K&N FIPK and Flowmaster Muffler; FYI
1993Suburban
02-18-2008, 02:24 AM
I finished installing a K&N Cold Air Intake and Flowmaster muffler on my 1996 Suburban Half-ton with the 5.7 liter Vortec. I just thought I would let you know how it went and let you know the results, just in case someone wants the info or someone in the future wants to find it via the search function.
K&N Intake:
I bought my 57 series intake on eBay for $209, including shipping. The part number was 57-3013-2. It came with a pre-oiled filter, all the hardware, and generally easy to follow instructions. Expect to spend a minimum of 45 minutes to install this thing, I recommend taking your time, probably about an hour and a half, cuz I rushed it out of excitement and ended up having to go back and adjust a few things. Installing it was pretty straight-forward and easy, but of course, with most projects like this, the more mechanical ability you have the more it will make sense. All-in-all it was an easy install.
I used this opportunity to clean my MAF sensor, since you have to take it out and install it into the new intake. I used CRC MAF sensor cleaner, was about $5.99 at my local autozone. I reccomend doing this as my sensor wires had some crud on it, and looked a lot cleaner afterwards. Plus this might stop some drivability problems down the road. Once it was all installed I noticed immediately upon ignition a sucking noise. This is normal! It is the sound of your engine breathing better! It seems to be quieter when the engine gets to operating temp. Driving the thing was impressive. I was able to get up to speeds with less pedal than I used before. Better throttle response and the engine roars when I put my foot into it. :bigthumb: Sweet! I haven't had a good chance to get a real accurate gas mileage figure, but it's somewhere between a 2-3 MPG increase. Not bad. In the end I think it was a worthwhile mod. I can feel more power, and can see the higher mileage numbers. It's been over two weeks and no service lights or problems. I would recommend doing it if you are thinking about this sort of thing.
Flowmaster Muffler:
The muffler I chose was the 50 Series SUV Performance muffler. I bought it off of eBay for about $100 after shipping. The part number is 524553. I was thinking about getting the cat-back exhaust system for about $300, but I decided on just welding in the muffler, enabling me to get the K&N FIPK. I cut out the stock muffler and tail-pipe, and welded in the muffler, and a tail-pipe for a 95 Suburban. There is really no rhyme or reason to the 95 Sub tail-pipe, other than I was able to find one new for cheap, (Walker Exhaust part my friend had lying around), and I liked the way it curved back. It worked out well cuz it used one of the stock hangers (other one I had to modify) and was the same 3" size of the muffler outlet (although both the tailpipe and the muffler ends were expanded so I had to improvise with an adapter and a trip to the muffler shop to expand pipe). And it ended up looking great when it was all done. It looks stock, but sounds great, just what I wanted. I had a good friend who helped me weld everything in place and line everything up so I would recommend getting help if you've never done much exhaust work before, or else buy the cat-back system as it just bolts right on. The job required welding a couple hangers differently and bending the two pre-muffler pipes in towards each other to fit the new muffler. Took me about 4 and a half hours with help. The finished product sounded great. It has a beautiful deep growl at idle, and upon normal acceleration it sounds great. And when you put your foot into it, it really roars, all to be expected from a Flowmaster. The noise in the cab is louder over stock, but it isn't terrible. I have yet to grow tired of it. If you think you will really be bothered if it's a little noisier than stock, I would consider something like the 70 series. The sound is just right in my opinion. Not too loud or obnoxious, but a great souding, deep growl, that will make your truck sound like a truck should. I haven't noticed a huge difference in drivability with the muffler, however I can tell that the engine breathes better now.
Sorry for the painfully long thread. This is the info I was looking for when I was considering these projects and I hope it will help someone else. Keep in mind I was installing these parts in 15-20 degree weather so it might not take you as long. I'm not trying to create a performance truck, I just wanted to just create a little more performance, and better sound, cuz I can't leave well enough alone. In the end I think the FIPK and the muffler are a great combination. My burb' isnt such a pig now, I can get it motivated much easier now. And I found the deep growl I was looking for. The whole truck flows noticeably better now, and it just sounds like a good running truck. If you are looking into these kinds of mods, I recommend it. Feel free to PM me with any questions. Later.:2cents:
K&N Intake:
I bought my 57 series intake on eBay for $209, including shipping. The part number was 57-3013-2. It came with a pre-oiled filter, all the hardware, and generally easy to follow instructions. Expect to spend a minimum of 45 minutes to install this thing, I recommend taking your time, probably about an hour and a half, cuz I rushed it out of excitement and ended up having to go back and adjust a few things. Installing it was pretty straight-forward and easy, but of course, with most projects like this, the more mechanical ability you have the more it will make sense. All-in-all it was an easy install.
I used this opportunity to clean my MAF sensor, since you have to take it out and install it into the new intake. I used CRC MAF sensor cleaner, was about $5.99 at my local autozone. I reccomend doing this as my sensor wires had some crud on it, and looked a lot cleaner afterwards. Plus this might stop some drivability problems down the road. Once it was all installed I noticed immediately upon ignition a sucking noise. This is normal! It is the sound of your engine breathing better! It seems to be quieter when the engine gets to operating temp. Driving the thing was impressive. I was able to get up to speeds with less pedal than I used before. Better throttle response and the engine roars when I put my foot into it. :bigthumb: Sweet! I haven't had a good chance to get a real accurate gas mileage figure, but it's somewhere between a 2-3 MPG increase. Not bad. In the end I think it was a worthwhile mod. I can feel more power, and can see the higher mileage numbers. It's been over two weeks and no service lights or problems. I would recommend doing it if you are thinking about this sort of thing.
Flowmaster Muffler:
The muffler I chose was the 50 Series SUV Performance muffler. I bought it off of eBay for about $100 after shipping. The part number is 524553. I was thinking about getting the cat-back exhaust system for about $300, but I decided on just welding in the muffler, enabling me to get the K&N FIPK. I cut out the stock muffler and tail-pipe, and welded in the muffler, and a tail-pipe for a 95 Suburban. There is really no rhyme or reason to the 95 Sub tail-pipe, other than I was able to find one new for cheap, (Walker Exhaust part my friend had lying around), and I liked the way it curved back. It worked out well cuz it used one of the stock hangers (other one I had to modify) and was the same 3" size of the muffler outlet (although both the tailpipe and the muffler ends were expanded so I had to improvise with an adapter and a trip to the muffler shop to expand pipe). And it ended up looking great when it was all done. It looks stock, but sounds great, just what I wanted. I had a good friend who helped me weld everything in place and line everything up so I would recommend getting help if you've never done much exhaust work before, or else buy the cat-back system as it just bolts right on. The job required welding a couple hangers differently and bending the two pre-muffler pipes in towards each other to fit the new muffler. Took me about 4 and a half hours with help. The finished product sounded great. It has a beautiful deep growl at idle, and upon normal acceleration it sounds great. And when you put your foot into it, it really roars, all to be expected from a Flowmaster. The noise in the cab is louder over stock, but it isn't terrible. I have yet to grow tired of it. If you think you will really be bothered if it's a little noisier than stock, I would consider something like the 70 series. The sound is just right in my opinion. Not too loud or obnoxious, but a great souding, deep growl, that will make your truck sound like a truck should. I haven't noticed a huge difference in drivability with the muffler, however I can tell that the engine breathes better now.
Sorry for the painfully long thread. This is the info I was looking for when I was considering these projects and I hope it will help someone else. Keep in mind I was installing these parts in 15-20 degree weather so it might not take you as long. I'm not trying to create a performance truck, I just wanted to just create a little more performance, and better sound, cuz I can't leave well enough alone. In the end I think the FIPK and the muffler are a great combination. My burb' isnt such a pig now, I can get it motivated much easier now. And I found the deep growl I was looking for. The whole truck flows noticeably better now, and it just sounds like a good running truck. If you are looking into these kinds of mods, I recommend it. Feel free to PM me with any questions. Later.:2cents:
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