What exhaust for DD with 4.3??

[AZPiNsTrIpEd]

Ok I just bought a k&n filter for my dd and want to put some sort of exhaust on it too. The problem is that i've never really heard a 4.3 w/ exhaust and dont want it to sound like crap(like a rice burner). I was thinking hi-flo cat to a Flowmaster or Borla to a dumpoff. What brands or setups do you guys recommend?

Specs:1998 2wd Silverado w/ the 4.3 Vortec.

Thanks

 

[AJMBLAZER]

The truck I had before Big Ugly was a '96 Ford Ranger with the 4.0L V6. I had 2.25" pipe to a stainless Magnaflow and then a cheap NAPA dump. That was a revvy motor so it sounded a bit like a BMW or just a high revving sports car without sounding too ricey. I liked it. Sounded different than EVERY SINGLE Z71 around here with Flowmaster 40 series...

You might consider a Cherry Bomb and your stock pipe just to see how it sounds. $20 at AutoZone and maybe another $20 for connection parts and peices.


I did once have a Gunnery Sergeant in the Marines with an older C1500 that had a 4.3L and...I think...Flowmaster's 50 series exhaust system. Sounded pretty darn good actually.
That said as I mentioned above EVERYone around here has a Flowmaster on their pickup so I'm at least trying to be different.

 

[bigblock72]

I've installed Magnaflow mufflers, Dynomax mufflers, and Flowmaster mufflers on 4.3 trucks. Personally I liked the Dynomax the best but it was the quietest. Magnaflow had a real nice tone but a bit louder. The Flowmaster 40 series tone just doesn't work all that well with the exhaust note of a V6 IMO.
The Borla systems that I've heard are just obnoxious IMO.
Whatever muffler you install you'll want to run a full tailpie behind the rear tire to keep the noise in the cab at an acceptable level.

 

[1BadK-30]

My buddy has a 40 series on his 4.3, I think it sounds like crapola. His setup was headers into 1 pipe, then dumped before the diff.

 

[AZPiNsTrIpEd]

I did once have a Gunnery Sergeant in the Marines with an older C1500 that had a 4.3L and...I think...Flowmaster's 50 series exhaust system. Sounded pretty darn good actually.
That said as I mentioned above EVERYone around here has a Flowmaster on their pickup so I'm at least trying to be different.

Yeah the 50 series is the one I was thinking about, I just want it to sound nice but also not to loud inside the cab.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Try this site:

www.exhaustsoundclips.com

I think that's the one...not much on there but there's some. You can also check out some of the similar "big" V6's and see what they sound like to at least get some idea on it.

 

[AZPiNsTrIpEd]

Thanks BigBlock, i'll have to look into the Dynomax. It definately doesn't have to be loud.

 

[Dafey]

What ever you do DONT get cherry bombs.The PO of mine put headers no cat ,dual exaust and cherry bombs on mine,there one of the 1st things I plan to replace after I make sure every things reliable,tune up type stuff and a few minor leaks.Its so loud in mine its hard to talk at just 30mph.

 

[Thunder]

I vote Dynomax with tail pipe on a 4.3

 

[Russell]

High flow cat with the stock muffler is noisy enough as it is on my 96 4.3L DD with a 5 speed.

These V6s will just never have that V8 sound to em!

 

[pvfjr]

I'd say a 2.5" single exhaust with a dynomax.