Exhaust advice: Unsure which way to go '03 V8

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Farking Bastage

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I've spent the last few days scouring this board and Youtube trying to decide on an exhaust solution that will fit what I am going for. A few things I have learned include:

  • '03's(possibly) have a different X pipe setup than the others.
  • The Magnaflow kit doesn't really improve performance on the Gen 2's
  • Removing Resonators can cause some pretty ugly popping at high RPM

Here's the stock stuff on mine ( to determine whether or not is the rumored special one )

http://i.imgur.com/ocFF7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/OBCIt.jpg

Sound-wise I am looking for a nice rumble without too much popping.

I am thinking that the best price/performance/sound solution, based on what I've read here, would be to pull the stock mufflers and replace with Magnaflow 11225's and keep the resonators. However, I can't find video of that setup to save my life.

Does anyone have a sound clip of a simple muffler change on a V8?

Also I am curious what some others have done that didn't involve the full kit.

Thanks,
 
I replaced the mufflers with 11225's and replaced the center slip joint section with a magnaflow x pipe. Still have to cut my H pipe out after the resonators.

Your setup has the crossover mid muffler instead of the H pipe after the resonators like most LS's I have seen have.
 
I appreciate it guys. Definitely getting the 11225's. Also I got a K&N intake off ebay for $210.

I'll have to post a vid when it's all done.
 
They go for $190 on Amazon :D

Post as many videos as you can please.
 
Here is my setup. Souds awesome; has a little drone on the highway, but it's worth it ;)

imagejpeg_3_6.jpg


BBK headers, 2 Magnaflow high flow cats, 2 20" resonators, 2 Magnaflow Magnapack bullet mufflers.
 
i cut the stock muffs of my 04 and i love the sound it doesnt sound too too loud its a good tone and even at high rpm theres no pop or crackle which i hate the most
 
Jwall said:
Here is my setup. Souds awesome; has a little drone on the highway, but it's worth it ;)

imagejpeg_3_6.jpg


BBK headers, 2 Magnaflow high flow cats, 2 20" resonators, 2 Magnaflow Magnapack bullet mufflers.
Click to expand...

where do you think he got those cats from?
 
Farking Bastage said:
Click to expand...

  • thats not really a X pipe, its really a dual in, dual out, third cat.

    Farking Bastage said:
    [*]Removing Resonators can cause some pretty ugly popping at high RPM
    Click to expand...
    i didnt really get any high rpm poping when i chopped mine out.


    i started with replacing the rear muffs with center in, offset out flomasters.
    gave it a lot deeper tone, and made it a tiny bit louder, no drone.

    then i replace the mid muff/resonators with straight pipe, tone got a little bit deeper, and a good bit louder, there was a little drone @ 2K rpm's, but not much.

    then i had a bad couple of coils completely seal up one of the cats. so they got hollowed out. now it is much louder under load. it actually sounds more like a 4v 4.6 (probably about as close as you can get) however the down side is that the drone is pretty loud but its only at and around 2K rpms, so as long as you go slow enough or fast enough, there is next to none.

    i am still undecided about what i want to do with it. the droning is a little more that i would like, but everybody tells me how awesome it sounds. I'm been back and forth about either putting in a pair of high flow cats, or maybe trying a new set of resonators with the empty cats. or i'l probably leave it alone and just hot rod around all day!
 
When I welded my xpipe on, it almost completely eliminated my drone, which on the V6 with magnaflows, is horrendous.
 
Farking Bastage said:
I've spent the last few days scouring this board and Youtube trying to decide on an exhaust solution that will fit what I am going for. A few things I have learned include:

  • '03's(possibly) have a different X pipe setup than the others.
  • The Magnaflow kit doesn't really improve performance on the Gen 2's
  • Removing Resonators can cause some pretty ugly popping at high RPM

Here's the stock stuff on mine ( to determine whether or not is the rumored special one )

http://i.imgur.com/ocFF7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/OBCIt.jpg

Sound-wise I am looking for a nice rumble without too much popping.

I am thinking that the best price/performance/sound solution, based on what I've read here, would be to pull the stock mufflers and replace with Magnaflow 11225's and keep the resonators. However, I can't find video of that setup to save my life.

Does anyone have a sound clip of a simple muffler change on a V8?

Also I am curious what some others have done that didn't involve the full kit.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Try this and see if it's the sound you're after

03 LS sound clip - YouTube
 
I used Jones Full boar mufflers. I went looking for the Magnaflows but the muffler shop offered these to me instead for a cost of $30 each. they are stainless mufflers just not all polished up like the magnaflows. total cost was $60 for mufflers and $90 to install.
 
I can't offer a set up but I'm pretty sure there are few if any members here who have heard of this company.

Bear River Converters

Might be worth a look, your car would definitely be a test car that's for sure. Only if you were willing to try something new.
 
M4rk said:
Still no new videos and muffler part numbers?
Click to expand...

I can't find my receipt with the part numbers. I'm going to call them and see what they used. I tried to get another video inside the car the other day so you could hear it from inside the car. The battery on my phone died as it hit second gear!
 
I may just order those and have a different shop install. For ####s and giggles, I went by a local shop near my office to see what they would charge for Magnaflow 11225's, but all they had were the polished SS ones and wanted 350 bucks just to weld those on and exchange the tips.

Ummm no. I'll do a kit before I spend that. Trying a different shop and ordering the mufflers on my own.

I do notice sometimes, especially since my LS is the luxury sport variety, that some shop owners " see me coming", but damn.

She does look pretty sweet considering her age. http://i.imgur.com/dhpqz.jpg
 
Farking Bastage said:
I may just order those and have a different shop install. For ####s and giggles, I went by a local shop near my office to see what they would charge for Magnaflow 11225's, but all they had were the polished SS ones and wanted 350 bucks just to weld those on and exchange the tips.

Ummm no. I'll do a kit before I spend that. Trying a different shop and ordering the mufflers on my own.

I do notice sometimes, especially since my LS is the luxury sport variety, that some shop owners " see me coming", but damn.

She does look pretty sweet considering her age. http://i.imgur.com/dhpqz.jpg
Click to expand...

Not sure if it helps or not but the shop that installed mine also sells the same mufflers on ebay for the $30 each price. Not sure of their ebay user name but the shop is called Ashland Muffler House.
 
Farking Bastage said:
I may just order those and have a different shop install. For ####s and giggles, I went by a local shop near my office to see what they would charge for Magnaflow 11225's, but all they had were the polished SS ones and wanted 350 bucks just to weld those on and exchange the tips.

Ummm no. I'll do a kit before I spend that. Trying a different shop and ordering the mufflers on my own.

I do notice sometimes, especially since my LS is the luxury sport variety, that some shop owners " see me coming", but damn.

She does look pretty sweet considering her age. http://i.imgur.com/dhpqz.jpg
Click to expand...


Thats actually not a bad deal for polished mufflers installed but they would have to install new tips to make it a good deal.
 
JMT03LSV8 said:
I can't find my receipt with the part numbers. I'm going to call them and see what they used. I tried to get another video inside the car the other day so you could hear it from inside the car. The battery on my phone died as it hit second gear!
Click to expand...

Well charge her up :cool:
 
So just a couple general questions:

Does anyone have any pics of the 2nd gen LS V8 stock exhaust underneath the car? I cant seem to find one and I seriously cant get this search feature to find me anything I need. The setup is Cats>???>Resonators>Mufflers right?

Exhaust tubing circumference is supposed to be 2.5" right for 2nd gen LS v8? After the cats what does the biggest restriction come from? Any gains at all from replacing the set of mufflers right before the tips with magnaflows or similar?

Thanks!
 
I've read that people on here do just that, just swap the mufflers and are happy with it. Some just cut the mufflers and replace it with a pipe. Some cut out the resonators and replace the mufflers. It's all personal preference. Gains you see from it, the best I can say is check out YouTube.
 
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