Topic: Manifold are leaking.. Want ideas for Headers!!

[badbowtie03]

ok i got a 03 avalanche with the 5.3 v8 and yeh i think its the manifold that are leaking.... i'm lookin into getting some new headers at the moment but decided between shorties or long tubes.... i more so want more power and louder sounding exhaust.. but trying to figure out if i have to modify the cats with the long tubes to make them fit? anyone know or can help me out? thanks

[Enkei]

on most Av's there is a washer on the O2's that will get loose and make a ringing sound...

[badbowtie03]

anyone have a picture of the y pipe and long tube headers on a avalanche? i heard it's kinda hard to fit long tubes on these trucks.....

[MyBigToy]

Get some Dynatechs with the catted y-pipe. Remove old/bolt on new. Stainless steel so you never have to worry about them. They are pricey but sometimes you've gotta pay to play. I had them on my 03 Vette and they were great.

[Main One]

Shorties work with the stock y-pipe.  Long tubes will need a non-stock y-pipe with cats, unless you go catless.

[badbowtie03]

i plan on keeping the cats just wondering how much work is involved in modifying the stock y-pipe to fit the long tubes... i heard the drivers side is kinda tricky...

[badbowtie03]

Get some Dynatechs with the catted y-pipe. Remove old/bolt on new. Stainless steel so you never have to worry about them. They are pricey but sometimes you've gotta pay to play. I had them on my 03 Vette and they were great.

yeh the dynatechs do look nice but way way out of my price range lol

[Main One]

i plan on keeping the cats just wondering how much work is involved in modifying the stock y-pipe to fit the long tubes... i heard the drivers side is kinda tricky...

Well, I'd say having a muffler shop fabricate a custom y-pipe from scratch may be about as easy as making the stock one fit.  You are taking length out of them where the cats are.

Edit - I think to go with long tubes you are more than likely looking at pretty much replacing the entire exhaust system, especially if you are going to squeeze cats into it.  I have a custom catback exhaust - it cost less than $300. 

[badbowtie03]

My exhaust at the moment is all stock except for the muffler. I got it cutout and replaced with a flowmaster. Is it worth the extras work to go with long tubes? Or should I stick with shorties?

[Main One]

Speaking for myself and my budget, the answer to your question was JBA shorties with a custom catback with a flowmaster 70 series.