Chevrolet Silverado Performance Exhaust Recommendations
Looking to upgrade the exhaust on your Silverado? Check out these first-hand recommendations from Chevrolet Forum members!
Aftermarket exhaust systems remain enormously popular among the enthusiast crowd. New trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado are built to keep noise levels down and to satisfy emissions standards. So it makes perfect sense that one of the first things we want to do is rip off that restrictive, quiet exhaust and unlock both satisfying sounds and potential horsepower. This is why there are a bevy of performance exhaust options for the Silverado in the aftermarket.
But the real question is, which one is best? If you listen to the manufacturers, they’re bound to tout their own as superior. What you need are the opinions of real folks. Who actually own trucks and have installed aftermarket exhaust systems on them. And luckily, the Chevrolet Forum is chock full of just those kind of people. So, new member JustRev headed there to gather opinions on exhaust options for his Silverado.
“I’m looking to do a performance exhaust upgrade and perhaps a cold air intake for my 2017 Silverado 1500 LTZ. Any suggestions based on personal experience?”
Of course, it didn’t take long for the suggestions to come rolling in.
“GM Borla cat back exhaust and an Airaid tube with K&N drop-in filter,” suggests johng724 “I really like this setup on my truck.”
But according to country_09, the answer might depend on what the OP is looking for with his potential exhaust system.
“5.3 or 6.2? I really love my Magnaflow on my 6.2. But it all depends on what you want out of it. There are tons of YouTube videos on the subject. I’d suggest a straight through muffler. Magnaflow, Borla, Aerotrubine, Carven, Dynomax, and Bullet are a few to start with. You won’t really notice a big difference in performance but it’ll definitely sound better. Here’s testing that Black Bear Performance did on the new intakes. I have the AFE Momentum GT myself. Supposed to provide the biggest gains. I’m right at 400 hp to wheels if what it shows is true.”
Ashley Kelley is also a big fan of Black Bear products, recommending a tune in place of/addition to an exhaust and intake upgrade.
“I have 6.2L 2017. I just installed a Black Widow (love this sound) 250. Due to the inlet needed, it was a real pain in the *** finding it. The welds on the muffler are the best I’ve seen. I used to be a Flowmaster fan. I also considered the Borla. But I couldn’t be more pleased with my choice. I am traditional – I didn’t run single and had duals with tips. I don’t see any real performance or sound gains from single to dual, call me old school.
I’m a big Black Bear tune customer. Just the performance tune without aftermarket mods adds a great improvement in horsepower and throttle response. Black Bear also ran extensive tests with different intakes on a 6.2L with dyno results and tuning to the air intake for your truck. I went with the AFE Momentum GT Pro, then had my tune calibrated with this.
It’s a noticeable difference that is well worth the money. And the tune service is fantastic. Plus, I can always improve upon it with future additions. So you get 100 percent out of your aftermarket add-ons.”
All of which are solid choices. But we’d like to know what you think! Head on over here and chime in with your own thoughts and experiences with Silverado exhaust upgrades. Or, if you’re in the market, just snag a few ideas for your own build!
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