turbo vs. CAT back exhausts

[SixInARow]

Hey cliff. I'd start off with an intake and an exhaust. I drive a Powerstroke and I'm on here mainly because i'm a diesel fan. I'm not necessarily partial to just one engine and knocking on everyone else's like a lot guys do. Anyway, I like AFE intakes and Magnaflow exhaust kits. It seems that AFE has the best out there. I like magnaflow because they're not as god awful expensive as some of the other kits out there. But just about any 4" mandrel bent turbo back kit is going to flow the same as the rest of them, so it's price and preference for me. And some guys think that a 5 inch system is better...unless you have a 5 inch turbo outlet, it doesn't. going anything much larger than the turbo outlet is 100% cosmetic and oftentimes difficult to fit. anyway I'd suggest freeing up the path in and out of your engine first. Just with exhaust and intake alone you will see a noticeable increase in power and torque. After that get the chip, and then you'll turn some heads. Also, check out a diesel show that you can road trip to. You can get really great deals on aftermarket parts that aren't normally available to you. Hope this helps..

[Ray,IN]

The reason for upgrading to a larger exhaust system is to get the hot exhaust away from the engine quicker, in a larger quantity. If you do not enlarge the smallest restriction you essentially gain nothing. The CAT back larger systems fit this description, the 3.5" stock exhaust pipe will still allow the same amount through, regardless of how large the rest of the system is made. Test this theory yourself with a garden hose and water for visual confirmation. Larger systems are quite spendy, especially since the stock system is adequate for stock engines. If you wish to add HP, then you must upgrade the air flow systems first. A Larger exhaust system and an improved air intake system are essential before increasing HP, if the full benefit is to be realized without harming your engine. A diesel engine is a heat engine, 1/3 is exhausted, 1/3 is absorbed by the cooling system and 1/3 is converted into usable power. All three thirds must be balanced when adding HP if reliability is expected, just as the stock unit is balanced for reliability. Cost effectivness enters in too, an $800 SST large exhaust system may gain 2-3 mpg, at $3 @ gal it will take several thousand miles to break even, and that's without also spending money to increase HP, You said your HP is satisfactory now right?

[SixInARow]

If you're goin for a show quality truck, get the stainless. Otherwise just get a nice quality exhaust kit for half the price. It'll serve the same purpose.

[SixInARow]

Also do be sure that if you get an intake that it's really good at filtering. If you get an AFE get the pre filter too. Dust isn't a good thing if the filter lets it get past into the turbo and engine....

[bigdog1]

Cliff, I installed the edge e-z module,Aem brute force intake and bullydog cat back exhaust. I noticed little improvement without the tuner. I sold the ez module and installed the juice with attitude to add some levels of power and the gauges. I started monitoring the egt and decided to remove the cat. I had heard that it would throw an EGR code on some. I found out that certain designations would but here in the southeast region we haven't had any problems. It did make a difference in boost reponse and egt. The egt dropped by 190 degrees. Sounds better too. If I may also suggest an exhaust I would recommend MBRP or Banks. The bullydog doesn't install as easy as the others. If I didn't have a lift and welder and knowledge I would have never gotten this thing on.

[SixInARow]

Hey bigdog isn't it amazine what hacking out the cat and/or muffler can do?? makes it wake up quite a bit!

[bigdog1]

It wakes it up a good bit. The most noticible is at highway speeds. Especially when towing. It just breaths better

[ClifftheCurber]

if i were to do a banks power BIG HOSS BUNDLE, would that do the trick, or is that over kill, if there is such a thing for this subject

i know a little about performance parts and stuff, not a newbie....not a "whats a turbo do" kinda guy

[SixInARow]

It's like this......ever get one of those little red straws to stir coffee with? Drink your coffee through it. That's stock exhaust......put a big 'ol movie theater straw in it and see how easier it is to drink it! Ha..! That'd be like a straight thru turbo back kit.....

[idrivebowtie]

so is there a reason to elimnate the cat or not. right now i have no muffler and did not notice any difference so i was thinking about eliminating the cat any comments