Silverado 1500 Exhaust System Tips

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks are full-size twins from General Motors that share the same basic mechanical underpinnings and platforms. For aftermarket exhaust companies, that means one thing – plenty of small-block Chevy action. With a number of different V8 engines available based on the venerable SBC design, finding exhaust components for either of these pickups is never difficult.

Although it is possible to find a V6 under the hood of some editions of the Silverado and the Sierra, these two trucks are really all about V8 goodness, especially when it comes to wading through the dense offerings on-hand from American exhaust brands.

There are several different engines available in the Silverado and the Sierra since the revised GMT900 platform was introduced as a 2007 model:

• A 4.3L V6 found in the base model.
• An entry-level V8 displacing 4.8L
• A 5.3L, eight-cylinder engine representing the most common drivetrain choice for either truck.
• A 6.0L, 367 horsepower V8 available as an option.
• A high-output, 403 horsepower 6.2L V8 available in the Denali luxury trim (GMC) or the Sierra LTZ (Chevrolet).

Naturally, it is the engine options ranging in size from 5.3L on up that garner the most attention from aftermarket parts suppliers. That being said, the 4.3L has been around forever in a variety of different guises, which means that V6 truck owners should be able to find mufflers and pipes for their models – even if it means having to dig down into S-10 and Sonoma territory.

The list of brands offering exhaust parts and systems for the Silverado and the Sierra is extensive:

• Bassani
• Borla
• BBK
• Corsa
• Doug Thorley
• Edelbrock
• Flowmaster
• JBA
• Magnaflow
• Gibson

You will notice that a couple of names more often associated with Chevy performance cars – not trucks – have snuck onto the above list, proving that the ubiquity of the SBC can be a real help to pickup owners looking to add some more snarl and grunt to their exhaust system. Each of the classic names in American exhaust performance also offer a multitude of parts for these full-size trucks.

Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Exhaust Recommendations

1. Noise tolerance. Some of the parts sold by SLP, Borla and Corsa might be a bit louder than you would want for a daily driver truck, due to their origins as components for high output sports cars. Check out sound clips before you buy anything that might turn to be more hardcore than you were looking for.

2. Side exit or dual tips? If you are an avid off-roader, dual exhaust tips sticking out from under the bumper are most likely just going to drag in the dirt when you tackle steep inclines or drop-offs in your truck. A discrete side-exit system will solve any potential snagging issues.

3. Headers? The installation of headers could affect more than just performance – they can throw off enough heat to melt nearby wiring connectors and other critical underhood components. If you decide to install headers in a GM product, heat wrapping is a step that will not only protect your OEM equipment, but also help to keep intake temperatures lower as well.