Definition of Loud wrt Exhaust

[ag95]

I've read a lot of the threads about exhaust and I have some questions. the word loud is used a lot. What is y'alls definition of loud?

 

I've got a '03 Tahoe w/5.3L w/stock exhaust. My goal is to get a little better mpg, hp, and torque; and a good tone from exhaust.

 

I'd like to barely hear the muffler at idle inside with the windows up. Right now I really don't hear anything. When I get on it, I want a good tone and it be noticeable in the interior. I don't want it real loud because the wife drives it sometimes.

 

I have been thinking about getting the Flowmaster 70 series as a drop in replacement for the stock. Then following it up with the cold air K&N in the spring (mainly because of money reasons).

 

I'm thinking I should be able to do this for under $500.

 

Would this give me what I want?

[GMjunK1E]

Loud I guess depends on where you are in your RPM range, how fast your driving, diameter size and lenth of pipes. it's all relative.

 

I have a 2.5" Flowmaster 2-chamber dual pipe system (no-cats) in my "other" car and it's fairly loud, not just "audible". it's a deep and throaty tone at low RPM and sounds more like a NASCAR race tone as RPM's climb. driving the thing for bout an hour I start to develope a headache.

 

if your looking at the Flowmasters stay with a 3-chamber muffler

(it's quieter but still audible) and try to stay about or around 2.25" or 2.5" diameter size.

 

as for the K&N cold-air kit ... you may get more reving engine noise from under the hood.

 

a muffler by itself runs about $50-$80 ... a full cat-back system runs around $450-$600. the K&N kit runs about $250.

[BlueTahoe]

I have a 2003 tahoe and put on a gibson cat-back with dual passenger side exits. I would describe it just as what you described. Noticeable at startup and idle. Nice tone on the outside. Never "loud" on the interior when cruising with windows up. Barely noticeable on the highway. If I run above 80 on the highway I can hear it but not even enough to turn the radio up. I have never encoutered that annoying resonation in the cab that I have heard on other systems.

 

I was disappointed when I first put in on because it wasn't loud enough. After 3-4k miles it was "broken in" and sounded better. I have had it for 10K now and it hasn't gotten any louder for about 5K miles.

 

I'm very happy with it as this is my daily driver. I wanted the V8 sound but I want to have a conversation with the family too.

 

I paid around $300-350 at a local shop and installed myself. Took longer to remove old system then to install new one. This was my fault because I just knew I could remove the stock system without cutting. I was wrong unless I removed the rearend. Just cut it right in front of the muffler and it came right out. Can alway put a coupler there and reuse the stock system. I could do this change in about 1 hour if I knew I HAD to cut.

 

BTW... Didn't track MPG at the time and SOTP difference was little to nothing but this was still with stock air filter and stock tune. I believe the new intake and tune helped take advantage of the exhaust change.

[Guest chevydeerhunter]

I've read a lot of the threads about exhaust and I have some questions.  the word loud is used a lot.  What is y'alls definition of loud?

 

I've got a '03 Tahoe w/5.3L w/stock exhaust.  My goal is to get a little better mpg, hp, and torque; and a good tone from exhaust. 

 

I'd like to barely hear the muffler at idle inside with the windows up.  Right now I really don't hear anything.  When I get on it, I want a good tone and it be noticeable in the interior.  I don't want it real loud because the wife drives it sometimes.   

 

I have been thinking about getting the Flowmaster 70 series as a drop in replacement for the stock.  Then following it up with the cold air K&N in the spring (mainly because of money reasons).

 

I'm thinking I should be able to do this for under $500.

 

Would this give me what I want?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I think the 70 series would be too mellow for your tastes. Right now, I'm running the 50 series big block muffler as a drop in replacement. I have 3.5 x 18" chrome tips running straight out. I hear a noticible rumble at idle and it seems to quiet down a little under acceleration. At highway speeds(70), it's noticeable, but not loud at all. The radio volume at a comfortable level overpowers the interior sound at that speed. Interior resonance from idle on up is negligible at best. At first, I was disappointed and wanted to go to a 40 series(the classic Flowmaster sound), but after driving it a while and after a couple of road trips, I think it suites the family well.