Swapping Out The Muffler And Tip Only

grimmysnr · April 24, 2008

Is it possible to just swap out the muffler and maybe have a tip welded on? ECLB exhausts are few and far between and the only other option is having a muffler shop build a system for me. Well they use crush bend pipes and vortec muffler for the same price as a good system. Plus I dont really want to increase the size of the system. All I want is a little bit more of a deeper lope but keep the stock power curve. A chrome tip would be nice too.

What do you guys think?

The first pic is the day of purchase since then I have added nerf bars, westin bull bar, and BF Goodrich All Terrains.

jhoff8487 · April 24, 2008

It is possible and can be had for about $200 bucks all in all. I'm looking at doing the same thing and am just waiting to pull the trigger on a Magnaflow 12259 or Hooker Aero Chamber muffler. I've decided not to go with a tip since I want to stick with side exit and it'd be real obvious it was just a tip welded on. You can buy the muffler online for about 2/3s or 1/2 what a muffler shop will charge and then just pay a good shop 30 or so bucks to weld it in.

05silvycrew · April 24, 2008

swapped out the stock muffler for a magnaflow. 22" long 5"X11" case. It's a little louder than stock when idle, but has a nice growl when you get on it. stock pipes

zxcv · April 24, 2008

I did the same - only with a flowmaster muffler. It's got a great growl, and you dont lose too much backpressure.

KE5FKP · April 29, 2008

I did the same - only with a flowmaster muffler. It's got a great growl, and you dont lose too much backpressure.

I'm preparing to do the same - with a super 40. I tow a travel trailer so I'm concerned about torque loss, I'm hoping I won't lose any torque with the new muffler. Should I be concerned if I leave everything else stock?

KE5FKP · April 29, 2008

I have another dumb question - which size inlet/outlet do I need for a 2000 5.3 1500? I measured the pipe and the diameter is 2 5/8" (?!?) Which one do I want?

05silvycrew · April 29, 2008

I used 3" inlet, 3" outlet.

It slipped right over the stock pipes and welded in nicely.

LewiSILVERADO · April 29, 2008

Is it possible to just swap out the muffler and maybe have a tip welded on? ECLB exhausts are few and far between and the only other option is having a muffler shop build a system for me. Well they use crush bend pipes and vortec muffler for the same price as a good system. Plus I dont really want to increase the size of the system. All I want is a little bit more of a deeper lope but keep the stock power curve. A chrome tip would be nice too.

What do you guys think?

The first pic is the day of purchase since then I have added nerf bars, westin bull bar, and BF Goodrich All Terrains.

A lot of the flow is in the pipes, not the muffler. Going with a mandrel bent pipe system provides significant performance improvement (probably at the expense of torque - doesn't bother me since I don't tow). That said, what you say about crush bends is absolutely true. When I bought my truck the previous owner had an exhaust shop put on a flowmaster 1 in and 2 out muffler (probably a 40 based on the sound) with duals out the back. The pipes were so badly mangled in the bends I'm amazed gas even reached the back. I took it off and went to a Flowmaster cat back 3" mandrel bent all stainless single side outlet system. It's actually quieter, and runs much better (but is still rumbly, almost to a fault on the highway). So, if you don't want to go full aftermarket system, I believe the next best thing is what you're talking. The stock pipe has to be better than what most muffler shops will mangle up for you.

KE5FKP · April 30, 2008

I used 3" inlet, 3" outlet.

It slipped right over the stock pipes and welded in nicely.

I'm assuming you have a 5.3? Might not matter - they may all be the same. Thanks for the info!!!

Daniel T · April 30, 2008

on my 5.3L Burb I did exacty what you describe. Do nothing except cut out the stock muffler and install a SS Magnaflow 3" in 3" out of same length. Also added a SS tip, exiting at the side in the stock location...

works very well, sounds nice and has not affected my torque from what I can tell after my last 500 mile trip pulling my 8000# RV

LewiSILVERADO · April 30, 2008

on my 5.3L Burb I did exacty what you describe. Do nothing except cut out the stock muffler and install a SS Magnaflow 3" in 3" out of same length. Also added a SS tip, exiting at the side in the stock location...
works very well, sounds nice and has not affected my torque from what I can tell after my last 500 mile trip pulling my 8000# RV

Good move - probably the best sound for the money.

I still want that trailer, though...