Best exhaust & cai combo??????

9074 Views 22 Replies 7 Participants Last post by itsmesukkka, Apr 2, 2012

itsmesukkka

Discussion Starter · Mar 30, 2012

I have a 2012 1500 sport, and I'm starting to look around for the exhaust and intake. Im looking for whats overall the best with regards to performance swell as price.

Thanks in advance.

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

Raneman

· #2 · Mar 30, 2012

itsmesukkka said:
I have a 2012 1500 sport, and I'm starting to look around for the exhaust and intake. Im looking for whats overall the best with regards to performance swell as price.

Thanks in advance.

Ive read COUNTLESS posts and threads on here, and it seems that for exhaust, replacing the stock y-pipe and getting a magnaflow muffler is a good start. And for the intake, well im not sure what intakes are out for the 2012's yet, but if theres a Volant CAI then id go with that, or a Mopar CAI.

chefred112

· #3 · Mar 30, 2012

for the 4th gens the vararam and volant are what I would use...not sure what headers are available yet but like said above, replace the Y pipe and go with a performance muffler like magnaflow...

itsmesukkka

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 30, 2012

Raneman said:
Ive read COUNTLESS posts and threads on here, and it seems that for exhaust, replacing the stock y-pipe and getting a magnaflow muffler is a good start. And for the intake, well im not sure what intakes are out for the 2012's yet, but if theres a Volant CAI then id go with that, or a Mopar CAI.

chefred112 said:
for the 4th gens the vararam and volant are what I would use...not sure what headers are available yet but like said above, replace the Y pipe and go with a performance muffler like magnaflow...

Thanks guys, but what size muffler do you guys suggests and for the Y-pipe aswell, sorry for the stupid questions I've just never owned a V8 truck and don't even know where to start when it comes to mods.

chefred112

· #5 · Mar 30, 2012

how loud or quiet do you want the exhaust to sound like? A good medium muffler length seems to be 18" (3" si/so or 3" si/2.5" do)... Y pipe is typically 2.5" in/3" out.

your on the right track on where to typically start, cai and catback exhaust...

itsmesukkka

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 31, 2012

chefred112 said:
how loud or quiet do you want the exhaust to sound like? A good medium muffler length seems to be 18" (3" si/so or 3" si/2.5" do)... Y pipe is typically 2.5" in/3" out.

your on the right track on where to typically start, cai and catback exhaust...

Im looking for a nice sounding exhaust nothing thats annoying loud and is gunna drive me crazy, and as for the muffler size I heard a 14" on youtube and it sounded nice but I cant really depend on a video, so is going smaller than 18" gunna make it louder or quiter????? and whats the si/so thing mean????

TheBlackHemi

· #7 · Apr 1, 2012

itsmesukkka said:
Im looking for a nice sounding exhaust nothing thats annoying loud and is gunna drive me crazy, and as for the muffler size I heard a 14" on youtube and it sounded nice but I cant really depend on a video, so is going smaller than 18" gunna make it louder or quiter????? and whats the si/so thing mean????

This is the setup I have.....
A 22" magnaflow because its almost like stock just a tad bit louder, quiet at hwy speeds, and flows a hell of alot better than that baffled crap dodge put in it. Then like most on here cut the old y-pipe and installed the magnaflow one. Also I put the raceland cutout before the muffler, so when I do want it loud and beasty I can open it but when I don't close it....besides its pretty cool to line up with another truck at a red light and open the cut out and they get that oh shit face. I've had 2 trucks prior to this dodge and always went with a loud/moderate muffler and got tired of the drone when taking a road trip. This set up give you the best of both worlds and would recommend it to anyone doing their exhaust. Oh yeah that "si/so" actually means single in and single out. I have a si/do meaning single in dual out, just fyi.

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chefred112

· #8 · Apr 1, 2012

yup remember, the shorter the muffler...the louder it will be inside and outside...I love the 22" mag I run now...just loud enough inside where you know you have something muscular but quiet enough so that you can have a decent convo at the same time...I actually hear most other exhaust setups over mine when i'm sitting next to another truck at idle. i have cutouts so that if I'm in an ornery mood i open them up and go nascar on them...

Ram2300

· #9 · Apr 2, 2012

Some people that I've read on here so far say to go the cheaper way for the intake system for now and if u don't like it u can always upgrade. I just put a K&N drop in filter for now($50) cuz I read that our 11" don't have much restriction at all and I like it a lot. As for exhaust in my personal opinion I like the flowmasters better they aren't too noise and annoying. I have true dual flowmaster 50 series on my truck and eliminated the Y pipe by just cutting it and running new 2 1/2 inch pipes all the way back to the rear bumper. But like I said flowmasters r just my option and opinion, but I have read a lot of people saying Magnaflow is better, I don't really like them myself. But again that's just my opinion. Good luck bro on what u decide.

TheBlackHemi

· #10 · Apr 2, 2012

Ram2300 said:
Some people that I've read on here so far say to go the cheaper way for the intake system for now and if u don't like it u can always upgrade. I just put a K&N drop in filter for now($50) cuz I read that our 11" don't have much restriction at all and I like it a lot. As for exhaust in my personal opinion I like the flowmasters better they aren't too noise and annoying. I have true dual flowmaster 50 series on my truck and eliminated the Y pipe by just cutting it and running new 2 1/2 inch pipes all the way back to the rear bumper. But like I said flowmasters r just my option and opinion, but I have read a lot of people saying Magnaflow is better, I don't really like them myself. But again that's just my opinion. Good luck bro on what u decide.

flomasters are baffeled type = restrictive
magnaflows are straight through type= free flowing

It might be your opinion that you think slowmasters are better but these are facts. My opinion is, I think borla is better than both but I find the maggies are just a notch below for half the price.

itsmesukkka

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 2, 2012

TheBlackHemi said:
This is the setup I have.....
A 22" magnaflow because its almost like stock just a tad bit louder, quiet at hwy speeds, and flows a hell of alot better than that baffled crap dodge put in it. Then like most on here cut the old y-pipe and installed the magnaflow one. Also I put the raceland cutout before the muffler, so when I do want it loud and beasty I can open it but when I don't close it....besides its pretty cool to line up with another truck at a red light and open the cut out and they get that oh shit face. I've had 2 trucks prior to this dodge and always went with a loud/moderate muffler and got tired of the drone when taking a road trip. This set up give you the best of both worlds and would recommend it to anyone doing their exhaust. Oh yeah that "si/so" actually means single in and single out. I have a si/do meaning single in dual out, just fyi.

chefred112 said:
yup remember, the shorter the muffler...the louder it will be inside and outside...I love the 22" mag I run now...just loud enough inside where you know you have something muscular but quiet enough so that you can have a decent convo at the same time...I actually hear most other exhaust setups over mine when i'm sitting next to another truck at idle. i have cutouts so that if I'm in an ornery mood i open them up and go nascar on them...

Ok so what you both are saying to have a nice sounding truck that won't be annoying go with the 22" Magnaflow muffler and replace the Y-pipe with the Magnaflow one and leave everything else stock, and if I want the crazy loud sound once in a while throw in the cutout?????

itsmesukkka

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 2, 2012

itsmesukkka said:
Ok so what you both are saying to have a nice sounding truck that won't be annoying go with the 22" Magnaflow muffler and replace the Y-pipe with the Magnaflow one and leave everything else stock, and if I want the crazy loud sound once in a while throw in the cutout?????

Also whats the difference between replacing the OEM muffler and Y-pipe with Magnaflow ones, and just buying the magnaflow cat-back system???????
Also what do you think about the Mopar system????

TheSatinPumpkin

· #13 · Apr 2, 2012

Look at your truck to see your factory Y and you might get an idea on why folks replace it with a more flowing Y.

BlackRamHemi

· #14 · Apr 2, 2012

The Magnaflow "CatBack" isn't really a "Cat" back,
as it doesn't start immediately after the cats, its after the Y.

I have the CatBack but still needed to get the Magnaflow Y.

Stock Y

Magnaflow Y $27 part #10778

mine , welded in with mandrel bent stainless steel elbows

The only real benefit to the CatBack is slightly larger 2.5" rear pipe
....and Huge 5" double walled polished stainless tips.
(the muffler is a 22" maggy)

Here's a video of mine from last year (before headers)
more pic's and video here: http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?t=90917

click pic for video (wait for the 1:02 mark)

For intake I went the Volant
(after first using a K&N drop-in, and an Airaid CAI)

The Volant has an optional lower port in the bottom you can run a feeder tube to for Ram-Air

more info on that in this thread: http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?t=59630&page=28

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10

itsmesukkka

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 2, 2012

BlackRamHemi said:
The Magnaflow "CatBack" isn't really a "Cat" back,
as it doesn't start immediately after the cats, its after the Y.

I have the CatBack but still needed to get the Magnaflow Y.

Stock Y

Magnaflow Y $27 part #10778

mine , welded in with mandrel bent stainless steel elbows

The only real benefit to the CatBack is slightly larger 2.5" rear pipe
....and Huge 5" double walled polished stainless tips.
(the muffler is a 22" maggy)

Here's a video of mine from last year (before headers)
more pic's and video here: http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?t=90917

click pic for video (wait for the 1:02 mark)

For intake I went the Volant
(after first using a K&N drop-in, and an Airaid CAI)

The Volant has an optional lower port in the bottom you can run a feeder tube to for Ram-Air

more info on that in this thread: http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?t=59630&page=28

So your saying instead of waisting $500 to $600 in the catback system, I can just buy the Y-pipe and muffler for less than half the price and its gonna do about the same thing?????? Just minus the nice tips and a little bigger piping?

TheBlackHemi

· #16 · Apr 2, 2012 (Edited)

itsmesukkka said:
Also whats the difference between replacing the OEM muffler and Y-pipe with Magnaflow ones, and just buying the magnaflow cat-back system???????
Also what do you think about the Mopar system????

Price bro, if you buy a system your gonna be paying around $600 or so if not more compared buying everything and taking it to a shop for around $200 without having to break a sweat.

This is what I did.....
I went to advance auto parts and bought the maggie muffler and y-pipe there using the coupon code "visa" but make sure you add some bs item for like $2 because if your total is over $150 you save $50 with that coupon code. So you walk out the dollar with free shipping for $100. Take that to your local exhaust shop and they can weld it in for $100 or at least around here. So for $200 you have a comparable exhaust minus that 5" tips you get with the maggie system and saved about $500 because you still have to buy the y and have it installed with the system. If you want the cutout its gonna be about $160 plus around $25 install but all in all I'd pay $400 for my custom set-up than the catback system thats gonna run you more and still lacks the y-pipe and cutout. You do the numbers $400 vs $800 if not more, for really no difference in performance.

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BlackRamHemi

· #17 · Apr 2, 2012 (Edited)

itsmesukkka said:
So your saying instead of waisting $500 to $600 in the catback system, I can just buy the Y-pipe and muffler for less than half the price and its gonna do about the same thing?????? Just minus the nice tips and a little bigger piping?

Well not exactly, Y pipe, muffler and labor will cheaper but not likely half, maybe $350 - $450 total
price depends on quality of the work and parts used (mandrel bent SS vs crush bent cheap pipe)

My $500 CatBack was 100% DIY, so no labor charges,
I sold my new take-off duals to a Ram owner doing a single to dual conversion for $200
So my net cost was only $300 , that's what the tips alone are worth

The "y" added another $150 (done right), so in the end it worked out about the same and mine looks better

stock tips are substantially smaller and single walled chrome plated steel that wont last in winter conditions up here.

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itsmesukkka

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 2, 2012

Im probably gonna end up going with the Y-pipe and muffler, since it looks like I'm gonna be saving a lot of money and getting the same results minus the nice tips, so what are the part #'s for the Y-pipe and the 22" Muffler, and Im gonna try to see if I could use that coupon code at my local advance auto parts.

BlackRamHemi

· #19 · Apr 2, 2012 (Edited)

I posted the Y part# above,
its also on the box label the Y is sitting in

Cant be 100% sure on the muffler,
but this one seems to match the specs on mine

if you want to match up to your stock rear pipes ,
you need dual 2.25" outs or have your exhaust guys flare the joint

http://www.hottexhaust.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=14588

TheBlackHemi

· #20 · Apr 2, 2012

Yeah what he said good exhaust shops can just take 2.25 inch pipe and swage it up to 2.5" to make it work. The part number I believe he gave you was for the polished 22" but if you want the stainless its 12588. Trust me your truck will thank you for it once it can breathe better.

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