So, as the title states, I just ordered it from Amazon (saving about 150$ from outside sites), plus having a birthday gift card helped. I got the aluminized version so I can do some preparation prior to install with some heat primer and paint to protect the pipes and welds (mainly the welds). I'll have pictures of when I get it as well as before/after install pics/vid. If anyone has this exhaust, let me know what you think.

I wasn't going for anything super loud, and also am NOT a fan of dual exit exhausts on Rangers.....the trucks are just too small. Single side seems more OEM, but slight tone increase will be enough to know it's not.

 

I installed the stainless steel version on my 02 Ranger shortly after I bought it new in 02. It is exactly what I wanted. Not loud but just enough to hear the exhaust note. If you rev it high at WOT, it does make more nose but not objectionable. After 11 years and over 150,000 miles, it is still doing its job very well.

 

Nice. I bought a pint of POR20 to prep and coat the pipes with a silver/aluminum luster. Plus, the rust prevention characteristics of the paint will help on the welds (going to ensure they are sanded nicely and painted thoroughly). I'll have pictures later, but it's nice to have a comment from someone who had the same exhaust and liked it.

 

Sanded, cleaned and ready for paint (POR20):


Post CAT pipe difference (2.5" all the way out of the CAT):

First coat:


Final coat and drying overnight:


POR20 is good for around 1400 degrees, so definitely more than plenty for a post CAT system. Install tomorrow/Saturday to ensure the paint cures enough to be handled without being sticky/tacky at all.

 

Looks good! The paint should protect it well.

 

Is there any brand out there that exit before the right rear wheel? I noticed on one Cheery bomb site of a (single in/ dual out) that exited behind the right rear wheel. Like you said the truck is not big enough to handle the look of a fake dual exhaust. With my four banger I think I'd get very little exhaust note if any from a high flow exhaust system but I do like that look of dual exhaust on the same side.

 

Gibson has a dual exit on one side, but I wanted to maintain a single pipe (the dual exit has 2 pipes at 1.73" or something like that). I have seen some Rangers with early exit pipes in front of the rear wheel, but they all seemed to be fabricated...not purchased like that.

I checked the coating this morning and it's much smoother. POR20 self leveling paint is awesome and VERY easy to work with. You have to stir it because a lot of the ceramic/metallic particles settle during shifting, but they remain suspended for a while in the paint.

 

I also got stainless steel flat band clamps for 2 of the 3 joints in my exhaust setup. I don't like the U-bolts, but the one with the hanger uses it, so I just made sure to paint protect it.

 

I went to that Gibson site a few times. Its seems that all three engines line up to exit the same way, only the length of the beds are at issue. If I get any sign of a bad muffler I'll go with the two out the one side.

 

Installed and sounds good. Very quiet with a slight hint of grumble. Overall driving is smooth, like OEM, and looks nice underneath.











A little mud baptism :)

 

I manipulated the exhaust joints and the back hanger to get more clearance to the spare tire. It is hard to tell from you picture but it seems to be pretty close to the spare tire.

 

Yeah, I've got about 1" of clearance. Doesn't bother me though, because it kind of acts as a bump stop to prevent too much movement.

 

so without modifying the exhaust joints it will touch the spare tire? also how do you do that? I am looking to buy one but will the car still pass smog because I am in California? I think that's the reason why its called a cat back and connects to the catalytic converters. does it use all the converters or do you have to take one off or something? thanks

 

My Ranger has passed every smog test since I installed it in 02. I live in SoCal. You don't have to remove any of the catalytic converters. The cat back system mounts at the connection after the last cat. It attaches the same way the OEM exhaust attaches.

You don't have to modify the exhaust joints to get good clearance to the spare tire. You just rotate the joints until you get the best clearance. I also did some bending of the rear exhaust hanger mount to get more clearance. I have a 32" tire as a spare and need more relocation of the exhaust than with a normal spare.

 

Sweet! Thanks. I'll have to get one then

 

Old thread but wanted to ask about the rear shackle... seems pretty close to the exhaust. I would imagine that if one is using a lift shackle then it would not clear the exhaust pipe? I ran into this before where I had to cut the exhaust because the lift shackle would hit the piping...

-nigel