First off, you'll can go ahead and call me an old man.

Just went to straight pipe w/ my stock exhaust on a '98 12V (man, that cat was a bit on the plugged side BTW). The gearhead in me likes the sound, but the 40 yr old in me says it's a bit too loud, especially the drone @ highway speed.

My muffler guy just left a voice mail that he's ordered a 7" FloPro.
Any recommendation as to where along the pipe is the optimal place for the muffler?
I'm wanting to mitigate any drone in the cab. Would it be better to place the muffler closer to the engine, or more towards the rear?

And yes, I've thought about a 4" system. I'm watching the budget as we have enough different projects going right now to absorb any discretionary funds.

 

Been thru this also and I am old too Put it as far forward as possible, and save that cat for the future when you might need to gut it and reinstall. Goodluck,,Rick

 

My thought on this is to put the muffler towards the back of the truck... About where stock position is...

Reason for that is the foreward is going to get the muffler hot from the highier EGT and burn it out quicker... Just my thought tho...

 

While I haven't quite gotten to exhaust system replacement yet, also due to funding issues, I have read that placing it more toward the cab than further back is recommended to reduce droning. I've also read that using all the OEM hanger locations to suspend the system will also help matters. As far as burning out the muffler I don't know that nearer the engine would cause that or not, I tend to think not, especially if it's a straight-through muffler w/o fiberglass packing.

Let us know what you do and how it turns out.

Steve

 

Ah! I stand corrected... I was think somethine else... Sorry my bad...

 

http://www.flopro.com/FloPro.htm

My muffler guy picked up a 7" round Flo-Pro, having it put in Friday.

It's a pretty impressive muffler, I'll post the results later.

 

Alright, had the muffler installed today. Ended up putting it just about in the middle.

As mentioned earlier, it's a straight-thru Flo-Pro 7" round. The exhaust has a nice rumble now and just a bit of a roar when getting on it. Looks like it should last awhile.

The drone is MUCH better, alomost non existent. Just a little bit of drone between 1600-1750 rpm's, probably the same as before w/ the cat. I think I'm more concenscious of it now.
Might try putting pieces of aluminum angle at various spots of the exhaust, just to play around.

One noticeable difference is the additional rattle coming from the muffler, you can hear a 'can' type of rattle coming from the muffler outside the truck when it's idleing. Not a big deal, just noticeable.

 

Hook up to a trailer of some sorts ie; boat, tractor etc. Then drone will show it self if it is there when a load is pulled. I would suggest pulling something first before going on a trip. Mine would not drone empty only when used hard.Goodluck,Rick

 

I just pull a car hauler trailer yesterday... With a 1 ton chevy pickup on the trailer for 300+ miles. Two grades at 7%...

No DRONE with a straight pipe exhaust with stock postions... Bit loud pulling on a grade but not bad. Never turned the radio over 50% volume the whole 3 hour trip.

Once your striaght (piped) you never go back...