seanellaz
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Sean
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2020
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- 395
- Location
- Tucson, AZ
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 Ford Ranger XLT CrewCab Fx4
- Occupation
- Healthcare
- Vehicle Showcase
- 1
- Thread starter
- #1
2020 Ford Ranger Fx4 Crew Cab has BDS 3.5" Lift with Upper Control Arms. Kit has shackle lift on rear. PLENTY of room to do this mod w/o jacking truck.
Purchased Flowmaster 717909 FlowFX Cat-Back Exhaust System (Best price @ time here WAS ABOUT $470 IN s&h: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YDYTYNQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 . Amazon says it does not fit my truck. They are wrong Flownaster site says it does and indeed it does.). This is a 3.00-inch Mandrel-bent system made of 409 Stainless Steel Tubing. Not ridiculous huge, but larger than stock.
Larger than stock diameter systems are great. However, the associated expansion of the gases when they enter the larger tube causes them to cool, and slow down a little, stall if you will. I wanted to avoid this so I wrapped all parts except the Muffler and Tip with VViViD 4 Inch x 50ft Black FiberGlass Exhaust Wrap (Best price @ time here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JJCCFD3?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details : was $17, this size no longer available, only 25ft rolls for same price)
Soak wrap, tuck wrap @ start, roll and wrap to end of part LEAVING ENOUGH UNWRAPPED TO ALLOW FITTING PARTS TOGETHER AND PUTTING ON THE BAND CLAMPS, use Stainless Steel tie to tie off, set aside, repeat until all parts wrapped. This is a messy itchy job but the result is worth it. To me. Again, I DID NOT WRAP THE MUFFLER. It is a straight thru glass pack muffler, the internal perforated tube is already "wrapped" in fiberglass.
Removed stock system, downpipe back.
Installed per Flowmaster instructions. NOTE 1: There is one clamp smaller than the others. This 2.5" Clamp is used to clamp secure the Inlet pipe to the down pipe. Instructions re this are not super obvious. NOTE 2: I cleaned then lubed the rubber hanger thingys with silicone grease to help the hangers slip in easily, and to make then last longer.
The wrap is FABULOUS. You can put your hand on the pipes after hard drive and they feel warm. Absent wrap the pipes would vaporize your skin. The wrap also dramatically reduces any noise which would otherwise radiate off the pipes when driving.
After driving the truck about 1 thousand miles, I found it still very quiet. I wanted to do a muffler delete. I looked and looked and looked online and found ZERO muffler delete pies for this simple 2' long straight thru 3" muffler. I found several not fitting muffler delete pipes for rip off prices of about $100. I found I could BUY about 10' of 3" stainless steel pipe for $50. I called and called and called shops until found a shop in Tucson that actually has on hand 3" Stainless steel pipe. They do custom exhausts. EXP Performance and Exhaust https://expperformancetucson.com/. They charged me $20 for the pipe with the expanded slip over ends. I tipped them $20 to reward them for not trying to rip me off. SUPER GREAT GUYS.
The Paint on the Exhaust tip is flaking off. Probly because the wrap is doing such a super great job taking the heat all the way to the end of the system. I do not care.
I bought another chunk of wrap, and wrapped the delete pipe (method above), installed it.
I notice that especially downstream of some pipe bends, the wrap was bleaching out. Concerned that it could begin to flake, I decided to paint it w/ heat resistant paint. I looked and looked and looked online and found many kinds of paint. I had zero interest in masking under the truck to avoid overspray or removing the system and spraying the paint on then re-installing the system. Plus thought brush on paint would waste less paint. I landed on 1 quart POR-15 44304 Aluminum High Temperature Paint for about $50 on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XKTV4HG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I painted the system stem to stern w/ 1 light coat, let it dry overnight. Then drove 5 min to local grocery shopped while it cooled then drove home, let it cool again. Some paint smell, a little smoky fumes. No fires. I then repainted in the spots that looked thin and let it dry again over night. Repeated warm cool process. Let it cool again over night. Next day headed north out of Tucson for Tortilla flats Campground (east of Phoenix). On the way out of town the system was fuming @ 1st stoplight, again no fires. By the time I got to Phx the system was baked on. No more fumes. I would advise SUPER CAUTION when curing the paint. It is solvent based and could explode killing you and all people in a 50' radius if you get it too hot wet and there is a spark. CURE. IT. SLOWLY. IN STAGES. BE CAREFUL / PATIENT NOT STUPID / DEAD.
The truck sounds like a muffled diesel @ Idle. It makes very nice noise under acceleration. Some might find it too loud but I like it. On hiway, cruising @ 75mph, it is a nice warm soft rumble. Stomp the accelerator, the turbine winds up and the truck takes off very nicely with a pronounced growl. I MAY at some point replace the now nekked tip with a chrome plated one with some dampening material (EXAMPLE https://www.pilotautomotive.com/dc_sports/PM-5119.html) if it starts getting on my nerves from too much noise.
PS: Some claim "Oh my gawd, wrapping a system like this will cause the system to overheat and rust or melt." So far after 3k miles this has not happened. I will take my chances. Being stainless it is already less likely to rust.
PPS: ZERO DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS, NO ERROR CODES, SYSTEM WORKS PERFECT W/ THE COMPUTER IN THE TRUCK. ALL, SENSORS IN SYSTEM ARE BEFORE THE CAT BACK SYSTEM. I use regular gas, premium if wanting a little extra oomph. I will use premium when pulling an overlanding trailer I am getting built by Alumaline https://www.alumline.com/products/sport-and-toy-haulers/multi-sport-camping-trailer.
Purchased Flowmaster 717909 FlowFX Cat-Back Exhaust System (Best price @ time here WAS ABOUT $470 IN s&h: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YDYTYNQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 . Amazon says it does not fit my truck. They are wrong Flownaster site says it does and indeed it does.). This is a 3.00-inch Mandrel-bent system made of 409 Stainless Steel Tubing. Not ridiculous huge, but larger than stock.
Larger than stock diameter systems are great. However, the associated expansion of the gases when they enter the larger tube causes them to cool, and slow down a little, stall if you will. I wanted to avoid this so I wrapped all parts except the Muffler and Tip with VViViD 4 Inch x 50ft Black FiberGlass Exhaust Wrap (Best price @ time here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JJCCFD3?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details : was $17, this size no longer available, only 25ft rolls for same price)
Soak wrap, tuck wrap @ start, roll and wrap to end of part LEAVING ENOUGH UNWRAPPED TO ALLOW FITTING PARTS TOGETHER AND PUTTING ON THE BAND CLAMPS, use Stainless Steel tie to tie off, set aside, repeat until all parts wrapped. This is a messy itchy job but the result is worth it. To me. Again, I DID NOT WRAP THE MUFFLER. It is a straight thru glass pack muffler, the internal perforated tube is already "wrapped" in fiberglass.
Removed stock system, downpipe back.
Installed per Flowmaster instructions. NOTE 1: There is one clamp smaller than the others. This 2.5" Clamp is used to clamp secure the Inlet pipe to the down pipe. Instructions re this are not super obvious. NOTE 2: I cleaned then lubed the rubber hanger thingys with silicone grease to help the hangers slip in easily, and to make then last longer.
The wrap is FABULOUS. You can put your hand on the pipes after hard drive and they feel warm. Absent wrap the pipes would vaporize your skin. The wrap also dramatically reduces any noise which would otherwise radiate off the pipes when driving.
After driving the truck about 1 thousand miles, I found it still very quiet. I wanted to do a muffler delete. I looked and looked and looked online and found ZERO muffler delete pies for this simple 2' long straight thru 3" muffler. I found several not fitting muffler delete pipes for rip off prices of about $100. I found I could BUY about 10' of 3" stainless steel pipe for $50. I called and called and called shops until found a shop in Tucson that actually has on hand 3" Stainless steel pipe. They do custom exhausts. EXP Performance and Exhaust https://expperformancetucson.com/. They charged me $20 for the pipe with the expanded slip over ends. I tipped them $20 to reward them for not trying to rip me off. SUPER GREAT GUYS.
The Paint on the Exhaust tip is flaking off. Probly because the wrap is doing such a super great job taking the heat all the way to the end of the system. I do not care.
I bought another chunk of wrap, and wrapped the delete pipe (method above), installed it.
I notice that especially downstream of some pipe bends, the wrap was bleaching out. Concerned that it could begin to flake, I decided to paint it w/ heat resistant paint. I looked and looked and looked online and found many kinds of paint. I had zero interest in masking under the truck to avoid overspray or removing the system and spraying the paint on then re-installing the system. Plus thought brush on paint would waste less paint. I landed on 1 quart POR-15 44304 Aluminum High Temperature Paint for about $50 on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XKTV4HG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I painted the system stem to stern w/ 1 light coat, let it dry overnight. Then drove 5 min to local grocery shopped while it cooled then drove home, let it cool again. Some paint smell, a little smoky fumes. No fires. I then repainted in the spots that looked thin and let it dry again over night. Repeated warm cool process. Let it cool again over night. Next day headed north out of Tucson for Tortilla flats Campground (east of Phoenix). On the way out of town the system was fuming @ 1st stoplight, again no fires. By the time I got to Phx the system was baked on. No more fumes. I would advise SUPER CAUTION when curing the paint. It is solvent based and could explode killing you and all people in a 50' radius if you get it too hot wet and there is a spark. CURE. IT. SLOWLY. IN STAGES. BE CAREFUL / PATIENT NOT STUPID / DEAD.
The truck sounds like a muffled diesel @ Idle. It makes very nice noise under acceleration. Some might find it too loud but I like it. On hiway, cruising @ 75mph, it is a nice warm soft rumble. Stomp the accelerator, the turbine winds up and the truck takes off very nicely with a pronounced growl. I MAY at some point replace the now nekked tip with a chrome plated one with some dampening material (EXAMPLE https://www.pilotautomotive.com/dc_sports/PM-5119.html) if it starts getting on my nerves from too much noise.
PS: Some claim "Oh my gawd, wrapping a system like this will cause the system to overheat and rust or melt." So far after 3k miles this has not happened. I will take my chances. Being stainless it is already less likely to rust.
PPS: ZERO DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS, NO ERROR CODES, SYSTEM WORKS PERFECT W/ THE COMPUTER IN THE TRUCK. ALL, SENSORS IN SYSTEM ARE BEFORE THE CAT BACK SYSTEM. I use regular gas, premium if wanting a little extra oomph. I will use premium when pulling an overlanding trailer I am getting built by Alumaline https://www.alumline.com/products/sport-and-toy-haulers/multi-sport-camping-trailer.
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