Muffler vs. Full Catback?

Bruce03Silverado · January 13, 2004

I just wanted everyone's thoughts on buying just a muffler over buying a full cat back system for my 03. I know how I feel about it on my Firehawk and Mustang and it's a catback all the way, but for my truck which is a daily driver I'm not sure what to consider....I really like the Maganaflow but I know a full catback gives you more benefits than just the muffler would....I just put 285 BFG's on my truck and am planning a superchips tuner for it along with just a drop in K&N for now.....your thoughts and opinions? Thanks!

Shaggnasty · January 13, 2004

I cut my muffler out and put a Flowmaster 70 on for $70. Hard

to beat the price.

LS1Steve · January 13, 2004

Check the stock piping, if it has a lot of bends from cat back, then the system will get rid of all those crimped bends and give decent improvement, if its pretty straight (which is likely for a pickup) then you might be good with just a muffler. I usually would go for the full system just for the larger diameter though.

Bruce03Silverado · January 13, 2004

I think the stock pipes are 2.75" though and that's a pretty decent size pipe for stock.....

J-rod · January 13, 2004

I think the stock pipes are 2.75" though and that's a pretty decent size pipe for stock.....

Actually, (and maybe this is different on the 03+ models or for different engines, but anyway ...) I *believe* mine is 3" pipe b/c the guy at the muffler shop said the FM 40 series he put on was single 3" in and dual 2.5" out. Of course, maybe he was wrong or maybe I dreamed that.

EDIT: I stand corrected ... I looked at mine when I got off work and it appears that Mr. Muffler-Shop-Man welded another piece in there to bring the size up to 3" so it would fit the Flowmaster. So Bruce is the man, and I should be b1sh-slapped!

Regardless though, they bent the p1ss out of mine (from the factory) where it comes across the truck just behind the tranny. In its original (round) shape, the pipe would have extended just below one of the frame crossmembers (or whatever it's called) so I'm guessing they bent it so any high ground, stumps, etc would hit the frame and not the pipe. Personally, I'd have rather taken my chances with the pipe. Besides, it looks like the did it with a friggin claw-hammer! Anyone else notice this one theirs??? (FYI: as the .sig says, mine is an 02 w/ the 5.3)

03Bowtie · January 13, 2004

The stock piping on the '03 is stainless steel, so if money is an issue with you, I would just get the muffler and have a shop weld it in for you. I also have an '03 and had a Dynomax Ultraflo SS muffler welded in place of the old stocker. It sounds MUCH better, not too loud, but much throatier than stock, and no interior resonance. I did notice a very slight gain in performance and also slight gain in MPG. Nothing that is really going to blow your hair back, but it sure sounds nice!!

Machine · January 14, 2004

Go for the catback. If all you were doing was adding a K&N - then a muffler swap is OK. The tuner program that you want will work better with the catback.

HumanZoom · January 14, 2004

I decided to go completely custom with my truck's exhaust. If you know a real good local guy you should go for it. I went for a true dual (no Y pipe) cat back system and then I threw on these tiny flows (not sure of the series). I think it sounds great and it seems to get better performance, though I might have loss some of my towing ability (but I don't tow/haul with my truck). If you are looking for a deep rumble, this is the way to go. It did cost me a pretty penny (70 bucks per muffler) plus labor and the extra piping and the tips. I dunno...I'm happy with it though. Here is the pic of the mufflers:

It does turn heads and is pretty loud for being just cat back. If I could find a host I'd let you see/hear them in a movie I recorded.