*EDIT - REVIEW POSTED*

***********2nd EDIT* A FEW VIDS UP ON THE 2ND PAGE

Ok, so I got my Magnapack system installed today.

Here is the setup I went with:

Truck:
2010 F150 FX4 5.4L

Components:
Magnapack #14419
Magnaflow Y-Pipe #10778
Magnaflow 18" x 4" tips - #35117

Installation:
3" Mid-pipe from the factory Y-pipe to the Magnapack. Y-pipe split into 2.5" tails 45 degrees out behind the rear tires. Full mandrel bent 409 stainless.

Cost:
$307 for the install + $186 for the muffler/Y-pipe/Tips. Not too bad. IIRC, cheaper than my SI/SO DB Performance Corsa kit.

Initial test drive:
275 miles. 20+ being in-city. The distance would have been shorter but I forgot my DB Kit at the muffler shop so I had to turn around and go get it. DOH!

My Review:

Installation: Installation took quite a while since 2 of their techicians called in sick this morning. However, I got the guy with the most experience doing my install (about 30+ years) so no big deal. He took his time rather than throwing it together. Fit and finish is great. The system is full stainless and the shop I went to has 4 mandrel benders so the folks there are very proficient with use of the machines and running pipes. The shop is family owned and has been in service since the 1950's. The only issue I can see is the left side sits a tiny bit lower than the right side. However, upon review of a lot of pictures, this seems normal for SI/DO systems, at least on Fords (I haven't looked at other trucks because they suck. lol).

Sound: The reason we all buy this stuff, right? My initial system, as many here know, was the DB Performance Kit. I very much like the kit, especially the tone. My one complaint, however, is the fact that it is VERY quiet at cruise. Now, I am not looking to be blown out of the cabin or droned too timbuktu, but I am the type of person that likes a little "oomph" mixed in with a splash of "OMG". While the Corsa system definitely has this at acceleration and especially at cold start, it is a little lacking in this regard during cruise. Sound is nice above 80 mph but that isn't often doable nor is it often recommended. lol Cold start in the Corsa system is awesome. It's mean. It's loud. It growls. It doesn't last though. Once the system is "warmed up" is becomes quite mild. I often found myself stepping on the go-pedal to get the sound where I wanted. While I was very happy with much of the kit, it struck out in a few aspects I was looking for.

Enter the Magnapack....

My cold start experience is limited. We first powered it up at the shop outside and there was quite a bit of work going on around us so it wasn't easy to get the full effect of the sound. Having said that, even with all of the noise around, one could quickly tell the Magnapack has some "grunt" behind it. The unit has a very deep and clean tone. The system is not raspy, it has a clear barotone "thump" to it. This is NOT a system where you have to "step on it" to get noticed. The sound from the second you start to press the accelerator is one of power. Clear, loud, and thumpy. lol Idle, even in a area with noise, was noticable with a recognizable thump, thump, thump to it. Upon acceleration, you quickly take note of the deep and loud tone inheret to what others have stated about Magnapacks. It isn't an annoying drone as much as it is the sound of a powerful engine winding up and getting ready to punch.

Speaking of drone, is there any? Yes. Is it loud? Yes. Is it annoying? No. Is it through the entire rpm spectrum? No. The only time I really noticed any "drone" was around 1800 rpms (as many here already know), however, I'm not even sure I can really classify it as the drone many refer too. It isn't a loud obnoxious sound that gives you a headache. It actually has a tone to it. It's not like you have your head in a tuba. It is loud in that rpm range, but it isn't annoying and it doesn't last forever. It sort of fades away and is replaced by growling engine sound.

During cruise, the system has a great sound to it as well! What I was missig in the DB Performace kit is prevelant here. Whereas in the DB kit the nice engine growl fades into a low and quiet "humming" type of sound, the Magapack keeps on growling. It's like a tiger that just can't get enough food. And like a tiger, the Magapack has a deep and powerful "purr" to it in cruise. You definitely know you have a non-stock exhaust system but you can also hear the radio and practice your speech to your wife regardig why you "needed" a louder exhaust system. The "purr" was loud enough on my drive home that I drowned out 2 Harleys driving next to me. I did notice that if I turned on my blinker and gave it a little gas, any drivers next to me would take notice and either slow down, speed up, or change lanes See, a safety feature!!! (*just in case my wife reads this*).

Aother aspect of the Magnapack I noticed is the sound when you take your foot of the accelerator. Whereas as my DB Kit quiets down and becomes somewhat silent (all you hear is wind noise), the Magnapack purr starts to fade and the thump, thump, thump starts again. It is almost as if the system has to be aggressive ALL the time. LOL Essentially, there is a nice tone to it in all facets of the driving spectrum.

Closing opinions:
Is the Magapack system for everybody? Certainly not. If you are looking for a great tone but don't want any sound inside getting in the way of your $3000 sound system than it is probably not the best system choice for you. I that case, I would highly consider something from DB/Corsa or the like. If you are looking for a sense of power beyond cold start, initial take-off, ad acceleration than a Magapack based setup may be right up your alley. An importat ote here I I have a 2010 F150 with the 2 stock cats. These are apparently already somewhat high-flow, but I do not have the Magnaflow high-flows, have not heard them with this setup, and am unable to comment on any differences between the two. There are other forum members a lot more qualified tha me to comment on this. What I can say is I am VERY happy with this new setup. I was initally a little peeved with the left side being slightly lower than the right side, but again, after reviewing a LOT of F150 pics from a myriad of model years it seems that this is somewhat common place on SI/DO setups where the entire tip (or a majority of it) is visible. The cruise/acceleration sound is phenomenal. The idle is noticable and powerful. The "drone" does not give you the gift of migranes. There is no noticable raspyness (sp?). The "hollow and tinny" sound inherent to a lot of Flowmaster setups is also not present.

Would I do the install again? In a heartbeat. Twice.

Hope this helps any prospective buyers out there. Please feel free to ask any questions!!

I will try and get 4-6 videos up tomorrow.

Thanks for your time, and thanks to all the forum members who helped me out via the forum and PMs (Special thanks to 08FX4 as well for responding to my PMs with Magnapack questions reagarding the 2010 F150...your setup was a big part of my inspiration!).

 

Should have just waited till you had a vid to post this, good to hear you like it though.

 

Probably, but common sense has never been one of my strong suits. Lol

I was driving and didn't want to type too much. As soon as I get my kids to sleep I will post my thoughts so far. Vids will have to wait until tomorrow since its dark here.

 

If you think it sounds good now just wait till it's broken in!

 

Well again it's good that you like it. I'd almost consider buying two of them for my 75, but I don't want to spend the money and straight throughs don't sound all that great on engines like mine in basically stock form.

 

The first post has been edited with my review.

 

Videos! I had cosidered this setup.

What I am most concerned about is how is the drive? You do not feel that you lost any low end energy at all correct? Most people never report any loss from the magnaflow Y pipe and 3" midpipe to dual tails. What do you think?

Let us know of any economic increases from the 3" exhaust compared to your restricted stock Y pipe and 2.75" exhaust.

And I am expecting a video...

 

so there's no way to avoid one of the tips being lower than the other? i'm considering this set up also but having uneven tips would drive me nuts IMO.
glad to hear you love yours!

 

It doesn't seem like it. It seems to be present to some extent in every pic I have seen. It really isn't noticeable though. I will take a pic. The difference is literally 1 finger width.

 

^ You will be the only one to notice it I bet. Drive and forget about it bud. Glad you like it!

 

Here's a pic:

Here is a pic. Quality is sort of low and the shadows somewhat cover up the right side though.

[IMG]


Hey Av, yeah, you are probably right, I am a litle nitpicky, but there is no way I am going back to the shop to have them reroute the entire left side for that little of a change. lol

 

Nice setup... Kinda what i'm looking for... Nice sound and not to loud..

 

I'm working on the videos. The start-up vid came out all distorted because the exhaust is so loud. Lol

 

Looks good! Except I couldn't help but notice that the drivers side tail pipe looks about 1 finger width lower than the passenger tip.. the F's up with that?

 

The sarcasm is strong with this one. LOL