2004 Tahoe Z71 Muffler

[H D]

I need to replace the rattling muffler on my wife's 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71, 5.3L FlexFuel. I'm thinking Flowmaster 50 Series SUV.



Anybody have any experience with the 50 series on a V8? She doesn't want loud but I'm not paying $150 for an OEM replacement when I can get a performance muffler cheaper. That is, unless it's really too loud.



Online videos are hard to judge since everyone thinks they have to put the recorder right under the tailpipe, you know where everyone sticks their ear to judge your exhaust system.:banghead:



Thanks in advance!

 

[Jerry Gerner 2]

If you go with Flowmaster make sure to drill a couple drain holes towards the back bottom of the body, they love to rust out from the inside out fairly quickly.



I just bought a stainless steel muffler from the Parts a Rama last month for $40, it's a knock -off Magnaflow so I can't wait to hear the difference in sound between the Flowmaster 3"in/ dual 2.5" out with 2.5" tailpipes running out each side behind the rear wheels and the new 2.5" in/ dual 2.5" out with new tailpipes (I have two 8' sticks of 2.5" pipe) I have to bend once I get a chance to get down to the clubs garage. Was supposed to do this weekend but truck is out of commission so those plans are shot.



I would definetly go with a fully welded muffler, they tend not to blow out and rust out as much as rolled mufflers, just drill like two 1/8" holes in the body to drain the moisture.

 

[EddieS'04]

I would go with a SS welded. If the Tahoe has a resonator. That will queit down for her. If it does have a resonator. The ss knock off magna-flow, looks like a good deal.



Jerry does this parts a rama have a website?

 

[Jerry Gerner 2]

Eddie, the Parts a Rama is a huge parts swap meet held in Butler, Pa. every Summer and fall.

 

[Tom Schindler]

What is causing the rattling? Is it a head shield that is loose?



A $2.00 hose clamp will fix it.





Tom

 

[H D]

There isn't a heat shield. That's what I had hoped, though.



I actually already ordered the Flowmaster. I've read good and bad about both the Flowmaster and the Magnaflow. The thing that pushed me toward the Flowmaster was reviews that said the Magnaflow got louder with time. Supposedly, the Flowmaster gets quieter. We'll see how it goes.



Thanks for the input.

 

[Jerry Gerner 2]

My Flowmaster isn't getting any quieter but it's rusted out in just 2.5-3 years but I'm up in the rust/ salt belt so it should last longer for you.



Don't forget to drill the drain holes to help prvent rust out. :banana:

 

[Tom Schindler]

Hugh,



What is causing the rattle?





Tom

 

[EddieS'04]

Hugh,

Are you sure the brick in the cat convertor isnt rattling. I have had muflers get loose baffles, but. 9 of 10 internal exhaust rattles are the convertor.

 

[Jerry Gerner 2]

I gotta agree with Eddie on what he says about the cats vs. muffler rattling. I had the cat break apart and clog/ break aprt the baffles inside the muffler on my Show truck and on the Trac.

 

[H D]

I don't really know. I only hear the rattle (besides when driving) when I tap on the muffler. Should I just have them remove the cat when I take it to get put on Wednesday?



P.S. I would do it myself, but I don't have a safe way to lift a Tahoe high enough to weld under.

 

[H D]

Btw, emissions do not matter where I live.:banana:

 

[Jerry Gerner 2]

If emissions doesn't matter then either just hollow out the cat or replace it with a straight pipe. You might get a CEL but I don't think it'll cause the truck to run rough because alot of guys do it up here on their Chevy's up north where there isn't any emissions.



When they take the muffler off have them check out the cat before removing it, no sense in removing something that's not broke, right.



:banana:

 

[EddieS'04]

If there is a secondary rear cat after the O2 sensor. It might have broke up. Pieces are inside the muffler. I had one do that on the oem exhaust on my t-bird.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Should I just have them remove the cat when I take it to get put on Wednesday?

I highly doubt that the shop will remove the converter for you. It is a federal law that requires converters on vehicles and a shop removing one is a felony and carries a fine of up to $25,000.



Good luck.





Tom

 

[H D]

Will do, Jerry. Thanks.



Sounds like a plausible cause Eddie. Thanks for the suggestion.

I highly doubt that the shop will remove the converter for you. It is a federal law that requires converters on vehicles and a shop removing one is a felony and carries a fine of up to $25,000.



Good luck.

The federalis don't spend much time in my neck of the woods.



I can remove it all myself, I just don't have a way to safely lift a Tahoe high enough to comfortably weld under it. I may just have to do that, even though I don't think I'd get any resistance from the shop.

 

[H D]

Installed today. Cats were fine. Baffles were busted; heat shield, too. Sounds great now. Bought and installed for less than the cost of an OEM muffler.



Thanks for the input.

 

[Jerry Gerner 2]

Glad to hear it was easy and cheap. Now on to the Cougars' engine. :banana::haveabeer:

 

[H D]

Bringing the Cougar down from my parents' Monday! :banana:



I fear for the Sport Trac's attention in the near future. :sad:

 

[Jerry Gerner 2]

Yeah, my SAS, SOA plans for my ST are a couple years off too since I just replace the wheels/tires, UCA/ balljoints, lower balljoints, axle shft seals, u-joints and outer tie rod ends.



That and the fact that were having a baby boy in October. I plan on selling my Show Truck, maybe to get a different/ family oriented show vehicle or I may just take the money and do my SAS, SOA like I would like to but I doubt it.