I have an 5.3L '06 Silverado, and I'm looking at getting a new intake, exhaust, and maybe headers.

I've been looking at K&N, AEM, and leaning towards the Fujita intake. Any input about those brands? Any new suggestions?

Now here's what I haven't been able to find in looking around the forum: Am I better off buying headers and exhaust online, or is there any downside to going to the local muffler/exhaust shop and getting them to slap on some bigger pipes and a Flowmaster/Magnaflow/whatever muffler? Any guess as to what that might run me?

Thanks!

 

as far as brands, K&N and AEM i've heard nothing but good things about, and i've never heard of the other one...

and i think you can probably get your exhaust done cheaper at the local muffler shop... one recommendation though, stick with single in dual out muffler... as smoke20 can tell you running true duals on the newer engines will kill your low end power

 

Fujita is more of an import based company. AEM makes a real nice intake called Brute Force which looks GREAT. Huge plumbing. I decided rather than to blow $200, however, to do the free intake mod which works just as well....... just not all shiny.

 

Good to know about the exhaust. My friend's guestimate for price was in the $200s for the exhaust. Does that sound right? He's into import cars, so his guess might be a little skewed.

I forgot Volant intakes. It seems to be a popular brand if a bit more expensive.

 

mine was 330 out the door, but i've heard people on here getting cheaper

 

I paid $226 for my K&N FIPK at AutoAnything.com with free shipping too.

 

i paid a total of 110 for a modular intake tube and a K&N filter... not quite as good as an intake but significantly cheaper... just another option to consider... if i had done the free intake mod it probably would've done more

 

I installed an AEM Stage 2 on my '04 5.3 about a month ago. It definately worth it. Looks and sounds great.

 

Single in dual is definately the way to go, and you should be looking at a little under $300 with a flowmaster muffler. Headers will be cheaper online, and are easy to do yourself. As faras the intake, they all seem good, just make sure not to get one with a metal tube as they get hot, plastic is better. I have the volant and love it. It is a little more, but I like it and plan to make a custom ram air to go in the bottom. The volant ram air tube seems to small, and I think I can make a better one.