So I got this muffler : Search Results for WLK-17718 - SummitRacing.com
I installed it myself today. Of course, in my excitement I forgot to take pics when the truck was on the ramps. :rtard: EDIT : PICS ADDED. SEE POST # 11 As for fitment, it'll drop in right where the stocker was, and everything will line up almost perfectly. The after-muffler section of pipe ended up rotated *slightly* towards the center of the truck, but it's barely noticeable. I could even probably fix it, but it's good enough for me.
On the front of the muffler, I used a saws-all, cutting about 1-1/2" from the muffler. I then removed the rubber hangers, and then with the help of my father, jacked the rear of the truck up a bit, and just took the muffler and rear pipe section out as one piece. You'll need to jack the rear up a bit to get clearance over the axle. With the whole assembly out, the pipe was cut off the muffler right at the factory weld. I then put the rear pipe section in loose, only attaching the rear-most hanger. I slid the offset section of the muffler onto the midpipe, then slid the axle-back section onto the center outlet of the muffler. The muffler sits vertically, or rather on it's "side". I'll snap some pics since I suck at describing these things. lol Anyways, I then attached the rubber hangers, and clamped everything down, and fired it up!
At idle, it's *slightly* louder than stock. Basically it takes the hint of low note that the stocker has, and makes it a little more present. Inside the truck, no difference at idle over stock. Driving "normally", as in mellow, inside the truck there is no difference over stock, unless going up a hill with a decent load on the engine, at which point it's a hair louder than stock. Easily drowned out with tunes, or even talking with a passenger. Now when I get on that throttle hard, it has a nice mellow low note, and is somewhat noticeable in the truck, but still not even close to loud or obnoxious. I'm sure outside the truck it's a fair bit louder than stock, but not nearly enough to tick off any bystanders.
All in all, if you want something that flows better than stock, and won't wake the dead or kill your ears with droning, this is the muffler to get. No packing to burn up/blow out, and the price is right. All you need to install it yourself is some ramps to get the rear off the ground, a jack, a saws-all, a socket wrench, and a buddy to help wiggle the muffler and attached piping out.
Here's all the parts I used, one of each, from Summit Racing :
WLK-17718 - Muffler
WLK-33226 - This is the band clamp that's used at the for the front of the muffler.
SUM-G4625 - A regular u-bolt style exhaust clamp, use for the rear section, as that's all there's room for.
That's it! If anyone has questions, ask ask away! :thumbup:
NOTE : I have a stock Z85 Extended Cab. This may or may not work on lowered trucks, so keep that in mind. Z71 or otherwise lifted trucks will have no problem. If you have a different configuration, get a tape measure and make sure you've got the room!
I installed it myself today. Of course, in my excitement I forgot to take pics when the truck was on the ramps. :rtard: EDIT : PICS ADDED. SEE POST # 11 As for fitment, it'll drop in right where the stocker was, and everything will line up almost perfectly. The after-muffler section of pipe ended up rotated *slightly* towards the center of the truck, but it's barely noticeable. I could even probably fix it, but it's good enough for me.
On the front of the muffler, I used a saws-all, cutting about 1-1/2" from the muffler. I then removed the rubber hangers, and then with the help of my father, jacked the rear of the truck up a bit, and just took the muffler and rear pipe section out as one piece. You'll need to jack the rear up a bit to get clearance over the axle. With the whole assembly out, the pipe was cut off the muffler right at the factory weld. I then put the rear pipe section in loose, only attaching the rear-most hanger. I slid the offset section of the muffler onto the midpipe, then slid the axle-back section onto the center outlet of the muffler. The muffler sits vertically, or rather on it's "side". I'll snap some pics since I suck at describing these things. lol Anyways, I then attached the rubber hangers, and clamped everything down, and fired it up!
At idle, it's *slightly* louder than stock. Basically it takes the hint of low note that the stocker has, and makes it a little more present. Inside the truck, no difference at idle over stock. Driving "normally", as in mellow, inside the truck there is no difference over stock, unless going up a hill with a decent load on the engine, at which point it's a hair louder than stock. Easily drowned out with tunes, or even talking with a passenger. Now when I get on that throttle hard, it has a nice mellow low note, and is somewhat noticeable in the truck, but still not even close to loud or obnoxious. I'm sure outside the truck it's a fair bit louder than stock, but not nearly enough to tick off any bystanders.
All in all, if you want something that flows better than stock, and won't wake the dead or kill your ears with droning, this is the muffler to get. No packing to burn up/blow out, and the price is right. All you need to install it yourself is some ramps to get the rear off the ground, a jack, a saws-all, a socket wrench, and a buddy to help wiggle the muffler and attached piping out.
Here's all the parts I used, one of each, from Summit Racing :
WLK-17718 - Muffler
WLK-33226 - This is the band clamp that's used at the for the front of the muffler.
SUM-G4625 - A regular u-bolt style exhaust clamp, use for the rear section, as that's all there's room for.
That's it! If anyone has questions, ask ask away! :thumbup:
NOTE : I have a stock Z85 Extended Cab. This may or may not work on lowered trucks, so keep that in mind. Z71 or otherwise lifted trucks will have no problem. If you have a different configuration, get a tape measure and make sure you've got the room!
