Exhaust Q..

f0st3r · February 21, 2011

I am realllllyyyy wanting to put some aftermarket exhaust on my truck. Right now I am looking at doing a flowmaster 40 series dumped at the axle. Anyone else have this setup? I have a 08 Silverado 5.3 Crew Cab.

Most of the people around here have either straight pipes, or rear exiting exhaust. And don't get me wrong, the rear exiting exhaust sounds good, but I really like a clean truck. I am kinda curious about the cab noise on the highway.

Thanks!

Stevens03 · February 21, 2011

I REALLY dislike Flowmaster for several reasons.

Main reason I lost low end torque on my 2003 5.3, droned like a mother when towing, and last would be it only last 2-1/2 years in Pa's winters. I replaced with Magnaflow and loved it. All stainless steel construction including clamps, Picked up the lost torque, and improved mileage over the Flowmaster setup. No where near the drone I had too, but dang near just as loud under full throttle. Cost between the 2 system was almost the same, but you get so much more from the Magnaflow kit.

Just my impression.

Paradigm49 · February 21, 2011

I'm with Stevens11 on the flowmasters. Some of their powdercoated mufflers (Super 40, Super 44)...the powdercoating only lasts a few months (since it's baked on, the heat from the exhaust basically bakes it off, and the 2 that i've dealt with only lasted about 2 years at most--Upstate NY and the winters)

Magnaflow makes a beautiful sounding system. I had a dual out the rear magnaflow system on my 2007 Sierra. I will tell you though, they are an utter PAIN to get perfectly level and even. They have a nice low rumble to them and not any of the crackle that the flowmasters are notorious for. The sierra was totalled this past december due to the rear axle on the right hand side snapping and me playing ping pong off 2 concrete walls. Magnaflows...you can't go wrong with them and their quality. I'm not a fan of the band clamps that any manufacturer makes, so i tend to swap those out.

However....

The system that i am looking into currently for my 2010 Silverado is actually made by MBRP. They have a dual out the rear, or dual out each side. I'm looking to buy the dual out the sides. They have 3 different levels of systems, Pro, XP, and installer. The pro and xp both use stainless steel, but the XP uses t409(i believe) like magnaflow does so the pipes will discolor. The Pro system is t304 stainless steel and is polished from the intermediate pipe back. The installer series is aluminized steel (basically OEM stuff)

The MBRP has the really throaty/raspy noise of the flowmasters, but much much better build quality as far as i'm concerned. Me being me and neurotic about details, is going to install the Pro series. The dual out the back and split behind the tire are the same price. Don't get me wrong, i love the magnaflow mufflers, and they scream when you get on them, but i want something louder, and flowmaster is not at option. Borla and corsa are great too, but the MBRP is a tad bit less and just a good a quality as far as i'm concerned. I currently have a gibson system on the truck (installed at the dealership---wasn't my choice) and i can't wait to get it off of there.

Just my $.02 and feel free to ask any questions if you have any!

I REALLY dislike Flowmaster for several reasons.

Main reason I lost low end torque on my 2003 5.3, droned like a mother when towing, and last would be it only last 2-1/2 years in Pa's winters. I replaced with Magnaflow and loved it. All stainless steel construction including clamps, Picked up the lost torque, and improved mileage over the Flowmaster setup. No where near the drone I had too, but dang near just as loud under full throttle. Cost between the 2 system was almost the same, but you get so much more from the Magnaflow kit.

Just my impression.

f0st3r · February 21, 2011

Thanks guys, I am going to check on the magnaflow pricing. The selection of muffler shops here is kinda meh, you either have the REALLY expensive guys, or the small shops. Most of the smaller shops do a good job, I have used a couple before, just gotta find one that carry's what you want.

Thanks again.

tyhuck · February 22, 2011

Definately go with the Magnaflow. You will be extremely happy. I would also suggest you go with a tailpipe that goes all the way back, because most any mufflers with a turndown will drone. I would also suggest you find a good muffler shop to do the install. I dont know about your area, but around here, most of the shops can do an install for about half of what those kits cost. No matter who puts the kit on, have it welded up ASAP. Clamps just arent as good as a toatlly fused and sealed system.

Beer Belly · February 22, 2011

The sierra was totalled this past december due to the rear axle on the right hand side snapping and me playing ping pong off 2 concrete walls.

I remember this story.....how did it end ???....what was the cause of the axle shearing ???

renegadeking · February 22, 2011

MagnaFlow makes great exhaust. I have a dynomax ultra flow, basically the same thing as the magnaflow. They are also a great muffler, my kit was single in and dual out. all stainless steel, It still looks brand new and it been on since august and i drive in salt, sand, gravel, mud, you name it i probably been through it. the kit was pretty cheap.

IMO i would stay away from flowmaster due to the bad drone. but the thing to remember is the louder the muffler the more drone you will have. Plus magnaflow or dynomax straight through mufflers will get you more hp and mpg over the camber muffler such as the flowmaster.

Paradigm49 · February 22, 2011

Hey...glad you remember it. After getting my insurance company and GM involved (and alot of bitching and complaining) the investigation concluded that there was a stress fracture in the rear right axle. It was cold the morning it happened (like 25 degrees farenheit) and that it was something that i couldn't have prevented. Apparently GM also took the remainder of the axle shaft and cut the shaft in a few more places and the center of the metal was still spongy looking. Left axle shaft was nice and smooth all the way through.

I bought a 2010 silverado on december 28th. Basically brand new. 2 weeks ago i got a phone call from GM stating that they were aware that i bought a new truck and they are taking care of the cost of the truck. Recieved updated title with no liens on it last friday. Frankly i'm very impressed that GM stepped up to the plate and admitted that there was in fact a problem and they resolved the situation to my satisfaction. Even though i was pissed what happened, and i was fine from the crash...customer service like that is the reason i will stay with GM. Oh...and they paid for XM radio for the life of the truck

The sierra was totalled this past december due to the rear axle on the right hand side snapping and me playing ping pong off 2 concrete walls.

I remember this story.....how did it end ???....what was the cause of the axle shearing ???

tyhuck · February 23, 2011

Damn, thats a pretty good deal. So were you paying out the truck you wrecked or was it payed off?

SpeedHoles · February 23, 2011

A dumped Magnaflow will not drone, as neither would a Corsa if you still have cats. I'm a big fan of dumped exhaust, much cleaner and simpler. Both of my trucks are dumped before the axle, and no drone whatsoever.

Also not true that the louder the exhaust the more drone.... depends on many other factors other than just decibels.

tyhuck · February 23, 2011

A dumped Magnaflow will not drone, as neither would a Corsa if you still have cats. I'm a big fan of dumped exhaust, much cleaner and simpler. Both of my trucks are dumped before the axle, and no drone whatsoever.
Also not true that the louder the exhaust the more drone.... depends on many other factors other than just decibels.

Yeah, I had a Thrush muffler on my old S10, and it had a stock sound most of the time. But, it would drone horribly upon first start-up. Especially in the morning. Ide have to crank it and pull out of the garage to let it warm up a minute. The drine inside the garage made my head throbb.

f0st3r · February 23, 2011

A dumped Magnaflow will not drone, as neither would a Corsa if you still have cats. I'm a big fan of dumped exhaust, much cleaner and simpler. Both of my trucks are dumped before the axle, and no drone whatsoever.
Also not true that the louder the exhaust the more drone.... depends on many other factors other than just decibels.

That's good to know, I was really wondering how the dumped exhaust would drone. Well I think I'm gonna stay away from the flowmaster and find a show that does magnaflows.

Thanks guys

Paradigm49 · February 23, 2011

I was paying out the truck when it wrecked. My insurance covered the amount i owed to the bank and about another 4K to spare, so i used that for a down payment on the new truck, and was still fighting with GM at the time. I had spoke to their customer service number and their regional associate Dalia i believe was about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. She called me back and didn't even know which call i was referring to---the previous call i had made some time ago was about the engine that was in the truck and she kept on referring to that. Finally got pissed off enough that i told her i wanted her supervisors name and nuber and that i was done talking to her. She gave me that information and kept on telling me that her supervisor doesn't appreciate getting phone calls, and i respectful told her that if she wasn't so incompetent in knowing CORRECT details about the case then i wouldn't have the problem. Spoke to her supervisor, and thats where things really started rolling. Gave him my insurance claim number, the rep i was speaking to and he told me he would call me back within a day. Very very courteous gentleman, there was a bit of arguing back and forth here and there as to what i wanted out of the deal but he also knew that i could have easily gone to the press about the problem on the truck and since they had issues a recall on the 2011 vehicles...i think that had alot to do with it..

but in the end, things worked out.

Damn, thats a pretty good deal. So were you paying out the truck you wrecked or was it payed off?

tyhuck · February 23, 2011

At least you ended up with a new truck that you didnt owe a dime on. The steps required to get it really suck, but the outcome seems kinda cool.

Baker_one_nine · February 23, 2011

i have dual flowmaster 40's on my truck and my buddy owns an exhaust shop. one of the smartest guys i know he was talking about resonance, decibals, frequency, backpressure, reverberations and the whole works. as for the drone, he said they make the proper adjustments so the drone is the least at 35 and 75 mph.

anyways, i asked him if he had much experiences on the 6.2's and he actually has one and did mine up exactly like his, which was the flowmaster 40's crossing to duals out the sides. all of the work was custom done in the shop and i even got to pick out my tips and all that.

overall very satisfied with the sound and performance. i even like it better than the $1000 borla on my tahoe, and i only paid $500 for this setup on the truck.

i've always been a fan of magnaflow, and i had that on my tahoe for a while, but it didn't really have the growl i like. that's why i replaced it with the borla.