Had this thing sitting for about a month or more. Finally got time to do it.
Stock was peice of cake to get off. I think the whole process took about 2 1/2 hours with a few soda breaks.

Problems is leaks! Almost ever slip joint is leaking, there are not huge leaks. But a leak is a leak. I pretty much new this from some of the reveiws and when I tested fitted it. Usually slip joints are snug fit but not these, looks like they went alittle over board on the spreader.
Next break I get I'll weld it up.

I took pics of the stock exhaust and Gibson exhaust side by side, if anyone is interested I'll post them up later.

As for how it feels and sounds. It is super quite. I kinda wish it was alittle louder. It sounds best at low throttle cruising throw the neighborhood.
WOT is raspy especially next to another vehicle or a wall......exhaust leaks.
Start-up sounds just like stock. Definately feel power throughout the power range. I like this being somewhat mellow and with alot of seat in the pants power. There is no drone at all.


I didn't stop there I also re-installed the Volant after a few test drives of the Gibson alone.
The Volant definately drowns out the exhaust. But power is definately there.
I'm up in there air with the Volant though as it is a very tight fit in the engine bay and IT has a resonance(sp) type of drone at WOT. Anyone else notice this, is it common. It sounds mean but I could definately live without the droning...sounds like the a hollow metal noise.

Just my reveiw.

Herb

Here are the comparo pics. Didn't take a pic of the truck with the tip on as it got dark and everyone knows what the Gibson exhuast tip looks like.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/738000-738999/738167_215_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/738000-738999/738167_216_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/738000-738999/738167_217_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/738000-738999/738167_218_full.jpg

I also wanted to try something different with the Volant intake as me and the wife both agreed it sounded weird. I pulled the top cover and ran it like that. Of course it was nice and cool out and the truck ran great.
But it sounded a whole lot better.
So I might just dress it up and leave the top off.
Got too see how it does when it is 130* out in the AZ desert.
I know it will suck but I'm willing to give some HP for a better sound.

Does anyone know if you can log AIT(air intake temps) with a scan tool. I'll have to hook up mine and see if I can log a few runs with and without the top just for the hell of it.

Herb

what size is the piping on the gibson?? and did you get stainless or reg aluminized pipe?? i just cant decide.. im looking at the jba system but hear its still pretty loud while cruising i dont want that. i do want just a bit louder than stock but def no drone at all...

what size is the piping on the gibson?? and did you get stainless or reg aluminized pipe?? i just cant decide.. im looking at the jba system but hear its still pretty loud while cruising i dont want that. i do want just a bit louder than stock but def no drone at all...


It looks to be a 2.5" y-pipe into 3" single pipe/muffler/tip.
I got the aluminized kit.

nice. is the gibson all one piece?

nice. is the gibson all one piece?


5 pieces total including the tip.

Y-pipe, small resonator, muffler, rear pipe, tip.

It actually seems to have become alittle louder since install. Just barely. Sounds great.

what year is your armada? my stock exhaust, and replacement flowmaster, was a single in / single out. :confused:

I have an 07 SE.

I'll have to add my sig on here.

Weird, I guess they changed it in '07 to a dual IN.. unless its just an SE difference? :confused:

All 07's and 08's have the dual inlet muffler from the factory.

how does your gibson sound compared to this ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tfbbI8NUQ0

is it nearly that loud?? i love the way that one sounds but its a bit loud for the wife and baby.. lmk if you can thanks

how does your gibson sound compared to this ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tfbbI8NUQ0

is it nearly that loud?? i love the way that one sounds but its a bit loud for the wife and baby.. lmk if you can thanks

Gibson is pretty quiet.

If you want something a little more "mean sounding" but still not real loud and crazy, Id suggest my setup that took 30 minutes to install myself.

A flowmaster 70 series, offset single in / center single out.

Scored the stock "elbow" off another member that was tossing their exhaust system. This made for a simple swap out, allowing easy re-install of the stock piece if I ever needed to.

how does your gibson sound compared to this ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tfbbI8NUQ0

is it nearly that loud?? i love the way that one sounds but its a bit loud for the wife and baby.. lmk if you can thanks


That is alot louder than the Gibson. The wife loves the way the truck drives and sounds with the Gibson.

The Volant is another story though.

I agree - That is much louder than the Gibson.

Lot of the guys over on TT and CT getting those JBA systems.. wonder it they sell just the muffler section for us Armada folks.

i can get a deal on it so im torn between that and the gibson.. the gibson will cost me a lot more than the jba.. i just dont want a loud system .. and im thinking it may be to loud.. though i do think that mic he used was a bit sensitive ive heard other clips before and it was not that loud

Im sure the way everyone records their sound clips is going to be different.

Best way to decide, would be to listen to one in person if you can. Maybe check the Titan forums to see if there's a meet local to you, were you can get to hear a bunch.

Gibson to me, was way to quiet. I also wanted something kinda quiet, because my wife uses the Armada to haul the baby and our 2yr old around.

After installing a Gibson on my dad's Yukon, he was also a bit dissapointed it was so quiet. Different stroke's though.

Visit flowmasters web site for all their sound bites. What they have posted for the 70 series is pretty much exactly how the Armada sounds now.

so is it at all louder than stock?? or really only when at wot..

If you are asking about mine, YES.

You know its not a stock exhaust when inside, outside, or as it drives by you.

IMO, its perfect for my wife to drive everyday, and sounds great with the Volant and AirRaid TBS. :cool:

so is it at all louder than stock?? or really only when at wot..

If asking about the Gibson yes it is louder than stock but not by very much at all. But compared to others it is stock sounding.

zfactor - use the quote button when refering to someone else's post above, it will make it easier to get the answer to your question. :)

In this case though, it looks like we got you more then covered. :D