2nd Gen (1994) New Exhaust?

[mindspa24]

Hey guys I'm curious on getting a new exhaust system, including the tip, as well as air filter. The exhaust system is all factory and I figured it would be a good idea to replace an 18 year old system. How much performance would I gain from getting a new system? I have the '94 manual 5-speed V6, thanks in advance!

I had this one in mind.
AutoZone.com is not available.

 

[2ndGen4runner4x4]

Are you talking headers too?.. Get your wallet out...
I doubt that you will really "feel" a new exhaust system in seat of your pants driving but it will sound and run better. It may even help prolong head gasket life.
I suspect that an old clogged up cat is what took out my left side head gasket. I can personally attest to seeing the results of running a gutted cat and free flow muffler. It will run very well and exhaust temps will be lower than before. Of course this is for "off road use only" :eyebrows:...

 

[5RUNNERZ]

this is experience speaking! make sure you put a high flow cat on. Other wise it will smell like raw gas wile you are diving, speciel with the back window down it will stink up the whole cab! do not get any piping over 2.25 because you will lose a lot of low end and your truck will feel even more like a turn when you drive her.

after a few different set ups this is my faverot and current



with the short straight through style muffler! it sounds as good as a 3.0 can sound!

 

[5RUNNERZ]

I do not like the look of tail pipes sticking out, so i put a turndown on the tip of the muffler, just a 45 degree. Just so it throws the fumes down and away from the truck or it will still come up in the cab!

 

[mindspa24]

Thanks again guys. This is my first car (16 and part-time at McDonald's) and I was just hoping to buy a new cat-back system but you recommend to also buy a new catty? Would an aftermarket Flowmaster converter be fine? I just want to get better mileage (no matter how small the gain is, 14.8mpg city) and the sound is a bonus. I'm also very new to cars, I got this about 6 months ago and I just recently am starting to learn what does what, so I may not know what you guys mean haha.

 

[anotherrunner83]

i hate to propose this, but, i too had to replace my exhaust on my old 1994. i bought a bosal caat back from autozone for around $150. sounded decent and took care of the loud exhaust leak. i would, if funds allow for it, buy a high flow cat. it was around $100 when i last looked, several years ago. i installed headers, $600, and really didn't get much. i think you'd be okay to buy a cheap cat back from your local parts dealer and be just fine. i too, had a v6 5-speed. i did add a K&N intake and think the only thing i noticed was the sound, which was awesome!

 

[77'911]

The real benefit with the 3VZE, is removing the manifolds(cross over pipe) and installing a header system. NWOR makes one of the few still left around. The problem here, is that the header system is around 1k+. There is always benefit in adding a high flow cat and muffler, but it is after the fact. Best of luck with it.
regards

 

[nortonian]

I just bought a 95 4runner last month and it had an exhaust manifold leak when I got it and the outer layer of the muffler was coming off. After reading on this and other forums I decided to go with the Doug Thorley headers and a new cat back exhaust system. I used 2 1/4 inch pipe and a magna flow muffler with the exhaust routed like stock, behind the drivers side real wheel. At the suggestion of the muffler shop I left the cat out ( no annual inspection in Illinois). It can always be added later.

Its louder but not too bad. It seems to have a little more power, but its hard to tell because I had only been driving it a couple weeks before I had the work done and I was babying it because I didn't like the clicking sound from the exhaust manifold leak. Mileage seems about the same.

The 4runner was in beautiful condition and 136K miles when I got it. Spotless interior, no rust or dents. Its my daily driver so I want to fix things up before they go wrong. I've put in a new radiator and condenser and am putting in an OME 2.5 inch lift next week, the rear sagged a bit and the shocks were getting a little soft.

My goal with all this is to make it dependable and to fix problems before they occur.