97 C1500 4.3 Best Muffler

broughtcornet31 · Jun 24, 2024

Hey There,

I want the best sounding muffler for the V6 Vortec. I am not looking to make it sound like a V8. But I want a muffled burble at idle and I want it to sound good at speed. Preferably no raspy bullshit sound, I am not looking for ignorance.

Thanks

df2x4 · Jun 24, 2024

My red truck is also a '97 C1500 with the 4.3L. I'm running a Gibson 3" single cat-back system with Pacesetter shorty headers and a Magnaflow y-pipe/cat. I would NOT recommend the Pacesetter headers (I don't think they're even made any longer) or the Magnaflow y-pipe, but the Gibson cat-back has been great and IMO this combo sounds about as good as a 4.3L can. I've been complimented on it a few times over the years.

If I were to do it over I'd go with some nicer headers (if I could find them) and the Flowmaster equivalent of the y-pipe/cat. I've been through one of the Magnaflows already and the second (which I also paid full price for, they refused to warranty the first) is rattling at low RPM again. Same way the first one failed.

I'm not sure what muffler is used in the Gibson kit I have, but it's chambered and pretty large in size.

hootenholler670 · Jun 26, 2024

i really like the cherry bomb vortex. but i have a 5.7.

Rock Hard Concrete · Jun 26, 2024

I have a turbo muffler (s shaped interior) and a resonated 4 inch tip on my 4.3 vortec. It sounds really good, no raspy noises, has plenty of burble, more response at lower rpm.

I ran it straight piped off the cats for a year but it got real trumpety above 2000 rpm. The turbo muffler has similar performance to the straight pipe but a much more pleasing sound.

93chevyluvr · Jun 26, 2024

I’m thinking a mid frame side pipe or axle dump IMO

95burban · Jun 26, 2024

A turbo muffler of any kind would work great. I would also cut the tail pipe off as it dumps over the rear end. I don’t care for tail pipes and it will echo under the bed giving it a little more “bass”

97 C1500 4.3 Best Muffler

broughtcornet31

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