Howdy all!

I bought a 2002 Ford Ranger with a 4.0 Liter V6 not too long ago and have to say it's been my favorite purchase yet. Everything on it is stock as of yet, but I'm looking to add an aftermarket exhaust.

I want it to sound aggressive with more of a deep growly muscle car tone without being super loud. Reason for the latter being I intern with a police department and my job requires driving my personal vehicle through residential neighborhoods...I dont want any noise complaints. Also I'm an avid outdoorsman and my small hometown is quite a drive from anywhere else, as long as I can putz windows down on gravel roads or hop on a freeway without going deaf all is good.

Right now, a kit for a single in, dual out Flowmaster Super 44 has caught my eye. It exits out the rear, using stock diameter 2.25" pipe. I'd be keeping everything,including cats, but the old oem muffler and tailpipe. Does anybody have any experience with this type of setup and the sound quality? How do you like it? How loud is it? Any other setups you prefer more?

I'm honestly pretty clueless when it comes to the science of exhaust sound, so any advice is greatly appreciated. My budget is under $300, and I want to do everything I can to avoid making my truck sound like a typical six-banger ricer. Apologies if this is posted in the wrong place or if my question has been discussed previously, my brief search didn't bring me any answers and I care more about detailed personal testimony then product advertisements. I've lurked on this forum for a little bit before joining just now and I have to say, it's amazing to see the amount of knowledge and expertise found in one place.

Thank you,
Troy

 

It's a V6...take it from me..I had the super 44 on my ranger. sounded decent at idle but at mid to high RPMs. It sounded like a typical V6. There is nothing you can do to make a V6 sound like a V8

 

Look at a pipe organ............................................. .....

Larger diameter = lower note/frequency
As few bends as practical

So larger diameter pipe from Cat back will give you lower frequency sounds, so put in 3" pipe and muffler

But as djfllmn said, it ain't a V8 so it will never sound like a V8

I ain't Taylor Swift, so don't matter what I change I won't sound like Taylor Swift

 

^What they said. I have heard just about every available type of exhaust routing and muffler put onto a Ranger and none of them ever sounded anywhere close to a V8. I took my Flowmaster 40 off of my Ranger and put the stock exhaust back on because it got to a point where it constantly annoyed me.

 

Thanks for the quick replies all, I was afraid that would be the answer. I have heard an older Chevy Silverado with a v6 that sounded like a v8, but it was my dad's and it's been probably ten years since he sold it. I know it was true duals, with some other work done to the motor before he bought it. I was hoping I could replicate that sound for cheap but I'm sure that's probably wishful thinking.

 

The reason why your dads silverado sounded deeper is because it was a pushrod V6..pushrod motors always sound deeper and have a better note than OHC engines, They tend to get raspy

 

Thank you, that makes sense. Would you recommend then sticking with a stock exhaust?

 

I would