

hth
brad

 

Protool, I replaced my stock with a magnaflow. Only when I get on the go pedal real hard does it get throaty sounding. At idle it has a nice low rumbble sound. At 73mph to 80 mph on the highway it has a drone. I still have mixed feelings about the magnaflow system over the stock exhaust. I guess i got used to it being nice and quiet before I replaced it.....

 

I have the 05 CTD QC. I ordered the MBRP muffler replacement and am very happy with it. It is almost as quiet as stock while idling and sounds pretty mean and deep when on the throttle. There is almost no drone at any speed.........Best $145.00 I have spent on a mod so far.

 

I had my muffler taken off at just 500 miles on my 05 3500 and I love it! I lucked into find a local muffler shop where a guy had a banks exhaust installed into a ferd power stroke and he didn't want the muffler delete pipe so he left it at the shop. The shop owner removed my stock muffler and welded in the pipe for $100. Where do you find out your state laws regarding removing the kitty? How much louder would it be? Do you all know where you can buy sections of pipe online that isn't stupid expensive?

 

Well I ordered a magnaflow 4"... I got an awesome deal that I couldnt pass up. So well hope for the best.. I would assume anything is better then the stock system I have now...
Thanks for the input.