looking for opinions on dual exaust

[hirschdalechevy]

There's been a lot of bad talk about Flowmasters these last few years... everyone has them, hurt flow, bad sound, yada yada. I don't care, I LOVE the sound of a 40 series Flowmaster on a healthy v8. But it must be sealed up good, exhaust leaks make it all sound like crap.

Also, i've had a couple Camaros with the crossflow style 80 series muffler and I never experienced any cackle?

Agree.....I run doug thorley headers , 2 1/2" pipe and flowmaster series 40's on all my trucks and love the sound , (although nothing I own is stock under the hood).

 

[GreaseDog]

http://www.summitracing.com/search/...C10/Section/Exhaust-Systems-Kits/?Ns=Rank|Asc

much better options than the overpriced "custom bent" stuff, and guaranteed to fit right.

 

[oneluckypops]

http://www.summitracing.com/search/...C10/Section/Exhaust-Systems-Kits/?Ns=Rank|Asc

much better options than the overpriced "custom bent" stuff, and guaranteed to fit right.

Thanks for the link but honestly I dont think its worth it, the cheapest one still would need mufflers added to the price plus shipping is gonna be over 200 bux. I also like to think my time is worth something so add the labor of installing versus just dropping the truck off and getting a call when its done and your not really saving anything. Not to mention the exits are either side exit or all the way back and I personally dont like either, nor do I like the dump before the axle. I like turning them out and down at the corners where you dont see any exit.

 

[GreaseDog]

Thanks for the link but honestly I dont think its worth it, the cheapest one still would need mufflers added to the price plus shipping is gonna be over 200 bux. I also like to think my time is worth something so add the labor of installing versus just dropping the truck off and getting a call when its done and your not really saving anything. Not to mention the exits are either side exit or all the way back and I personally dont like either, nor do I like the dump before the axle. I like turning them out and down at the corners where you dont see any exit.

shipping is over $200? last time i ordered from Summit, shipping and handling was 14.95.

 

[oneluckypops]

shipping is over $200? last time i ordered from Summit, shipping and handling was 14.95.

no it would be over 200 for everything : exhaust system, mufflers, and shipping combined. The other thing that concerns me is welding it all up underneith the truck, the mig I use doesnt exactly like to weld thin gauge metal andything less then 1/8" and it doesnt weld very good seems like you spend more time tracing blow thrus then you do welding.

 

[GreaseDog]

its all clamp together, and not a cobbled together clamped mess either. looks factory.

 

[Old77]

Does it use band clamps?

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

I am going to go the route GreaseDog suggested, buying the parts and doing it yourself. It will be roughly $100 cheaper than having a shop do it by my estimations. It should only take 3-4 hours, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself and that it is done how you want it done.

As far as having it welded up, I am not sure that is the way to go. Having parts or all of it being clamped gives you the flexibility of moving it out of the way when it comes to working on your truck. For example, I had the exhaust on my 85 Corvette done at a shop and it was completely welded. The next summer it needed new u-joints on the driveshaft. Oh d@mn I says as I lay under the car, I need to take the exhaust off to get the d-shaft off. I couldn't just unbolt it and slide it out of way, I had to cut it off before the rearend then unbolt it from the headers to take it off. So unless you are 100% positive your exhaust is 100% out of the way of doing any kind of work on your truck, I would clamp the middle section together at the minimum. Just something to think about.

Mufflers, I would actually say go non-name brand. I had a Volt (chambered style - see Flowmaster) muffler put on my 05 Sierra the same time one of my co-workers put on a Flowmaster 44 on his 06 Siverado. Everyone at work thought mine sounded smoother and better. My polished stainless knock-off cost a whole $30. Compare that to a stainless Flowmaster. And that Volt is still shiny and working awesome to this day with zero problems.

 

[dhamp]

The shop that did mine said they'd quit using Flowmaster stuff because they weren't standing behind their warranties. They installing something called VX-series (by AP Performance Exhaust) that's supposedly "the same thing" as Flowmasters. Now my setup is all stock ahead of the muffler, so I wasn't expecting miracles. Still, it was disppointingly quiet when I picked it up. I could barely tell when the thing was running. After a few weeks of burn in though, it really started to sound sweet. I would say it's comparable to FM 55s though, not loud as the 40-series. Multiple people have told me that they can't believe I'm running a single, dual-outlet muffler. It has a nice burble at idle and throaty, mellow tone under acceleration. I was under the gun because I had to get it emission tested and had no muffler at all on it (it literally fell off in my driveway), so I just coughed up the $225 for a shop by my job to do it. They've done about everyone's truck that I work with. And it's turned down behind the rear wheels exactly like I like it.......I have no complaints at all.

 

[HotRodPC]

You don't need to run cats?

Nope, not 1986 and older, if 8600GVWR, no Cats required anywhere, not even CA as far as I am aware of. One reason I try to seek out 3/4 ton and above.

 

[HotRodPC]

I think I'd go with the Turbo's or the MagnaFlow. I am not positive, but pretty sure these mufflers on this redneck peiced together exhaust on the K1500 are magnaflows. They are a little rattly at idle or rompin on it, but once you're cruising down the freeeway, they are actually pretty quiet. Not even a groan really. Of course, what I like is the exhaust on my C20. Its true duals, but I think the OEM mufflers. They are long and round. You don't hear this truck running at all. Not at idle, not on the highway, at all. Only thing you hear when you get on it, is the rochester secondaries roar when you nail it, but the exhaust is virtually unheard always.

 

[oneluckypops]

its all clamp together, and not a cobbled together clamped mess either. looks factory.

I am going to go the route GreaseDog suggested, buying the parts and doing it yourself. It will be roughly $100 cheaper than having a shop do it by my estimations. It should only take 3-4 hours, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself and that it is done how you want it done.

As far as having it welded up, I am not sure that is the way to go. Having parts or all of it being clamped gives you the flexibility of moving it out of the way when it comes to working on your truck. For example, I had the exhaust on my 85 Corvette done at a shop and it was completely welded. The next summer it needed new u-joints on the driveshaft. Oh d@mn I says as I lay under the car, I need to take the exhaust off to get the d-shaft off. I couldn't just unbolt it and slide it out of way, I had to cut it off before the rearend then unbolt it from the headers to take it off. So unless you are 100% positive your exhaust is 100% out of the way of doing any kind of work on your truck, I would clamp the middle section together at the minimum. Just something to think about.

Mufflers, I would actually say go non-name brand. I had a Volt (chambered style - see Flowmaster) muffler put on my 05 Sierra the same time one of my co-workers put on a Flowmaster 44 on his 06 Siverado. Everyone at work thought mine sounded smoother and better. My polished stainless knock-off cost a whole $30. Compare that to a stainless Flowmaster. And that Volt is still shiny and working awesome to this day with zero problems.

Summit headers $ 99.95
Thrush Turbo Mufflers $ 24.95 X2
Dynomax Performance exhaust kit $139.95
Sub total $ 289.80
Delivery and handling charge $ 12.95
GRAND TOTAL $302.75

That is more exspensive then the exhaust shop at $300.00, PLUS it does NOT give me the exit at the corners I beleive it gives me a side exit which I dont like. As far as the clamps go, well IMO those rate right there with crimp connectors for electrical work, they suck ass. I do NOT use crimps for eleectrical I SOLDER ALL my Connections even when I have to use a spade connector or a ground connector I cut the plastic insulator off of them and crimp the wire in them then I solder the connection, slide heat shrink tubing back over them and it is FIXED.

I do understand what your saying about makeing it easier to remove the exhaust for future repairs, but you gotta remember this is a 85 K30 there is a gob of room underneith.

If I already had Headers and didnt mind the side exit then I would say it would be OK but I also have to have O2 sensor bungs added in the collectors which makes me have to lengthen the O2 sensor wires.

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

Summit headers $ 99.95
Thrush Turbo Mufflers $ 24.95 X2
Dynomax Performance exhaust kit $139.95
Sub total $ 289.80
Delivery and handling charge $ 12.95
GRAND TOTAL $302.75

First off I realize I am not going to get you to change your mind, so this is just an exercise to get you and others to think of other options.

Didn't you say you were going to run the stock manifolds? Take those headers out of your price and you are now at $202.80. That is cheaper.

MANIFOLD-BACK kit
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-89006/

Now I know you won't have the exit location you want from this so that will nullify anything I point out and I realize that. I bet you could get most of this system put together yourself and have the exhaust place put the tip in your location and weld up the whole thing for less than $300. But if you are getting close to $300, might as well have the shop do the whole thing. Not trying to sway you, just making conversation that may help others reading this.

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

And for an extra $18, to put you at 220.80, you can get the Thrush welded mufflers, which are chambered mufflers. Just saying.

 

[oneluckypops]

First off I realize I am not going to get you to change your mind, so this is just an exercise to get you and others to think of other options.

Didn't you say you were going to run the stock manifolds? Take those headers out of your price and you are now at $202.80. That is cheaper.

MANIFOLD-BACK kit
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-89006/

Now I know you won't have the exit location you want from this so that will nullify anything I point out and I realize that. I bet you could get most of this system put together yourself and have the exhaust place put the tip in your location and weld up the whole thing for less than $300. But if you are getting close to $300, might as well have the shop do the whole thing. Not trying to sway you, just making conversation that may help others reading this.

First off Let me say I "asked" for opinions on options so no matter how I come off on a keyboard I do appreciate your input as well as everyone elses. I do not think the "Muffler" back kit is truly mufflers after looking at the pictures it apears that is a generic term for possably even block hugger type headers they still have collector gaskets and flanges NOT donut flares.

If someone can point out a TRUE manifold back kit that would atleast dump underneith with turndowns I would consider that route, but as of now yea it apears that the muffler shop is the answare SO FAR.