My impression of the Banks Monster exhaust...

Vyrus · 08-14-2005, 09:23 PM

Well I just installed the Bank cat-back I bought from crabberx (great guy to deal with BTW!) and installed it in about 1.5 hours today. Pretty straight-forward install, then again I've done plenty of exhaust installs before. There's plenty of threads about the excellent fit and finish of this system, so I'll concentrate on the butt-dyno.

YOU REALLY FEEL THE POWER this modification produces. My low-end torque seems to remain the same (whipping the tail out around turns is just as easy

), and there is definitely an improvement in power in the upper-RPM range (I can actually keep the truck sideways for quite a while :-X). The truck pulls harder past 3K RPM than it did before the exhaust. It really feels like the truck hauls now whereas before it was "fast". My buddy who helped me install (drives an '04 Silverado with the 5.3L) was grabbing the oh-sh!t bars fearing for his life! I love it!!!
-Cyrus

ecbmxer · 08-15-2005, 08:52 AM

How the sound level? I've read about a million posts of people who like and don't like the sound level and am still debating this exhaust. Also hows the interstate cruising level? Can you still have conversations and hear the radio?

Vyrus · 08-15-2005, 11:46 AM

Yeah I also read the hundreds of posts concerning the sound level of the Banks. Since reviews are so mixed, I didn't really know what to expect. I guess now I'll just throw mine into the sea of posts.

I love the sound, it is perfect for me (I honestly wouldn't want it even a tad louder or quieter). When you start the truck, you get attention. The sound certainly won't be confused with stock, and heads will turn. Driving around the city, the exhaust has sweet spot of about 1500-1800 RPM - this is when it's loudest and deepest, but I still wouldn't compare it to an American musclecar. Some people also report drone at this RPM, I DO NOT see any significant drone. I believe many people on here have the misconception that being loud at cruising RPM is drone - it is not.

Needless to say, it is not too quiet while cruising. I don't mind it at all, and with my radio turned up to 15 I become habituated to the exhaust sound in no time. However with the radio off, I could see how this sound would be annoying -it's a consistent, loud sound. Everything else about this system is amazing, the quality of the components and welds are great. For reference, this exhaust at highway speed is no louder than my 1996 Maxima with ypipe-back exhaust and no cat. It is loud, but that is what I was looking for. If you are looking for that subtle rumble that sounds aggressive, my advice to you is to LEAVE IT STOCK! Honestly IMO the stock exhaust has a very nice rumble to it.

The Banks basically sounds just like you would expect for a V8 with a custom exhaust (beautiful to me!) Oh and I had an hour long conversation with my friend on the ride home after the exhaust was installed, neither of us complained one bit (in fact I think you forget about the sound in about 3 minutes of cruising). Around the city though, that sound is to die for! Just writing this is making me anxious, I'm going to take a ride in it now. Good luck with your choice, and like I said it is basically what you would expect an exhaust on a V8 to sound like! The Gibson may be a tad quieter than you expect, the Zoomers I don't know, but I'd imagine everything else to be equally loud. BTW I have no driven it without the tip (apparently makes it quieter).
-Cyrus

37L1 · 08-15-2005, 11:48 AM

Cruising level is fine and you will never have trouble hearing the radio because of the exhaust no matter what speed or condition your are traveling at. It's just not THAT loud.

ecbmxer · 08-15-2005, 12:11 PM

I wouldn't think it would be too bad. I had a borla turboXS muffler with 2.25" tubing on my 2000 cavalier and it wasn't very loud around town at all, but was unbearable on long highway trips. It had a bad drone type sound that was partly caused by the lack of sound deadening I'm sure. I just don't want to end up with that situation again.

Vyrus · 08-15-2005, 01:21 PM

I honestly don't think it will be anything like that. No offense, but typically the sound those small-displacement motors make with exhausts is NOT something people enjoy hearing for sustained periods. It's different coming from the low rumble of a V8. I suggest you find someone near you with the Banks system and take a ride in their truck. Wish I was closer!
-Cyrus

Egan · 08-15-2005, 01:29 PM

I just put mine on this weekend and I really like the sound. It is loud at WOT and virtually silent at idle. During normal cruising around 2000 rpm you can definitely hear the exhaust note but it is not bad. I think I had to turn the radio up one or two notches over where I would normally have it.

Install pics & instructions: http://www.egansworld.com/titan/banks.html