STILL CANT DECIDE

pastorscott · August 25, 2004

to be a pain guys, but im down to the gibson or flomaster cat back system. Im concerned about being to loud inside the cab and that dreaded exhaust drone. Wife isnt to keen on the new system idea to begin with. Oh yeh its a 2004 5.3 Suburban 4x4.

thanks for any imput

Pastor Scott

Elwood 2000 · August 25, 2004

I'll tell you what, my wife HATES any type of LOUD exhaust and to be perfectly honest, I prefer a "performance" type of sound over just loud. I have a 2000 Silverado, ext cab. short bed and I just installed a 5"x11"x22" Magnaflow muffler with dual outlets and the sound is exactly what I was after. Very quiet at idle AND at cruise with NO interior drone, but it sounds very throaty, yet mellow during accelleration.

If the wife and kids are not up for any type of exhaust note and you want some, it is a great compromise that sounds excellent.

For your 'burb, a single in/single out would be the ticket!

Good Luck and I am not trying to add to your agony, I was there for many months myself before finally making a decision. I finally decided I would rather the exhaust be a little to quiet instead of a little too loud, so I went with the 22" instead of the 18" and I am VERY pleased with the outcome.

99Silver6.0 · August 25, 2004

Id have to give another nod to Magnaflow. Not Flowmaster.

budhayes3 · August 25, 2004

I have the gibson dual out back with gibson shortie headers. In the truck with the windows closed you can't even here it. Sounds good when you step on it, but absolutely no drone on the highway. People who have followed behind me say it sounds good, but I don't know for myself because I never followed my own truck. My wife actually thinks it's very tame, but she's comparing it to my 85 Monte SS that was fairly built with a Hooker cat back intended for Buick Grand Nationals. That system barked as soon as you turned the key...perfect tone for a daily driver in my eyes....just had to idle past the fuzz.

Back to the Gibson system...Fits nice, good quality, looks great. 3 years later and I'm finding out what parts aren't stainless. Probably going to have to get to a muffler shop some time in the next year to re-enforce the welds for the hangers on the mufflers...rusting and flaking apart in chunks.

I'd recommend it if you want an exhaust that is tame at idle, no drone on highway, but shows some rumble when you get on it. I felt a performance increase throughout the powerband, plus, the 3.5" tips look real nice under the rear bumper.

Wingnut · August 25, 2004

I have a single in, single out Magnaflow on the 02, and it has very little in-cab noise...But you can tell it's there.

I have a cat back Flowmaster system on the 92, and you know it's there as soon as you start it...It's fairly loud.

99Silver6.0 · August 25, 2004

I have a single in, single out Magnaflow on the 02, and it has very little in-cab noise...But you can tell it's there.

I have a cat back Flowmaster system on the 92, and you know it's there as soon as you start it...It's fairly loud.

Loud is good though!!!!!!! My Flow 40 wasnt loud enough for me.

LikeaRock14 · August 25, 2004

Here's a pic for an 00-04 Yukon XL system from Flowmaster

Link

With the "Force II" cat-back, it his kind of pricey, but at the same time, you will have VERY minimal resonance w/ the 70 series muffler along with the resonator. A nice looking tip's on the end too!

It is a bit pricey even for a Flowmaster kit, but at the same time you will get a very "tame" sound, and it will be noticeable under acceleration, but never will be overwhelmingly loud.

I'm not too familiar w. the Gibson systems, but I'd vote the Force II or a 22" Magnaflow.

Another route would be to have a muffler shop install a new muffler, and if it's too loud thatn you can order a 4" round Magnaflow, basically their resnoator, and it wouldn't change the sound much, but quiet it down significantly

concours · August 26, 2004

I hate my Borla stainless system. The fit stinks, the drone drives me mad. Never again.

99Silver6.0 · August 26, 2004

I hate my Borla stainless system. The fit stinks, the drone drives me mad. Never again.

Everyone has different tastes. I had the plain old Borla cat-back and it was way too quiet. I ripped off the huge muffler and put a 12" XR-1 in its place. I couldnt be happier!

Heres something for you guys. Its a site with LS1 exhaust clips. They should sound somewhat similar on a 5.3.

LS1Sounds.com

silverado19 · August 26, 2004

Don't waste your time with the NOISEMASTER!! I have the Gibson Sweptside single outlet on both my Tahoe and Silverado Extra Cab and it sounds great. No excess noise in the cab of either vehicle except when you get on the GAS!!! At highway/crusing speeds and around town little sound. Go with the GIBSON!!

kenlacy · August 26, 2004

I have the Gibson Dual Sport Cat Back on my 04 Burban (5.3) - nice low tone (didn't want to wake up the negihborhood) and the cab noise is very minimal - you slightly notice it over stock.

VictoryRed · August 28, 2004

Another vote for the Gibson sweptside single outlet catback. I installed it a couple of weeks ago and am very pleased with the sound. I had a Gibson on my previous truck, a 1995 Ford F-150, and it sounded great also. I have not noticed the drone that some others have complained about on other threads. Nice throaty sound without being too loud. I have a sound clip but I'm not sure how to post it.