Mitchagain
06-18-2004, 04:48 PM
Well I bit the bullet after the last trip to the hills pulling my big a$$ horse trailer and ordered the MBRP muffler. I called and asked if I could get just the muffler alone and it was delivered in just a few days (wait on the delivery man is the biggest pain!).
I have spent a few years paying close attention to all you guys that have gone bigger and the EGT questions and the noise factors. Being an old fart noise is a key ingrediant for me. Wanting this Dmax to last 250,000 is also. Some of you may remember that long steep pulls in 100 degree temperatures has drive my EGTs to the 1400+ for sustained hauls, and 1500 was possible if I was not paying close attention. Now I may be old, but I can learn from others, and tearing up my truck is not on the agenda.
Back to the theme of this post. I decided that there was not enough benefit to justify the cost of the full 4" system versus installing a 4" flow through type muffler in line with the 3.5" pipe from the factory. Once I had the new muffler in hand it didn't take much to cut and pound and weld the two ends down to a 3.5" size. I cut the OEM muffer out and install the MBRP in its place. About 2 hours and 3 beers later (okay, maybe 5 beers, I mean it was 105 degrees outside!), I fired up the Dmax and was pleasantly surprised at the low, throaty rumble. Even with throttling it, the sound was not objectionable.
Prior to the swap I ran some pre checks for temp comparisons. This is where I was really impressed. I run normal in level 4 on the Juice (may be old but I'm a kid at heart), and at every test I duplicated my EGTs are 175 to 200 degrees lower now. Way impressive! Now I haven't pulled the trailer yet, but if this is any indication, I am going to be very tickled over this!
Finally, I have driven about 150 miles now and there is a slight drone at the 1700-1900 RPM. You guys know that this is the optimum RPM for most driving. Now its not so bad that I couldn't live with it (the wife has noticed it and kinda wrinkles her nose a little), but I would rather not. So here I go again. Looks like I am gint to find a 4" resonator and install it either before or after the muffler, I haven't decided yet. Anybody have any suggestions on the brand, size, placement, etc., for a resonator?
Up side of this whole story is that the flow through 4" muffler did what I wanted and lowered the EGTs pretty dramatically without the expense of the whole 4" system.
On a side note. Before buying this unit I was as concerned as most about the high EGTs and how high was too high and how long is too long. I called Banks and talked to their engineering staff and then I called Hesco in AL and talked to Bennie. I got the same version from both. 1400+ is no problem for extended pulls and not to worry about the EGTsgetting too hot to do damage to the turbo. By the time the EGTs gets too hot to damage the turbo (they indicated way over 1500) that the pistons have already melted down, and turbo is the least of the problems. Well that was enough for me!
I have spent a few years paying close attention to all you guys that have gone bigger and the EGT questions and the noise factors. Being an old fart noise is a key ingrediant for me. Wanting this Dmax to last 250,000 is also. Some of you may remember that long steep pulls in 100 degree temperatures has drive my EGTs to the 1400+ for sustained hauls, and 1500 was possible if I was not paying close attention. Now I may be old, but I can learn from others, and tearing up my truck is not on the agenda.
Back to the theme of this post. I decided that there was not enough benefit to justify the cost of the full 4" system versus installing a 4" flow through type muffler in line with the 3.5" pipe from the factory. Once I had the new muffler in hand it didn't take much to cut and pound and weld the two ends down to a 3.5" size. I cut the OEM muffer out and install the MBRP in its place. About 2 hours and 3 beers later (okay, maybe 5 beers, I mean it was 105 degrees outside!), I fired up the Dmax and was pleasantly surprised at the low, throaty rumble. Even with throttling it, the sound was not objectionable.
Prior to the swap I ran some pre checks for temp comparisons. This is where I was really impressed. I run normal in level 4 on the Juice (may be old but I'm a kid at heart), and at every test I duplicated my EGTs are 175 to 200 degrees lower now. Way impressive! Now I haven't pulled the trailer yet, but if this is any indication, I am going to be very tickled over this!
Finally, I have driven about 150 miles now and there is a slight drone at the 1700-1900 RPM. You guys know that this is the optimum RPM for most driving. Now its not so bad that I couldn't live with it (the wife has noticed it and kinda wrinkles her nose a little), but I would rather not. So here I go again. Looks like I am gint to find a 4" resonator and install it either before or after the muffler, I haven't decided yet. Anybody have any suggestions on the brand, size, placement, etc., for a resonator?
Up side of this whole story is that the flow through 4" muffler did what I wanted and lowered the EGTs pretty dramatically without the expense of the whole 4" system.
On a side note. Before buying this unit I was as concerned as most about the high EGTs and how high was too high and how long is too long. I called Banks and talked to their engineering staff and then I called Hesco in AL and talked to Bennie. I got the same version from both. 1400+ is no problem for extended pulls and not to worry about the EGTsgetting too hot to do damage to the turbo. By the time the EGTs gets too hot to damage the turbo (they indicated way over 1500) that the pistons have already melted down, and turbo is the least of the problems. Well that was enough for me!