Info on mod installer/dealers

[funk_drum]

Ok ladies and gents...

Where should I go for remote starter install?  What are the good electronics places around here?  Also, exhaust places, where should I start?

[trAVelingman]

Exhaust:  Quick Muffler in Franklin. AWESOME work and incredible customer service.

Remote start installation:  Cartronics in Antioch.

[funk_drum]

Thanks...does 900 for install and purchase for a viper 5900 sound right? 

[funk_drum]

Quick rave...
I called Quality Muffler and started telling the guy what I wanted.  He said that the pipes on the 05 are SS already, just not polished.  Then he said he'd cut out my old muffler and hold up different mufflers till I find the one I like.  How cool is that?!?  Next Saturday I think will be the time.

[JohnBChef]

     BIG thumbs up to Quick Muffler in Franklin  . They did the work on trAVelingman;s exhaust. They were awesome to work with. They know their stuff. Awesome welding skills. The shop seems a little back woodsey but they are awesome. I designed the exhaust for trAV's truck, and they didn't fight me at all. He said if you can design it I can build it. and I give them total credit they did a fantastic job. It is true the truck does have good quality SS exhaust parts. If you are looking to save money. Have them cut off the resonator at the back and drive around with that for a week. You'll fine it'll sound ballsy but tame. They have a muffler that is a copycat of the Flowmaster. Take their recommendation and get it if you want the sound. The Flowmaster will rustout after a couple of years. Regardless of where you go have them cut off the resonator at the bck and listen to it first before you decide to piss a bunch of money onto a custom exhaust and muffler.

JB

[funk_drum]

Thanks JohnB.  I did hear trAV's exhaust, pretty clever idea.  I'm going to try to stay single in and out, but I dunno.  The guy today was kinda pushing dual out. 

[JohnBChef]

     First of all I need to correct myself. I thought you had an 07. Obviously I didn't look at your siggy at first. But I should correct myself. 07+'s have this dumb resonator at the back that when removed make the truck sound pretty good inexpensively. This does not apply to you so I retract my previous suggestion.
     I now provide the following revised suggestion...
     It is NOT recommended for you to go with a dual in dual out or any type of true dual scenario even if you use an X pipe. Historically speaking you loose all of your back pressure and it is very detrimental to your fuel economy. Vortech engines like a little back pressure. It keeps them honest when it's opening and closing valves. A single in single out is what you currently have. It's a bit restrictive, It's pretty conservative. It is very bland. It works great. If you just change out the muffler you severely reduce the cost of the exhaust system and it sounds pretty good. It'll seem a little beefy when you want but It'll be a nice calm exhaust.
     If you go 1 in 2 out. You get everything from the 1 in 1 out but you will reduce some of the restrictive backpressure. It opens you up to lots of ideas on where you want to dump the exhaust. You will improve performance a little (not enough to really feel it) on acceleration. Noise will be a little stronger but not too bad depending on what muffler you get.
     Since the mod bug has been biting at you lately I'll provide a third option that will be cheaper that everything else. It's called an exhaust cut out. With it you get all of the benefits of straight pipes, with all of the benefits of the OEM exhaust. At the flip of a switch you can have an exhaust that will roar so loud that you'll never suffer from Erectile dysfunction because it'll get you so excited when you hear it. Or flip the switch and it can be Mozart down a quiet country road. Or you can adjust it and custom tune it yourself to be however you want it to be. If this interests you let me know, and I'll elaborate.

[funk_drum]

I was thinking of staying with single in, single out.  I acutally like the single tip on the passenger side look.  I have toyed with the shorty header to the y-pipe idea, but I'm not seeing that it helps HP wise.   I've seen some say that the stock manifolds are as good as we can get.  I'm open to anything.  Any technical issues with dumping the exhaust?  I know you have it, and it was nice and loud.  My truck is almost Caddy quiet now.  So either putting a less restrictive muffler, or as you suggest, dumping it, is kinda where I'm looking now.

Elaborate away. 

I'm no you, but I'm no chump around cars either.  Have you ever installed a remote start?  How difficult is it? 

You ain't kidding about the mod bug...I've been reading about cams, springs, and heads. 

[JohnBChef]

Q: Have I ever installed a remote start? No I haven't. I have see the results of a lot of really lousy installers I know how not to do it. I have seen a lot of good installations. I strongly suggest that you don't get it done at any of the name brand stores. What I see very often it that they (installers) will remove the protective steering column plate to accommodate the box for the remote start. When I see that it irritates the hell out of me because the plate needs to be there to protect the driver from having the steering wheel stab the driver in the groin during high speed front end collision. Am I capable of it? Yes. Wires are wires to me. Do i have any brand name preferences? No however a lot of the members on here do and they have posted their opinions a search will reveal that.

     Regarding your exhaust. The major issue with the cut out is this. When you have it dump straight out the bottom like mine does you need to be aware of the following. Keeping it open all of the time is detrimental to your fuel economy. It will cause incomplete combustion, carbon buildup and reduce your fuel economy. It is perfect for me because I like it to roar every once in a while, or I time it to open during acceleration, and I get off the line quicker. This setup is great for someone that LOVES to hear the roar every once in a while, but likes the Caddy quiet sound too.
     For trAVelingman his cutout dumps into a pipe (Not straight down.) Soooo the truck thinks it's going through an exhaust system, so it doesn't mess with the fuel economy. He gets great fuel economy, and he can be as loud or quiet as he wants. He has the most ideal system. It is not as loud as mine about 25% quieter (because it is going through the pipes) but it has the best of both worlds.
     For people that cherish the loud all the time or some variance there of, a muffler changeout is the better choice. For people that love their loud and their quiet and want both the cut out is the better choice.
     Then there is my good friend Sourmash. He has a Flowmaster 70 with a cutout. he wanted a good sounding muffler with a pretty quiet interior noise and it does that well. He has the cutout because occasionally he wants to hear it roar. trAV had a FM 40 I think, and he and his kids complained about the constant drone during high speed cruising. Once the muffler is welded on your cards are played you got what you got. With Cutouts you can always change it. Just flip the switch.

I'm not trying to confuse you I'm just trying to paint a picture for you so you can informed decision.

[funk_drum]

I appreciate your help.  I'm looking at the viper 5900 remote start.  Have what I consider to be a high quote from a local place.  Just wondering if it's as big of a hastle as they are charging.

I like the idea of a little more agressive sound and the option of dumping it like trAV.  I was gonna do the new muffler next weekend, but I'd like to look at trAV's first.  I'm an engineer and like to see how things work.  I guess there aren't any reliability issues with the flip of the switch dump?  If not, I'll just have to go agressive all the time and deal with it.  Ahhh...too many options.

[funk_drum]

Planning on exhaust this weekend!!  Yipee!! 
*blub blub blub blub*

[moosc]

I appreciate your help.  I'm looking at the viper 5900 remote start.  Have what I consider to be a high quote from a local place.  Just wondering if it's as big of a hastle as they are charging.

I like the idea of a little more agressive sound and the option of dumping it like trAV.  I was gonna do the new muffler next weekend, but I'd like to look at trAV's first.  I'm an engineer and like to see how things work.  I guess there aren't any reliability issues with the flip of the switch dump?  If not, I'll just have to go agressive all the time and deal with it.  Ahhh...too many options.

im looking at going with the viper 7900

  http://www.viper.com/Products/Product.aspx?ProductID=102

[funk_drum]

Got the new exhaust and tip.  I have to say, those guys at Quick Muffler did a great job.  I ended up getting the Flo-Pro muffer and a nice tip.  That muffer is very agressive around the 2000-2200 rpm range.  Almost too loud.  Otherwise, it's really nice.  I seem to get a little better mileage on the freeway, and a little less on the surface roads.

[funk_drum]

Anyone know of a good installer employed by Best Buy around Nashville?  Yea I know, could be an onymoron.  They are having a close out on the Viper 5900 w/ autostart and install for just over $500.  Cartronics is almost $800.  Not sure I trust Best Buy on this kind of an install.

[Torrent]

I know this is dragging up an old thread, but I wanted to comment on this.  I used to work at the Best Buy in Murfreesboro as an installer.  You are 100% right about not leaving your vehicle with 98% of the installers for Best Buy (The MECP basic test is a joke.  They made me take it when I started installing for them and I made a 97 without studying).  I left several months ago and Ryan quit as well.  I would not recommend the Murfreesboro store or the Antioch store for an install currently.  However, Blair and Adam in Franklin are both excellent installers (Blair for audio and Adam for remote start/alarms/etc.)  I would let either of those guys work on my truck.  If you are located in Murfreesboro and don't want to drive to Brentwood, then you could call Ryan.  Ryan is very skilled and I highly recommend him.  He has his own shop behind his house and does work on the side ever since he left Best Buy to go back to school.  Anyways, just throwing that out there for you guys.