When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Got to ask the technical gifted people here... (that means all of you in this forum here) ;-)...
I am looking into replacing the OEM exhaust with the Gibson Stainless Steel Exhaust on my V10. This cat-back system comes with muffler, pipe, tip, etc.
It states that it is a simple bolt-on installation only, so I really hope this is true and no welding or stuff is required... I have two left thumbs when it comes to that.
Has anyone replaced themselves the exhaust? And how difficult is it to uninstall the OEM exhaust system?
I looked underneath and there are several "hangers" where the factory system is strung up on what looks like rubber bands?
To remove the stock exhaust, you're gonna need to lift the truck off the ground. I mean...OFF the ground. The axle has to drop all the way down and you'll still need about 4 feet of room or more. If you can lift he truck over your head it'll make it a lot easier. It is not something you can do in your driveway with a floor jack. Unless, of course, you cut it up.
Gibson doesn't get very good reviews for sound. You may not want to cut up the stocker in case you find you don't like the sound.
If you don't intent to keep the old system then just cut the old one out. I installed the exhaust on my truck, very easy. It was more work to get the old system out then it was to put the new one in.
Thanks for the replies... I may want to think about it then... the truck is lifted and I can crawl easy in and out, but 4 feet? I don't have that much of a lift... LOL
I shouldnt respond because I have a P/S but Im wondering why you would need to have the suggested 4'? When I did mine I cut up the old system so it came out in three pieces.
Not to hijack this thread but does anyone know of a good sounding exhaust for the v-10? I have talked to several muffler shops and been told that people are generally not happy with "turbo" style Flowmasters or Magnaflow mufflers as they are too high pitched with this engine. The shops really could not give me any alternatives. Good luck Excursion USA on finding and installing your system!
I have an 03 with the V10 with a single in and dual out with 2 12in tips going out the side in front of the rear wheel and it sounds pretty good for $250. It is prety loud if that is what you are looking for and money is tight. I also had the CAT taken off.
I have flowmaster 70 series. I reallly like the tone of it. Its just not loud enough for me. How much different does the truck sound with out the cat? Louder? deeper?
If you don't intent to keep the old system then just cut the old one out. I installed the exhaust on my truck, very easy. It was more work to get the old system out then it was to put the new one in.
I cut out my stock one and couldn't get that damn Banks Monster exhaust up there for anything. I had the back wheels over a foot off the ground in my driveway. Ended up taking it to a shop....needed a little rework anyway.
1948f1, look up TEAMMUDD down in the V10 forum. His site has a bunch of different V10 exhaust sound clips. FWIW, I love my Banks. Deep, mellow & not too loud in most cases.
I'm running a Bassani cat back and really like the sound of it. Like everyone else says, if you don't plan to keep the old stuff just cut it off. That is what I did. The new stuff went on very easily.
Now I have a stupid question... as I am somewhat confused now:
I looked under the truck again last night. It appears that the stock system is in two pieces - the front part which includes the cat and the back part which includes the muffler. It appears that the pipe is clamped together (between cat and muffler)? Looks like this should come apart?
If this comes apart than it should not be a problem to get the back part out of there, right?
How may pieces does the new "Gibson" system for example come in?
I thought that would be also one piece which simply gets attached (as it says: BOLT ON ONLY) where the old system came off?
That's the thing the stock system unbolts right where you saw it did but trying to get that buggah out without cutting is a PITA.
Aftermarket catbacks usually bolt up after the cat and after the muffler making installation a bit easier.
I was thinking about this last night and remembered that I had fitment problems with mine due to it being for a CC shortbed and not necessarily for the Excursion. That's why I remember it being such a PITA to install. Still yet, I had to cut the stocker off. Sometimes my wife's wishes I wouldn't have done that.
I've got the same Gibson cat back system and I took it to a local performance muffler shop to have it installed - took'em about 20 minutes start to finish and cost me $80. Obviously, for them it was a piece of cake and the muffler, pipes and hangers all matched up perfectly with the stock parts.