Escalade OEM exhaust on 5.3L

[ATLPPV]

I found a super cheap OEM early Escalade catback and scooped it up. The early Escalade exhaust is slightly louder than the later ones and are bigger diameter than the stock 5.3L tubing. I didn't want the exhaust too loud since it's a family hauler.

That said I'm not sure what direction I want take installing it. The connection to the OEM Y pipe is riiiight on a flex pipe so it doesn't seem too easy to transition to the 5.3L Y pipe.

I thought about picking up a used OEM Escalade catted Y pipe and from what I can search online they should bolt up to my stock 5.3L cast headers? I also considered picking up a set of SS shorty headers even though they don't add much performance if at all and mate that to an OEM Escalade catted Y pipe to make it all fresh.

Long tube headers aren't too expensive and could be nice but I don't want it too loud and it seems like the aftermarket catted Y pipes are $$$. What do you guys think is the best route to go?

 

[iamdub]

What's the fitment problem? Is the flange at the end of the Escalade flex pipe larger than the connection on the 5.3 Y-pipe? You can get a 3.5" flange welded onto your 5.3 Y-pipe.

As for the rest of the system, are all the hangers in the same location?

If you find a catted Escalade Y-pipe, it should bolt up to the manifolds. As far as I know, they all share the same manifolds.

 

[kbuskill]

My question is, what are you trying to accomplish?

From a performance standpoint you will not gain anything.

From a sound standpoint you will probably not gain much if any.

With that being said, any decent exhaust shop could cut, weld, fabricate whatever would be needed to make the transition for fairly cheap I am certain.

 

[swathdiver]

I found a super cheap OEM early Escalade catback and scooped it up. The early Escalade exhaust is slightly louder than the later ones and are bigger diameter than the stock 5.3L tubing. I didn't want the exhaust too loud since it's a family hauler.

That said I'm not sure what direction I want take installing it. The connection to the OEM Y pipe is riiiight on a flex pipe so it doesn't seem too easy to transition to the 5.3L Y pipe.

I thought about picking up a used OEM Escalade catted Y pipe and from what I can search online they should bolt up to my stock 5.3L cast headers? I also considered picking up a set of SS shorty headers even though they don't add much performance if at all and mate that to an OEM Escalade catted Y pipe to make it all fresh.

Long tube headers aren't too expensive and could be nice but I don't want it too loud and it seems like the aftermarket catted Y pipes are $$$. What do you guys think is the best route to go?

Stock exhaust is 2.75" and the 6.0 and 6.2 exhaust is 3.5" if memory serves. You'll not gain anything but might lose some power/torque down low. Use it when you drop in the 6.2...

 

[ATLPPV]

I got it for less than the SLP to put it into perspective. The hangers are all in the same spot so the catback will hang there, just have to get the pipe size to match.

I just wanted the exhaust marginally louder at idle/driving than stock but don't want it to sound like an aftermarket system. I don't plan on it having any measurable difference in power. I plan on doing the TQ BTR cam soon that should take care of power.

 

[kbuskill]

I got it for less than the SLP to put it into perspective. The hangers are all in the same spot so the catback will hang there, just have to get the pipe size to match.

I just wanted the exhaust marginally louder at idle/driving than stock but don't want it to sound like an aftermarket system. I don't plan on it having any measurable difference in power. I plan on doing the TQ BTR cam soon that should take care of power.

I'm not certain that the difference in sound would be noticeably different, but keep us posted on the outcome.

Changing just the catback shouldn't cause any loss in TQ.

If the Esky Y-pipe is a bigger diameter then you may notice a loss in TQ.

They have sound meter applications for your phone. You should set up your phone in the same location in relation to your tailpipe and do some testing with the stock catback and then again after you get the Esky catback put on to get some real data.

 

[ATLPPV]

Thanks! I'll take video's and try that sound meter too.

 

[iamdub]

The hangers are all in the same spot so the catback will hang there

This is good to know.

I just wanted the exhaust marginally louder at idle/driving than stock but don't want it to sound like an aftermarket system. I don't plan on it having any measurable difference in power. I plan on doing the TQ BTR cam soon that should take care of power.

There are a few cheap mufflers that will accomplish this. If the sound still isn't to your liking, plenty of us can recommend some mufflers.

 

[iamdub]

They have sound meter applications for your phone. You should set up your phone in the same location in relation to your tailpipe and do some testing with the stock catback and then again after you get the Esky catback put on to get some real data.

You know, as much as I document everything, I'm ashamed that I didn't record the sound levels before and after. I have a free app (Decibel X) that has more features than I'll ever need and it seems to work quite well. I can't speak for the accuracy, but it should serve well just to have numbers to compare. I wanted before and after of outside and inside but failed to meter anything. Best I can do is an "after" vid to compare to my previous vids on YouTube.

 

[ATLPPV]

You know, as much as I document everything, I'm ashamed that I didn't record the sound levels before and after. I have a free app (Decibel X) that has more features than I'll ever need and it seems to work quite well. I can't speak for the accuracy, but it should serve well just to have numbers to compare. I wanted before and after of outside and inside but failed to meter anything. Best I can do is an "after" vid to compare to my previous vids on YouTube.

Thanks I'll try that app! I know it seems like a negligible swap but if you hear a stock Yukon or Escalade it deff has more beefy startup than a stock 5.3L Tahoe.

Even if I decide to swap the muffler later having the 3.5" perfect bend tubing is priceless imo. The biggest part of an aftermarket system is a clean mandrel bent tubing and I've got that now.