Performance exhaust is hard to find!

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Nabby

Junior Member
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Aug 1, 2013
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Ram Year
1991
Engine
5.2L 318 TBI
Hi, new here! I recently picked up a 91 D-150 that I'm slowly gathering parts for, trying to beef it up a little... the exhaust leaks like mad, so I'm thinking I might just redo the whole thing, I don't have a lot of bills, so I have a pretty regular flow of disposable cash. I live in Nebraska, so there's no emissions testing that I know of, but I've heard once or twice of friends having a cop look under their car for a cat and write them a ticket, although my ex-wife's father drove without a cat on his Blazer for years. I'd like to play it closer to legal and keep a cat (or two) on there, even though I'm eyeballing ****** long tube headers.

Does anyone know where I can find a 2.25" X pipe for the 1st Gen? The headers I really like have a 2.5" collector, with a recommended 3-bolt 2.5" to 2.25" reducer. I'll weld the reducers to a 2.25" inlet and outlet universal cat on each side, then hopefully find an X pipe to attach to those. That should allow me to beef up the engine to the high 300's HP when I get to that and still allow it to breathe. The only thing I'm going to miss is having a hot air tube from my exhaust up to my air cleaner. It gets cold here in the winters.

As far as going to dual exhaust, I assume that means doing away with the TBI, since it only takes one O2 sensor? And if I switch to a carb, how does that link up to the (what I think is an a518/46RH) transmission?

So, yeah... any advice, please share! I've been trying my hardest to find a good forum with active members, and so far this one looks great!
 

PCA4208

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Albuquerque, New Mexico
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2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Stick with the TBI as converting takes a while. Mainly just ripping out all the sensors and high pressure fuel pumps. You can still have a 02sensor, just have your exhaust shop weld in a **** before the cat.
 
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Nabby

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Ram Year
1991
Engine
5.2L 318 TBI
The reducers have bungs for O2 sensors, just wasn't sure what to do with needing a separate sensor for each side, but the computer is designed for only one sensor. Do they make any kind of kit that can take a sensor from each side, average them and then relay the result back to the computer? I don't want to leave one bank completely ignored. Also, there's no exhaust shop involved. I have every manner of torch and pipe benders at work, so putting it in won't be all that difficult once I have the parts.

I may end up with either this http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...tml?feed=npn&gclid=CIXm0pjX3LgCFRRk7Aod0igA9A or possibly this http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/displayapplications.asp?partnumber=14385 although I'm leaning toward just the X pipe so I can have more of a selection of mufflers because I don't want to get it too loud, my buddy recently got his Trans Am checked by a cop for sound levels when a neighbor complained. I'd like to avoid that.
 

PCA4208

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Hemi 5.7
I dont know if there is anything like that 02 sensor idea. Putting a carb on isn't hard, but the TBI manifold won't accept a regular 2 barrel. I think someone makes an adapter for it, or you can just get a 4 barrel carb and manifold.
As for the exhaust, if you can get an x pipe to fit under the truck, go ahead. If you don't want too loud of a sound, but still want the sound, I'd advise some magna flow 18" mufflers. they sound great, but aren't loud when you don't want them to be.
 

Chewy

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Bettendorf IA
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2013
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V8
Keep the exhaust at a sane volume level and cops won't bother looking under the truck. Make it annoying and watch out!

I for one won't run without a cat. The new high flow cats produce little back pressure.
 
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Nabby

Junior Member
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Aug 1, 2013
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Ram Year
1991
Engine
5.2L 318 TBI
Hmmm... I don't really want to switch to a carb on this engine. I figure with 318's being a dime a dozen (saw one on craigslist needing rebuilt for $75 a couple days ago, one already built and pushing 300hp for $600 yesterday)... so I was thinking of building an engine in my garage while I drive the truck and then just swapping it in.
I know a little about electronics and O2 sensors are pretty simple. I'll see if I can't work out something to just use two.
 

PCA4208

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2017
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Hemi 5.7
I'd say do the build on the engine. Even if you can find a good 360 builder. With a simple port match, bowl blend, cam, and 4 barrel. They can easily get 350-400 hp and tq.
 

88rambigblock

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wv
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1985, 1988, 2001
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1970 coded 440 big block
I had 435hp and 410 ft lbs out of an old 318 before I switched over to big block. switching over to carbed is much harder and in depth than I realized. that said it was worth all the extra time and money!
 

crazzywolfie

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under the truck
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81 93
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5.2
what type of modification did you do to get that much power out of a 318 because i know of someone who has a turbo 318 and he is only putting out about 300hp.
 

orionlover69

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Location
Texas
Ram Year
1986
Engine
5.9L V8
Hi, new here! I recently picked up a 91 D-150 that I'm slowly gathering parts for, trying to beef it up a little... the exhaust leaks like mad, so I'm thinking I might just redo the whole thing, I don't have a lot of bills, so I have a pretty regular flow of disposable cash. I live in Nebraska, so there's no emissions testing that I know of, but I've heard once or twice of friends having a cop look under their car for a cat and write them a ticket, although my ex-wife's father drove without a cat on his Blazer for years. I'd like to play it closer to legal and keep a cat (or two) on there, even though I'm eyeballing ****** long tube headers.

Does anyone know where I can find a 2.25" X pipe for the 1st Gen? The headers I really like have a 2.5" collector, with a recommended 3-bolt 2.5" to 2.25" reducer. I'll weld the reducers to a 2.25" inlet and outlet universal cat on each side, then hopefully find an X pipe to attach to those. That should allow me to beef up the engine to the high 300's HP when I get to that and still allow it to breathe. The only thing I'm going to miss is having a hot air tube from my exhaust up to my air cleaner. It gets cold here in the winters.

As far as going to dual exhaust, I assume that means doing away with the TBI, since it only takes one O2 sensor? And if I switch to a carb, how does that link up to the (what I think is an a518/46RH) transmission?

So, yeah... any advice, please share! I've been trying my hardest to find a good forum with active members, and so far this one looks great!


Run a tube thru the cat body. Custom exhaust places will make a setup for you. Easy findings with plenty of cash
 

Johnlaw1027

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Mar 11, 2019
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Location
Knoxville, Tennessee
Ram Year
2014, 1992
Engine
5.7 Hemi, 318 Magnum
My 1993 has a 318 and I am running duals with only 1 O2 sensor and the computer isnt affected. I ran 2.25 into a SpinTech StreetPro 9000 and 3.00 out to the bumper. Has a nice rumble but not to load til you put your foot in it. I really like it as well as the performance increase, a lot of bang for the buck!!
 

Flat black

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45
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Location
No where
Ram Year
1990
Engine
Cummins 5.9
Fyi u can run a bar through ur mufflers and cats and it still looks like they r under there but they r just a large pipe then and as for the pipe I have a 90 dodge diesel and I went to a muffler shop and the put on a 3 inch exhaust cab back for 123 dollars so not that expensive.
 
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