dumb question about headers/exhaust

[traksta15 10+ year member]

I have an 03 silverado ex cab with the 5.3 in it. Im thinking about adding long tube headers to it, but my only worries are:

1. Will it hurt my mileage (assuming I don't change my driving habits)

2. How much louder will it make my truck sound? I like a quiet ride and don't really like a loud rumble, I just want better mileage and maybe a few more ponies for when I get on it (rarely, but it does happen.)

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[Ray21 10+ year member]

What mods do you have on the truck now?

 

[bigbirney420 10+ year member]

Exhaust will add a little rumble, but headers will make it pretty loud. If you add intake and proper tune, you will get more power, and typically a little better mileage with same driving habits. With that being said, anytime you mod, the driving habits usually change

 

[traksta15 10+ year member]

all stock (except for aesthetics) no performance or exhaust mods have been done....yet lol

 

[TnT_Sounds 10+ year member]

Since you'd be freeing up from restrictive manifolds, yes it should improve exhaust release therefore more HP and a little bit louder. Look into ceramic coated ones and personaly I'd go with shorty headers. I ran long tubes on my 5.0 and 5.7 and they don't quite have the low-end like shorty style headers. Also I'd probably run a 2.5" pipe at most if you do long tubes, that way you still retain some backpressure.

 

[TnT_Sounds 10+ year member]

Not to mention if you want true duals it will be a little bit more costly to do since you have a saddle gas tank in there. At least I think you do.

 

[Ray21 10+ year member]

With long tubes you'll have to do a full custom exhaust... won't necessarily be loud, that depends on the mufflers you use. I suppose you can tie it back into the stock exhaust but that would be a waste of money IMO.

If you simply want performance I would just get a programmer first (best performance increase per/$) and then an intake and exhaust later if you want more.

 

[TnT_Sounds 10+ year member]

Do you know by chance how many O2 sensors are on it? Sometimes with newer ones it may throw a code and would probably be logical to throw the truck on a OBDII computer to re-adjust some things.

 

[TnT_Sounds 10+ year member]

Motervation computer chips are really good. That's what I would do instead of a plug-in and play type deal.

Motervation actually sets the chips for the computer to truthfuly realize the performance mods. IE; cams, headers, intake, ignition, etc..

 

[Ray21 10+ year member]

I would recommend a custom tuned SCT programmer but they don't work on '03 Chevies... :/

 

[TnT_Sounds 10+ year member]

Do all your 'bolt on' performance mods then chip it.

That's if you want any more. Lol. I was pretty content with just intake and headers back on my 5.7l

 

[stangman67 10+ year member]

Since you'd be freeing up from restrictive manifolds, yes it should improve exhaust release therefore more HP and a little bit louder. Look into ceramic coated ones and personaly I'd go with shorty headers. I ran long tubes on my 5.0 and 5.7 and they don't quite have the low-end like shorty style headers. Also I'd probably run a 2.5" pipe at most if you do long tubes, that way you still retain some backpressure.

That is actually opposite of how is usually happens. Long tube headers tend to give you much better long end grunt while shorties are just more convenient on newer vehicles because of the restricted engine bay space. You sacrifice a bit of performance with shorties but will be much easier to install.

 

[traksta15 10+ year member]

im on fullsizechevy.com and from what i've read, longtube headers are better, If I got longtube headers, would it be possible to have a dual in/single out muffler? (to save on noise) Or do I have to go with a true dual exhaust setup?

 

[Ray21 10+ year member]

You can go with a DI/SO... sure. 3" should be plenty, I like Magnaflow mufflers.

 

[traksta15 10+ year member]

so it'll go something like this:

longtube headers--->to dual in/single out muffler---> dumped

Do I need anything to convert the headers to run into 1 muffler? Or will they connect right up? Sorry for all the dumb questions, im an exhaust newb