Thinking About Removing Headers And Exhaust, Would I Notice?

[Drunken Sailor]

Hey guys,

 

I bought this old 1991 GMC C2500 with a 4 bolt main 350 swap a little while ago. It's not the prettiest truck in the world, but I'm slowly fixing it up. It is going to sit most of the time, I just use it to pull my trailer.

 

When I bought the truck it came with shorty headers and straight-through exhaust with cheap Pro-Flow (or something like that) mufflers on it. No cats or resonators. The exhaust is 2.5" dual all the way back. The problem is the exhaust is driving me nuts. I must be getting old, because it's a bit too loud; but worse than that, it's always leaking. I've pulled the headers off and regasketted them twice and one is leaking again. They're just warped and shitty. They keep burning out the collector gaskets at the bottom too. Right now I've got them double-gasketted at the heads. Just like the headers on my race car, they're a constant headache.

 

I'm thinking of removing the whole exhaust system and going to the wreckers to pull a complete stock system to install. At least that way it will be quieter and I won't have to mess with it all the time. But since I tow with this truck and what not, do you think I'd notice a loss in power/economy like this?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

[omegafiler]

It's not just you, that exhaust setup has gotta be LOUD. If you can find a complete stock system that's in good condition, go for it. At the very least, find some stock headers with the cats, then you can probably just keep the rest - or even have a local exhaust shop build the rest for you. Then if you want to free it up, swap out the muffler with a free-flowing muffler, such as a Magnaflow, and you'll be fine. If anything, you'll pickup some low-end torque, and I doubt you'll see any change in MPG.

[John Boelte]

It would be my preference to replace the shorty headers with some long tube headers, catalytic converter and muffler. If you get something used it's going to be rusty and difficult to deal with; plus, you'd probably see a reduction in power. If you go with new longtubes, everything will be new and easier to deal with, plus you'll probably gain some torque over the shorty headers. Go with Hooker or Hedman. Also check out Hooker's Aerochamber muffler.