Exhaust Questions

[Project Mean Green]

Hey guys I'm new to this site and I just purchased a 1997 XJ Sport after selling my old Chevy, here's some pics.

I love it so much so far and plan on replacing the valve cover gasket this weekend. I was just wondering, I have found an IMCO exhaust that's the same make as the Flowmaster 40 series I just hear that it's deeper and no rasp, and it's only 36 dollars new. I was just wondering since the pipe is still solid if I should just go with the stock inlet and outlet 2.25 piping back, or should I replace the muffler with 2.5 outlet with 2.5 piping. Would it really be worth it to spend the extra money on piping and welding? Any opinions are good but I'm set on that muffler I just don't think it would be worth it to go with the 2.5. Thanks again.

 

[urban yan]

You probably won't notice much difference between a 2.25 and a 2.5" catback on a stock engine set-up. Moreso, $36 is a small investment so even if you're not happy, you didn't waste allot of money. Stock pipes are better than most of the low-end stuff out there (they're stainless and mandrel bent). You can always get a catback later, or get a 2.5" muffler and have it adapted down to 2.25" until you can afford a new, matching, tail pipe.

Another option is to get the 2.5" muffler, and 2.5" mandrel bent pipe from performance-curve.com... just don't expect it to last forever since it's aluminized.

 

[Project Mean Green]

You probably won't notice much difference between a 2.25 and a 2.5" catback on a stock engine set-up. Moreso, $36 is a small investment so even if you're not happy, you didn't waste allot of money. Stock pipes are better than most of the low-end stuff out there (they're stainless and mandrel bent). You can always get a catback later, or get a 2.5" muffler and have it adapted down to 2.25" until you can afford a new, matching, tail pipe.

Another option is to get the 2.5" muffler, and 2.5" mandrel bent pipe from performance-curve.com... just don't expect it to last forever since it's aluminized.

Thanks man that's what I was planning on doing since I'm tight on money for now.

 

[ROBZ95Xj]

4" with a 5" Tip

 

[GordoSmasho]

I would like to hear how the sounds there rob.

 

[Dr. Dyno]

I have found an IMCO exhaust that's the same make as the Flowmaster 40 series I just hear that it's deeper and no rasp, and it's only 36 dollars new. I was just wondering since the pipe is still solid if I should just go with the stock inlet and outlet 2.25 piping back, or should I replace the muffler with 2.5 outlet with 2.5 piping.

Just replace the muffler and keep the stock 2.25" piping.

 

[Talyn]

4" with a 5" Tip

What is under the hood that needs that?

 

[Project Mean Green]

Yeah that's what I plan on doing is keeping the piping. It doesn't budge at all and seems sturdy. It's just that the muffler is rusty and it has holes somewhat

 

[ROBZ95Xj]

What is under the hood that needs that?

7.3 IDI Turbo swap

 

[Talyn]

Ahh... I understand now.

 

[cherokeeproject]

Im redoing my entire exhaust right now, and attempting to go 2.5" all the way back. ive done some extensive research on 2.5" vs 2.25" and the general consensus is that on the stock 4.0 the 2.25" exhaust all the way up to the cat is whats best, past the cat the pipe diameter doesn't make much of a difference, except in sound. This is just all research (its been debated time and time again) so I cant give a first hand experience. However, my 2.5" system is going to be installed on a stroker so im hoping to compensate for the added flow with the extra .25". the worst part about a 2.5" system however is finding a 2.5" intermediate pipe to go from the header to the cat. ive been looking all over and there are only a few, and I have yet to find one in stainless.

 

[Root Moose]

I ended up buying parts to weld up my own. As you said, not available in stainless.

 

[urban yan]

I got tired of the local muffler shops bending my pipes the wrong way, and I didn't want to order anymore aluminized stuff
that falls apart too quickly in this area, so I bit the bullet and did this:

BANKS Monster® heavy-gauge stainless steel 51360 cat-back
Magnaflow 23226 direct-fit catalytic convertor
Cleaned and painted with POR20 high temperature paint

 

[Ronbo]

so I bit the bullet and did this:

BANKS Monster® heavy-gauge stainless steel 51360 cat-back
Magnaflow 23226 direct-fit catalytic convertor
Cleaned and painted with POR20 high temperature paint

So....how do you like it? Did it fit well? How's the sound?

Thanks.

 

[urban yan]

I like it. It's allot quieter than my old Magnaflow (which I wanted), the fit was good too... although, technically, that cat was a direct-fit for pre2000XJs while mine is a 2001. I bought the pre2000 because I wanted slip-fit parts (less welding). We had to cap the O2 bungs., and the length of the tailpipe had to be trimmed a little (at the muffler), but that was due the fckry from the last muffler shop.

 

[cherokeeproject]

I got tired of the local muffler shops bending my pipes the wrong way, and I didn't want to order anymore aluminized stuff
that falls apart too quickly in this area, so I bit the bullet and did this:

BANKS Monster® heavy-gauge stainless steel 51360 cat-back
Magnaflow 23226 direct-fit catalytic convertor
Cleaned and painted with POR20 high temperature paint

that looks pretty good. is that cat 2.5"? if so do you have the part #? im trying to source a cheap cat right now but I have a 96 so I need the O2 sensor bung.

 

[urban yan]

The part number IS in my post (Magnaflow 23226). The catalytic convertor's 2.5" at the downpipe and it bottlenecks at 2.25" at the muffler. It replaced a universal catco cat that was 2.5" on both sides, and I'm not noticing any performance drops. I could-have had the 2.25" adapters cut and replaced with a 2.5" pipe between the muffler and cat, but that would defeat the point of paying extra for direct fit (slip-fit) parts.

 

[Project Mean Green]

Dang that exhuast system looks clean. Hopefully we can hear about the performance of it in a moth or two.

 

[Project Mean Green]

Bump, should I get the IMCO forty series which is like the Flowmaster just no rasp or the IMCO extreme. Which is like the cherry bomb extreme and also like the Flowmaster 10 series. I just don't want it too too loud but I do want it noticeable. What's y'all's opinions guys?

 

[Jeepguy03]

Bump, should I get the IMCO forty series which is like the Flowmaster just no rasp or the IMCO extreme. Which is like the cherry bomb extreme and also like the Flowmaster 10 series. I just don't want it too too loud but I do want it noticeable. What's y'all's opinions guys?

Mufflers like the Cherry Bomb extreme and the Flowmaster 10 will be very loud. I'd go with the one that is like the 40 series. Loud exhaust is cool at first, but eventually it will get annoying. You want something that is still tolerable after a few months.