Ive been looking/listening to exhaust systems on youtube for the 4.8L. I dont want CherryBomb or Flowjohnson. Im leaning towards the Magnaflow. Has a nice sound at idle, cruising speeds, and WOT. I dont wanna spend $600+ on the whole get-up though. Is it popular to just buy the muffler? Cut the cats, straight pipe to the muffler and dump it over the rear axle...no? I know its "different strokes for different folks", but I personally have never been a fan of the "mule d!ck" tips ....Basically Im asking what Im losing by buying just the muffler vs buying the whole system?

 

Just buying the muffler is pretty common, as long as your okay with the stock piping, which for a stock truck is fine. I bought a Magnaflow single 3" in dual 2.5" out, two 90 deg bends, and two tips, look it all to an exhaust shop and they welded it in for me. It dumps out the passenger side in front of the tire.

Maybe instead of gutting the cats you can just cut them out and weld in some straight pieces?

 

get a sing in single out hooker aerochamber and take it to your local muffler shop. It will take a little piece of straight pipe to make up the difference since it is shorter but will fit in the stock location nicely. The hooker mufflers are pretty cheap, flow great, and sound great a little more agressive than a magnaflow.

 

Yea thats what I wanted to do. Question: If I cut the cats completely off, I would need O2 Simulators..correct?

Im going to check what those sound like on youtube (better option?) and make a decision.

Another question: How many bends will need to be made?

 

Yes, or get your truck tuned with the rear O2 sensor codes removed. Mail order tunes are usually about $200 and up, good price for what you get.

 

Lets say I choose Magnaflow exhaust and Im wanting to get JUST the muffler.

Theres single in single out / Single in dual out --- 5 x 8 x 18 or 5 x 11 x 22 or 5 x 8 x 22 etc etc... I dont know how to make sense out of all these options. If I was to order right now, it would just be a shot in the dark ... I understand the measurements, but is the 5 x 8 x 18 louder than the 5 x 11 x 22? Should I get single in dual out? I have WAY more questions than answers ... Could someone please school me lol