I got a couple exhaust quotes today. One shop wants $350 for a si/do 2.5" exhaust to include 3.5" chrome tips. They can do a custom y-pipe for another $100. The same shop will do a true dual for $500, but said I should use a 2.25" pipe because the 2.5" pipe will kill the performance of my truck. Oh and if I choose to do the 2.5" anyway it will be $550. This shop uses a flowmaster knock off, I forget what he called it.

The second shop will do true duals for $400, but because of the tight space suggested I get the tru-x pipe from magnaflow. He says he cant make anything that compact that will flow that well, thats another $100. He said you generally want at least 400 hp to run 2 2.5" pipes but with the intake, SC programmer, and the exhaust should be close enough. This shop uses maremont mufflers. Anyone heard of them?

Now the the deal is these are both aluminum, crush bend systems. For a little more I can choose from any number of Stainless steel, mandrel bend cat back systems, but they wont be true duals.

Any thoughts?

i delieve maremont is cherrybomb...not 100% sure tho

It's good to do your research like you are doing be sure you get what you want don't settle ie. If you want true duals pay the extra and get them. I made many mistakes with my exhaust half assn it kept going back every week and got something else done but never what I really wanted due to cost but if I had saved and waited I would have enough for what I wanted to start with As far as whats better I think LT headers, X-pipe, true duals, & a set of good mufflers with the sound you like and size 2 1/2" to 3" Thats my 0.02

Doing the research is the easy part for me. Trying to figure out what I want is the hard part. You're right, once I figure out what I want I'm doing it right the first time and the only time. I'm leaning towards the Dynatech header system and the MBRP cool duals cat-back system. The guy who did my tint has an MBRP system on his ram hemi and that is a wicked rumble!

I just cant get that true dual out of my head...

Get what you want or you will never be truly happy with it. If you like the true duals, I would go that route. Good luck with your decision!

If you want true duals, the Dynatechs would be way overkill since you're paying for pricey high flow cats and y-pipe too. Personally I would go with Pacesetters and true duals, I think that would give you the sound/performance you're after but be really careful about using off-brand mufflers because you get what you pay for. Also, you will need to do a good bit more work to the truck to get close to 400 horses (manufacturer claims aside).

Yeah I'm not about the off-brand mufflers either. I've heard the magnaflows are pretty loud in the cab, imagine 2 of em would even be worse. If I go with the pacesetter LT I will go true duals and all custom pipe. I think your right about 400 hp with just an intake, exhaust, and SC programmer, sounds like a stretch to me... Does that sound right to yall about needing 400 HP to make the duals worth while?

quote:

Does that sound right to yall about needing 400 HP to make the duals worth while?

I'm sure 2 1/4" pipe would be fine for true duals on your setup. I know Starchief_59 has a wicked true-dual setup he built and I'm sure he could answer any questions you have, might want to shoot him a PM. Another idea for header-back exhaust is mine, here, but it is kinda on the aggressive/loud side, but relatively cheap and I guarantee exhaust flow won't be a problem.

That is way aggressive, talk about all business...

I have small kids, and I take road trips on occasion. I'm looking for strong and aggressive, but not overpowering. I think taking the pipes out the side will help cut down on cab noise. Did you run cats? I'm thinking if I go with the pacesetters I'm doing away with the cats. Thats 3" pipe after the Y?

could always use the fake cats i posted earlier lol good luck with your project and let us no how it goes

I would love mandrel bent pipes but I went with a crappy shop but a good muffler. I have the Flowmaster 50hd and after it burns out a bit it has almost no cab noise. But the shop used bits and pieces of different diameter pipes to make it fit. Im not happy with that. Look at some of that shops other work first!!

quote:

Originally posted by Keith 2:
Did you run cats? I'm thinking if I go with the pacesetters I'm doing away with the cats. Thats 3" pipe after the Y?

I ditched the cats with the ORY (off-road y-pipe) from Pacesetter. In my pics the front of the system bolts directly to the long tubes. If you want to cut down on interior noise, definitely run the pipes out as far back as you can (the wife/kids will thank you for it). All of my pipe/ORY/muffler is 3".

If you have to "appear" emissions legal, you will need to get fake cats or keep yours (hollowed out of course ) to pass and that could be a pain to integrate into the rest of the system depending on your budget. Fortunately I know somebody . Keep us posted!

I know the headers have a spot for the front o2 sensors, but what did you do about the back o2 sensors? Any CEL?

The front 2 are for tuning the truck and are vital, the rear 2 are for measuring cat efficiency only. I just zip-tied the rear O2 sensors to the transmission mount, completely out of the exhaust flow. Logically, if no exhaust is flowing over the sensor, the sensor can't detect any excess pollutants. This being said, a couple guys with 06+ trucks have thrown codes, but it's been nearly a year and a half since I installed the LT's/ORY and I've never thrown the cat code. Even if you throw a code, performance of the truck will not be affected.