My two cents

[sxd45]

I know i'm new but let me chime in.
1) Headers are a waste, unless long tube, If you don't know that than buy them and see for your self.
2) Cat back exhausts are good for sound, and are a little less restrictive but you can keep the factory piping and just add a good muffler.
3) Don't fall for gimmicks, examples- Tornado, Throttle body spacers, bypassing coolant from throttle body to hopefully make air charge less dense? forgot where I heard that or any other crazy new idea that comes along.
4) Tuners work and they are great, but I wouldn't do it until they have got this motor completely figured out.
5) The 381 hp and 400 tq is a sae number, take it to the track, or get it on a regular dyno. If they advertised it as the rwhp you wouldn't buy it! It takes time to get great after market parts so be patient, you think they made all the ls1 after market parts as soon as the motor came out, no they didn't.
6) Cold air intakes are good, and you will notice some difference in power, if you ever plan to go forced induction, save your money because you wont use it with a supercharger, or a turbo.
7) Cams are a great power adder, but with no tuning you cant cam, unless you want it to run like crap and die at idle.
Thats just my two cents on performance upgrades, save your money and if you spend it do it wisely and don't get your hopes up by what a box states as gains.

[Codiac]

My only comment is...you stole my avatar

[jpnca]

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa I thought that was you Codiac "I'm new here" What? Thanks for your $0.02 sxd45

[sxd45]

what do you got codiac, i have the service model 45 acp

[Codiac]

I have 2 of the service model XD .45's, 1 XD .40 service model and 3 of the XD 9mm. I carry one of the .45's almost daily. I have carried each of them at one time or another but I prefer the .45. I have shot competition with all of them.

[SybErkRimInAL]

So.................... you're saying you don't like headers. j/k man, thanks for the post. I'm learning to keep my money in my pocket until a later time. About a week ago, I was ready to lift my truck, add this, add that but I've learned that more and more options will be available within the next year or so, so i'm holding off for a bit. I don't think I can go wrong with a Borla Cat-back and an AFE intake so I'm still going that route sometime soon.

[Mark-5.7]

Does Borla sell just the replacement muffler?
Oh, & BTW, SXD, I agree with everything except that cooler intake air does make more power. Maybe not a lot but it's free if you insulate!

[sxd45]

it dosent make enough to be noticeable, but i agree it would make some, trd supercharger all the way.

[rmjdrift]

Borla is a ful cat-back, but the new ProForce will be sweet and offer the rear exit tips and same quality stainless for a much better price, it will be out very soon.

[rmjdrift]

you made some interesting points, short tube headers aregood for low end and long tube are good for top end power. Keeping the shortie style headers on a truck is what you want, for torque. Toyota made a great unit on the Tundra, personally i am keeping mine stock, but there is room for improvement in the diameter of the tubes and making them equal length. A good exhaust will make more sound but can also increase power especially on a large engine allowing it to exhale more efficiently. The best result is combining all the components, Intake headers and exhaust, then using the tuner to fine tune the set-up.

Even though we all have the same 5.7, each motor has it's own fingerprint and the tuner allows for the refinement of the engine set-up

This is my opinion, coming from a tuner and mechanic.

[VonBarrett]

but how much hp do you get for the stickers>?

[sxd45]

Originally Posted by rmjdrift

you made some interesting points, short tube headers aregood for low end and long tube are good for top end power. Keeping the shortie style headers on a truck is what you want, for torque. Toyota made a great unit on the Tundra, personally i am keeping mine stock, but there is room for improvement in the diameter of the tubes and making them equal length. A good exhaust will make more sound but can also increase power especially on a large engine allowing it to exhale more efficiently. The best result is combining all the components, Intake headers and exhaust, then using the tuner to fine tune the set-up.

Even though we all have the same 5.7, each motor has it's own fingerprint and the tuner allows for the refinement of the engine set-up

This is my opinion, coming from a tuner and mechanic.

I know its your opinion, and i respect that but I would never replace the shortys on this truck with another set, equal length take time to get just right and we are all gonna have to wait for some great aftermarket parts, also remember in exhaust if you go too big of a diameter the exhaust gases swirl and are not evacuated efficentley (sp) Personally Im gonna just replace the muffler because the exhaust came with some really nice stainless to begin with, and its already dualed from the factory, I will put a intake on the truck, I just wish it was a front exit from the throttle body because you could remove the top half of the grill for a nice ram setup. We should get together and shoot some ideas back and forth.

[rmjdrift]

I also agree and as I stated i am leaving the headers stock, i really dont see the need in changing them, the long term reliability on the headers is what concerns me especially since its a pain to put them on and off.

ram air idea is sweet, and ya you dont wanna go to big on the exhaust, but many of these companies have tested their product, it just depends on what you like