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Cat Back Or Muffler Mods

G

gandolphxx

Charter Member
Full Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
5,750
Location
Houston, TX
Time to get the data, will help new members and you old timers that want a little more punch - thanks. ;D
 
Waiting on the flowmaster muffler as we speak, should be coming in anyday now...I will report results as seen through my eyes and ears.... :eek:
 
I went with the Borla Split Duals, behind each rear tire.., its a Pricy system.., lists for $990 dolors.., I paid $750 for it.., but I liked that it was 304 Stainless Steel., and the Very neat way they went around the spare tire.., and with heat shields welded on the pipes where they went by the spare... The quality was Excellent, and the fit was Perfect., had the old system off with a Saws All.., and the New one on in 2 Hours.., liked that the Clamps where Stainless Steel, and where Band Clamps.., that Clamped the pipe 360 Degrees around the pipe to... Very Sturdy Construction....
 
I just put a flowmaster deltaflow 50 series with 2 1/4 pipes one out each side in the factory location. It has a very healthy sound at idle. It gets really nice sounding when you get on it, but best of all at 60mph in O/D it is very quiet.I did not loose any low end power like others have said actually I think it has more lowend than before.BTW it is a 1500 with 4.10's ;D
 
Dam gandolphxx.., I gotta get off My ass..., and get a Digital camera.., ill take some pics next time I have it up, on My Buddies lift.., but the basic routing is.., follows the factory route out the Passengers side..., up over the rear axle striaght across to the Drivers side, passing the spare tire at its Mid point, where theres a Heat sheild to protect the spare, then out behind the wheel.., theres about an inch of clearance between the heat sheild, and the spare.., it uses all of the factory hangers, and theres one additional one for the drivers side pipe, and that uses factory holes that where already there in the frame, and even that bracket is 304 stainless, and has a factory rubber isolation mount.., the Dauls are 2 1/2 inch pipe, and end in angle cut polished 4 inch tips.. I noticed No loss of Bottom End either.., sound would seem to be the same as Nick describes..., Whew, Long Post., lol.....
 
I am going to print this post and crawl under tomorrow, may have more questions after the expedition - sounds interesting. :)
 
I am looking at installing a cat back system on my AV. I have see the borla system but it is a little out of my price range. I was looking at the Gibson SS Dual exaust Part number 66300. I was wondering if any one out their has installed this system. If so how is the clearance around the spare and could you send or post some pics of the sysem so I can get an idea of the routing. I am looking for less back pressure but not alot of cabin noise like I had on my 2000 Serria with dual custem SS exhaust with glasspacks. It sounded good ideling and on acceleration but at certain highway speeds the dron in the cabin was pretty bad. From reading info on the Gibson site this might be what I am looking for.
 
Jeremy, what mods do you have installed that leads you to want to reduce back pressure. Unless you are using forced induction, like a turbo or supercharger, this will cause you to lose some low end performance. At one time Gibson wasn't even offering the dual for the AV due to this issue.

BTW, as a Gibson owner, the resonance is ugly. ;D
 
Butch said:
I went with the Borla Split Duals, behind each rear tire.., its a Pricy system.., lists for $990 dolors.., I paid $750 for it.., but I liked that it was 304 Stainless Steel., and the Very neat way they went around the spare tire.., and with heat shields welded on the pipes where they went by the spare... The quality was Excellent, and the fit was Perfect., had the old system off with a Saws All.., and the New one on in 2 Hours.., liked that the Clamps where Stainless Steel, and where Band Clamps.., that Clamped the pipe 360 Degrees around the pipe to... Very Sturdy Construction....
Click to expand...


Hey Butch...Can you get me the part number for that system? And where di you purchase it from?? Thanks!
 
I phrased that wrong. I am really trying to gain a few MPG. When I added the custom system to my old truck it bumped up the MPG about 2 MPG every little bit helps it had the same 5.3L as the Av. According to the Gibson web site they do offer a dual SS system for a Avalanche I have checked Summit and It is fairly new to the market. Someone mentioned that there is quite a bit of resonance with the Gibson system I am looking for more of a stock sound at Highway speeds but with a dual out the sides. Any other suggestions for Dual Stainless Systems other than Borla and Gibson?

Jeremy
 
My .02,
I run a Gibson cat back, single side exit.
Sounds like a v8 should, not too loud...just right :B:
I have no resonance with a Poweraid TBS and Ultimate UPD installed.
 
msimpy said:
According to Borla it now lists for $1059.99!!! ?:eek:

Pn... 140003

http://www.borla.com/welcome/

Mike
Click to expand...

GOOD LORD:D: A Grand for an exhaust system :7:
This thing better be Jet Hot coated inside and out with 24K gold tips. Even if it is made just for "the Av" it's not going to flow any better than a system bent and welded up by Midas or your local corner muffler shop for $2-300. And don't even go ther with the "Aluminized and Stainless Steel system, a correctly installed system will last the life of the vehicle now days or at least as long as YOU own it.
I can't believe people get taken by some of these aftermarket parts providors. I'm sorry if anyone on this site is one of those people but sometimes the only way you can learn is to experience it
 
True chevylover., uts pricy., but it has alot of advantages over a Muffler Shops welded system., first off its 304 Stainless steel.., and its in separate peices.., being 304 stainless, the pipes will Never rust together..., so when You need tgo do Mods on Your truck.., it can be taken apart., to get to things like the Tranny, and Drive Train, Headers, etc....., then put back on again.. Ive gone through that before with Welded together systems.., and dont get Me wrong., if Your looking to save some Bucks.., there the Way to go.., and having seen some welded systems done on a couple of Av's here.., I didn't like how they went around the spare tire., and underbody.., this system is layout really sweet.., partly because its made up in different pieces.., thats how they got it to fit so well., the local muffler shops wont spend that much time making all the Intricate bends needed., to make a Daul system fit so well.., and if thay did.., it would cost just as much.., and wouldn't be 304 Stainless.., with 360 degree Stainless Clamps., instead of regular U-Clamps.., and if they Welded it together..., You'd have to cut it up to get it off.., I had to cut the Stock one in Three places., just to get it out.., sometimes.., You get what You pay for....
 
Oh.., and as for a non Stainless system lasting a life time..., Well., My Blazer has 99K miles on it..., Ive gone through (3) After Market Exhaust systems on it.., mostly the Mufflers...., thankfully it was made in Three pieces.., so I was able to just replace the Mufflers.., and I tryed Three different brands of Mufflers.., they all rotted out at about the same time.... between the cost of the mufflers., and what a Pain it was to get the system apart without ruining it.... I just didn't want to go throuh that again..., Oh..., and One set of Headers to.., but they where easy to change.., once agasin., because the system wasn't welded together.......
 
Well just from looking at your sig. it looks like your pockets are pretty deep. (y)

But answer me one question, I see that you have taillight black outs listed. I never understood why would you reduce the visibility of your brake lights on a vehicle?? The same goes for headlight blackouts???
 
There where lot of people who told Me I was Crazy for spending the Money I did on My Race Cars, and Race Boats..., To each His own I say....... :)
 
Oh.., the tail lite Black outs.., dont really fully cover the tail lights...., there slotted..., My truck is Black.., and I didn't like how the Red of the Lenses., seemed to cut the body line of at a wierd angle., so the slotted covers give the look of the body extending all the way back to the end of the truck..., and You can see through the Black part of the covers to at night, when the brake lights our on........, and...., Yeah., I can get a little crazy when it comes to spending Money on My Toys.., You'd think Id have learned at My age.., well I only got so many Good Years left to Enjoy..., LOL......
 
Brakelight blackouts are illegal here, even if you can see through them. I am fortunate that I am one of the few who do not have a problem with the appearance of the stock brakelights.
 
Mine are the same ones that gandolphxx has one His truck., if You look at the pick of His truck., You'll see that they dont really obstruct the tail lights much at all.....
 
OK so you've got slotted taillight covers not blackouts. That's cool. Everytime I see someone with total blackout covers I just want to walk up to them and smack them in the forehead and say "What are you thinking". :3:
You said by going with the Borla clamp on system it lets you take off the exhaust when doing mods to your tranny, driveshaft or rearend. I'm going to have to call foul on this one because since the mid 80's and the new bodystyle pickups, the exhaust has never been a problem with working on any uncarriage parts. Even with the stock system you can drop the tranny and everything else without cutting the exhaust. Why? Because any after-market exhaust starts behind the cats, which ,yes, are placed in front of the Tranny, but anything after that doesn't start till the tailshaft of the tranny and "EVEN THEN THE EXHAUST RUNS PARALLEL WITH EVERYTHING". :0: I could go out right now and drop my entire rear drive train starting at the tranny and all I have to do is remove two bolts and BAM the exhaust is not a factor. Now in the old days when cats were not a factor, yes you'd have to worry about it, but then it was only if you had a crossover pipe or balance tube.
When you buy a prebent system all your paying for is 1. the name and 2. Over priced pipe for an exhaust. I come from the same type of environment that you do, as far as winters go. Growing up in the Mid-west with the salty winters a stock system or non-stainless system would still last 10-15 years and now days you hardly ever see anyone keep a vehicle that long, to much damn plastic in these new cars. :8:
Next time come on out to old NoCal and I'll have a sweet system put on for you, for 300 and you can give me the other 600 and we'll call it even. :-*
 
Yo folks, passsion is fine, but lets keep it on the high ground. There are many divergent opinions here, and many ways to do things, some like to do it from scratch, others want it wrapped and tested. Works for me. ;D
 
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