Swapping exhaust on a Denali 6.2: who here kept their old one/how?

[TrueAt1stLight]

I’m swapping the exhaust on my 22 Denali and wish to keep the factory exhaust should I decide the GM Performance exhaust is not for me. The dealer said they’re not sure how they can do that as the factory exhaust is so long they’re unsure how I’d transport it. I asked if it’s as simple as cutting the pipe so it takes the size down in half and the sales associate said she’d check into that. Anyone here keep your stock exhaust and if so, what did the tech do to make it a manageable size yet still able to be installed back on? TIA!

 

[Doubeleive]

I’m swapping the exhaust on my 22 Denali and wish to keep the factory exhaust should I decide the GM Performance exhaust is not for me. The dealer said they’re not sure how they can do that as the factory exhaust is so long they’re unsure how I’d transport it. I asked if it’s as simple as cutting the pipe so it takes the size down in half and the sales associate said she’d check into that. Anyone here keep your stock exhaust and if so, what did the tech do to make it a manageable size yet still able to be installed back on? TIA!

you would need to either shove it in the back of the new truck and likely smudge things up, or load it in the back of a pickup or have it cut, gm will not sell any "pieces" of exhaust only whole parts so if you have it cut choose carefully so a 3rd party shop can weld it back together, gm will not weld anything.

 

[wsteele]

I’m swapping the exhaust on my 22 Denali and wish to keep the factory exhaust should I decide the GM Performance exhaust is not for me. The dealer said they’re not sure how they can do that as the factory exhaust is so long they’re unsure how I’d transport it. I asked if it’s as simple as cutting the pipe so it takes the size down in half and the sales associate said she’d check into that. Anyone here keep your stock exhaust and if so, what did the tech do to make it a manageable size yet still able to be installed back on? TIA!

I think I would just bring a battery operated Sawzall (or just a hacksaw and some elbow grease) when picking the old setup at the dealer and cut it on each side of the long runs in front of and behind the muffler (on the straight parts not a curve). That should yield three pieces that will fit inside the cab with the seats down. Bring some drop cloths to protect the interior from all the crap. If you don't like the sound just take it all down to a muffler shop and they can reinstall the stock bits and weld it all back up.

You also might drop by your favored muffler shop and ask them if they have a suggestion of where you might make the cuts to make it easiest to re-weld.

Frankly, I am surprised they don't cut the stock one to get it out. All the clips I have seen entail a cut before/after/both to make it easier to get out. Although, most of the clips I have watched were with the Silverado and Sierra trucks.

 

[Dlayne]

Utility trailer….or flatbed trailer.

 

[vince7870]

I’m swapping the exhaust on my 22 Denali and wish to keep the factory exhaust should I decide the GM Performance exhaust is not for me. The dealer said they’re not sure how they can do that as the factory exhaust is so long they’re unsure how I’d transport it. I asked if it’s as simple as cutting the pipe so it takes the size down in half and the sales associate said she’d check into that. Anyone here keep your stock exhaust and if so, what did the tech do to make it a manageable size yet still able to be installed back on? TIA!

Can you post thoughts once done? Good or bad

 

[TrueAt1stLight]

I think I would just bring a battery operated Sawzall (or just a hacksaw and some elbow grease) when picking the old setup at the dealer and cut it on each side of the long runs in front of and behind the muffler (on the straight parts not a curve). That should yield three pieces that will fit inside the cab with the seats down. Bring some drop cloths to protect the interior from all the crap. If you don't like the sound just take it all down to a muffler shop and they can reinstall the stock bits and weld it all back up.

You also might drop by your favored muffler shop and ask them if they have a suggestion of where you might make the cuts to make it easiest to re-weld.

Frankly, I am surprised they don't cut the stock one to get it out. All the clips I have seen entail a cut before/after/both to make it easier to get out. Although, most of the clips I have watched were with the Silverado and Sierra trucks.

Thanks very much! That’s great info!

 

[mikew2069]

You can definitely cut it into two or three pieces, no problem. try to do it in an area where the pipe is round and not crushed.

 

[Doubeleive]

I think I would just bring a battery operated Sawzall (or just a hacksaw and some elbow grease) when picking the old setup at the dealer and cut it on each side of the long runs in front of and behind the muffler (on the straight parts not a curve). That should yield three pieces that will fit inside the cab with the seats down. Bring some drop cloths to protect the interior from all the crap. If you don't like the sound just take it all down to a muffler shop and they can reinstall the stock bits and weld it all back up.

You also might drop by your favored muffler shop and ask them if they have a suggestion of where you might make the cuts to make it easiest to re-weld.

Frankly, I am surprised they don't cut the stock one to get it out. All the clips I have seen entail a cut before/after/both to make it easier to get out. Although, most of the clips I have watched were with the Silverado and Sierra trucks.

the whole system is made to bolt on/off, it has to be unbolted to get the transmission out & in

 

[wsteele]

the whole system is made to bolt on/off, it has to be unbolted to get the transmission out & in

Got it. It must be a little different on the pickups, as every video on Youtube I have watched, they cut the tube somewhere past the muffler (a few cut it on both sides) when removing the stock exhaust. It looks like it has to do with getting the tube that leaves the muffler out as it goes over the rear axle.

Anyway, the point remains, if any of the pieces are too large to get into the cab, cutting one of the straight runs won't present any major problems if he decides to put it back in (pretty unlikely of the sounds I have heard on the clips are any indication of the upgrade).

 

[Fless]

If you do cut it, before you do, take a marker and make some alignment marks so when it's welded back together it can be clocked properly. It's probably obvious how it should go, but cheap insurance.

 

[Doubeleive]

Got it. It must be a little different on the pickups, as every video on Youtube I have watched, they cut the tube somewhere past the muffler (a few cut it on both sides) when removing the stock exhaust. It looks like it has to do with getting the tube that leaves the muffler out as it goes over the rear axle.

Anyway, the point remains, if any of the pieces are too large to get into the cab, cutting one of the straight runs won't present any major problems if he decides to put it back in (pretty unlikely of the sounds I have heard on the clips are any indication of the upgrade).

in these video's you watched are they removing the stock exhaust for some specific reason? if it was to install a aftermarket muffler then yes they cut them and then weld in a muffler or pipe section because nobody bothers to weld up a flange to bolt in to oem and generally people want a dual out as well, if it is to replace the whole exhaust with say a corsa system then it should just unbolt. this is also why gm won't sell you just a cat, they only sell the whole y pipe section, they won't cut and weld anything everything is modular even if they have to take half the vehicle apart.

 

[wsteele]

in these video's you watched are they removing the stock exhaust for some specific reason? if it was to install a aftermarket muffler then yes they cut them and then weld in a muffler or pipe section because nobody bothers to weld up a flange to bolt in to oem and generally people want a dual out as well, if it is to replace the whole exhaust with say a corsa system then it should just unbolt. this is also why gm won't sell you just a cat, they only sell the whole y pipe section, they won't cut and weld anything everything is modular even if they have to take half the vehicle apart.

These were not muffler swaps. They were clips of guys installing the Borla Touring (or GM Performance exhaust, which is the same exhaust) which are cat back systems, on 2021 Silverados and Sierras. One I watched mentioned that the Borla instructions state to cut the pipe after the muffler to remove the system.

Probably the easiest way to understand what I am talking about would be to do a YouTube search on 2021 Silverado with Borla Touring or GM Performance exhaust and watch a few of the hits. Some just have the sound comparison (before and after) but quite a few include the actual install.

In any case, the point I was making really has nothing to do with the above and is just that the OP can cut any run that is too long to fit in the back of his truck and a muffler shop can weld it back together if he decides he doesn’t like the sound.

 

[Doubeleive]

These were not muffler swaps. They were clips of guys installing the Borla Touring (or GM Performance exhaust, which is the same exhaust) which are cat back systems, on 2021 Silverados and Sierras. One I watched mentioned that the Borla instructions state to cut the pipe after the muffler to remove the system.

Probably the easiest way to understand what I am talking about would be to do a YouTube search on 2021 Silverado with Borla Touring or GM Performance exhaust and watch a few of the hits. Some just have the sound comparison (before and after) but quite a few include the actual install.

In any case, the point I was making really has nothing to do with the above and is just that the OP can cut any run that is too long to fit in the back of his truck and a muffler shop can weld it back together if he decides he doesn’t like the sound.

looks like on the Silverado maybe the exhaust is put on before the axle is put on and to do it without cutting you would need to drop the axle. so they make a cut in front and in back of the muffler to make it easier.

 

[wsteele]

looks like on the Silverado maybe the exhaust is put on before the axle is put on and to do it without cutting you would need to drop the axle. so they make a cut in front and in back of the muffler to make it easier.
View attachment 361811

Yeah, that is what most seem to do and it seemed that the issue was the hump that goes over the axle is the problem.

There did seem to be some difference in the Borla instructions when it came to their louder systems (ATAK and Type S), where they don't say to cut behind the muffler, but I could never figure out why that would affect the stock removal. I just figured if I pulled the trigger on either the Borla or GM Perf, it would become clear what to do somewhere along the way of installing it.

Given what I have heard on the comparison clips, I don't think I would be reinstalling the stock in any case.

 

[Doubeleive]

Yeah, that is what most seem to do and it seemed that the issue was the hump that goes over the axle is the problem.

There did seem to be some difference in the Borla instructions when it came to their louder systems (ATAK and Type S), where they don't say to cut behind the muffler, but I could never figure out why that would affect the stock removal. I just figured if I pulled the trigger on either the Borla or GM Perf, it would become clear what to do somewhere along the way of installing it.

Given what I have heard on the comparison clips, I don't think I would be reinstalling the stock in any case.

I put the Borla muffler on my Denali, pretty happy with it I didn't see any additional benefit to changing 3.5" pipe for 3.5" pipe and ended up just doing a single out with a dual tip in the stock location, previously had a dual out but got tired of having to clean the black exhaust crap off of my painted bumper cover

 

[wsteele]

I put the Borla muffler on my Denali, pretty happy with it I didn't see any additional benefit to changing 3.5" pipe for 3.5" pipe and ended up just doing a single out with a dual tip in the stock location, previously had a dual out but got tired of having to clean the black exhaust crap off of my painted bumper cover

Which Borla did you put on?

Does your Denali have all the other valve gadgets inline to control sounds pulses?

I love the sound of the Borla's, the thing that has kept me from pulling the trigger is various impressions of drone before and after, etc. Mainly what the interior sound level and frequencies will end up being.

 

[Doubeleive]

40946 sportsman xr-1, I called Borla to see if they sold just the muffler for there cat back system, they said they do not but said this muffler was the closest match with 3.5" in & out. they didn't start doing the exhaust "flapper" until 2015+ and that can just be wired open or cut out
this is what it sounds like from inside

and from outside

 

[GChahal]

I was able to put it in the back of my Denali with the 2nd and 3rd row down. Just get them to put plastic bags on either end to avoid wrecking the inside. Tbh I’m not a big fan of the gmc performance exhaust. Too much drone inside when the dfm kicks in.

 

[Spoolin]

40946 sportsman xr-1, I called Borla to see if they sold just the muffler for there cat back system, they said they do not but said this muffler was the closest match with 3.5" in & out. they didn't start doing the exhaust "flapper" until 2015+ and that can just be wired open or cut out
this is what it sounds like from inside

and from outside

That first video made me cringe, So gonna give you some advice…..

Everyone I’ve given the same advice to has been more than appreciative.

Get the Bosch icon wipers and the orange colored rain-x wiper fluid. Now I’m colorblind, so I may be wrong, just don’t get the green rain-x. For some reason it doesn’t seem to work as good to me.

I think you’ll like it. I don’t even use my wipers if I’m above 55mph. Plus, all the rain drops rolling up the windshield makes me think I’m making the jump to hyperspace.

IT’S FREAKIN’ COOL!!

 

[Doubeleive]

That first video made me cringe, So gonna give you some advice…..

Everyone I’ve given the same advice to has been more than appreciative.

Get the Bosch icon wipers and the orange colored rain-x wiper fluid. Now I’m colorblind, so I may be wrong, just don’t get the green rain-x. For some reason it doesn’t seem to work as good to me.

I think you’ll like it. I don’t even use my wipers if I’m above 55mph. Plus, all the rain drops rolling up the windshield makes me think I’m making the jump to hyperspace.

IT’S FREAKIN’ COOL!!

lol, not sure why the wipers were making noise that day they are not now, the bosch wear out pretty quick and cost about $50 a set or close to it and anything above 75-80mph they lift and either do not work or barely work.
the Trico force are only $7 each on rockauto, will work at 130+ mph (verified) and will last at least a couple seasons.

More Information for TRICO 25220

www.rockauto.com