exhaust modification-- CatBack help

[mikebike]

I have read & re-read on the exhaust board.....but you guys are just S-crew people... so please give me some feed back I am looking for...... * increased perfomance * great sound ....not quiet not obnoxious (looking for nice rumble at idle with no or little drone while cruising at 70 mph--if that is possible) also how hard is it to remove the old system I have no access to a lift but do have a nice floor jack.... buy from a dealer and have them install or on the net... also....dual output or single lastly has anybody installed or heard much on the JBA/K&N's Cat-Back Performance Exhaust -- they are claiming 22 HP/ 30 ft lbs Torque not on a super tight budget.... but do not want to waste money either thanks ................mike

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[Mosa]

got it from truckperformance.com on sale at around $400...

I too wanted not obnoxious, but louder than stock and I think I got it... I am happy with the results...

Kit comes with clamps and you can install yourself, but I wanted a more permanent setup, so I went to my local speedshop and they installed for me and welded with Stainless wire... cost me $75 to install...

Overall, Borla is more expensive, but I like the fact of the quality build of the product and the guarantee of the items...

Cabin drone is there, but only slightly..., only at exactly 55mph ...and now with the Superchip installed, Who drives 55 anymore??? hahahh

Here are pics of the install and under the truck...

http://community.webshots.com/album/22424721lDzkMbkUix

Good luck in your decision...There are PLENTY of good systems out there to choose from, and some not-so-good too..gotta sort em out...

Mosa

[10TH_ANNIV_T2]

After doing the same debate, I chose the Borla. Tried the same place as Mosa, however I was in a perpetual backorder (and charged immediately). I ended up buying it from performance products, they had it in stock for $506. $540 and it arrived 5 days later via UPS.

After installing it this weekend (no lift required), getting the tips leveled was the toughest part. With only about 1200 miles on my truck, the factory exhaust easily slid apart one section before the muffler where I needed to be. It was a bit of a challence to manipulate the whole section out, but it can be done-- without jacking the truck up.

Sounds great! Quite a bit more rumbling than the Gibson was on my old truck, not obnoxious though. I used all the included hardware, and will throw the factory exhaust in storage should I have the truck 10 years from now and it needs another exhaust-- even though the Borla has a long warranty. Gibeson was quiet at 70 mph, I suspect the Borla will be a bit more noticeable. I'm heading to Chicago for the day today, I'll post my comments when I get back.

Personally, I'm a do it myself guy. Not a mechanic by any means, but I enjoy doing the work, and the occasional gashed body parts don't bother me too much. On this truck, I think changing the exhaust is easier than changing all 8 spark plugs-- I don't know how I'd ever get to all of them-- LOL!

When I find vendors that offer fair prices and are not complete morons, I'd buy local and support them. However, I seem to run into some real winners-- the guys that I got my ARE LSII lid and bedliner from were a few cards short of a full deck if you know what I mean. I did have some problems, however in their defense, they rectified them. They were extremely concerned that I was satisfied, which I was. I wasn't elated, so there is some room for them to improve (or a competitor to move in on their turf....)

Greg O.

[sweed27]

Mikebike... look back though the Exhaust threads or supercrew threads I posted about the Heartthrob exhaust... I bought it from J.C.whitney for only $199 it was very high quality mandrell bent ... they gave you everything you needed to install it... only took me about 2 hours... the factory exhaust came off easily but I only had a few hundred miles on then... the sound is great... just enough... and at highway speeds you dont here it in the cab... I have gotten alot of compliments on it

[davidzog]

I opted for the Gibson SS system for $289....easy to install, and the old system is relatively easy to get off sith a floor jack....

The Gibson is quieter than I would like, as I am used to the Flowmaster 40 series from my last truck....however, there is no drone in the cab as with the Flowmaster.

Also, the SIDO setup cost a lot of low end torque with the Flowmaster. The Gibson SS is a SISO 3" system, and low end torque doesn't seem to be affected.

Overall the Gibson is a good quality, reasonable cost system....just too quiet....I did note that my mpg is up about .5 mpg since adding the new exhaust....hurrah!!!

[mikebike]

Thanks for your input.......... I went ahead and made a decision.

I went to a local shop specializing in custom mufflers..... and had them design a system...... we did the following.

We cut the left side off just under the drive shaft and the right side just behind the air sensor.....

.. then routed both pipes, side by side, back to where the original muffler was.

... then in that space mounted 2 Dynomax mufflers side by side on edge.....

then ran the pipes out the right & left with an angle tip.

So I guess this is true dual exhaust....... (tho i am no mechanic)

all pipe is 2.5 inch, welded and mandrell bent looks very clean underneath with nice Stainless tips


NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS

PRICE: all done for under $300 including tax and it has a lifetime warranty ( this shop has been in Biz for ages in our town)


SOUND: nice subdued yet throaty sound at idle
it talks but not abnoxiously when you step on it
and at 70 no cab drone.

Performance: WOW! combined with the Airraid intake system ... this truck is much faster than it was when stock.
Good low end....... tho I've yet to tow my trailer
Mid -range pick up very good.....
Passing like form 55 - 75 WOW!!

Over all it is perfect (of course this my my $.02 worth..... but then ---he he he ---it is my truck )

once again thanks

Mike