Flowmaster dilema

[gotmeanewtruck]

Hey guys,

I want to put some flowmasters on my new truck (4.8 2002), but I'm getting conflicting stories. One guy is telling me to just weld a flowmaster on (50 series) and it is simple as that. Another is telling me that I should buy a cat-back system. I don't know who do believe because I'm not familiar with all this. I don't want to screw up my new truck. Also, the guy that is telling me to install the cat-back system likes the Gibson system rather than Flowmaster. Any thoughts on all of this.

Thanks

[5.3LSilverado01]

I took my truck to a local (trusted) muffler shop and got them to put a 2 chamber Flowmaster (they had them in stock) on. I also had them dump it. They cut off the stock muffler and tail pipe, welded a 3" pipe ('bout 10-12") onto the pipe coming from the y-pipe for proper muffler placement and also to fit the new flowmaster on, then on the other side of the muffler (single 3" pipe in, and dual 2.5" pipes out, i think), they welded 2 turn-downs, or elbows so the exhaust doesn't blow onto the axle but to the ground at around a 70* angle. The left or passenger-side turn down is rotated a little to the right to prevent any exhaust gases from coming to close to the left shock. Total price w/tax was $171 installed.

 

A complete cat-back kit is anywhere from $300-$600 w/o install.

 

Dumping the exhaust sounds meaner or rawer and is a little loader, and makes a little more power than dual pipes coming out the back.

 

If I wanted, the muffler shop could have, or still can, put dual pipes out the back with crome tips for like $70 more. Either way, its still cheaper than a kit. Plus, my muffler shop gives it a life time warranty on everything they did, including the flowmaster muffler, which only comes from flowmaster with a 1 or 2 year warranty.

 

Another advantage of going to a muffler shop is you get to choose and see exactly what they are putting on. You won't have to worry about your ordered kit coming with ugly little tips or getting someting you don't really like...

 

Whip out the yellow pages and call around, you should be able to find an honest shop with people are willing to spend time talking with you and seem to know what there doing.  

[gmcjoe]

I agree with 5.3LSilverado01.  I had a Flowmaster 40 single in/dual out installed on my 2000 5.3l Sierra with the tails dumping down along side the spare tire.  Sounds great with little resonance around 2K RPM and all for $260 OTD.

 

Putting true duals on these vortec engines really robs low-end power.

 

There is a wav file of my setup if you want to hear it, click the link below