[Cardo]

Yesterday, I installed a Dynomax cat back on my nephew's 2001 Ford Ranger. I was shocked when we opened the box and the muffler in the kit was a Dynomax Ultraflo SS #17298 which is the exact muffler i'm wanting to use (but not willing to pay for) on my Lemans. It's a 2.5 inch in and out with a center - offset setup. The cheapest i can find that muffler is $162 at Rock Auto. His entire catback which was all stainless included a tailpipe, the muffler, muffler bracket - hanger, intermediate pipe , doughnut, and a stainless tip was $191 including free shipping. Dynomax 39315 is the kit, and we bought it from Jegs via Amazon. I guess the pipe in the kit is free. Gorelich Excelerators at about $47 on ebay is looking pretty damn good about right now. I realize the 2 mufflers are different but $160 apiece vs $190 for the entire catback is a little crazy. End rant.

[steve25]

Plain steel, rust out in 3 years Pipes are very cheap to bend and make up as compared with welding and or crimping a muffler together I would have to say!

[Larry Navarro]

You can get exact copies of the Ultraflow mufflers off ebay for $40 each....409 stainless. I installed a pair on the '79 t/a and they are quiet with nice tone.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-St...dYuIqQ&vxp=mtr

[Cardo]

Thanks for the tip Larry. Those look like a good option. The point of my rant is that the same exact muffler that was in that kit for $191 costs $162 by itself.... I could see and would be wiling to pay $100.....I was chasing that style of muffler somewhat for looks as far as the style of the case being stainless and non welded. I will definitely be considering the ones you pointed out.

[steve25]

I would first find out if these cheaper ones are fully SS, or just the shell, I will bet it's just the shell!

[Formulajones]

As with most anything else you buy, the entire kit is generally a better deal than trying to buy stuff piece meal. I'm not surprised.

The entire dynomax kits are very nice. I have one on my sons 5.0 mustang. Great quality, all polished stainless steel, and excellent fitment. Hands down the best fitting exhaust system I've ever installed, and I use several different brands here on various cars. They all need tweaking and cutting. The Dynomax kit needed none of that and bolted up perfectly.
Best part, it's all stainless and only cost a little over $300, and that's with a PAIR of stainless Dynomax Ultraflow mufflers, and a pair of polished stainless tail pipes that are one piece over the axle, not just a cheap tip to install.

Overall, they are pretty much my favorite exhaust system for quality and sound.

[ponchjoe]

I agree with free shipping on that kit that something’s not right. It may be the fact that since we are talking about a kit for a 16 year truck they don’t make any longer that they are trying get rid of stock of that kit. Ultraflows are over priced in my opinion but I love the sound. I’ve gone to Pypes Race Pros on the last 3 card and love them.

https://www.ebay.com/i/391335343795

[ta man]

The only 17298 I find is a "RV" muffler 6 inch round 34 long 30 inch case...I think you mixed up part numbers. I just bought a set of 3 inch offset Ultraflows for 75 each...Where are you seeing a typical offset Ultraflow for $162?

[The Champ]

My dealer cost (I work for an ACDelco warehouse distributor) is well under $162.00. I'm not going to post how much under - but it is a lot less. Rock Auto is making more than their ads would lead you to believe.

[Cardo]

Doh! Dyslexia kicking in... 17289 http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/wal...resonator,5872

[ponchjoe]

Do you have to have the pretty ones? The welded versions are considerably cheaper

https://www.ebay.com/i/161457417770

[ponjohn]

Originally Posted by The Champ

My dealer cost (I work for an ACDelco warehouse distributor) is well under $162.00. I'm not going to post how much under - but it is a lot less. Rock Auto is making more than their ads would lead you to believe.

Meaning they are more expensive?

[Jim Hand]

But the polished stainless mufflers are sure pretty!

Just joking! The welded versions will perform the same. And you sure don't need the heavy oval tail pipes in the picture of my wagon. We were doing some testing when those were on.

Jim Hand

[TCSGTO]

A Dynomax tech told me the core in the 2.5” welded Ultraflows is 3” and is 2.5” in the polished ss versions. I’ve never had a set of the polished mufflers but my 2.5” welded Ultraflows did measure 3” inside.

[crazycarlo]

Look up Jones performance mufflers. I have a set of their Maxflows which are a packed straigh through muffler. They are stainless and have good welds and are heavy duty and ALOT cheaper than any name brand muffler.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by Cardo

Doh! Dyslexia kicking in... 17289 http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/wal...resonator,5872

That's a totally different muffler and is much more expensive - Rock Auto has an excellent price!

[Cardo]

I'm sure i'll end up going with a welded one.... or go get that pretty one out of my nephew's truck!

[Jim Hand]

The Dynomax 2 1/2" Ultraflow polished S.S. mufflers I have used almost since they were introduced indeed do have 2 1/2" cores. Dynomax furnished them for some of our earliest muffler testing.

But the earliest version, including mine, had a stainless steel mesh blanket wrapped around the core in addition to the the roving fiberglass within the case. Dynomax told us that further testing on their part indicated the SS mesh did not add any benefits to sound control, so it was removed from production models. And obviously it did not affect performance.

I would expect the 3" core models to perform better then the 2 1/2" cores, especially if they are installed closer to the engine, rather then at the rear as mine are. However, my 2 1/2" cores ran as quick/fast as 11.32/117.6, and consistent low 11.40's/117.5 in a 4070#, 116" wheelbase brick of a wagon with a 234/244/112 flat tappet hydraulic cam (Wolverine Blue Racer) on 91-92 octane pump gas, and with iron heads (64's at 255, or 6x's at 266 cfm) 3:31 or 3:55 gears and MT ET Streets, so they are excellent mufflers with a great sound.

And the mufflers always had 2 1/2" tailpipes out the side rear as noted on the photo above (except round pipes rather then oval).

Jim Hand

[crazycarlo]

https://youtu.be/22y0V4lbg80

Here are the Jones.

[Larry Navarro]

The muffs I bought on ebay are produced by Jones and sold by other vendors.

http://fullboarperformanceexhaust.co...ow-ss-muffler/