Brennan
Shepard
While reliable and
economical, the 2.5 TBI isn't a powerhouse. It is possible, however, to extract
a few more ponies out of it with the right bolt-ons. With an open element intake
and upgraded ignition, it was time to do something about my exhaust. I had
previously installed a Dynomax Super Turbo muffler, but judging form the sound
of my truck and the hot spot in the rear floor pan, it was clear that most of
the exhaust was leaving the system before it had the change to make it through
the Dynomax. Upon closer inspection, I found a crack all the way around the
inlet pipe on the muffler, and a tailpipe that crumbled in my hands. It was time
for a cat-back.
There are many good
aftermarket exhaust companies in the market now, most offering systems for
either the 2.5 or 4.0. Due to previous experience and local availability, I went
with Flowmaster parts. Flowmaster offers many different muffler configurations,
from inlet/outlet locations to number of chambers. I decided to go with a
3-chamber muffler for a deeper sound and 2.5" pipe to replace the tailpipe. This
is not a Flowmaster system, we just ended up having the muffler and the pipe
lying around, so we stuck with Flowmaster throughout. Trust me, its much easier
to buy the cat-back system than to make your own rear pipe. Luckily, my exhaust
was in the Hands of Christian Whittaker of Bedford, VA. Having put exhaust on
everything from YJ's to F350's, Christian knows his exhaust.? He recommended the
3-chamber muffler and 2.5" pipe for a quieter and deeper tone than a 2-chamber
muffler.
We started by
removing everything behind the catalytic converter. This is a good time to
install a high flow cat if desired. Be sure to measure well and choose the
correct inlet/outlet configuration as you'll be dealing with a framerail on one
side and the driveshaft on the other.
Our muffler slid
right in place, and Christian began welding the pipe for the rear section. Using
the old tailpipe as a reference, he used mandrel bent Flowmaster pieces to make
the hump over the axle. Be careful to situate the tailpipe section away from the
gas tank and shock. It can be tricky, but with a pre-made piece offered in a
cat-back system, this step should be easy.
Once everything was
fit into place, Christian put the final welds on the pipe and tip, and I fired
her up. I immediately noticed the truck tached up much quicker, and felt like a
weight had been lifted from its shoulders. A test drive proved my prediction
correct, as it's a little quicker and throttle response improved a great deal.
Grin-factor results were greatly improved as well.
The sound of the
3-chamber muffler is beautifully deep and not intrusive at all. At highway
speeds, I can hardly tell a difference. The best tones are made at load under
acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear. Mileage seems to have
picked up ever so slightly, but without all the goosing of the throttle for
grins, it could be better. Overall I am very pleased with the system, and
recommend it to anyone looking to make your truck stand out a little at the
stoplight as well as pick up a little low-end power. Many thanks to Christian
Whittaker for his expertise and shop space to complete this project.
Posted Apr 07 2009 12:30AM
