Muffler swap vs cat-back pros and cons.

[Nomis]

I know exhaust threads are annoying, but being unfamiliar with Fords(former GM guy) I want the opinions of this forum.

Every truck I've ever owned, I cut the stock muffler out, put in what I want. Initially I start looking at cat backs, decide it's not worth it. Spend a couple hundred instead.

I'm already dumping a ton of money into it to get it where I want it. This includes Eibach coilover kit, Icon UCAs, S&B intake, 33 inch bf KO2, LineX, 3M all over the place, Bak X4S, kickback flaps, and tinted front windows. So to drop $1000+ just to make it sound better seems rather pointless. Durability is the main concern I suppose. I live in Canada, they salt the roads, welds on the muffler would rust. I play in the mountains, like DEEP in the mountains, on very rough turkey trails and logging roads. So the undercarriage can get dinged.

Do these 5.0's benefit in any way from a cat back system? Or is it merely a fact that the welded on muffler wouldn't last as long? Eventually the welds always rust out on em(years later).

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[MJG44]

Weld in a muffler for budget reasons. Wait until you're better suited to do a catback or full system. Who knows, by then you may end up selling or trading it in anyway.

Catback is for sound an appearance, negligible performance gain. High flow cat system has more of an impact, but not much either. Want power on the 5.0? Go supercharger.

I do admit though, having the catback on my truck plus the pedal commander gives me plenty of joy.

 

[Baddeal]

Just sound. The cats/mid pipe would be the hold back for performance. Also could've just done a K&N drop in filter as the stock intake works fine and even with a tune. Stock UCA's are fine too. Would save money all around.

 

[Je1279]

You could aways use some stainless exhaust lap joint clamps if you decide to just replace the muffler. That way if you don't like the sound of one, you could easily swap it out to another of the same length easily. That's what I did for the exhaust that I pieced together for my '15 Silverado and I've had no problems with it.

 

[Baddeal]

You could aways use some stainless exhaust lap joint clamps if you decide to just replace the muffler. That way if you don't like the sound of one, you could easily swap it out to another of the same length easily. That's what I did for the exhaust that I pieced together for my '15 Silverado and I've had no problems with it.

This, and there's also resonator deletes that are the same way.

 

[Nomis]

Just sound. The cats/mid pipe would be the hold back for performance. Also could've just done a K&N drop in filter as the stock intake works fine and even with a tune. Stock UCA's are fine too. Would save money all around.

I haven't actually done the cold air yet, just planned on ordering one, as I was reading it did give you a little gain in power. I haven't done any of it yet. Haven't even had the truck a week haha. The only thing I've actually purchased is the coilover kit so far. I'm up in the bush working until the 9th, which is when I'm dropping it off to get most of what I listed done. The UCA's I planned to do in the spring as I was reading on here that it was suggested when you level over 2" with these trucks, to get full articulation and less wear.

I think you guys are right though and I'm just going to swap the muffler. These cat back systems are a waste unless they actually increase HP and TQ, which I don't think they do.

 

[Baddeal]

I haven't actually done the cold air yet, just planned on ordering one, as I was reading it did give you a little gain in power. I haven't done any of it yet. Haven't even had the truck a week haha. The only thing I've actually purchased is the coilover kit so far. I'm up in the bush working until the 9th, which is when I'm dropping it off to get most of what I listed done. The UCA's I planned to do in the spring as I was reading on here that it was suggested when you level over 2" with these trucks, to get full articulation and less wear.

I think you guys are right though and I'm just going to swap the muffler. These cat back systems are a waste unless they actually increase HP and TQ, which I don't think they do.

I believe you would start to lose down travel above 2”. I have the eibach kit lowered all the way on 33s and had full articulation on trails.
The LT tires negate the S&B intake, running P rated 33s would prolly gain more back if power is needed. I only gained around 8lbs a corner over stock going this route.

A tune would net more of a return than a cat back/muffler swap. It’s just sound/aesthetic if midpipe/headers aren’t being done.

 

[Nomis]

I believe you would start to lose down travel above 2”. I have the eibach kit lowered all the way on 33s and had full articulation on trails.
The LT tires negate the S&B intake, running P rated 33s would prolly gain more back if power is needed. I only gained around 8lbs a corner over stock going this route.

A tune would net more of a return than a cat back/muffler swap. It’s just sound/aesthetic if midpipe/headers aren’t being done.

Yeah I'd like a tune but the truck is brand spanking new. Hoping maybe Roush comes out with one, I see they only go to 2020 so far. From what I understand theirs doesn't affect warranty.

 

[diambo4life]

I drive my truck everyday almost and it sucked how it sounded stock. I get joy driving it with a well designed catback on. I levelled my truck because I like how it looked that way too. Again, we all do things that bring us joy in whatever form we see fit. I also had a Sierra 5.3 that I installed a catback on lol so sound is important to me with V8 trucks and worth the money to get an exhaust. I have spent almost $70k for my truck, what's another grand?

 

[Baddeal]

I hear you haha. I just got to 6,200 and finally broke down and ordered the livernois tune.

 

[Nomis]

I hear you haha. I just got to 6,200 and finally broke down and ordered the livernois tune.

I keep seeing mention of them they sound popular with fords. With GM it was blackbear and I had a custom tune from them through EFI live flash.

Are they worth it? I know the stealership can see if it has been tuned even if you flash it back to stock. But livernois sounds reputable.

 

[diambo4life]

I hear you haha. I just got to 6,200 and finally broke down and ordered the livernois tune.

I will be getting mine in the spring for sure. There's a dude on YT who knocked off a second off his 1/4 mile ET and gained like 6-7mph in the 1/4 with their tune. I thought that was pretty damn good for spending $850 on an N/A truck! And you can get 3 other tunes plus have the option to save your stock tune, transmission shift updates and get future tune revisions. It's a no brainer.

Oh...also get the cyl deactivation defeated!!!

 

[Nomis]

I will be getting mine in the spring for sure. There's a dude on YT who knocked off a second off his 1/4 mile ET and gained like 6-7mph in the 1/4 with their tune. I thought that was pretty damn good for spending $850 on an N/A truck! And you can get 3 other tunes plus have the option to save your stock tune, transmission shift updates and get future tune revisions. It's a no brainer.

Oh...also get the cyl deactivation defeated!!!

That was one thing I had tuned out on my GMs was the cylinder deactivation. I'd like to do that with this one.

 

[Je1279]

I've heard mixed reviews about the Livernois tune and want to see what 5 Star offers for the 5.0 before committing to either.

 

[Nomis]

I've heard mixed reviews about the Livernois tune and want to see what 5 Star offers before committing to either.

Haven't heard of them before I'll check them out. By mixed, what do you mean? Not as advertised or problems?

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