Just bought a 2001 1500 with the 5.2 and 5 spd. I am looking to replace the exhaust because the one on there is pretty rusted out. What size is the pipe diameter supposed to be stock? The catback systems I have seen look to be 3 inch. Right now it looks like 2.5 inch intermediate pipe and glasspack and a 3 inch tailpipe. I want to retain/gain low end power. Also I have seen a lot of posts regarding the hypertech programmer. Are those mainly for changing shift points for autos, rev limiters, top end speed? Can timing, fuel mixture, etc be changed with them as well?

Thanks

 

hey welcome to DF. the exhaust on your truck now is a 2.5 in. the hypertech can do everything you said. i think it gives you like an extra 20 hp and some more torque. it also changes the speedo for tire sizes or gear changes.

 

would going to a 3 inch single exhaust from the catback with a free flowing muffler be too much? Would I lose low end power?

 

welcome to DF! a single 3" is the way to go if you want to keep low end torque. or dual 2.25" outs will also work. dual 2.25's are slightly bigger in flow area than the single 3" and work well for me.

 

Keep your existing pipe and mandrels, just have them tap in a new muffler of your choice

 

the hyperpac wont change shift points on the autos... thats only on the 3gens.. the 2gens need a mechanical shift kit in order to accomplish that. bamory is right. if you can keep your exsisting piping itll be cheeper to just weld in a new muff or pack. i got dual 2.25's with headers and a highflow cat and .. im VERY happy with the performace and sound...single 3" will work well also.. both ways youll get a different tone. only thing that i can defenatly say between the 2 different systems is that get EVERY joint welded.. the clamps are ok.. but welding them will garuntee you no leaks and makes the system look alot cleaner!! and exhaust leaks hurt your performance and the gains your lookin for and always sound like crap.. WELCOME to DF!

 

Thanks for all the help. Since most of my pipe is pretty rusted I will probably just go with a cat back system. How much of a gain could I expect from a new TB?

 

Put a smile on my face and alot of other DF members

 

Sorry to be a pain, but I mentioned to the guy at my local muffler shop about putting a 3 inch single catback system with a high flow muffler like a magnaflow or ultraflo on my truck and he was like, oh nooooo that will be way too big for you. Is he smoking crack? Also, what about the converter? Right now I have the stock converter (I believe it is 2 1/2 inch inside diameter) that I have heard give out between 60 and 80 k (mine has 66k). Should I look into replacing that too with a high flow cat the same size? How do I know if the one I have on there now is working properly?

Lastly, on the fastman's web site he has a 50 mm tb for the 5.2 but the holley replacement tb on summit is 52 mm. What is the proper size?

Sorry for all the questions, but I am new and somewhat of a dumass

 

Single 3" all the way is fine, as is 3' from the cat to the muffler and 2 1/4" duals out of the muffler. High Flow cat wouldn't hurt if you have the bucks. Fastman suggests 50mm, that's what I have and what I would go with unless you have extensive motor mods. E-mail fastman with your exhaust and tb questions, he will e-mail you back with answers pretty quick.