I am interested in a new system for my 5.4xlt, and though there are several threads on here about loud exhausts, I am after one a little more subtle. I'm more interested in performance than noise, and whilst I wouldn't mind a bit of drama at WOT I don't want to **** off the neighbors every morning... I would prefer a double pipe if poss...
Any recommendations?

 

I have a super 44 dual and it's subtle enough to not **** off the neighbors

 

Ive heard magnaflow is pretty good for performance. From what ive seen on the chev 5.3 (my friend has cat back magnaflow and cowboy tips.) they are pretty quiet, but they have a very deep rumble. So you get that good tone without the loudness. Theyre supposedly the best performance muffler out there but idk about all that...

 

I like my Super 40s SIDO at 45s on my 02 Screw 5.4 not too loud and nice rumble. I got it because in winter I warm up the truck in the morning. I park beside my son's bedroom and don't want to wake him up at 5am.

 

I have an xlerator (same design as magnaflow, but much less expensive. I had the same concerns as you, but I have to say, during the instal, they started the truck so I could hear it with open pipes. I could see why there are so many people running open as it was still pretty quiet. Ask the muffler shop if they will start the truck while holding a few mufflers in place so you can get an idea about what it sounds like before the welding starts.

 

Thats the best way to do it. Get rid of one exhaust restriction at a time to get the sound you want. I did that with mine. Started by jut getting rid of stock muffler for dual vortex's. Then went to vortex's with no cats, but ended up with 3" straight pipes, love it!

 

I have been looking for exactly what you are talking about and from my research the Flowmaster 50 series "Big Block" seems like the best bet. It is the quietest muffler they make, but still lets out a rumble when you get a case of the heavy foot.

http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/index.php?cat=1

 

He's more for performance than sound so flowmaster is out of the question. go with magnaflow. borla is a good one also not to loud just when you when let her open up.