Topic: Exhaust that's throaty, yet legal! lol

[andymckee272]

Hey everyone! I just bought an awesome used 2003 Avalanche Z71 with stock exhaust. I am stationed here in VA with a GREAT mechanic uncle who does inspecions.

My question is...what is a really good exhaust system that will give me a loud, throaty sound all trucks should have  and is also legal with compliance with EPA regs.

I have heard some great things about a catback or no cat cherry bomb system, just not sure if anyone has researched this! I'm in the Army just back from Iraq so I don't wanna get arrested on post just yet!

Thanks everyone!!!!

[trAVelingman]

Hey everyone! I just bought an awesome used 2003 Avalanche Z71 with stock exhaust. I am stationed here in VA with a GREAT mechanic uncle who does inspecions.

My question is...what is a really good exhaust system that will give me a loud, throaty sound all trucks should have  and is also legal with compliance with EPA regs.

I have heard some great things about a catback or no cat cherry bomb system, just not sure if anyone has researched this! I'm in the Army just back from Iraq so I don't wanna get arrested on post just yet!

Thanks everyone!!!!

Go with an exhaust piped around the muffler with an exhaust cutout!  With the flip of a switch you can go from stock quiet to what a truck should sound like.  Flip the switch back for that stock sound if you feel the need.  I ride around with the cutout open 90% of the time because I like exhaust rumble....   :)

[Main One]

I've heard an AV with no muffler, just the cats, and it isn't too bad.  To stay legal, you need to keep the cats, but I don't think you have to have the muffler.  Your neighbors may not appreciate it, but it probably isn't illegal unless the local community has some strict noise ordinance.  Or you can go both ways as TrAV mentions and use an exhaust cutout switch to go between mufflerless and muffler.

If you want to just get a fairly inexpensive muffler that will give you a good amount of sound, a lot of folks here are using the Flowmaster Super 40.  For me personally, I don't want that much sound, and am happy with the Flowmaster 70 series.

[andymckee272]

Hey thanks guys!!!

I'm gonna have to actually call the state police about these muffler laws. There is so much "grey area" when it comes to aftermarket and performance exhaust in the state of VA it'll make your head swim. I did do some research and sound samples of the systems you all described and about fell out of my chair...I love them all!!!

I think it's gonna take me going to an exhaust place or a 4x4 place and jut drool for a while before I make up my mind!  LOL!

Thanks for all the help!!!

[trAVelingman]

Best thing to do would be to go to a GTG and listen to the different exhaust setups in person.

[bluedevil]

Without the muffler....

Chevy Avalanche Exhaust

[Ski Edition]

Go with an exhaust piped around the muffler with an exhaust cutout!  With the flip of a switch you can go from stock quiet to what a truck should sound like.  Flip the switch back for that stock sound if you feel the need.  I ride around with the cutout open 90% of the time because I like exhaust rumble....   :)

Never heard of this!  Anyone have any pics of how that works?  Wife thinks the AV is too loud now with a 40, so this will seal the deal if I can do this!! 

[bluedevil]

Never heard of this!  Anyone have any pics of how that works?  Wife thinks the AV is too loud now with a 40, so this will seal the deal if I can do this!!

@ stylintrucks.com  or your favorite store, search for "electric exhaust cutout".  Its expensive about $300 for the electric but the manual one (uses some sort of pull cord) is a lot cheaper.

[bluedevil]

[oHIobellboy]

Never heard of this!  Anyone have any pics of how that works?  Wife thinks the AV is too loud now with a 40, so this will seal the deal if I can do this!! 

I saw it last summer. Basically a valve that leads into a bypass pipe around the muffler and back into the exhaust pipe. Sounds great though. Summit carries them also.