Bear with me on this, this part leads up to the reason for this post. Last week I decided to put the stock muffler and tailpipe back on, I got tired of the drone from the DI/DO Magnaflow muffler. I got a Flowmaster Y pipe and Magnaflow tip for the installation and had them all installed. I figured I would lose peformance but my ears are happy so oh well. Yesterday I decided to remove the Airaid MIT I was using and reinstall the Hemi Hat making my intake stock except for the Ram-Air mod I've had to quite a while. I wanted to see what the truck would run basically stock except for the Superchips. When I got my Superchips, I tested both the 87 and 91 tunes. I posted a thread here showing my findings, the 91 tune was only slightly better than the 87 tune on my truck. When I did the Superchips testing, I had the MIT and Magnaflow exhaust on the truck. My best 87 tune time was 0-60 in 6.70 and the 1/4 in 15.18. My best 91 tune time was 0-60 in 6.67 and the 1/4 in 15.15. These runs were all done with a G-tech Pro.
Now the reason for this post! Tonight with the stock exhaust and basically the stock intake (except for Ram-Air which I had for the previous testing too) my G-tech time was 0-60 in 6.68 and the 1/4 in 15.13.. This is with the 87 tune. I was shocked! The truck "feels" good but it's obviously quieter with the stock exhaust on so it doesn't "sound" as fast. The 0-60 time is faster than my previous best by .02 seconds and 1/4 time is faster than my previous best by .05 seconds. Where's the performance loss from taking off the Magnaflow muffler and the Airaid MIT?? Any thoughts?
Jim

Hey Jim, Dhunckyn saw the same thing last year when testing the Volant CAI ( he got an early model ). The stock intake "hat" provides a large area of intake volume that aids in low end response and overall better breathing. Dhunckyn dynoed his stock and with the first rev of Volant ( deletes the hat ). He lost power almost across the entire range. After talking with Volant they sent him the current/new design that keeps the hat. All the power was back plus the "gains" promised by the CAI.
On the exhaust, a DI/DO type of system is notorious for gains on the top end with losses on the bottom due to the reduced restriction. My first guess is that your 60' and 0-60 times are improved, and the losses on the top end are nullified or not being seen.
My two cents....

maybe weather conditons were different?

Hey Jim, Dhunckyn saw the same thing last year when testing the Volant CAI ( he got an early model ). The stock intake "hat" provides a large area of intake volume that aids in low end response and overall better breathing. Dhunckyn dynoed his stock and with the first rev of Volant ( deletes the hat ). He lost power almost across the entire range. After talking with Volant they sent him the current/new design that keeps the hat. All the power was back plus the "gains" promised by the CAI.
On the exhaust, a DI/DO type of system is notorious for gains on the top end with losses on the bottom due to the reduced restriction. My first guess is that your 60' and 0-60 times are improved, and the losses on the top end are nullified or not being seen.
My two cents....
I heard that about the first gen Volant intakes, that's why Volant redesigned the intake and kept the Hemi Hat. I actually want to get a Volant, I like the look of the Hemi Hat but would like the engine to breath a little easier. The exhaust part makes sense, the truck is more responsive around town during normal driving, I don't really care if I lost power a 5K rpm's.
Jim

maybe weather conditons were different?
Weathers been the same for a while now. Clear and cool with temps in the low 60's almost every night when I get off work at 10 PM, that's when I make the runs.
Jim

If you go to wunderground.com you can track you weather conditions fairly closely and you can figure your Density Altitude. from that number you can tell if you make real gains or losses. those numbers are real close.... perhaps your mods were not helping you as much as you thought.....
Just another reason I have yet to do my exhaust.... I figure at least $1000 and I really want to make sure it is worth the cash. It would really suck to spend that much for nada....

TJ

With going back to an almost stock exhaust your back pressure is closer to being correct for the cam timing and so on and so on!!!! Thus giving you a better torque curve across the board. Just my opinion.

Great info, guys. I have a stock 05 HEMI RCSB 4x4 with just a True Flow drop-in filter. Did I make a mistake purchasing an Airaid MIT???

Also, I've read that our exhaust is 3" Mandrel bent from the factory...a true 3"? Is it SS or Aluminized steel? :confused:

If I chose to "open" it up some, which Magnaflow would work best installed with the rest of the stock exhaust (resonator left intact)? I love the sound of the stock system but want some more "noise" out back.

Thanks!

Derek

Great info, guys. I have a stock 05 HEMI RCSB 4x4 with just a True Flow drop-in filter. Did I make a mistake purchasing an Airaid MIT???

Also, I've read that our exhaust is 3" Mandrel bent from the factory...a true 3"? Is it SS or Aluminized steel? :confused:

If I chose to "open" it up some, which Magnaflow would work best installed with the rest of the stock exhaust (resonator left intact)? I love the sound of the stock system but want some more "noise" out back.

Thanks!

Derek

IIRC the exhaust is SS (it is a mild stainless so it will show some signs of rust over time).

RJ

Great info, guys. I have a stock 05 HEMI RCSB 4x4 with just a True Flow drop-in filter. Did I make a mistake purchasing an Airaid MIT???

Also, I've read that our exhaust is 3" Mandrel bent from the factory...a true 3"? Is it SS or Aluminized steel? :confused:

If I chose to "open" it up some, which Magnaflow would work best installed with the rest of the stock exhaust (resonator left intact)? I love the sound of the stock system but want some more "noise" out back.

Thanks!

Derek
Hey Derek! I think the MIT is a good buy if you're going to add an exhaust, if you're going with the stock exhaust, I wouldn't. If you want more noise, then get a different muffler but after havinig the stock muffler on for a while now, I'm a firm believer it flows well, it's just not loud. A good Magnaflow muffler is 12589 or 14589 (12 is alum & 14 is SS), it's 5x11x22's and it's popular when keeping the stock tailpipe. Yes, the exhaust is SS (lower grade but SS) and the tailpipe is mandrel bent. It is 2.75 where it connects to the muffler but it widens out right after to 3" all the way to the tailpipe tip. The resonator is also 3" and it's straight through in design (looks just like a Magnaflow muffler inside) so it won't hurt performance at all. Hope this helps!
Jim

Hey Derek! I think the MIT is a good buy if you're going to add an exhaust, if you're going with the stock exhaust, I wouldn't. If you want more noise, then get a different muffler but after havinig the stock muffler on for a while now, I'm a firm believer it flows well, it's just not loud. A good Magnaflow muffler is 12589 or 14589 (12 is alum & 14 is SS), it's 5x11x22's and it's popular when keeping the stock tailpipe. Yes, the exhaust is SS (lower grade but SS) and the tailpipe is mandrel bent. It is 2.75 where it connects to the muffler but it widens out right after to 3" all the way to the tailpipe tip. The resonator is also 3" and it's straight through in design (looks just like a Magnaflow muffler inside) so it won't hurt performance at all. Hope this helps!
Jim


So those Magnaflows won't just pop right in correct? he'd need to add a few inches of pipe (8"?) ?

RJ

So those Magnaflows won't just pop right in correct? he'd need to add a few inches of pipe (8"?) ?

RJ
Yes, the stock muffler is like 28-30" long, you'll need to add some pipe.
Jim

Yes, the stock muffler is like 28-30" long, you'll need to add some pipe.
Jim

yeah I think my '03's is 28" long and from the tip of the inlet pipe to the tip of the exit it's about 36"

Hey Derek! I think the MIT is a good buy if you're going to add an exhaust, if you're going with the stock exhaust, I wouldn't. If you want more noise, then get a different muffler but after havinig the stock muffler on for a while now, I'm a firm believer it flows well, it's just not loud. A good Magnaflow muffler is 12589 or 14589 (12 is alum & 14 is SS), it's 5x11x22's and it's popular when keeping the stock tailpipe. Yes, the exhaust is SS (lower grade but SS) and the tailpipe is mandrel bent. It is 2.75 where it connects to the muffler but it widens out right after to 3" all the way to the tailpipe tip. The resonator is also 3" and it's straight through in design (looks just like a Magnaflow muffler inside) so it won't hurt performance at all. Hope this helps!
Jim

Jim, thank you! OK, with the MIT in mind and the need for a cat-back, which SS system is the most popular? I really like the sound of Magnaflow's over the tinny Flow's, but what about other brands? SI/DO? SI/SO?

Popping in a Magnaflow inline with the stock system won't benefit the MIT? Just curious as to what my options should be...gotta plan and save for mod's.

Thanks!

Derek

Jim, thank you! OK, with the MIT in mind and the need for a cat-back, which SS system is the most popular? I really like the sound of Magnaflow's over the tinny Flow's, but what about other brands? SI/DO? SI/SO?

Popping in a Magnaflow inline with the stock system won't benefit the MIT? Just curious as to what my options should be...gotta plan and save for mod's.

Thanks!

Derek
Derek, I guess I didn't make my first post clear enough. I wouldn't buy a whole cat back, a waste of money in my opinion, just get a muffler. The MIT would benefit just from a muffler swap, I had two Magnaflows, both worked well. The 12589 is 5x11x22" and the 12289 is 5x8x24", I liked the 12289 better. Me going back to the stock muffler is a personal thing with my ears and my age, I do like a nice sounding exhaust system but my ringing left ear doesn't really like it in a daily driver. I need to buy a hot rod for the occasional use, then I will have a nice sounding exhaust system. I still think the stock intake and exhaust on the Ram are very good but I can also understand the need to get an exhaust and CAI, it's the hot rodder in us all. I will say this, you will get a much bigger bang for the buck by getting a Superchips Tuner than you will by getting a muffler and an MIT. I love my SC! Just soemthing to think about.
Jim

Derek, I guess I didn't make my first post clear enough. I wouldn't buy a whole cat back, a waste of money in my opinion, just get a muffler. The MIT would benefit just from a muffler swap, I had two Magnaflows, both worked well. The 12589 is 5x11x22" and the 12289 is 5x8x24", I liked the 12289 better. Me going back to the stock muffler is a personal thing with my ears and my age, I do like a nice sounding exhaust system but my ringing left ear doesn't really like it in a daily driver. I need to buy a hot rod for the occasional use, then I will have a nice sounding exhaust system. I still think the stock intake and exhaust on the Ram are very good but I can also understand the need to get an exhaust and CAI, it's the hot rodder in us all. I will say this, you will get a much bigger bang for the buck by getting a Superchips Tuner than you will by getting a muffler and an MIT. I love my SC! Just soemthing to think about.
Jim

I totally agree, Jim - not too loud and no drone, my ears will thank me later. Thank you for the clarification, it really clears it up for me now. I'm going to start pricing a muffler AND yes, saving up for a SC tuner.

Derek

I totally agree, Jim - not too loud and no drone, my ears will thank me later. Thank you for the clarification, it really clears it up for me now. I'm going to start pricing a muffler AND yes, saving up for a SC tuner.

Derek
The best place to get the muffler is www.performancepeddler.com
On the main page where is says Wholesale Login (or something like that) type in DTWOLRD. It should say you are logged in and then in the parts search spot type in what ever Magnaflow muffler you want (12589 or 12289), you'll get the wholesale price and this site has free shipping. Best place I've found and the wholesale login in is a code from DTW.
Jim

Those differences are too small to make a judgement on, get that thing on a dyno.

I'm going with the AT3030 it is a 3" i.d. inlet, 3" i.d. outlet (all stainless steel). After hearing sound clips and reading several HEMI testimonials, I'm sold on it. I just need to save up for one, one of their SS tips, and find the best online pricing after Thanksgiving.