Hmmm... Is it because no one has made these mods? or am I asking stupid questions? or ...

 

Ok well I have an intake, catback, tune and will be installing long tubes this weekend.

As for the intake. a lot of guys on this forum tend to lean toward the airaid jr kit and just a drop in K&N filter. I have a full K7N cold air kit, it reuses your MAF sensor and I didnt throw any codes or have any issues when installing mine.

Long tube headers are pricey and not too many guys run them. I have the KOOKS long tubes and catted y-pipe waiting to be installed saturday morning. I went with the cats because I have to deal with emissions as well, however I do have the Diablo Tuner and had LEW do my tuning, if I went without cats he could have easily tuned out the rear O2 sensors. I will have him retune once they are installed anyway to get the most out of the headers. If you buy headers from a similar company they are direct bolt up to your stock or aftermarket catbakc.

Any other questions let me know.

 

Lets see if I can take a shot at answering your questions.

You can purchase a cold air intake that uses your stock MAF sensor. (Most aftermarket systems require that you do)

If you purchase long tube headers, you will need to find a muffler shop that will fab up a new system to include your catalytic converters. You can also go with a set of bolt in shorty headers and retain your stock Y pipe and cats.

In my opinion, a tune is a tune. There are many hand held tuner brands like Diablo out there. I sought out someone with a dyno and knowledge with GM vehicles and their computers to tune my truck. Tuners are generally expensive, you only want to purchase one once if you go the hand held route.

I'm not understanding your Flex Fuel question, there shouldn't be a problem feeding fuel even in stock form.

There are tuners out there that wont mess with the AFM, just do your homework before purchasing. The term "CHIP" is slang anymore for tuning/messing with the computer (see "Tuner" or "Tune"). Back in the late 80's and early 90's when we first saw electronic fuel injection and OBD 1 systems they required a "Chip" to change the parameters of the computer. Now, we just plug into the OBD 2 port and make the changes with a hand held tuner.

I hope this has helped.

Happy Modding.

 

If you purchase long tube headers, you will need to find a muffler shop that will fab up a new system to include your catalytic converters. You can also go with a set of bolt in shorty headers and retain your stock Y pipe and cats.

I dont want to start a huge debate on this but that is untrue, there are several companies that sell long tube headers with catted y-pipes that are direct bolt on to a stock or aftermarket system. just to name the big ones, KOOKS, Dynatech, and American Racing Header all offer this as an option, as well as an off road y-pipe

 

No need to debate, the only reason I stated as such is because most people that purchase long tube headers will by pass the premium for a matching y - pipe and cats to have their own system fabbed up. Usually its a true dual design with a X or H pipe, and in my opinion.... if you're going to invest in long tube headers just to feed them into a single y-pipe design you're defeating the purpose.

So yes, you're correct.

 

I just recently put Doug Thorley long tube headers (or more correctly tri-y headers) on my 2012 4.8 and honestly other then the increase in noise and smell havent noticed muhc of a difference at all! That's with running no cats also. I had to switch between the dynomax ultra flow muffler I was running (though before the headers I loved the sound) but after installing the headers it was way too damn loud to a magnaflow muffler. After the initial custom tune from Lew it has quited down some, after the second custom tune it is almost too quite unless I get on it. Either way the truck doesnt feel any stronger.
Honestly the best my truck felt so far was after CAI, tune, and catback. I seems like I am trying to get back to that point now with tunes and little patience. So far I would say long tube headers havent been with the money or headache.
Just my 2 cents

 

Long tubes are a great mod and depending on how Texas does emissions you could just shove a pipe threw your cat so it looks like it's there but really isn't. You could also get magnaflow high flow cats.

 

No emissions in San Antonio.

 

I have made a few decisions after some research. I am going with the Cold Air Intake and then move to the headers. I don't have the budget for KOOKS and/or some of the higher end, so I am looking at Pacesetter ceramic coated. First will be the CAI from Diablew...

Any feedback on the Pacesetter Ceramic? The reason for the ceramic coating is (I think) it should last longer. Comments or suggestions?

 

Pacesetter's are great quality.

I would strongly suggest reading this first:

http://www.silveradoss.com/forums/topic ... t-results/

Black Bear Performance performed the testing.