'03 4runner exhaust solutions

[rando6289]

I recently joined and need some help with my '03 4runner V8 sport edition and some work i am doing on it. Is that a resonator that is on the exhaust coming straight out the back after the muffler? Will removing it and angling my exhaust out the side like the years previous to my model hurt my gas mileage? I wanted to move the exhaust because if i have the back glass down exhaust gets sucked into the cab. In the future I want to put a flowmaster, magnaflow, or something along those lines on, but for now i want a little simple fix. Any help?

[Seanz0rz]

cant really help answer your question

even with my exhaust exiting out of the right side, i still got alot of exhaust fumes through the rear window. just the nature of the aerodynamics. that low pressure in the cab and behind the truck sucks it in. at speeds above 40 it stops though. so im not sure exiting out of the side is really going to help you any.

[Good Times]

The 12" piece on the rear quarter of the truck is a resonator and you can definitely remove it with no ill effect. I had to remove mine on the trail at Moab back in 2004 after it decided to get ripped off from some cool carnage. Didn't notice any mpg difference at all but I was never that concerned w/ the mpg since I knew it was all downhill w/ adding larger tires, weight (armor) and other gadgets and cool stuff :)

I'd say just cut it off and have at it by pointing to the side or whatever direction ya want. Long term I would recommend removing the stock exhaust entirely and go aftermarket :)

Any aftermarket exhaust will suffice.

Good luck!

[rando6289]

thanks, just thought i better check with others who have already before i messed something up.

another thing, i will be installing a 3" front/2" rear spacer lift in the next few days, what is a good tire size that is larger but not too large that it will cause rubbing while offroading and flexing?

[Good Times]

Since you've got the SE you're stuck w/ 17" wheels. If you don't want to go monster sized tires then I'd say stay away from 285's/33" equivalent tires. A good compromise tires are the 275's (275/70/17 or something like that).

Tire mfg's vary from size to size so just look around and you'll find some good 275's to roll in.

Good luck!

[Ric]

I cut my Resinator off about a month after i got the rig, last Dec. no fumes here.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Resinator/DSC_0009.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Resinator/DSC_0008.jpg
Before that, I had a 99 that I cut it the same place, ran that for about 4 years with zero issues or smells :thumbup:

[rando6289]

who has put a new exhaust on their ride, and how much $$$, and how did it sound?

[expatoz]

I too removed my resonator back in 04 after some offroad carnage. $0 I simply cut it off and had an exhaust shop turn it to the side and put a nice s/s tip on it. $50 No diff to mpg or noise level and a little less gas fume with rear window down.

Then more carnage caused me to swap to a 22" Magnaflow muffler to replace the stock (heavy) muffler. Shop charged $180 This added a nice grumble when using the accelerator fairly hard, but no drone.

Then more carnage crushed the exhaust tip so I just cut it off just after the rear axle so it pointed down. $0 No exhaust fumes at all.

More carnage to the Magnaflow and I was in desperate need so I dropped into the only shop I could find open and they put on a 13" Flowmaster, and shortened the pipe to before the axle. $150 No fumes, big drome, BIG V8 sound, lots of clearance, seems like marginally better mpg.

Recent pix

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad39/marksphotos62/exhaust/Repairs011.jpg

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad39/marksphotos62/exhaust/Repairs012.jpg

[rando6289]

nice, so which did you like better, flowmaster or magnaflow? sounds like the flowmaster gave a more aggressive sound.

[Crinale]

it also sounds like the flowmaster is a bit annoying, since he said it has a BIG drone to it... i can imagine its quite loud...

[expatoz]

Magnaflow was much better for a DD. Not so much the brand but the size - going from 22" down to 13" makes quite a difference. I have heard that Flowmaster mufflers do drone more. Ive heard many happy people with Magnaflow.

[expatoz]

By the way, it appears as if the muffler in the second picture is hanging low (even lower than the frame). In fact it's higher. It won't get hit in a hurry. They turned the muffler on its side to gain even more clearance.

[puulboy]

My concerns with your set up is the clearance and exhaust exit. I agree with the previous poster about how low the bottom of the flowmaster sits. I know, I would rip that off on a rock. I did a high clearance exhaust, after bashing my stock muffler, that was probably higher than your flowmaster.
Turn it sideways and try to exit the exhaust more toward the rear or side. You will be getting carbon mo, in your truck, at slow speeds or idol, for sure.
Here is what I did with my FJ. It looks like the 4 runner has a similar set up. I added a magnaflow and had it angled up, then the tailpipe was added that is even with the frame rail in height and right before the rear bumper frame rail. I don't get any fumes in my truck with this set up. I went to a local muffler shop with the idea how I wanted it and the guy bent it up perfect. The whole system was 175 bucks that include the magnaflow. I decided to use 3", just because of the bends. I wheel all the time and have never hit it since. It looks exactly like it was installed.
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Exhaust31.jpg
thanks
Don

[expatoz]

My flowmaster is approx 1 1/4" higher than my Magnaflow was. No way its getting ripped off unless I somehow drag the crossmembers over boulders first - in which case I have problems with the driveshaft too! Its really tucked up - just doesnt look like it in the picture. Its higher than the frame rail.

Oh - and no carbon monoxide problems. In fact being far away from the rear hatch, and air flow patterns off the back of the 4R (or any straight back vehicle for that matter) you get more gas problems with a cut off just behind the tailgate because its more condensed there than the dispersed gas from under the truck before the axle.

[puulboy]

You are exiting exhaust before your rear dif . It seems that exhaust could just hang around under your truck, while at idle. But hey, I was just making an observation.

[Good Times]

I have a similar setup to what Mark has and to date it hasn't been an issue w/ the exhaust just "hanging" around. Then again I don't drive it every day like Mark so I wouldn't know what kind of permanent impact it'd have on the daily driving experience. I'm guessing it's negligible though.

I would have extended mine all the way back to what you have on your FJC but I've got a fuel tank right where the spare tire used to be so I really don't have an option of doing that anymore :(

[Okie81]

I had a similar exhaust setup that kicked straight down too. I never noticed any CO problems, but it did tend to blow up a lot of dust on dirt roads. Any issues with that expatoz?

[rando6289]

well, finally decided to go with a 40 series Flowmaster. Sounds amazing! most likely because it is a V8. also very pleased with the more responsiveness when you put the peddle down!

thanks for all the suggestions!