[radioactive]

Looks like I'll be putting an exhaust system on my Dak over the winter. I'd like to install a bolt-on cat-back system. Would like increased rumble without making it obnoxious.

I see several kits available from the usual suspects. What would you recommend? I really don't have a clue when it comes to all the different choices.

My truck is an '03 4.7 Club cab 4x4. I know some of the systems out there have issues clearing the rear suspension and spare tire. I'd prefer to not modify either of those.

 

[JeremyJ]

In my experience, a good exhaust shop can fabricate whatever you want for less than the cost of a premade kit. Just a thought.

 

[radioactive]

You're no doubt right. Kind of like doing it myself. After doing a bunch of reading, I'm focusing now on what muffler to use. I found a lot of discussion about how certain muffler sound crappy. I'm hoping someone will have some feedback on what sounds good, deep and throaty without being obnoxiously loud, for the 4.7. Really hard to know from the manufacturers sites.

 

[JeremyJ]

Have you looked up YouTube videos? There are usually a few videos that demonstrate the different muffler sounds on various engines. I bet there are a few 4.7 vehicles on there if you dig for them.

 

[ardeno]

Most of the time, the exhaust sound on Youtube videos is slightly different when you hear it in person.

 

[FaceDeAce]

On the 4.7 we played around a bit with spare mufflers and scrap around the garage. What we found out and like the most was just removing the muffler and straight piping the section the muffler was. No muffler, but leave everything else as is (cats and resonators). The result is a very very nice deep rumble and not loud at all. If you do go with a muffler, get the shortest packed muffler you can. Eg Magnaflow, Dynaflow 10-14 inch. Stay away from flow master unless you want it to sound like it is blowing popcorn through coffee cans.

 

[TLAC]

thrasher glasspac worked out great for me only really loud if you stomp on it

 

[Panterasr9]

What did you end up putting on your truck?
I did 40 series flowmasters on mine love it get alot of compliments on it as well.

 

[radioactive]

I haven't decided on a solution. Truck went into winter storage.

 

[TLAC]

HA that's hilarious,
It's so cold even my welder froze LOL

 

[radioactive]

Hey, I woke up last Sunday to -33F. Don't tell me about cold.

 

[TLAC]

DARN that ain't cold that's artic how many polar bears did you see.

 

[radioactive]

Even the polar bears were frozen. Now you know why the Dakota naps all winter. Between the snow, the salt, and the cold, it'd be a wreck after one Minnesota winter. And my baby has never seen any of that.

 

[02GenDakota]

If you don't mind my asking, what is your winter beater?

 

[radioactive]

My "daily driver" is a 2012 Nissan Altima Coupe. But most of the summer I'm on a motorcycle (I work for Indian). The Dakota is used for hauling stuff to the lake and back, including my off road vehicles and watercraft.... Let's just say I have a few toys.

 

[JackRey]

In my experience, a good exhaust shop can fabricate whatever you want for less than the cost of a premade kit. Just a thought.

We're lucky to have a good shop here owned by a nice old guy. After we finished installing the new set of tires from 4Wheelonline on buddy's Durango project, they aligned it perfectly. Next is a custom exhaust.