I just ordered a Gibson turbo back system for my 04 and I am needing to know how difficult it is to install. I have 2 choices, do here at the house or take to the auto crafts shop and put on a lift. If I go to the shop I need to load the tools I will use as they usually dont have everything ya might need (ie 24" or longer extensions etc). If I do at the house its put the truck up on ramps/blocks and roll around on the floor. So if ya could tell me the ins/outs I might encounter particularly with the turbo pipe switchout. The exhaust itself out to be pretty straight forward.

TIA Hank

 

One lift
One good friend
12 pack of your choice
Saw....unless you want to save the down pipe. If you save the pipe lower the trans by removing the cross member bolts and swing the down pipe towards the driver side front wheel.

You need a friend to hand the down pipe up to you while you fasten the turbo clamp, plus your friend can hand you another beer when needed.

Gibson? Never seen one installed. I know some systems require major fabrications......so good luck.

 

Once install, give us your opinion of the sound. I am looking at gibson myself.

 

So MAXIUM, how many beers did it take to install your magnaflow exh,LOL.
It took my buddy(who has a hoist) and me a case of Old Mill to put on my MBRP. Of course some other freinds stopped by and helped us, drink beer that is.

Hank, my suggestion is use a hoist, makes things much easier.

 

I saved my original exhaust. If I would have cut the down pipe it would have been a 2 beer job. The Magnaflow is flawless for fit. Lift is the way to go...if you cut the pipe no lift required. My opinion....

 

I put on the magnaflow 3.5" downpipe. Took me more time cause I did it on ramps so I had to slide around on the concrete and I'm very AR about how things fit---not to mention just plain old and slow. It's not really hard even taking out the tranny cross member, you just have to support the rear of the tranny and that dang stand usually gets in the way. If you have a sawzall then I've heard of only an hour or so install on a lift. Gibson products are usually pretty good quality, so you should be OK

 

ok I got the system installed today, about 5 hrs on the lift. everything pretty straight forward, biggest hassle was the turbo connector. They said loosen, finally ended up taking off, next hassle was getting everything back on at the turbo. Maybe if I had a helper, but......

anyhow everything is kinda awkward to work on, step ladder to reach turbo, then reach across the engine, pulling the hanger brackets off, biggest pain was the bracket for the spare to rotate 180 deg. drop tire lay on back work blind on nuts. go to finish off all the connections, 1 muffler clamp will not fit as it was manufactured short on one side. gotta call them to get a new one, none of the auto stores have them, even went to a truck stop!

as to sound, not much change over stock, little throaty on start, turbo whine more pronounced with windows down, throttle response much better. lost all that dead space you feel in the pedal.

Did use sawzall to cut pipes and hanger brackets would be almost impossible with just a hacksaw.

well got to run it to see if there is much improvement and see how it sounds when the muffler burns in.

if you want sound/noise I dont think the Gibson system is gonna be for you, wasn't loud on my old f250 gasser, dont wexpect it to be on the psd.