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Lots of exhaust questions...

bigred88

bigred88

1/2 ton status
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So I know some of these have been answered before, in that case, feel free to not answer those questions instead of getting pissed off at someone asking the same questions all over again:rolleyes:.

Im putting a new exhaust on my '88, headers all the way back. I'm going with Hedmann Elite (based on reviews read here and elsewhere). For the piping- Jeg's has a custom piping kit- it would come with a 90 degree bend to be located in front of the rear tires, and with enough other straight pipes to get back there. they're of the slip-on variety- no welding needed (which is good, because I don't know how to weld). Has anyone tried this system?

I'm doing this because I'm going to true duals and the local exhaust shops won't do that due to some federal law that says they can't replace one cat with two, k5's have a factory y-pipe into one cat...

Also, I'm looking at mufflers- anyone used the Flowmaster Super 44 Off-Road? Good, bad? Is it worth the extra few bucks to get the heavy duty offroad version, or should I be looking at a different muffler altogether?
 
The duel exhaust kit that I got from lmc didn't fit like I wanted it to, I eventually just just bought some different bends and pieced my own system together and got it nice and high and exactly how I wanted it. Without a welder it can be tricky to do your own system so a slip kit will probably be your best bet. I wouldn't bother with the offroad version unless you plan on beating the living piss out of your truck and even then I feel like the slip joints would come apart before you did serious damage to your muffler (even regular flowmasters are beefy as hell). I run 2 2.25" pipes to a y-pipe behind the t case then 3" to a 40's series then a single 3" out the back in my k5 and I love the sound. My friend has supper 44's on his mustang and they kinda annoying, and hard to hear over
 
The universal kit you mentioned will not work very well, and may not fit at all. For a little more money, you can buy the Hooker dual exhaust kit from Jeg's and have a full exhaust that fits- that's what I did. Dynomax has a similar kit, but it does not have mandrel bends like the Hooker kit.
 
I suggest you buy and install the headers then have a muffler shop build the exhaust for you. I also suggest you go with a single 3" exhaust which will make more torque down low where you want it for a wheeler.
 
NorCalKid said:
The duel exhaust kit that I got from lmc didn't fit like I wanted it to,
Click to expand...


I have the LMC exhaust and we cut the donut retainers off and a few inches off the ends to shorten the long run and it has been on for almost three years. Two of those years in Ohio SALT drenched winters.

Just MHO on true duals.
 
4X4HIGH said:
I suggest you buy and install the headers then have a muffler shop build the exhaust for you. I also suggest you go with a single 3" exhaust which will make more torque down low where you want it for a wheeler.
Click to expand...

What he said
 
bigred88 said:
So Hooker actually makes a kit for the K5? I didn't see that, I'll have to go look again...
Click to expand...

Mine was for my Suburban, 99% sure they had it for the K5 too. It wasn't listed in the catalog, they had to order it (directly from Hooker, I believe). I know for sure the Dynomax dual kit is listed for the K5 in the catalog.
 
well, the reason i was looking at something bolt on was because I had a shop quote me $750 today for a custom headers back job (if anyone knows of a good shop in or around colorado springs, please let me know). Seemed a little excessive to me, and even if it isn't, its still more than I'd like to pay right now. mine really isn't a serious wheeler either- I just got it on the trail for the first time this weekend, and I don't have any mods for offroad, just a few cheap performance mods. I'd like to take it out more, but I don't see it happening too often until I finish school (9 more months...), and maybe not so much then depending on where I get stationed.

I was recommended 2.5" pipes to a collector, and then a single 3" all the way back, but that was also because he couldn't legally install a true dual system on mine.

I really would rather go with having an exhaust shop do a custom one, but because of stupid laws and exorbitant prices, I'm looking for an alternative. Its kind of pressing too, because I broke the exhaust wheeling this weekend and now I'm getting all kinds of exhaust fumes in the cab. Windows down at 75mph and 40 degrees today was not fun.
 
man, my guy charged me $200 and it took him over half a day trying to route around doubler and tight areas
 
I can see why you didn't have that shop do the exhaust at $750.00. There are plenty of shops out there that do custom exhaust work at reasonable prices, you just need to shop around. Keep in mind that a single exhaust will be cheaper than a dual exhaust as well.
 
x2 with Scott.

3" single uses less components, is more efficient, is in the way less than duals, and allows you to keep legal with a single cat (which if new production converter, will not appreciably hurt power BTW).

In no way, shape or form do you want the exhaust in front of the rear tires IMO. Keep it exiting EXACTLY like GM did. There is a reason they even went to the effort of cutting half of the exhaust tip off at a 45 degree angle downwards.
 
As far as duals being in the way, its all in how the exhaust is designed. Here's my duals though i made it myself the 1st pic is of the right side 2nd pic is of left side.
burbanexhaustrightside.jpg

Burbanexhaustleftside.jpg


I ran my headers then dumped the exhaust right in front of the tire. Not saying this is how you should run yours but i had no issues with my duals and it completely unbolts from the headers with 3 bolts if i really need to drop my exhaust, hardly any hassle and simple to me. Hope it helps.
 
Look for shops in the bad parts of town. You've probably seen a lot of custom exhausts around town. They are getting built somewhere. 4/5 shops won't touch your vehicle if you're doing something other than the factory config so you may have to check with a lot of them.

Keep the exhaust exit on the side BEHIND the rear wheels. It sucks the least fumes into an open K5.

If you use a Y-pipe or crossover, make sure it can be unbolted so you can get your gearboxes out.

I've never found a bolt-on kit that was cheaper than having pipe bent to fit at a shop. The exception would be something unusual like stainless steel or over 4".
 
sorry to hijack kinda but im going the same route
headman elites into true duals
i was thinkin of just runnin two high flow cats. one for each side
then fittin an h pipe in there somewhere

would this be louder then what i got how
which is the stock cat and a flowmaster super 40?
stock y pipe and 3 inch pipe then the flowmaster splits into 2.5 in duals
 
you'll just have to do it yourself or find a shady exhaust shop- federal law says they can't modify the cat setup. I've been calling around, and I think I've found one that will be willing to do what I want with it. I think I'm going to go ahead and go with a y-pipe into 3-inch, cut the cat out (no emissions checks here), and I'm still undecided on the muffler. I found a much better price, $400 including the cost of the muffler. Not 200 like someone quoted earlier, but not 750 either,
 
From what I know, you can't call a shop and expect them to say they will break the law. A bit different if they can physically see who they are dealing with. :)
 
When I bought my 88 K5 it still had the factory exhaust on it. In cali we have to run a cat to be legal. The muffler shop started at the factory Y and went from there. They put on a new 3" cat and 3" tubing from the Y pipe all the way through. I chose a Magnaflow muffler also 3". It is a little loud (cant hear on the cell phone when driving). It is exited behind the rear tire just like factory. The shop used a prebent piece of tubing that they had in stock.All the bends are in the perfect position looks real clean. With a chrome tip and all the price was $300.00. in socal.
 
if you wanna save some money then just put cherry bomb glasspacks on it. Sound good, flow good, and who doesn't love a 15 dollar muffler?
 
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