The new Toyota Tundra is a powerful truck ? anyone who's driven one will tell you that. Toyota has made a truck that can haul, tow, and race with any half-ton on the road. However, Toyota fit this truck with a relatively quiet exhaust system. If you think your 381 hp 5.7L V8 ought to sound as fast as it is, then this article is for you.



The new Toyota Tundra comes with an excellent set of exhaust manifolds. They are made of stainless steel, so they're lighter than cast iron and highly rust resistant. They're also an "equal-length" tube design, a feature you usually only find on expensive aftermarket headers. Finally, they have a 4 into 2 into 1 design, which is the most efficient way to remove exhaust gas quickly. This is one part of the exhaust that doesn't need changed.

Next we have the catalytic converters. These legally required emissions control devices are often accused of restricting a vehicle's exhaust, but in the new Tundra that's not the case. They are efficient and they benefit the environment, so they're definitely off limits.

After the catalytic converters, the exhaust gases from each side of the motor cool somewhat and meet-up at the muffler. Again, the factory system is pretty good. You won't see a significant hp and torque gain by replacing the factory muffler (3-5hp, 5-10ft-lbs at the most), but you will HEAR the truck better. The rumble that you'll hear if you do this is intoxicating, but there are about a hundred different mufflers to choose from to help you get the rumble you want. TRD, Borla, Flowmaster, Gibson, Edelbrock, Magnaflow, etc all offer quality products. While brand is important, it's more important to know what you want.

First of all, find out if the muffler you like is going to have any "exhaust drone". Exhaust drone refers to the sound of the engine running while your driving at constant speed, like on the highway. Many people prefer not to have any drone, but others are willing to deal with some drone if it gets them a little more power. Finding out if the muffler you like is going to drone is easy, ask the people at the local muffler shops as well as the websites www.tundraheadquarters.com and www.tundrasolutions.com.

Second, in terms of noise, how much can you stand. If it's too loud, your neighbors will be awake when you start your truck. If it's too quite, you won't be able to hear your exhaust unless under hard acceleration. Most mufflers aren't too loud, but to make sure you avoid the loud mufflers, stay away from descriptions that mention "racing only" or "glasspack".

Another important choice when considering a new muffler is single or dual exhaust. Remember, the factory system is pretty good. The single exhaust that the truck is setup with will work just fine and give good performance, but you might want to go with a dual exhaust to get the better look and sound. That's my suggestion, just make sure that your installer works around your trailer hitch or leaves room for one in case you want it added on later.

Stainless steel or aluminized steel -- that's what you'll be asked when you're choosing your new muffler. While stainless looks cooler, that's not really a good reason to buy it. After all, how often is anyone going to be looking under your vehicle? The best reason to choose stainless is resistance to rust. If your local geography has salt water or high humidity, stainless steel is a good idea. Otherwise, save some coin and go with the less expenisive galavanized or aluminized steel.