Exhaust for Dodge Challenger RT – FAQ & Buyer’s Guide!

V8 engines make wonderful sounds. That’s why we get Chrysler’s Hemi V8s for our rides. Despite the V8 engines that come with the Dodger Challenger RT, we can make it more pronounced without jeopardizing performance. You just need the right exhaust system.

Comparison of the Best Exhaust Systems for Dodge Challenger RT

Image	Product
Honorable mention	BORLA 140628 ATAK Cat-Back Exhaust System Louder than I thought, but not obnoxious Releases more horsepower, exhaust velocity and improves fuel economy Cat-Back Exhaust Check Price	Check Price
Performance Cat-Back Exhaust system	MagnaFlow 19367 Mandrel-bent tubing 400 Series stainless steel construction The interesting shape of pipes Check Price	Check Price
Agressive interior sound	MagnaFlow 19206 Dual tips and phenomenal sound improvement Simple axle-back format Axle-Back Check Price	Check Price
Also Great	Gibson Performance Exhaust 617010-B Affordable performance Stainless steel pipes Dual pipe structure Check Price	Check Price
Best Choice	MagnaFlow 19210 Durable stainless steel Straight-through design Significant performance boost Check Price	Check Price
Best MIG-Welded	aFe Power 49-32061 Significant performance gain Dual pipe system Cat-Back Exhaust Check Price	Check Price
Easy bolt on installation	Gibson Performance Exhaust 617009-B Stainless mandrel bent tubing Black Ceramic T304 Stainless Round Double Wall tips Check Price	Check Price

To get started, we provided a few of the most popular exhaust systems on the market below. You will find everything from simple mufflers to extensive headers and exhaust systems, but they all have unique sound and performance improvements.

Review of Top-Rated Exhaust Systems for Dodge Challenger RT

1. BORLA 140628 ATAK Cat-Back Exhaust System – Best for Dodge R/T

The BORLA 140628 ATAK Cat-Back Exhaust System adds the perfect balance of premium performance and sound to your RT. It features optimal mandrel bends to achieve excellent flow and unbeatable, pulse-pounding power. This increased performance is backed by Boria’s famous Million-Mile Warranty.

Who is it for?

Borla exhaust systems are best for drivers who want the performance to compete in races. If you need something to give you the edge down a runway, this exhaust will work. Look elsewhere if you just want something to show off.

Why do we like it?

The BORLA 140628 ATAK Cat-Back Exhaust System perfectly fits the Dodge Challenger. It provides a decent sound while increasing the efficiency of the engine.

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2. MagnaFlow 19367 – Best for Challenger R/T 392 6.4L Hemi

MagnaFlow creates most of the exhaust systems on this list for a good reason. All their products offer the highest quality in their classes. The 19367 cat-back is no exception. The system produces a powerful and aggressive sound while significantly boosting the efficiency of your Challenger’s engine.

The exhaust quickly pushes the toxic gasses away from your vehicle as well. Thus, you get the performance you want while maintaining a cleaner environment.

Who is it for?

Owners who want a replacement exhaust or a bit more power out of their Challenger should consider the MagnaFlow 19367 System. It provides a decent upgrade in sound and performance.

Why do we like it?

The MagnaFlow 19367 exhaust will give your Challenger a new life. You get efficiency and a louder engine roar in a simple, durable package.

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3. MagnaFlow 19206 – Best Exhaust for Challenger Scat Pack

Essentially a resonator, the MagnaFlow 19206 uses an axle-back format to produce the MagnaFlow tone and performance. It looks great on a vehicle as it almost blends into the contours. It does not alter the engine sound much from stock, but it serves as a sufficient upgrade.

Who is it for?

Car owners who want a simple upgrade from their stock exhaust.

Why do we like it?

While not as loud or spectacular as other models, the 19206 offers a decent performance boost.

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4. Gibson Performance Exhaust 617010-B – Top Exhaust for V8 Challenger R/T

Gibson exhaust systems are among the most cost-effective systems you can buy, the 617010-B model is the top of its class. The exhaust creates a decent roar with reduced exhaust turbulence and backpressure.

Who is it for?

Car enthusiasts who want an aggressive sound with an equally awesome look.

What do we like?

It is the perfect system if you have a big budget. While not as durable as stainless-steel

models, this exhaust kit decreases back-pressure to produce ample torque and horsepower.

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5. MagnaFlow Exhaust Products 19210 – Best Exhaust for Dodge Challenger R/T

The 19210 Exhaust Kit continues MangnaFlow’s dominance in the industry. Made in the USA, this straight-through exhaust kit puts some pep into your Challenger, by reducing the exhaust back power. The stainless-steel kit maintains the ideal temperature and reduces vibrations to ensure the famous MagnaFlow deep tone.

Who is it for?

The 19210 kit is for car enthusiasts who want a high-performing exhaust system with excellent sound.

Why do we like it?

The exhaust kit efficiently removes fumes from the engine with its compact design.

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6. aFe Power 49-32061 – Stainless Steel Exhaust for Challenger R/T

While not as popular as other brands, aFe offers some respectable exhaust systems. Power 49-32061 is the latest example of its style. You get a fine roar and performance with a nice professional look.

Who is it for?

Owners who want more power from their Challenger.

What do we like?

The aFe Power provides a decent engine war and performance for its price. It comes with great customer service as well.

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7. Gibson Performance 617009-B – 2015-2019 Dodge Challenger R/T 6.4L

Gibson creates cost-effective exhaust systems. They tend to use cheaper materials, but they always produce excellent performance and engine roar. The 617009-B model switches out the standard aluminum Gibson construction for a more durable stainless-steel body.

What is it for?

Challenger owners who want their vehicle to scream performance with a hassle-free, professional-looking installation.

Why do we like it?

The 617009-B kit provides an awesome sound for its price. It gives the performances you want when you want it.

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8. MagnaFlow 19209 – Fits Challenger R/T 5.7 Hemi Engine

Our next best system also comes from MagnaFlow. The 19209 does not have all the bells and whistles of the 19210 kit, but it comes with some decent features including a black-powder-coated glass finish that enhances the brilliant stainless-steel construction.

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Who Is It for?

The 19209 kit is for owners who want to give their Challenger a new life. It may not provide an aggressive noise, but the performance makes this exhaust kit worth it.

What do we like?

The 19209 kits can fit mot Challenger models without issue with the easy-to-follow instructions. It is a true upgrade for any stock system with double exhaust tips and black glass finish.

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Exhaust for Dodge Challenger — Buyer’s Guide

At 707 horsepower, the Dodge Challenger RT provides a commanding and monstrous roar every time you rev up its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. The 100-decibels make its mark when accelerating, starting up, or standing idle as well.

While it has a powerful bite, the RT also offers nice performance, easily going from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 199 mph. However, you can get significantly more bang for your buck with the right exhaust system.

Depending on your budget, you can customize the ride and sound to your heart’s content. Though, because these aftermarket modifications can range between $550 to $1800, you want to get the right system for your needs.

What R/T stands for?

All car lovers are familiar with SRT and RT. These marketing terms describe the design philosophy behind the vehicle. SRT means “Street and Racing Technology”, while RT means “Road and Track”. These philosophies describe the main performance characteristic as well.

SRT and Performance

Street and Racing Technology (SRT) give you the maximum power and performance you can buy. SRT vehicles have heftier engines to generate unforgettable power. A car labeled SRT comes with a HEMI® engine, a high-performance braking system, and innovative aerodynamic design to reduce drag and improve handling.

RT Advantages

“Road and Track” (RT) vehicles do not offer the power of SRT vehicles, but they are more affordable and offer significant improvements over the standard Dodge models. The exact features vary from vehicle to vehicle, but you can expect RT cars to have the same braking technology, aerodynamic design, and HEMI engines

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You will also find these models support upgraded suspension systems as well.

Does exhaust affect 5.7 hemi?

Car enthusiasts know to upgrade their exhausts because the stock systems are not appropriate. They do not provide the audible power we hear in advertisements.

For instance, the roar of a hemi rarely comes out with the exhausts that come with them. Stock builds are not for high-performance or for making muscle car sounds. They are meant to be even-toned for drivers with kids and other mainstream needs.

To get the most of your hemi,replace the stock exhaust with a cat-back, aftermarket exhaust that attaches behind the catalytic converter. This is because the exhaust system affects the overall performance of an engine, though not in the way most people supposer.

Most cat-backs will improve the engine’s roar. With the correct system, your car will sound the way you want. It can roar like a lion while revving up or be as quiet as a mouse for cruising.
Changing to a better exhaust can improve the performance as well, but not enough to make a difference. Most drivers will see more than a 4th times the stock performance of their vehicles.

What About Exhaust Drone?

You may believe that getting rid of exhaust drome may improve the performance. An exhaust drone is a harmonic resonance inside the cabin that occurs when the sound from the exhaust becomes undesirable.

The drome may cause the air to vibrate, but it does not affect the engine or drivetrain. You can improve the roar of the engine, but something else to boost the performance.

Does Exhaust Replacement Increases Horsepower?

Exhaust replacement systems can increase horsepower, but you need a performance muffler. To get more power and performance, open up the exhaust flow from the engine. Also, be prepared to pay for it, as the high-quality exhaust parts do not come cheap.

You could replace the muffler and get some improvement. However, the muffler cannot open up the airflow if the rest of the system continues to restrict it. To get the most out of the muffler, you should replace all the pipes as well.

Fortunately, most cat-back kits come with everything to increase the performance of the vehicle. You need to replace the entire exhaust system to see the higher power numbers, but the effect would be worth it.

This is because most performance gains of an exhaust system come before the muffler. The air pressure is the greatest at the catalytic converter, and it is the pressure you want to release. If done properly, you can add up to 10 percent more horsepower to the performance of your engine.

Note,do not rely on those oversized tailpipe kits. Such cheap systems will do nothing. Many of these tailpipe replacements may reduce your car’s performance from the extra weight. If the system does not replace the entire cat-back, it is not worth your time or money.

How to Choose the Right Challenger Exhaust

We shared plenty of reasons to replace your current bare-bones, stock exhaust system with a cat-back replacement with a performance muffler. Not only will you get that classic muscle car sound, but you will also increase your vehicle’s performance.

However, not all exhaust systems are equal, and you must choose the suitable one for your car. The correct system will enhance your Dodge Challenger to its optimal performance and horsepower. Moreover, you also want something you can afford.

While the exact needs will vary from vehicle to vehicle, some aspects are common of a good exhaust system. Check each characteristic to see which type works best.

Superior Sound

Stock Challengers offer an impressive visual appeal. They look good in your driveway, and on the road. They have ears and eyes that make an impression on all who witness them. Nevertheless, you can do much better.

All aftermarket exhausts will increase the roar of your Challenger, but some are specially designed for enhancing the acoustics. You want the one that provides the sound. Remember, while at the track, your car’s roar is as important as its speed.

Higher Horsepower

Any performance exhaust system increases the power output of even an already powerful Challenger. The difference is in the amount of backpressure they provide. Backpressure in the exhaust is the secret to getting more horsepower out of a vehicle.

Stock systems offer significant backpressure. To reduce this pressure to increase power. look for a system with large enough pipes to get the desired hp. The best systems can add 20 to 30 horsepower to an already beefy HEMI engine.

Better Fuel Performance

High horsepower tends to require more fuel as well. To save money at the pump, increase your vehicle’s fuel performance as well. The most reliable aftermarket system will increase fuel economy, but each one does it differently. hence, get the one that does it the best.

Do Exhaust Replacements Require Tuning?

While you might want to do it to reduce exhaust drone, you do not need to tune a replacement exhaust system. Catback kits attach after the catalytic converter. Thus, the new components lay away from any Engine Control Unit (ECU) sensors or meters.

These systems let more sound flow, which is why you may want to adjust them to reduce any audible drone. However, you do not need to tune them to use them: just install and enjoy the roar coming from your engine.

Will an Exhaust Replacement Improve Gas Mileage?

We discussed the many ways aftermarket exhaust replacement systems will increase the performance of your Dodge Challenger. Despite these benefits, most manufacturers will overstate the advantages of their products. The most common buzzwords are “increase horsepower AND improve gas mileage.”

These systems indeed improve horsepower and gas mileage. They might just not do it in the way marketers, nor will they give the stated results.

Performance Exhaust Systems Improve Efficiency, Not Power

All new vehicles sold to consumers come with restrictive factory exhaust systems. Car manufacturers provide then because they are quiet and inexpensive. Most people do not want their cars to make a noise, and these stock systems work.

When you replace the stock system with a performance muffler or cat-back, you minimize the air restrictions. This reduces the pressure, making it easier for the engine to exhale. The release also improves the efficiency of the system, boosting the observed power.

The horsepower was always there. It was simply absorbed by the restrictive piping which you just removed.

Efficiency is Not Just about Horsepower

An exhaust replacement will make your engine more efficient, but an efficient engine does not mean a powerful engine. An efficient engine gets all the energy possible from its gasoline or diesel fuel. Therefore, any observed increase in power does not make a vehicle move faster.

Instead, the increased power improves fuel economy. For instance, a 3 percent increase in power yields 3 percent less fuel use. You can then use the extra fuel to reach a faster acceleration rate, or keep things as is and pocket the extra cash.

Most exhaust systems on the market will raise your Challenger’s fuel economy by 2 to 5 percent, depending on their components. This range typically has a mileage improvement of 0.5 miles per gallon. In other words, your ride gets 15,000 miles annually, you can save up to $85 on gas.

You may even save enough to cover the cost of the exhaust replacement in a few years.

Size Does Matter

Smaller cars benefit from the increase in efficiency more than larger vehicles. A big truck with a V8 inside is already powerful enough to push air past any restrictions coming from the exhaust. Nevertheless, a new cat-back will do wonders for a small compact with a 4-cylinder engine.

A Dodge Challenger is near the middle of the range, so expect a 5 percent increase in inefficiency.

How Does Exhaust Pipe Size Affect Sound?

It is difficult to predict the sound of any system modification without knowledge of a vehicle’s other systems. Everything from the number of cylinders, air displacement, material construction, and the exhaust pipes go into the auditory response of your vehicle.

Most of these replacement systems do more for your car’s roar than the exhaust, but that does not mean the exhaust does little. It all comes down to the thickness of the pipes. Thinner walls produce higher frequencies. Double-walled pipes will reduce the sound. In a way, the exhaust works like a musical wind instrument.

However, the equation for exhaust pipe size, thickness, and construction is complicated. For many situations, the audible response is inversely proportional to engine efficiency. Your choice in exhaust ultimately makes a tradeoff of many different qualities of your vehicle.

Does Muffler Size Affect Sound?

Like everything else in the drive train and engine, the muffler affects the sound coming from the engine. Depending on how the muffler was made, your high-performance sound can range from a low tone to an ear-splitting roar. Thus, the right muffler will give you the sound you want.

Muffler Principles

A muffler exists to reduce noise. It lowers the pitch of the natural high-pressure audio pulses coming from the ending and turns them into something tolerable. Thus, to get the sound you want,get a muffler that produces the desired result.

Ideally, this choice should be simple, but mufflers dampen the sound in many complicated ways. A typical muffle uses a combination of chambers, baffles, sound-deadening materials, and perforated tubes to deal with the sound.

You want one that will not only make your exhaust tone without creating back pressure and reducing the power output. To help, we provided the following tips for getting the best balance between performance and sound.

Find a Muffler with the Right Volume

The external style of the muffler does not affect the sound output. All that matters are on the inside. You want a muffler that has the best fitting inlets for your Challenger. That requires knowing how many inlets the muffler has, and that comes down to type.

Mufflers have a single and dual system. Single systems use a single inlet to pass the exhaust into the muffler. A dual system uses two. You want the number of inlets to match the number of pipes coming from the catalytic converter.

You then want to match the diameters of the inlets to the diameters to the exhaust pipes, and then ensure the entire muffler can safely fit in your vehicle. Getting a muffler with the correct volume will properly install it to provide the right shape to produce the desired sound.

Choose the Right Muffler Style

Mufflers come in three styles: turbo, chambered, and straight-through. Each style has its advantages and disadvantages. For a street machine or muscle car such as the Dodge Challenger, you generally want a chambered muffler.

Chambered mufflers reduce exhaust noise to produce a throaty performance sound, using a series of inner chambers of specifically, configured lengths for optimal sound reflection. This reflection causes interference to lower the noise.

The tone of a chambered muffler comes from the size and number of the chambers. Some models use sound-deadening baffles or inserts, but the chambers are the main sound producers.
While not ideal, turbo mufflers use perforated tubes to guide exhaust gasses through the s-shaped system.

The style does restrict the airflow more than others, the design reduces sound by forcing the gas through long pipes.

Also called glass backs, straight-through enable maximum exhaust flow and horsepower. They have straight, perforated pipes wrapped in a sound dampener to produce the audible response. Ideal for racing, this type of muffler provides the least amount of restriction for the highest performance values.

Choose the Right Construction Material

Mufflers must withstand the high pressures of exhaust gasses, resist corrosion, and absorb any impact from road debris. Because of this, they are made from sturdy materials such as stainless or aluminized steal. These materials are then fashioned into three layers: the inner case, the outer shell, and a layer of insulation.

Either material does the job well. Though, stainless steel mufflers are more durable, provide better corrosion resistance and lower lifespans than the much cheaper aluminized versions.

Verdict

Anyone who wants a great roar from their Dodge Challenger RT needs a good exhaust system to produce the right sound while maintaining performance. Generally, you want a stainless-steel, straight-through system such as the MagnaFlow 19210 exhaust kit.