CAI / Designing exhaust system / Tuner

[amenges]

'08 5.7 4x4 QC

Hey guys... Looking for some info to design an exhaust system. Not just exhaust, but new headers as well. I don't know the difference between shorties and LT's or cat back and whatever else there is. I'd like a nice little throaty rumble but not too much louder than stock. Also, is one brand of tuner better than others? Or better brand CAI than others?

I'm currently all stock except for a 2" leveling kit (that strut bolt through the lower control arm was a party! ) and stock sized bilstein 5100 shocks.

Possible Intakes:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/INJ-PF8050P/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AID-301-220/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AIS-21-8212DP/

Tuners:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BLY-40410/
http://www.amazon.com/Superchips-3950-Cortex/dp/B0012ILUO4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338233883&sr=8-2

 

[MADDOG]

Shorty headers are just shorter than LT's (long tubes) and for the truck, a shorty set will be easier to fit. Unless you are going to do a lot of head and cam work, add a supercharger and all of that, LT's won't get you that much more performance.

But, check out ARH for LT's & JBA for shorties.

As far as a catback, you probably don't really need one. I used a Magnaflow single in/double out muffler. I did replace my pipes to the rear (only had one) for a set made by my local shop that can do mandrel bends. I can't pick the muffler for you as what sounds good to me may not sound good to you and vice versa. I'd listen to some clips online and pick one you like.

Most quality CAI's (K&N, Volant, AFE, LMI) all pretty much flow the same. The cheapo one's you see on eBay are to be avoided as their filters tend to come apart and get sucked into the engine. Also, the tubes are of very poor quality.

Programmers...well, I'd avoid the BullyDog...I've read too much bad news from gas engine owners who use it.

I'd add the DiabloSport Predator, Trinity or InTune to your list of programmers to check out. I really like the DiabloSport products. I have two HEMI powered vehicles and have seen some really nice HP/Torque and MPG gains using them.

 

[truckin151]

What do you use the truck for? Lt's provide more tq and HP than shorties, so if you can do long tubes do them. If you can't get away with that (some states, well more often than not, require a visual inspection so if you live in a state with a visual you are automatically restricted to shorties) then shorties are the next best thing. If you don't feel like spending a grand on headers, look at the pacesetter headers with ceramic coating they are cheaper but provide close to the same numbers as the others that cost $1000+.

IMO catback exhausts are a waste of money unless you like the exhaust tips and even then you can buy the extra piping to make it. One option you have if you go with pacesetters is to pick up an off-road-y pipe (ORY). Its basically a perfect bolt-on y pipe and. Comes with a long section of pipe from the y to the muffler.

As for mufflers, there is a thread stickied to the top of the performance section with a bunch of exhaust clips see if you can find something you like and ask as many questions as you like regarding the setups you see via pm.

For cai, you can build your own, buy one of the many name brands (afe, aem, volant, k&n, etc.) it doesn't really matter to much as they are all close in numbers. If you want more performance vararam makes a good one as does bfi (if you can find one).

Programmers, this really depends on what you plan on doing with the engine. If you are going cam, heads rout you want to look into the Diablo tuners for the custom tuning aspect if you go big or want it tuned more to your mods, other wise superchips is the only other I'd trust. Both of them have their plusses with the preloaded tunes and extras. So really it just depends on what you are going to do and what you're after.

 

[amenges]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm liking that Borla XR-1 and the Flowmaster 40 sound... Am I better off to just go to a muffler shop and have them figure all this stuff out? Looking at the pacesetter website, the LT's say they only work for 03-07 Dodge.

Has anyone had luck trying the Pacesetter LT's on an 08?

 

[amenges]

Do these seem like a good buy? Ive heard of Gibson that's about all I know lol

Gibson GP311S-C Performance Headers | Auto Parts Warehouse


...or these for a lot cheaper

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/s...Headers/2008/SLT/8_Cyl_5-dot-7L/B4540090.html

 

[chefred112]

stay away from flowmasters...and here's a exhaust design to consider, true duals to dual in/single out muffler, with h pipe, and cutouts if you like..

 

[truckin151]

No log headers, thats what you have on there now. For the sam price as those you can get a good set of shorties or even some longtubes.

I would layout exactly what you want to get done first before you take it anywhere or they will just rip you off. Pick out the muffler you want (I had an exhaust shop tell me that my XR1 would flow LESS than their flowmaster 40's that they had on stock, which by the way I can stick my arm through the XR1, you can see through the flowmaster). They just want to get the most money they can out of you. So to have all the parts laid out for them, and a plan as to what you want done and stick to it is the way to go.

 

[amenges]

Heard a lot of rave reviews about a muffler shop up the road. from custom exhaust to taking all your parts in and waiting while they install them-no appointment needed. So here's what I'm thinking of doing. Let me know what other pieces/parts I may need!

Headers:
(The only ones I can find!)

Muffler:
Flowmaster Super 44 SI/DO

Tips:
Logo Embossed Stnls Tip, 3.00 Tip x 2.50 Inlet x 13.00 Length [15362] - $46.19 : Flowmaster Inc. Exhaust Shop, Love That Sound!


I don't know what people mean when they say the exhaust is "dumped" at a certain point. I also don't know what kinda pipe (H,X,Y) I would need. I went with the SI/DO muffler because I like the dual pipe look from the rear of the bumber. (Like the dual exhaust cutouts on the 4th gens)

What else may I need?

 

[chefred112]

if your settin up for performance...choose any other muffler then flows... dumped just means turn downs, mine is dumped after axle, most do it before but that's too loud for me, I did mine after to keep it quiet incab and to eliminate drone... if you run piping out the back, you will most likely get drone... been there, done that... everyone that I know that has started out with flows has ended up swappin them out..

 

[amenges]

Yeah I've ridden in some awful-drone trucks and def. don't want that. Looks like I'll go with the Borla XR-1 then! Dumped after axle and out the sides behind rear wheels. kinda like stock exhaust but on both sides. Will that work? or just stick to single exhaust out the side?

 

[chefred112]

imo, it's the piping that causes drone..dumping is just what mine is, no more piping after the turn down.... do you have an rc or qc? if it's a qc I would do single piping to preserve low end performance..

 

[amenges]

I have a QC. So headers into a Y pipe into muffler and dumped after the axle? So no worry about seeing exhaust tip? I'm not into glass packs or cut outs.

 

[Budakane]

I have an 07 with Lts, and I will say one of the best, and mosy noticable mods I have done.

 

[chefred112]

I have a QC. So headers into a Y pipe into muffler and dumped after the axle? So no worry about seeing exhaust tip? I'm not into glass packs or cut outs.

unless you want loud, no need to do glasspacks or cutouts..i did cutouts because I wanted to be able to change tone anytime i want as well as to open up exhaust when I go to track...