[Drakkon]

Looking at various exaust systems for my truck and I'm in a bit of a conundrum about whats worth spending good $$$ on. I'm looking for a little extra power with a good rumble at idle, and a little extra gas milage would help. But now i got 3 different kits to choose from (magnaflow, gibson, or flowmaster) or going wth a local shop and whatever setup they can build.
I havent seen any reviews comparing the companies though. I guess flowmaster sounds the loudest at the 40 series but the magnaflow/gibson are fairly similar and quieter. does anyone here know any better?
Also i like the look of dual outs, but i dont have a true dual out system on my truck, so the performance gain between a dual out and single out system is somewhat equal right? but a dual out provides better sound?
Then final question, i can get a kit and install myself, feel competent enough to bolt stuff at least and looked under the truck and doesnt look too bad. But if i have a shop do it they can weld everything in which would be more secure right? is it worth paying the extra to a shop and have them customize everything?

[sims]

there really isn't a "better" in the exhaust world, its piping, there is not alot that can be done wrong. the differences will be that cheap companies will use cheaper materials and have crap build quality. the different mufflers will have there own unique sounds, the materials used will affect quality and weight, and they make have a different look to them, although most American exhaust systems appear the same to me.

Why not have a shop bend you a custom exhaust? It will probably be the cheapest option and you can get exactly what you want, you can even have them design you a true dual (you have a v8 in your truck right?) if you really want. You could do it without any negative affect on performance, just select you piping diameter accordingly, it wouldn’t need to be the same size if you kept the way its designed now, you would however be paying a premium just to have true duel, you could get the same power out a regular system with larger then stock piping.

[BrentN]

Theres way more to an exhaust system than just running a pipe from the front to the back. Its about getting the best flow, and sometimes bigger isn't always better.

[sims]

Originally Posted by BrentN

Theres way more to an exhaust system than just running a pipe from the front to the back. Its about getting the best flow, and sometimes bigger isn't always better.

thats true... but that still doesn't mean you need to spend the cost to get a premade system when you can have an exhaust shop fab you up one for half the price.

[Dustin]

Typically it will be cheaper for a shop to make an exhaust system rather than buying a premade

[Drakkon]

im not really concerned about cost as i am about the quality. i looked around at prices today and everyone is right...a shop can do it about $100 cheaper than the kit route. But it seems like all the shops just slap a flowmaster in there and some pipes and send you on your way. with the kit I'd be able to check on it myself, kit i'd be SOL if a weld fails. But welding seems so much more secure and better.
Also with the shop theres no way to evaluate their quality (dont know anyone whos had an exhaust put in in town). The only one i might go with is a Meinike because they are a nationwide company and offer a good warrenty plan. The local guys dont offer much beyond their service and they dont do work on the weekend (which i would need since truck is only transportation).
I dunno soo many conflicting issues that each has their merits. I'm sticking to something close to the stock 2.5" diameter pipes, single in muffler from the cat, and dual out going sideswept behind the tire because i still want to be able to tow.
Kit option 1 -
http://www.gibsonperformance.com/pro...&model=299#299
Kit option 2 -
http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/s...e=Trucks&id=27
Shop Option 1 -
single pipe from cat to flowmaster 40 dual out ~ $300 parts/labor

[sims]

well, thats the whole thing, you pay a premium to get you exhaust from a company like magnaflow or flowmaster or whatever to be assured that you will get decent quality. going the customer root it is possible to go to a shitty shop and them do a hackjob install on your car or build a shitty system, at the same time, ALL of the nicest exhaust work I have ever seen has been custom exhaust done by GOOD shops. Actaully the nicest exhaust system i've seen was a guy who spend over 2 grand on a AB flug system for his JDM 300zx, but the custom exhausts being like 125% cheaper then that, would be the root i would take.

you do however need to find a good shop, witch can't be that hard, go to a local car forum and ask. If you don't want to do that, and run the risk of getting something bad, my personal pref would be the magnaflow.

[Dustin]

You just need to find a forum with local enthusiasts like yourself and ask around. There's always a good shop around

There's a performance shop 5 minutes away from me that does exhaust like this