Magnaflow CAT Back Questions

[bigblackchevy]

Hello All,

I am looking to install a Magnaflow CAT back on my 05 hoe. I've seen some discussions were I may be able to get away with replacing the muffler only. Can you all share your experiences with me or enlighten me on what would be best? My main goal is to improve MPG and I don't want a lot of droning in the cabin.

Note: I changed my intake already.

Thanks!

 

[run4jc]

Muffler only

I would have preferred going the full cat-back route, but I was trying to save a few bucks and still get the rumble of my 5.3. I went with the Magnaflow muffler installed with the stock pipes and I am VERY pleased.

Honestly, I don't see that much of an improvement in mileage - MAYBE 1 MPG, but the sound is so sweet that it encourages the occasional (regular) heavy foot, so the MPG is more of a factor of my heavy foot than anything else. I do believe there is a clear performance enhancement - AND THERE IS NO 'DRONING' - highway at 80 MPH it is a distant soft 'rumble.'

The configuration on my Yukon of 1 3" in and 2 2 1/2" out pipes was perfectly matched by the Magnaflow -and I figured that later I might pull the stock tailpipe and add dual exhausts.

The muffler was only $90 at Summit and I am very pleased. My 'review' -

http://www.tahoeforum.com/showthread.php?t=3337

Good luck!

 

[MadMedwyn]

An entire cat-back system will probably help a little more with power and mileage than just a muffler swap. You should notice bigger fuel mileage gains since you will have the combination of a cat-back and an intake. I have a Flowmaster 50 Series dual-exit cat-back and get no drone while cruising. In my opinion it is hard to get big SUVs like these to have alot of cabin noise/drone because there is so much "padding" if you will between the drivers seat and the underside of the car. You would notice much more drone with the same system in a pickup.

 

[ZIsbell]

I bought the same muffler as run4jc but haven't got it put in yet. The intake and a tune would probably be the biggest improvements you could make. Especially for mpgs.

 

[brdnboy]

I bought the same muffler as run4jc but haven't got it put in yet. The intake and a tune would probably be the biggest improvements you could make. Especially for mpgs.

Thats what i have. Intake, tune, corsa cat back. I have it tuned for performance (91 octane) so i only get slightly better milage but a tune can do wonders if you tune it for better milage than performance. Note though that you wont have drone with the exhaust system but the intake is a whole different story. Whether its a metal of plastic intake it will create a very noticeable drone while cruising in higher gear with the engine under load (read: low rpms, high load). So just a word of caution. I don't mind it all cause i like to hear the motor, and i usually have my music loud enough to drown it out.

 

[bigblackchevy]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'll go for the CAT Back. The intake isn't too loud, only when I stomp on it. I haven't had it real loaded that though. I'm going on trip shortly with the truck fully loaded. We'll see how it does.

Thanks!

 

[brdnboy]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'll go for the CAT Back. The intake isn't too loud, only when I stomp on it. I haven't had it real loaded that though. I'm going on trip shortly with the truck fully loaded. We'll see how it does.

Thanks!

My truck is always empty except for fuel. I live in colorado and run from boulder to golden to the ski areas a lot (nothing is flat here). when you get to a hill, and it tries to make the hill before it downshifts from the high gear is when i get the drone. thats about it. not much an issue. you will love how the cat back sounds though!

 

[bigblackchevy]

Cool, I'll probably consider a programmer in the distant future instead of a tune. I drive my Tahoe approx 50 miles a day but I tow my toy on the weekends .

Thanks for all of the info!

 

[boostaholic]

I love my maggy catback, really opened it up top and cleaned up the powerband a little (good tune will do the rest). Definitely worth the money to buy the whole kit if you are gonna keep the truck, plus I love painting nice shiny stuff black

I HATED my stock exhaust, painted it black the day after I bought it and replaced it with the magnaflow a week later.

 

[bigblackchevy]

I finally purchased my Magnaflow CATback and I had it installed. I haven't noticed any mpg gains but I'm waiting for the fuel blends to switch over. I hope to see improvements then.

I do see some of the other improvements that Boostaholic mentioned. There's no drone at cruising speeds but on inclines and hard accelerations I realize that this is a serious V8. You hear it in the cabin for real.

I've already shown a little acura that chevy isn't nothing to play with :lol: