Ok y'all. My truck has 2.75 inch exhaust from the factory, and a horribly restrictive muffler.

I know for the HP rating the engine has the pipe size is perfect for running single or dual exhaust. My question is this. Should I buy a Flowmaster single in/dual out to the dual exhaust look, or should I put in a true dual system with an X-pipe? If I do the true dual thing it'll be with long tube headers as well. If I don't, I'm debating the long tubes.

I know this setup can be done on my truck, I have video proof!

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_Qrf7JITF0[/yt]

He did an H-pipe instead of an X-pipe like I want to do, but it'* very similar. I want the X-pipe to equalize the back pressure a little bit better so I don't lose any torque.

well if you want your exhaust coming nameley out of one pipe(single in dual out) you may as well stick to a single..otherwise go true duals
(

Well if I upgrade to long tube headers, and change the muffler to a SI/DO Flowmaster there are dyno proven gains of around 35 HP. I don't know if doing a true dual setup would make that a larger or smaller number.

I say go true duals. These trucks sound amazing with the right setup.

It will sound the same either way since it'll be going through a muffler.

I'm just worried about hurting my low end torque if I open up the flow too much with true duals. The x-pipe is supposed to help, but I'm not sure on that one.

the headers and xpipe are expensive for not a whole lot of gain IMO. if i had your truck and wanted to off road it all i would do power wise is flowmaster muffler and a good tune. the 5.3 is plenty for what you would need. my old jeep had 125hp and i never felt like i would have gotten through more stuff if i had more. its all about the tires and tire clearance. 2nd most important is locking diffs.

what ever you do if you plan to do any towing dont get the ones that rear exit, i made that mistake on my old pickup, and chocked on exhaust everytime i wanted to hookup a trailer. (the whole reason i have a truck now is for trailers pretty much)

Its all about what your gonna do with it nick..DD trailer towing.off roading all of the above?

All of the above. I was gonna put them out the back at 45 degree behind the rear tire.

How about long tubes but not true duals? The headers will give me about 30 HP and if I stay single pipe I won't lose any back pressure. I found a great set for $300 plus shipping. Includes all the connections for sensors and what not. All I gotta do is relocate the cats with them. The stock pipe size is very good so I'm not worried about that really. The manifolds and muffler though suck.

There is a guideline of pipe sizing you should follow and 2.75 inch is even kinda big for a single but is ok for factory setups..If you can stick factory size in there with better muffs and cats while having headers the better off you will be