So I picked up a Gibson exhaust a few months back and had it installed at my local muffler shop that does all the work on my race cars. The normal guy that did my cars was not there, but no biggie....I had the guy there install it...no problem....

The Gibson was a little louder than stock and made a little difference in performance, I actually thought I lost some torque. At the time I was not that impressed....but hey, it was on the truck and it sounded good....so what the heck...right.

Come to find out a couple of days ago that the exhaust tip at the passenger side rear looks like it's hanging down lower than normal. I go over and move it up and down with my foot! So off to my trusty muffler shop to find out why it is loose like this.

I get there and my regular guy looks at it up on the rack and finds a few problems; there is no clamp on the back of the muffler to hold the tailpipe in place (thats why it was moving) and he notices that the exhaust is less than an inch away from the spare tire (which is bad for the tire).

So my guy shortens the pipe from the muffler to the tail pipe and bends the hanging bracket at the rear of the truck to fit correctly (clearing the spare tire and fitting the truck better). He welds up the previously clamped fittings on both sides of the muffler and tacks the bracket that holds the muffler up so there will be no way that this can come loose again.

WOW what a difference! The exhaust is not as boomy sounding and the performance is significantly better!! If you have a Gibson system I would recomend welding up the following locations, as I have had done. It is a big improvement!

Ron

Hey Ron, can you post some pics of what your talking about? It would help out alot. Thanks!

BRE Armada: Some folks just do half-assed work. I am glad that you got a guy who you can depend on. It really makes a difference these days. It seems like some folks want a job and don't want to work and others take pride in providing customer service and a quality work!

All those loose clamps cost you some low end torque and a louder exhaust note. It's good to hear that we have another satisfied gibson customer. Which one do you have? I would love to see some pics. I'm still trying to convince myself to get one.

I have the aluminized side swept Gibson system. There was no clamp on the back of the muffler at all...the front has a bolt on style clamp and now both the front and the rear are welded.

I will see about getting some photos for you guys...It's a PITA to get under there so give me a few days.

Spyda, you are absolutely right.

I installed mine by myself. I guess am gonna take it to a tire shop to have the bolts tightened just to be on the safe side. Thanks Ron:cool:

P.S.--- took it to the dealer for an oil change and asked to tighten the bolts, and they did.

Any update? Also what can I look to pay to get it all welded?

I didn't pay anything to get it welded as my local muffler shop covered this for free...My guy wanted to make sure it was right and did not charge me.

I haven't gotten around to photos as I have been busy with my business. essentially instead of clamping the muffler on with slip joints it was welded at those locations.

SinnerFA I will get photos...

Thanks, because I want to make sure that when I get my Gibson welded I want to make sure they do it as you had described!

sinner

Yeah, you probably lost even more back pressure when the connections weren't welded. By welding them you got that back. The higher flow the exhaust, the more we loose TQ at the bottom end but gain some as RPMs increase. The welds probably moved the backpressure sweet spot down the RPMs and helped you out through the torque band. This is why even though some pipes may add HP on stock imports, they actually are slower as they loose TQ through a majority of the TQ band. ;)

Yeah, you probably lost even more back pressure when the connections weren't welded. By welding them you got that back. The higher flow the exhaust, the more we loose TQ at the bottom end but gain some as RPMs increase. The welds probably moved the backpressure sweet spot down the RPMs and helped you out through the torque band. This is why even though some pipes may add HP on stock imports, they actually are slower as they loose TQ through a majority of the TQ band. ;)

Thanks for the update... I Also hear a whisp noise which is probably because of a minor leak from one of the connections... Which was the original reason I wanted to get it welded...

Is it possible to have the Gibson tip welded on as well? Or do I have to get one specific for welding? (I just don't want someone to walk up kick off the bolted on one and walk away with it...)

Should be able to weld the stuff. The reason many people opt out of welding is it is more expensive an install and it makes the exhaust a single unit, which is more difficult to remove for resale later.

Yep TB, I agree...It was a pronounced difference, I felt that the torque curve dropped to a lower RPM with the proper securing of the exhaust system.

Should be able to weld the stuff. The reason many people opt out of welding is it is more expensive an install and it makes the exhaust a single unit, which is more difficult to remove for resale later.


I plan on keeping this monster for some time

Me too, and if I plan on selling it, who ever is gonna buy it should appreciate the fact that it has a Gibson system, and if the dealer wants to nig on repairs b/c of an after market system is the cause for the repair, he will be hit with a law suit up the wazzooooooo.:cool:

what did you guys do with stock system??:confused:

hey trinidad, do you need an exhaust? let me know:cool:

You know TB removal is not that big of a deal here. the exhaust is really only two or three pieces, and I would sell the truck with the current exhaust, even though I still have the factory system.

Me too, and if I plan on selling it, who ever is gonna buy it should appreciate the fact that it has a Gibson system, and if the dealer wants to nig on repairs b/c of an after market system is the cause for the repair, he will be hit with a law suit up the wazzooooooo.:cool:

what did you guys do with stock system??:confused: :

I agree. If I ever sell, Id keep the system on the truck. I just threw my stock system in the garbage, I had no use for it. I did keep the stock muffler however, just incase I need it for any reason. So far no problems on my stock tip. Knock on wood.

I am having my Gibson installed tomorrow. MADA currently on the SHOP installing / finishing the GPS/DVD/WOOFER (custom box) and TINT.

I was going to do it myself, but after reading up on BRE_armada's comments on his experience, I have decided to go to a shop and have installed there with the welding of the joints. GREAT PIECE OF INFO BRE_Armada!!!

Me too, and if I plan on selling it, who ever is gonna buy it should appreciate the fact that it has a Gibson system, and if the dealer wants to nig on repairs b/c of an after market system is the cause for the repair, he will be hit with a law suit up the wazzooooooo.:cool:

what did you guys do with stock system??:confused:

hey trinidad, do you need an exhaust? let me know:cool:
hey ggeorgie, are looking to unload an exhaust? if so, what kind and how much? PM me if it's something your interested in. Thanks!

PM'd ya:cool:

Thanks for your nice words 06armadaSE4x2, good luck with your install...

GIBSON was installed today but unfortunatelly some dip**** hit my ARMADA earlier. Now i have to send it to NISSAN to have it repaired.

I HATE FLORIDIAN DRIVERS. Can't drive for crap....at least here in Miami-Dade.

Exhaust sounds great. Had it all welded where it needed to, to avoid any leaks. Only one problem though. Somehow they sent me a part that was reversed. The piece that goes between the Y Pipes and the exhaust has some notches in it. The picture showed the out side with pockets, but on my piece, the IN had the pockets, therefore I decided to remove that piece and put just a straight pipe (6-8" long). I will call GIBSON and ask them later how could that have happened.

Either the PIPE was wrong, or the Picture is wrong. the pipe had the IN with Pockets and the OUT was sealed, like a little wave - the picture was the other way around, the IN should the waves and the OUT was the back of the waves. I guess it is some sort of silencer, but had I installed it backwards, it would trap the gases and heat up like crazy.

Has anyone seen this?

That part is the resonator. Your system may sound a little raspy without it. It doesn't make any difference which way the "pockets" face. Some come one way, some the other.

oh ok. I will see if GIBSON can send me one the right way and then have it installed. It does sound DEEP at low rpms, i wonder if there any "HIGH PERF silencer" is there even such a thing?

I would like to quiet it down a lil without sacrificing the stipulated perf. gains.

Mine was finally installed and I got it welded as well. Also side tip.
Sounds louder then I expected, specially in low rpms. Very drony...but you get used to it. I find myself stepping on the gas much more, to avoid the sound...but then the intake kicks in. hahaha

Thank goodness that gas prices are coming down.

now I am going to modify it a little and move the single tip from side to back. Somehow it gets too dirty on the side and it is hard to keep it clean.

Hopefully in the back it will look cleaner. I will post pictures when done.