Thinkin about modding the HD

SteveSierra · January 15, 2002

Alrighty then!

Doctors STILL don't know what the heck is goin on with my low hemaglobin count:( so, to sort of take my mind off that, I'm gonna start doin some mods to my truck.

1st - Catback. I need more rumble dangit! Guess I got too used to it with my 99 Tahoe. I would like to do a custom dual catback set up with it exiting on either side of the rear tires on an angle similar to the stock exhaust, but am unsure about what mufflers to use. Does anyone have any experience with Flowmasters, Dynomax, etc? I had a Gibson system on my Tahoe and even though it had a rumble, it was still too quiet. I want a little more tone. Also, is an h pipe really necessary with a true dual setup?

2nd - I want headers again too. I was kicking around either the Other Guys long tubes, Thorley or ASM. I'm not a decent pipe cutter/welder, so I would want a reputable shop to install them. Anyone with experience with these headers? I haven't completely ruled out shorties, like ceramic coated JBA's or something, added bonus, I can do these in my garage. I just think I would lose too much low end with shorties, true dual catback, and a K&N intake system.

3rd - need something to richen it up a bit. Doing the above stuff I think will make it run way too lean. These motors run lean enough from the factory as it is. Any ideas? HPP maybe????

4th - tires. Wanna get 265's, but I'm undecided as to whose.

Either BFG AT's(had them on the Tahoe, now my dad has em on his Z71) or Goodyear AT/S. I want something with at least a D load range. I haul alot of crap. Does anyone have any experience with the Goodyears? Snow traction, wet roads, will be on the beach(surf fishing). Don't really care about road noise too much.

Okay, all this should put a big enough dent in my wallet for now, thanks for any help you can offer!

Steve

chevy4x4trucks · January 15, 2002

I've got a flowmaster dual that does a 90 and shoots out behind each tire, similar to what you are planning. A flowmaster 40 series should give you a nice rumble, w/o being too obnoxious.

SteveSierra · January 15, 2002

Jon,

You don't think the 40 would be too much? I was thinking about maybe the 50 series SUV mufflers. Then again, maybe the 50 series would be as quiet as the Gibson was. Too bad I can't try out several different muffs without having to pay for em all. hahahaha!!!! I'll have to rethink the 40 series.

I saw some pictures of Neil's 99 Z71 on the P-A.C forum and that looks pretty much exactly like what I want to do.

Here's his link, hope you don't mind Neil! Sorry!

http://www/geocities.com/neil99z71/Exhaust.html

Edit- You might have to retype or copy and paste the link in the address bar.

SixthMan · January 15, 2002

Steve,

First, I hope your health gets better. Second, I have had two sets of Goodyear AT/S tires. I just put some 285/75/16s on my new 2500HD and had a set of 265s on my old '99 K1500 Z71. I had about 20,000 on the '99 truck and they looked great when I sold it. They work great in the rain and a couple of my buddies who snow ski alot have them on their trucks and love them in the snow.

I talked with Flowmaster about an exhaust for my HD and they recommended the 3" dual in, 3" single out muffler for the most increase in performance and mileage. Next on their list was a 3" dual in, dual 2 1/2" out. I have the 8.1 with the Allison and they said they had problems in terms of engine/shifting management when they tried a true dual muffler system on the truck. I would give them a call and talk to them about a recommended 6.0 setup.

Good luck on your upgrades!

chevy4x4trucks · January 15, 2002

Here's a pic of mine from underneath looking towards the back

And here's a pic of my hitch, but you can see the pipe exiting in the stock location, as does the other one on the driver's side.

IMO the 40 series sounds just right, not too loud and not too soft. It gets a lot of compliments.

rola76 · January 15, 2002

1. Exhaust-On my new rig (2500HD) I run two 40-Series, and they're f'in loud!! But that's what I like!! Each runs to a side exit behind the rear wheels. On my last rig, a '98 Z71, I ran a single SUV-Series dualed out the back and it sounded okay, but too mellow for me. If two 40's are too much, I'd definitely recommend running a single 40-Series, either dualed or singled. I'd actually use my factory tailpipe and just change the muffler. Along with this, throw in a K&N System.

2. Tires-I've had a lot of experience with the BFG A/T KO's, and in my opinion they're a great tire, as long as your rig isn't lifted. For some reason I've noticed they wear quicker up front on lifted rigs. 265's obviously are stock size, so I say go for it! If you wanna save some $$, check out the Yokohama A/T's, great look, great price, but I don't know about the load range.

Good luck.

SteveSierra · January 15, 2002

SixthMan - Thanks! I've heard before about the true duals messing up the shifting and I was like WTH?? Maybe it has something to do specifically with the Allison and not the 4L60E and 4L80E?

I'll give Flowmaster a call later today.

I'm liking the AT/S' a bit more and more. I probably won't get the life out of em that I would with the BFG's, but they are about 30 bucks less per tire for the d range AT/S'. 125 versus 156.

Jon, thanks for the pics, that looks good. I just need to find a good shop around here that will do this right for me.???

Rola - Are your mufflers tack welded together? When you say it's loud, is it like cop attention grabbing loud? Ah, screw it, I'm just gonna do it true dual 40 series. If it gets to be too much, I'll have em changed out.

I'm gonna get the K&N intake, probably in a week or two.

Man, and I wasn't gonna do ANYTHING to this truck.

See what getting sick does to you? LOL

Steve

rola76 · January 15, 2002

Yes, they are tack welded together so that they don't "click" together. As for loudness, they're loud for sure, and perhaps worthy of getting a cop's attention, but oh well man, it sounds dang tough!! I figure having a 6" lift w/ 35's already sticks out, so why not add some serious sound too it!

And hey, you've gotta get over your sickness somehow, so what better than trickin' out your truck!!

chevy4x4trucks · January 15, 2002

Steve, mine is the american thunder kit. It came w/ the pipes and you can install it yourself. If I did it again I would probably have a shop do it, would be cheaper in the long run. And I'd just have the exhaust dumped over the axle.

SteveSierra · January 16, 2002

I'm going to probably have the exhaust installed next weekend. I'd like to do the work myself, but I have absolutely NO experience welding so I'll pay the people who do it everyday. Maybe I should start welding stuff around the house to get some experience! HAHAHA!!!!

Does anyone know where is a decent place to order the K&N intake kit? It's 260 at truckperformance for the '01 kit. I assume that kit can be used in the '02's as I can't find a site anywhere that lists one specifically for '02's.

Also, does anyone have any info about the AirForce One kit? It's 265 and looks a little better than the K&N kit.

Kansas Kid · January 16, 2002

Hey man, you ought to seriously consider going with some 255/85R16 tires. Slightly narrower then the tires you are looking at and about a inch taller. They fit perfectly on the stock rims, and fill out the wheel well real nice. Just something to thing about. As for the tire recommendations, I would go with the Goodyears. Don't have any experience with them (goodyear AT/S), but I do not like BFG tires in the least. They aren't as good as their price makes them out to be.

rola76 · January 16, 2002

Check at pickuptruck.com on their shopping website. They have great prices and also you don't have to pay tax.

SteveSierra · January 17, 2002

KK - Dmaxer has those on his crewcab. I liked them. I can only find Dunlop and Firestones. The Dunlops looked good, I just don't have any experience with them or know of anyone who does that drives on the beaches in the mid Atlantic region(soft, soft sand).

Rola - The PUTC shopping site is actually truckperformance isn't it? They look identical. They have to be.

I'm going to call them today to find out about using the 01 K&N kit on my 02.