6.2 swap thread

[ls1frc]

With your cam, I think you may miss your headers, unless you plan to run a turbo in the future. I have run long tube headers on many vehicles, and you don't have to be WOT to feel the difference in the power they make across the entire RPM range. I ran cheap long tubes on an old 99 F150 5.4 and it was crazy the amount of power long tubes made, and I never got it tuned. I am about to add a cam similar to yours in my L9H, and run 1 7/8" ARH long tubes to my stock cat back

Headers definitely make 20-30 ft/lbs more across the range. Power wise they're great, but the ticking noises in the cabin really ruin the comfort of the vehicle and winter is coming, so windows will be up for 6 months.

Plus I'd be comparing a cammed 5.3 with headers to a cammed 6.2 with manifolds and 3.5" exhaust. The cammed 5.3 is still 1 second slower 0-60 than a stock 6.2.

 

[ls1frc]

I think I'll assemble it with the headers to start then, just to be able to compare.

The 6.2 may create different frequency in the cabin due to having more torque down low. The 5.3 lugs bad unless you're revving it, so that creates a lot of header noise.

 

[mikeyss]

I think I'll assemble it with the headers to start then, just to be able to compare.

The 6.2 may create different frequency in the cabin due to having more torque down low. The 5.3 lugs bad unless you're revving it, so that creates a lot of header noise.

I will report back when I get mine all done if I get the ticking. I have extra sound deadening in my Tahoe, so I thinking that will help me.

You should start with your headers, at least going back to stock manifolds will be easy if you find it's too loud or ticky.

 

[ls1frc]

I will report back when I get mine all done if I get the ticking. I have extra sound deadening in my Tahoe, so I thinking that will help me.

You should start with your headers, at least going back to stock manifolds will be easy if you find it's too loud or ticky.

Please do, I am curious. I know my ball socket connection leaks, so that may be contributing. I am going to put some paste there this time.

 

[ls1frc]

Possible to get this exhaust to work around the Yukon XL spare? I'd imagine id need to also pickup the escalade bumper.

https://www.jegs.com/i/Magnaflow/642/15179/10002/-1

 

[FrankU]

Have you looked into Stainless Works exhaust ? They have a dual exhaust for our series Tahoe along with some other variations.

https://stainlessworks.net/chevy-tahoe-gmc-yukon-2015-2019-sights-and-sounds

 

[ls1frc]

Looks cool, but my goal with this truck is to make it more quiet . I want it to sound stockish. I'll buy a car to play with soon that will be more radical once I am done with the truck.

I am still waiting on my camshaft, probably another 2 weeks, so I figured I would try one more time to seal my y-pipe. I can see why it leaks and I took a picture. There are deep ridges all over where it is supposed to seal. This would be impossible to seal metal on metal. This is likely the source of the annoying noises in the cabin under load. It already fails the vacuum + soap spray test. I can only imagine when real exhaust is going past it. Probably flying out.

You'd think after spending this much money, the exhaust wouldn't leak. Disappointing.

 

[Rocket Man]

Looks cool, but my goal with this truck is to make it more quiet . I want it to sound stockish. I'll buy a car to play with soon that will be more radical once I am done with the truck.

I am still waiting on my camshaft, probably another 2 weeks, so I figured I would try one more time to seal my y-pipe. I can see why it leaks and I took a picture. There are deep ridges all over where it is supposed to seal. This would be impossible to seal metal on metal. This is likely the source of the annoying noises in the cabin under load. It already fails the vacuum + soap spray test. I can only imagine when real exhaust is going past it. Probably flying out.

You'd think after spending this much money, the exhaust wouldn't leak. Disappointing.

View attachment 257697

Whose headers are those? Both sets of ARH I bought didn’t have that.

 

[Chert_Detective]

I like the project you have going on here!

I can guarantee the long tube tick is not any better on these vehicles than it is any other. Im running Speed Engineering long tubes, catless true dual, xpipe, and dumps. Im almost always windows down though, but it ticks, it smells, it's loud. But I wouldn't change a thing haha.

I wish I had a video of it but I think the best "stock" exhaust sound ive heard is when I kept the factory long tubes and Y, and replaced the rear most resonator and muffler with a Flowmaster 40. It had a nice V8 tone and rumble but wasn't much louder than stock.

Looking forward to your progress!

 

[ls1frc]

Whose headers are those? Both sets of ARH I bought didn’t have that.

Kooks 1 7/8". I sanded the ridges down a bit by hand. I just put it back together and did the vacuum test and and it's leaking at both ball sockets and each slip fit joint. When I do my engine, I am going to use Optimum Red RTV which is good to 750 degrees.

I like the project you have going on here!

I can guarantee the long tube tick is not any better on these vehicles than it is any other. Im running Speed Engineering long tubes, catless true dual, xpipe, and dumps. Im almost always windows down though, but it ticks, it smells, it's loud. But I wouldn't change a thing haha.

I wish I had a video of it but I think the best "stock" exhaust sound ive heard is when I kept the factory long tubes and Y, and replaced the rear most resonator and muffler with a Flowmaster 40. It had a nice V8 tone and rumble but wasn't much louder than stock.

Looking forward to your progress!

Thank you! I can't wait to drop the 6.2 in. Love the comfort of the truck but it needs more power.

Yeah I am aware of the ticking. The noise I get in the cabin is a clear leak though. You can hear it in addition to the ticking. It's a distinct air escaping exhaust leak noise. I will hear it clearly, then go over a bump (which shifts the exhaust) and the noise will stop for a split second.

I'd be fine with just ticking LOL.

I just removed my Corsa Touring and went back to the stock muffler. I really just want to be as quiet as possible. Problem is my stock exhaust is only 2.75" and it's beginning to rust through. I'd like to pickup a stock 3.5" from an escalade or denali but they're tough to find and shipping is a nightmare because they're 1 piece.

The Corsa sounds awesome at WOT but I don't need the attention on this vehicle.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Kooks 1 7/8". I sanded the ridges down a bit by hand. I just put it back together and did the vacuum test and and it's leaking at both ball sockets and each slip fit joint. When I do my engine, I am going to use Optimum Red RTV which is good to 750 degrees.



Thank you! I can't wait to drop the 6.2 in. Love the comfort of the truck but it needs more power.

Yeah I am aware of the ticking. The noise I get in the cabin is a clear leak though. You can hear it in addition to the ticking. It's a distinct air escaping exhaust leak noise. I will hear it clearly, then go over a bump (which shifts the exhaust) and the noise will stop for a split second.

I'd be fine with just ticking LOL.

I just removed my Corsa Touring and went back to the stock muffler. I really just want to be as quiet as possible. Problem is my stock exhaust is only 2.75" and it's beginning to rust through. I'd like to pickup a stock 3.5" from an escalade or denali but they're tough to find and shipping is a nightmare because they're 1 piece.

The Corsa sounds awesome at WOT but I don't need the attention on this vehicle.

Don't they have some kind of exhaust paste for this exact thing?

 

[ls1frc]

Don't they have some kind of exhaust paste for this exact thing?

They have many. I tried rtv copper but it blew out.

I sent pics to Kooks and they think its a defect and are requesting i send the headers back.

Likely I will do so.

 

[Rocket Man]

They have many. I tried rtv copper but it blew out.

I sent pics to Kooks and they think its a defect and are requesting i send the headers back.

Likely I will do so.

I was going to say they stand behind their stuff. I actually bought a brand new set of their 1 3/4” with non-catted y and couldn’t make them work without cutting on my bagged and bodied Silverado so I sold the headers. Still have the y if you know anybody that might want it. It’s in the classifieds.

 

[Sam Harris]

Ok I'll check it out. The header ticking ruins the vehicle for me. Definitely adds power, but it's a part throttle type vehicle. I don't want to go WOT all the time to enjoy it. I've owned a few LS cars and don't recall ever hearing the headers this much in the cabin. I think it's because the Y pipe connection is right by the firewall instead of further back if it were a car. Its fairly quiet outside, but you really hear it when the windows are up and A/C is low/off.

I love the headers sound.. [emoji16] don’t know how I hadn’t come across this thread before. Looking forward to the progress!

 

[ls1frc]

Header noise is less pronounced after i sanded the areas. Im confident Kooks will be able to fix it and ill be set.

When I do the swap ill put on my stock exhaust and ship them out to them.

 

[ls1frc]

Contacted Cam Motion. Earliest ship will be very end of month. Might just handle the header situation now.

While my headers are there, I'd like to have them convert it to 3.5" connection and pickup a stock 3.5" exhaust. Does the denali exhaust sound the same as the SLT? I like the sound of the SLT exhaust with the headers.

 

[ls1frc]

Got a good baseline today. Was 61 out and was able to find a flat safe area to do a 0-60 test. This will be a good comparison to what a cammed 5.3 can do vs the cammed 6.2.

 

[ls1frc]

I believe stock 5.3s are like 7.9 to 8.3 range or something, so there were gains for sure. 5.9s or bust with the 6.2! Maybe a tall order with no stall, we will see.

 

[mikeyss]

I believe stock 5.3s are like 7.9 to 8.3 range or something, so there were gains for sure. 5.9s or bust with the 6.2! Maybe a tall order with no stall, we will see.

My tuned 6.2 is just a tick over 6 seconds to 60mph here in Colorado. A mile above sea level knocks a second or so off 0 - 60 times. This is my 6.2 Tahoe with just a tune, cam and headers are coming soon.

 

[ls1frc]

My tuned 6.2 is just a tick over 6 seconds to 60mph here in Colorado. A mile above sea level knocks a second or so off 0 - 60 times. This is my 6.2 Tahoe with just a tune, cam and headers are coming soon.

Wow! I am super excited now.