Need Muffler Suggestions

ManiacLS1 · September 21, 2004

I'm looking to replace my stock muffler for my first mod. I just want to cut off the stock one and weld a new one in. I'm looking for a decent performance increase with a quiet tone. I was thinking a magnaflow muffler or possibly a dynomax muffler of some sort. I've done a search but I still can't find the diameter of the stock pipes. Any help would be appretiated and I'm open to suggestions as far as what muffler/brand to go with.

99Silver6.0 · September 21, 2004

I cant remember stock exhaust size off hand. I didnt have stock exhaust under my truck when bought it. Magnaflow or Dynomax would do you good and be subtle toned at the same time. Borlas ProXS is also another choice. I believe they make a muffler that should mount up in place of your stocker. Single in, single out muffler.

Shaners · September 21, 2004

Another good choice is the Flowmaster 70 series. It is a quiet tone at idle and under easy power, but when you step on the throttle, you can tell that it isn't stock. They should make one that would be able to be a direct replacement fit for your truck.

03GMCinBC · September 21, 2004

The stock pipe size for a 5.3 is 2.75. I put a 3" in and out Flowmaster 50SUV on my toy and really like the sound. I'm sure you will be happy with whatever you decide to go with...

ManiacLS1 · September 21, 2004

The stock pipe size for a 5.3 is 2.75. I put a 3" in and out Flowmaster 50SUV on my toy and really like the sound. I'm sure you will be happy with whatever you decide to go with...

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I was thinking about doing a 3" 50 series and just letting the shop add some reducers to make it fit the 2.75" pipe. Did you notice any increase in performance or mpg with the Flowmaster?

LikeaRock14 · September 21, 2004

The 50 should be pretty subtle for what you want I'd think, a nice roar under acceleration yet quiet under cruise. The stock piping is 2.75", as BC said, but a shop ca easily make that up if they're good welders

PASTOR SCOTT · September 21, 2004

Ive just been through that same problem, after much research I went with a flomaster 70 series had a custom shop install with exact pipes sizes . the job looks factory. I spoke to a person with a 40 series they had to get rid of )to loud then went to the 50 I desided on the 70. its completly quite under cruize but awsome under excell and sounds nice at idle. (the wife can bare it). complete job cost 160 installed including stock. The shop man said it would not make a differance to change the pipes to 3" because the factory is so close to that size.

Pastor SCott

03GMCinBC · September 22, 2004

The stock pipe size for a 5.3 is 2.75. I put a 3" in and out Flowmaster 50SUV on my toy and really like the sound. I'm sure you will be happy with whatever you decide to go with...

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I was thinking about doing a 3" 50 series and just letting the shop add some reducers to make it fit the 2.75" pipe. Did you notice any increase in performance or mpg with the Flowmaster?

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I didnt notice any MPG change, although, I think I have found I drive with a little heavier foot now too... I do like to hear it rumble under acceleration. My wife complains about the sound but if I was worried about that, I would have stayed with the stocker

At cruise, you barely know it is there, You will hear it when you get on the gass...

Good luck

12secSS · September 22, 2004

Personally, I wouldn't do a flowmaster. They sound terrible, only on 5.0s do they sound good or a true dual system. I am going to go with a Hooker Aerochamber muffler, I had this exhaust on my SS and it sounded great. Much better than F-bodies with flowmaster, heck some of them even switch over to a Hooker system. Hooker doesn't offer a truck exhaust, but you can use either of their mufflers, the Aerochamber and Maximum Flow.

ManiacLS1 · September 22, 2004

Personally, I wouldn't do a flowmaster. They sound terrible, only on 5.0s do they sound good or a true dual system. I am going to go with a Hooker Aerochamber muffler, I had this exhaust on my SS and it sounded great. Much better than F-bodies with flowmaster, heck some of them even switch over to a Hooker system. Hooker doesn't offer a truck exhaust, but you can use either of their mufflers, the Aerochamber and Maximum Flow.

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I had a stock exhaust, Hooker Aerochamber Cat-Back, "dynomouth" cat-back, and a Flowmaster American Thunder Cat-Back on my Firehawk until I finally decided to go with TSP True Duals. I don't care much for the sound of the Hooker but that was something I was looking into when I was looking for a muffler for my truck. I'm probably going to go with the Flowmaster simply because I finally own a vehicle that I can fit a Flowmaster under lol.

99Silver6.0 · September 23, 2004

Personally, I wouldn't do a flowmaster. They sound terrible, only on 5.0s do they sound good or a true dual system. I am going to go with a Hooker Aerochamber muffler, I had this exhaust on my SS and it sounded great. Much better than F-bodies with flowmaster, heck some of them even switch over to a Hooker system. Hooker doesn't offer a truck exhaust, but you can use either of their mufflers, the Aerochamber and Maximum Flow.

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I had a stock exhaust, Hooker Aerochamber Cat-Back, "dynomouth" cat-back, and a Flowmaster American Thunder Cat-Back on my Firehawk until I finally decided to go with TSP True Duals. I don't care much for the sound of the Hooker but that was something I was looking into when I was looking for a muffler for my truck. I'm probably going to go with the Flowmaster simply because I finally own a vehicle that I can fit a Flowmaster under lol.

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The Hooker Aero actually sounds pretty dam good on a 5.3. I have a clip of a truck running one. Just dont have a good place to host it! But I do second the Flows opinion. They are only good for one thing. Noise.

TarheelZ · September 24, 2004

For what it's worth, I just replaced the Imco T904 muffler on mine with a Magnaflow, single-in/single-out for $125 (just replaced the muffler; already had 3" pipe with tip).

The Magnaflow is fairly quiet at idle, with a deeper tone than before, but sounds very good under acceleration. Supposedly has better flow than Flowmaster which is a good thing!

Good luck!

LikeaRock14 · September 24, 2004

Jared, I'll host it

12secSS · September 24, 2004

The Hooker Aero actually sounds pretty dam good on a 5.3. I have a clip of a truck running one. Just dont have a good place to host it! But I do second the Flows opinion. They are only good for one thing. Noise.

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If LikeaRock14 doesn't host, I can ... either way please send me the clip. I want to hear what it sounds like.