My grandson's 1997 F150 4X4 has dual exhausts (regular cab & short box. Each side is separate and runs straight back from the catalytic converter through a single muffler on each side.

The pipes and mufflers all have cracks or are separated. When I look at exhaust systems most of them appear to join both sides into a single muffler. Is there a handy primer on installing an exhaust system? He is in school and needs to keep the price down for now. We would appreciate any help you could offer.

 

So it's a dual in/dual out setup with 1 single muffler?

 

Take it to a local shop and have it done will be the cheapest route. For best operation, joining the pipes closer to the front would be better and leave it single the rest of the way. See the link below in my signature.

 

If that's the case they make plenty replacement mufflers and full setups for both that style and any other setup you would want, dual in single out, or single in dual out. In any case, you can get full bolt on systems from Flowmaster, Magnaflow, Cherry bomb...etc. Making it easy to do at home if you don't have a welder.

 

No it has two mufflers.

 

Definitely get a cross, X or H, and just redo all the pipes at a shop if you're wanting cheap. Buy the mufflers he wants separate and take them to the shop. Making it exit out the side before the rear tire will also lessen the cost.

 

Yes an X or an H pipe will improve the flow for sure

 

Will dumping before the rear tire cause a increase in noise?
Lets say from 1 - 10, 1 being stock.

I am almost positive I need a new cat. Truck has 102,000 and seems to be really lagging. Pulling hills the truck sounds like it has a Flowmaster Super 40 Muffler. [(Its stock)(Thats from the inside of the truck)]. I want to replace the Cat and the muffler, (FM Super 40). Dont want to much noise, a little but not alot.

Maybe some one can give me a pointer or two. I have never replaced exhaust on a truck so this will be my first go around. Thanks All!

 

yes dumping before the rear tire does inrease noise because the sound echos off of the ground plus there will be more in cab drone with it dumped. thats how mine was and i was running single flow master 40. now i have it ran out behind rear tire like stock with a nice chrome tip all 4 cats and a flowmaster super 10. its actually not that loud at all it sounds good but not loud. theres not much you can do with all 4 cats

 

I cut off my muffler and dumped it outside the frame rail in front of the leaf spring mount. It's got a nice low rumble at idle and it sounds pretty good when I get on the throttle. No noticeable drone or anything, I've taken it on a couple long trips and on the highway I don't even notice it.