Gibson Cat-back exhast installed - 08 4runner v6

[man03999]

Gibson Cat-back exhast installed - Lots of pics! 08 4runner v6

Just installed the gibson cat back, i can tell you that is a little bit louder than stock. No drone on highway, and a deep v8 sound when you punch it.

I have some clip of my 4runner with stock exhaust , open pipe , and gibson.
Will post them tomorrow!

Fresh Out of the box

Taking off the muffler

Trying to get a rusted bolt off

Beast

still trying to get that bolt off

Hangers

Lining up

Nice fresh view

STOCK:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m5PvQUvqk5A&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m5PvQUvqk5A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>


OPEN:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XtNNWJKcRRg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XtNNWJKcRRg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>


Gibson cat-back:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3XUDfzdUGIE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3XUDfzdUGIE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>



Extra:
I was browsing on the forum couple days ago and i saw another member who also install the gibson cat back. He mention the constant tension springs so i thought i would share my 2cents.

The tension springs should not go between the pipes, it should go to the side of the pipe. It doesnt matter which sides.

Incorrect: (Pull this picture off another member here)

Correct: (Pull this picture off another member here)

 

[Iron Clad Lou]

::waiting anxiously for vid posts::

 

[man03999]

Updated, enjoy!

 

[Iron Clad Lou]

nice job!

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

nice job! noticed any power gains? I am looking at a exhaust system but I prefer power over sound.

 

[man03999]

nice job! noticed any power gains? I am looking at a exhaust system but I prefer power over sound.

Thank you! I havent really punch on it yet, but i do 160 interstate miles every week and let me tell you this is give me 2+ more mpg on the highway ! I was getting about 24-24.5mpg on the highway doing about 70-73mph. City mpg is about the same.

 

[Joe_2004SE_NY]

I was looking at the gibson and ended up with the flowmaster

I was checking out the gibson exhuast but desided to go with the flowmaster 50 series suv muffler. I left the resonator and the stock pipes. Does not sound to bad. I also have the K&N CAI installed. I like the sound of the gibson though. How does it sound on the inside of the truck? Mine seems too loud sometimes. Here is the clip of mine. Let me know what you think.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6gLbIrv94sQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6gLbIrv94sQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[man03999]

I was checking out the gibson exhuast but desided to go with the flowmaster 50 series suv muffler. I left the resonator and the stock pipes. Does not sound to bad. I also have the K&N CAI installed. I like the sound of the gibson though. How does it sound on the inside of the truck? Mine seems too loud sometimes. Here is the clip of mine. Let me know what you think.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6gLbIrv94sQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6gLbIrv94sQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

I was going to get the same muffler , it was around $120 at the time, and the install would probably bring me to $170 total. I came across Autoanything.com and they have a 10% off sale with free shipping so i got the SS version of gibson for $380. Inside it almost quiet, you have to turn everything off and be silent in order to hear the exhaust. No drone, when i do punch on it i can hear the intake more than the exhaust. But if your outside it sounds really nice with the intake combo.

 

[Joe_2004SE_NY]

Congrats on the new install

I was going to get the same muffler , it was around $120 at the time, and the install would probably bring me to $170 total. I came across Autoanything.com and they have a 10% off sale with free shipping so i got the SS version of gibson for $380. Inside it almost quiet, you have to turn everything off and be silent in order to hear the exhaust. No drone, when i do punch on it i can hear the intake more than the exhaust. But if your outside it sounds really nice with the intake combo.

Congrats on the new install and thanks for the pictures and the videos. I like the flowmaster but like I said it is a little louder in the truck on take off. But once you hit 55mph the sound goes away it turns into a nice low hum when your driving.

 

[truckmike26]

What's the part number?

 

[truckmike26]

In its intallation instructions, Gibson says to cut off the tailpipe "behind your factory muffler (?)." Is this because it's too hard to remove the exhaust in one piece when it's on jack stands as opposed to being on a hoist?

 

[LIRunner03]

Have the Gibson on my truck for the last 3-years. Great sounding exhaust with zero drone. Had it plasma welded on and no regrets at all. Together with my custom CAI I get a lot of compliments.

 

[truckmike26]

In case anyone's wondering, I had to call Gibson to verify if the 2WD stainless steel cat-back fits 4WD '09 V6 4Runners. 2WD 4Runners were never available for sale new in Canada so asking Canadian Toyota dealer parts dept. people isn't too helpful because these people rely heavily on VINs for parts matching -- and I didn't have 2WD 4th-gen VIN to provide to cross-reference if the O.E. cat-back exhaust is the same part number for 2 and 4WD V6 4Runners.

The Gibson site never listed applications for 4WD V6 4th-gens because, according to the sales rep, Gibson never test-fitted cat backs to these configurations -- only 2WD V6 4th-gens. Fortunately, this sales rep did some research and according to that, the O.E. cat-back assembly is the same for both 2 and 4WD V6 4th-gen 4Runners.

So I ordered one -- P/N 618707. Should be in next week. We'll see how it goes. I'd like to, however, avoid hacking up my like-new O.E. exhaust. Apparently, that's what's required to remove it. No?

 

[truckmike26]

It thundered and rained today which killed my plans to install mine. Can the factory cat-back exhuast come out without cutting it? Does the factory exhaust need the clearence of being high up on a hoist to remove it in one piece? Or does it require cutting after the muffler nomatter what?

 

[truckmike26]

Finally, a nice Saturday. Thus, I had a chance to Gibsonize the 4Runner. At first it seemed loud but after driving around a while I got used to it. Keep in mind a 4Runner's stock exhaust is ultra-quiet so any sound increase seems dramatic. I'm also nursing a one of the worst head colds I've had in a while so, ironically, my ears are plugged.

Nonetheless, inside with the windows up, it seems a little bit louder than inside a stock FJ Cruiser. It's difficult to make a V6 sound good so puttering around in traffic sort of sounds like a GM 4.3L V6. But full throttle on the freeway sounds bad-ass. The truck just feels eager and hungry to go more than before.

I asked about the cutting because Gibson's instructions recommend cutting the pipe after the muffler. I didn't know there was a flange there. I was under the impression it was all one piece. Good that Toyota put the bolts on top. It would've been too easy unbolting them from the bottom (the truck's new enough that, fortunately, I could unbolt the flange -- with a some blood and a lot of swearing).

It went in okay with some fitting and adjusting but it's crummy Gibson doesn't include stainless steel hardware with its stainless steel exhaust. I spent an extra $40 on stainless clamps.

Also, another beef is that the metric flange bolts Gibson includes for the mid-pipe flare are too short for the Gibson flange and it's impossible to reuse the tension springs. So I left the springs off for now until I can get longer bolts. The bolts are a fine thread so I tightened them only enough to get a good seal -- reefing on them will bend the flanges, distort the flare or both which will screw them up for good and the joint will probably leak.

I'm not sure about the oversize 3" tip but maybe I'll get used to it. After the intial test run tonight, I'm pretty happy overall because it was the performance I'm after, not as much the sound or looks. Got rid of that pinch in the over-axle section as well. Maybe it's rose-coloured glasses but the L/100 km on the display dropped faster than it usually does and I was still flooring it plently. This is a good sign, especially now that regular is $1.35/L

 

[truckmike26]

And thanks for all the help.

 

[GRIMACE]

I see that you are from Canada. Where did you buy you exhaust and for how much?

 

[truckmike26]

Where are you?

 

[GRIMACE]

Where are you?

Vancouver bc

 

[truckmike26]

I got it from Partsource. $661 with tax. EVERYONE will know someone/someway to get it cheaper, but mail-order isn't a worthwhile option for me -- I'd only be saving $100 in the end. Suppose it's wrong or something's damaged. This way I can just return it to the store. Of course I paid $13/each for those clamps as well, but that's my personal choice.