Magnaflow Exhaust Upgrade

DanMan_S · June 20, 2005

UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF PAGE: Exhaust Built and Installed!

I've already gotten bored with the lack of noise that my 2005 5.3L makes and decided on simply replacing the stock muffler instead of buying a full catback system.

I've decided to get a Magnaflow SS 3" SI/SO 5" x 8" x 14" muffler, as this will still give me quite abit of noise plus any power benefits. Anyone absolutely love their magnaflow setup and willing to approve of my course of action? I don't want to spend the extra money on the extra pipe when I already have an intact tailpipe available.

My biggest concern is the how. Does anyone know of any Magnaflow dealers in the Calgary, AB area? I can't find any and will probably just order the muffler online. As well, can anyone recommend any exhaust shops in the area that will do a kickass job of welding this in (with the needed pipe to make up the length deficit)? I'd do the welding myself but won't have any chances to use the welder at work....and I don't trust myself with welding on my brand new truck.

I had the exhaust on my last truck installed at Davenport Racing and was satisfied with the work. I'll check I can book my truck in there with the exhaust in the back seat and have them quickly weld it on.

Any help would be awesome!

Wingnut · June 20, 2005

I would just go to your local shop and tell them exactly what you want.

That's what I did, and got a Magnaflow welded in for $130...That's US money though, I'm not sure what it would cost Canadian.

Elwood 2000 · June 20, 2005

Your newer truck may be different, by when I did my exhaust the inlet pipe is about 2.75 inches, not a true 3". I ordered a 2.5 " inlet and the expanded the inlet side to make for a good fit, then welded.

I would look for an exhaust shop to do the work since (unless your newer truck is different than mint) it won't be a simple fit.

Look on Magnaflows site and see if they have a dealer locator.

asilverblazer · June 20, 2005

I put a cat-back system on mine all bolt on, with no leaks. Loud and... loud.

DanMan_S · June 20, 2005

Your newer truck may be different, by when I did my exhaust the inlet pipe is about 2.75 inches, not a true 3". I ordered a 2.5 " inlet and the expanded the inlet side to make for a good fit, then welded.

I would look for an exhaust shop to do the work since (unless your newer truck is different than mint) it won't be a simple fit.

Look on Magnaflows site and see if they have a dealer locator.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My pipes are 2.75" or close to that...I was going to get 3" and sleeve it over the stock pipes.....I was told that method will do the trick.

After hearing some more recommendations for magnaflows and hooker aero-turbine mufflers (they kick ass, but the sound isn't my cup of tea) I've decided to go with a 14 x 4 x 9 Magnaflow SS muffler. It's smaller than the 5 x 8 x 18 by around 30% and will sound pretty bad ass. None of the truck clips on magnaflow's site use this muffer, but the muscle car clips do and it sounds pretty awesome behind an early gen camaro.

DanMan_S · June 22, 2005

One last question...anyone else done this sort of cheap upgrade with a nearly new truck...how is my dealership going to respond? Can they refuse to acknowledge my warranty and tell me to get bent if anything goes wrong? I'm sitting at only 1600 km so far, so I've still got a long way to go until my warranty is gone.

silver-rado · June 22, 2005

One last question...anyone else done this sort of cheap upgrade with a nearly new truck...how is my dealership going to respond? Can they refuse to acknowledge my warranty and tell me to get bent if anything goes wrong? I'm sitting at only 1600 km so far, so I've still got a long way to go until my warranty is gone.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not sure how they are in Canada

They are not "suppose" to void the warranty or give you any trouble.

It varies dealer to dealer. Hopefully you have a dealer that sells aftermarket parts-they are more forgivable.

DanMan_S · June 22, 2005

Since I live in calgary, we suffer some pretty brutal winters here with quite abit of road salt...rusting is a way of life? How badly does aluminized steel rust compare to stainless. My local exhaust shop prefers to do all of their work with aluminized steel and I'm going to need an extra piece of pipe to equal the original length of the stock muffler. They charge quite abit extra to do the work with stainless.....is it really worth the price?

Indy · June 23, 2005

Since I live in calgary, we suffer some pretty brutal winters here with quite abit of road salt...rusting is a way of life? How badly does aluminized steel rust compare to stainless. My local exhaust shop prefers to do all of their work with aluminized steel and I'm going to need an extra piece of pipe to equal the original length of the stock muffler. They charge quite abit extra to do the work with stainless.....is it really worth the price?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you are going with a stainless muffler, I would pay the extra for the pipe. I'm in Quebec, I know what road salt does.

DanMan_S · June 23, 2005

Haha, yeah, I just got quite a few of the same recommendations.

camshaft · June 23, 2005

Hey Dan

I too am in Calgary, and looking at doing a magnaflow setup myself. I know cdn tire sells them, but I wud assume ur specific muffler wud be special order. From time to time, they have 25% or 30% off their magnaflows.

Have u by chance bought a intake yet. I know Best Buy Performance on center street finally lists the k&n for our 05 model years. Not sure if u r interested but they quoted me the best price on the 63-3050 kit at $322+tax

Let me know which model u get (i'm leaning towards the 22" long) and which shop u go to. I will be making this same journey in about 3 weeks time.

Oh ya, have u checked Mopac, Best Buy Performance, Unlimited Performance, Minute muffler...ect to see if they can get in magnaflow?

DanMan_S · June 23, 2005

Hey Dan

I too am in Calgary, and looking at doing a magnaflow setup myself. I know cdn tire sells them, but I wud assume ur specific muffler wud be special order. From time to time, they have 25% or 30% off their magnaflows.

Have u by chance bought a intake yet. I know Best Buy Performance on center street finally lists the k&n for our 05 model years. Not sure if u r interested but they quoted me the best price on the 63-3050 kit at $322+tax

Let me know which model u get (i'm leaning towards the 22" long) and which shop u go to. I will be making this same journey in about 3 weeks time.

Oh ya, have u checked Mopac, Best Buy Performance, Unlimited Performance, Minute muffler...ect to see if they can get in magnaflow?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wassup Cowtown Bud??

Canadian tire doesn't have much on the shelves...the do have a 3 si/so 4 x 9 x 18 I believe for 110 ish. I'm looking for the 3' si/so 4 x 9 x 14 and it was definitely a special order in.

I've requested an online quote from Unlimited Performance, and will stop by Mopac tomorrow to see what they have. Minute muffler didn't list magnaflow on their site, but I want to stop by their shop anyhow and see how their welding is. I've heard from alot of people that the carline mufflers (Behind canadian tire in the NE, and calgary muffler on 58th and macleod) do pretty good exhaust work and have kickass service so that is where I'll probably get the work done.

I haven't bought an intake yet and may sit on it for awhile.

camshaft · June 23, 2005

I havent done enough research into which model magnaflow, but I had a flowmaster on my old truck and absolutely hated the highway drone. Because of this I will probably go to a 22" muffler. I hear this size will be the most quiet.

ya its tough to find anything magnaflow on the shelves at cdn tire, but if they can special order the model # ur looking at, and if u order it when their sale is on, u can probably get it for cheaper than anywhere else in town.

My old exhaust was done by the shop (cant remember the name) on macleod x 42av se. On the s/e corner. I had a friend there who installed headers, and the flowmaster for around $200 if I remember right. May want to see what they carry and how much they charge.

cheers

DanMan_S · June 25, 2005

I did some checking around and here are the quotes from Mopac on 16th:

"we don't have stock on the # 14329 but we do have stock on #14229 $ 132.87 ,

#14589 $ 162.65 and #14359 $ 157.23."

The 14329 is the 4 x 9 x 14 muffler that I'm after. I checked unlimited performance in the SE and they quoted me 130 for the muffler, plus they can do the installation right at the shop so I may just get it done their for simplicity sakes.

If canadian tire has a cheaper price, I'll just order it from there and have unlimited put it on.

camshaft · June 26, 2005

Dan

let me know when u have the install done. I wud like to hook up with ya to see how the install went, and maybe to compare sound (curious about the drone if any). If I like the sound, I may duplicate your system.

BTW are u doing any other exhaust mods? tip? catback?

cam