New relocated muffler system

[John Bronco_ I am here]

In an effort to have a place to install a rear winch I need to move the muffler. There are many replacements that are smaller but keep the factory location, I found two interesting ones that relocate the muffler and one I'm about to pull the trigger on. Anyone with experience with AWE systems?

I've used Borla in the past with good results. I've never heard of AWE but they have good specs. Both are single out the left side, but AWE has two options for dual tips, some may like, those who have no clearance issues. The 3" stainless mandrel bent and small diameter muffler is definitely looking like the better option here.

https://www.borla.com/products/ford-bronco-cat-back-exhaust-system-140902

https://awe-tuning.com/products/exh...5745600&p=1&s=best_match&seed=879235&iuf=true

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[SuperDave150]

Likewise I’ve been thinking of rear winch. I’ll be interested in what you find. The only input I have at the moment is that muffler noise reduction is a function of the cubic inches size of the muffler, so personally I’m leary of small mufflers.

For the muffler itself I’ve been wonder what size & layout a Ranger has.

 

[Big Hoss]

https://afepower.com/afe-power-49-4...3-409-stainless-steel-cat-back-exhaust-system. best bang for the buck. I am pleased with it

 

[da_jokker]

Have you thought about just going to a muffler shop? I bet you they can hook you up with whatever you need a whole heck of a lot cheaper than one of these systems.

 

[Ground_zero298]

I went the awe route. I got the whole kit and started with the duals. I though the duals sounded like Busch light cans for tips. Sounded really metallic. Plus lost a shit ton of angle with those tips under the bumper. I switched that out with the bash guard and loved that setup.

I then added downpipes and the awe muffler was now robbing me of power. I had that switched out with a bigger magna flow and now love it.

So awe will add a lot of room in the back and is bolt on which helps in the trails if you need to remove a piece (crushed or folded). That’s the mid back with the bash tip.

Now any muffler shop can duplicate this setup for less money. I’d guess it would be 2-3 hundred cheaper. Just a magna flow muffler and some bent piping.

I have told mrt repeatedly to make a left hand exit system with a mid mount muffler to free up the space but they don’t get it.

With my current setup I had enough extra room to add a second Arb dual compressor, 3 gallon air tank, and store my receiver hitch to. With room to spare for a couple more items. Lot of real estate under there.

 

[John Bronco_ I am here]

https://afepower.com/afe-power-49-4...3-409-stainless-steel-cat-back-exhaust-system. best bang for the buck. I am pleased with it

Definitely worth a close look. The AFE does use a cheaper SS than the AWE but don't think the better material is worth twice the cost.

Now any muffler shop can duplicate this setup for less money. .....

Why I don't go to shops answer would require a professional and some couch time.

How do you know the AWE muffler was reducing flow more than the magna flow. Did you dyno?

 

[SuperDave150]

Why I don't go to shops answer would require a professional and some couch time.

Ditto!

 

[Ground_zero298]

How do you know the AWE muffler was reducing flow more than the magna flow. Did you dyno?

It’s only with downpipes added. If you don’t put down pipes on, any bronco exhaust setup will be fine.

Felt like I lost most my mid power band. Stopped by mrt to have them look at it. First thing they said was the awe can is way to small for the flow and the gasses weren’t expanding properly. After they put the magna flow on it was like a race truck in the mid band.

Dyno time coming in the spring. I’m not wasting money on dyno time until I have the rest of my parts put on. Waiting on my last 2 pieces, afe momentum and blade. That will complete my power mods, then a trip to Canada for a proper tune.

 

[Ground_zero298]

Will you be visiting international dyno authority? I’ll be heading there when I get all my goodies.

Yes sir.

 

[‘21OBX]

I went the awe route. I got the whole kit and started with the duals. I though the duals sounded like Busch light cans for tips. Sounded really metallic. Plus lost a shit ton of angle with those tips under the bumper. I switched that out with the bash guard and loved that setup.

I then added downpipes and the awe muffler was now robbing me of power. I had that switched out with a bigger magna flow and now love it.

So awe will add a lot of room in the back and is bolt on which helps in the trails if you need to remove a piece (crushed or folded). That’s the mid back with the bash tip.

Now any muffler shop can duplicate this setup for less money. I’d guess it would be 2-3 hundred cheaper. Just a magna flow muffler and some bent piping.

I have told mrt repeatedly to make a left hand exit system with a mid mount muffler to free up the space but they don’t get it.

With my current setup I had enough extra room to add a second Arb dual compressor, 3 gallon air tank, and store my receiver hitch to. With room to spare for a couple more items. Lot of real estate under there.

My only addition to this would be I would use the end fitting and plug the bottom where your line is. Just because of the odd thing could happen it would happen to me and I would knock that fitting and line off on a rock or log. But the setup is awesome.

 

[LethalPerformance]

Not only does the AWE system relocate the muffler it also has the bash guard setup which gives great clearance for crawling/offroading. Their system sounds awesome as well. We've tested their dual tip, single tip and bash guard setup on our own 2.7L and they are all top shelf systems.

Feel free to reach out if there's anything we can help you guys with.
https://www.lethalperformance.com/s...ronco-accessories/exhaust/catback-systems/awe

 

[John Bronco_ I am here]

Well, went with the AWE system. I was leaning that way anyway but another member here was selling their system so.... I jumped on it. Got it for 50%ish so even if I have to replace the muffler, which I highly doubt I would, I'll still be at the low end of cost with high quality materials. I'll mark that as a win, laud knows we need 'em.

 

[toymaster]

JB no longer abides here, gone back to Iceland with the new bronco.

However, I can answer your question as I'm tight with JB.

The good. The SS metal used and components as well as the welding are excellent. It is a quality product in that aspect.

The bad. When you try to fit multiple applications with the same part you come out with something that is less.

1. I do not like the position of the muffler, meaning it is shifted way over to near the driveshaft, which happens to be far away from the factory heat shielding.

2. The muffler could be higher, as with the entire system. It is closer to the fuel tank and is higher than the tank skid plate but there is 3-4" it could go higher. Where it crosses the axle it could have been raised 2" to allow for more stuffing.

3. The system fits 2 & 4 door as well as both engines. For some reason the crossover for the 2 door is different than the 4 door, I've never been under a short bus so I don't know why. To make the system fit all application, the pipe offsets toward the drive shaft and then for the 4 door, offset back to cross over the axle. This is a waste of bends and puts the muffler in a awkward position. Lastly, there is a flex joint from the cat pipe, this is where the cat-back system starts, the system put the flex joint in an extreme bind and shoved the pipe to within an inch of the transfer case. No amount of relaxing and retightening has solved this issue for me. Not too thrilled about that much heat that close to the T-case fluid and don't know about longevity concerns for the flex joint.

It is just aggravating that quality materials could be used for a piss-poor universal design. I know why they did it, for manufacturing cost savings. However, this is not reflected in the price of the system. To be fair not many people care about the looks of an exhaust system, who crawls under a vehicle to inspect? Well, I do.

Not sure about my long-term fix, trying to get used to the awkward placement and misalignment issues. I only paid 50% for a previously installed system, glad I did not pay full retail, even at that I hate to waste the money and time by investing more.

4. The sound. Droney, drone, drone. The low rpm drone is ridiculous, high RPM does not sound bad but the 10 speed trans continually keeps you in low RPMs, not a good combo.

In closings, every system that is out today, that moves the muffler upstream, works for all the applications which is my biggest gripe. AWE does use quality materials, most will not care about the pipe routing, and some may like the sound.

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