Where are you guys getting the X pipes and what diameter pipe are they? I am gonna use dual 2.5" from the cats back all the way to the bumper and I was thinking the X pipe would give it a little more midrange power.

 

I got mine from husker performance along with others on this board. Fast shipping and fair price. http://www.exhaustproslinc.com/xandypipes1.html

I am running the 2.5" with 3" center core.

 

did you notice an improvement in sound quality after putting on the x-pipe? does it sound different than just plain duals?

 

Last night I listened to a 5.3 with 2.5" duals with 2-2 chamber flowmasters with turn downs right after the rear end. Sounded pretty good but not really that much different from my stock pipes with a single 2 chamber flowmaster. I am wondering how much HP is really hiding in the exhaust on 5.3s The stock pipes are 2 7/8" which is damn near 3". I would think the muffler is the main restriction. I mainly wanted true duals for a good sound and a few extra ponies but I think I will get a HPP3 before I buy exhaust. More bang for the buck. Anyone have dyno or drag strip reports from just changing to dual exhausts?

 

When I went with 2 dynomax(staight-through) mufflers and the X pipe, the exhaust hardly made any sound, kinda like stock. At WOT it really sounds mean. Loud as hell and raspy. Not sure what the X pipe would sound like with a chambered muffler. My guess, it would sound pretty good. Maybe just a little more mello.

The stock muffler is the only "real" restriction. Just by replacing the muffler, you should see a good gain. Everything else is personal preference. I choose my setup b/c I plan to spray or S/C eventually and will need a free-flowing exhaust to gain the most hp. Plus several others had ran the same setup with good results.

 

Thanks for the reply. I am definetly going to dual it out with 2-2chamber flows and run some sort of tail pipe over the axle. I can see some good gains on a highly modded motor but on bascially stock motors, I would guess maybe 5-7hp with true duals over stock 5.3l exhaust with a aftermarket muffler. I think I will go in this order :

1)FIPK, on the way
2)HPP3 and 160 stat, got pricing
3)Corvette servo and TransGo kit
4)2/4 drop with Chasis Tech spindles,shackles etc
5)Some sort of shorter tires for 16s, maybe 275/55R16
6)2.5" Duals with 2-2chamber flows
7)underdrive pullies
8)Headers
9) 3.73 or 3.90 w/posi upgrade
10) BE BROKE AS HELL! And hoping for high 13s.

 

The stock exhaust on the 5.3 is 2 3/4" OD and is restrictive. Mine was blowing the packing out of the water drain hole when I replaced my exhaust system two years ago.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Vortech5300:
<strong>4)2/4 drop with Chasis Tech spindles,shackles etc
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Please don't go with "Crappy Tech" stuff. From everything that I have heard and seen they will cause you nothing but problems. I have a Hotchkis 2/4 on my truck, and love it. But it does have a harsh ride, which doesn't bother me though, because the handling more than makes up for it. But, if you want to keep a near stock ride, then go with the DJM setup. There has been nothing but goods thing said about their kits for the 99+ trucks.

 

yeah, I've got a DJM 2/4 drop on here. Control arms in the front and hangars and shackles in the back. The ride is ****** great basically.......handling is definitely better....great drop over all.

I'm still considering on dropping the back a little, possibly a flip kit......Some people say it looks fine, but I am just a picky **** when it comes to how my truck sits.......lol

As far as exhaust.......

Well, I got a two single chamber racing flows on there....true dual.... (yes, you can't get too much more less restrictive than that)......I am more a top end nut than a 1/4 junkie as you can see. I am still considering an X-Pipe, but without one it hasn't really hurt any performance at all.

As far as the sound, well, I'll let you decide. Lots of people love it, and I'm sure plenty think its too loud......but its pretty much exactly the sound I am looking for.......At idle it is pretty quiet...WOT, well, thats a different story.
It was recorded on a POS handheld recorder, and the windows were down, so you do you hear a crap load of distortion......so bare with me. I made this clip a little over half a year ago, here is the link...... Sound Clip

As far as the piping over the axle, you may want to reconsider that with the drop. I originally had the true dual, before the 2/4, and next thing u know, my exhaust was tapping the axle on bumps, and I now have it all re-located before the axle.

Maybe some of this info will help ya out....

 

Y2K SIerrra, the reason I was going to go with Chasis tech (crappy tech..lol.) is they sell drop spindles for $239 as opposed to $400 for Bell Techs. I didn't really want to use springs or lower arms. I wan't it to ride about the same and have factory wheel geometry. I don't see where they could really ***** up a spindle? It fits or it don't? Unless maybe its weak or somthing. What does the DJM kit use? How much $$? I am on a TIGHT budget. I could go with Chasis tech and lower 2/4 for under $400 and not have to get an alignment.

Sport Vortech, that is a good thought on running the exhaust over the axle and leaf springs, when you drop it down 4" then hit a bump it would be close to the pipes. Does is give you a lot of low rpm resonance in the truck? You know, the HMMMMMMMMMZZZZZZMMMM crap.