Ingredient One: The Exhaust
This is Gibson's Dual Sport exhaust system for the Silverado. Since the truck is used for towing on the weekends, the side exit location should keep the trailer clean. We decided on the aluminized system because it was on sale, but there is also a stainless steel version for even longer life. The system is constructed out of mandrel-bent tubing that maintains a consistent size even through the bends for improved exhaust flow and better efficiency. New to the Gibson lineup is the Superflow muffler, which is fully welded, baffled, and chambered for better volume efficiency and unrestricted flow. The system also has zinc-plated, factory-style hangers and highly polished, T304 stainless steel clampless slash tips for easy installation and good looks.
Part One:Remove The Stock...
Part One:Remove The Stock System
1. After the truck was on the lift, the tailpipe section was cut free from the back of the muffler to make removal much easier.
2. The front end of the pipe...
2. The front end of the pipe was unbolted, and the factory stuff was finagled out from under the truck.
Part Two:Install The Gibson...
Part Two:Install The Gibson System
3. The lead pipe goes in first and is loosely tightened in place. As you can see, the factory-style hangers are in the right spot and hold the pipe up and out of the way.
4. The muffler slips right...
4. The muffler slips right over the back end of the lead pipe and has a heavy-duty clamp to seal it up.
5. The two tailpipe tubes...
5. The two tailpipe tubes provide the rear hanger to support the muffler. These route over the axle and snap into the factory hangers just like the lead pipe.
6. There are tabs on each...
6. There are tabs on each pipe toward the rear that bolt together and maintain the proper spacing to look nice.
7. Before the tips were installed,...
7. Before the tips were installed, the technician went back to the front and tightened up the lead pipe and made sure everything was positioned correctly. Then, he came back and installed the two stainless tips. Before moving on to the next modification, the truck was started and the system was checked for leaks.