[Malibu Bob E]

Hello, just purchased an LTZ with the 4 cyl. 6 spd auto and want to put dual exhausts on it. It looks like the lower valence can be replaced easily with the V6 one with the dual outlets. My question - will the 6 cylinder muffler work with the 4 cylinder exhausts? I have looked under mine and not that the long muffler is in the same place as the 6 one, though I did not look at the dual outlets. Is it a single entry, dual pipe exit muffler? I am betting its almost a bolt on to the 4's and would replace it and then have duals out the rear, would be a nice balanced look. New here, help appreciated! Went with the 4 due to gas prices and wanting better mpg. Happy so far, got an 07 Z06 when I feel the need for speed!

Thanks, Bob

 

[Malibu Bob E]

A good muffler shop could easily put a "Y" pipe and split the exhaust after the first muffler which would eliminate the second single in dual out muffler as the v6's, all you would need would be the dual pipe valance from the dealer

Not sure I get it, I want it to be efficient and clean looking. You are saying take the single pipe exiting the muffler on it now and Y it to go to duals? Got to look under there and see how tight it is. Thanks.

 

[Malibu Bob E]

If you got a Z06 just live with the single exhaust on the LTZ... Only kidding, good luck.

What do you mean, "if"? Just kidding, its out in the garage now, up on a lift, though when I am in the LTZ no one knows about the Beast at home. Just like the balanced look of duals on the car instead of living with that one chrome exhaust pipe. Want it to look factory done. Wish they had of!

Got to drive the Malibu with more than 2 of us going anywhere.

 

[Malibu Bob E]

I understand, YOU know the Z06 is at home!

Hey, you want to trade muffler and valence! Our LTZ is the same color, though I see you have the V6.
If I knew how to post photos, would show you the cars at home.

 

[Malibu Bob E]

I checked into doing a factory mod. today at my dealership. Seems the muffler is in the same location, same single pipe entry, though it has an exhaust pipe exiting on either side of the muffler and out thru the valence to each side. The factory muffler is welded onto the pipe and is not sold separately - its all one piece from the front and has a resonator or another muffler in the single pipe. It appears that the 4 has a cat at the beginning where the V6 system does not. I don't know if the V6 pipe is any bigger, it does not appear to be. Pricing with good deal from the parts dept puts the mod at about $415 including the new dual outlet valence at the rear. It appears that the pipe will have to be cut and then rewelded or clamped into the 4 cyl. pipe at the easiest place. I am thinking of ordering this and then take my exhaust completely off and take both to a muffler shop to come up with the best solution. I have a lift, so will do all the labor of removing and installing myself, only farming out the welding or the connector being made. Should end up under $450 for the entire job. I think it will be worth it to have a factory system. I am not going to drop off the cat nor the other inline muffler, so nothing should adversely affect the running or emissions. Maybe just a tad more efficient with the dual exit from the muffler? Anyway, it sure will look nice. Going to put on the lift tomorrow and look under mine good before ordering the V6. Any opinions or questions?

Thanks for the help on here.

Bob

 

[Malibu Bob E]

OEM works for me
When you have it on the lift take some before and after pics

The Before will be looking to make sure there are no big problems. The After will come several weeks later after I receive the new exhausts from a V6. I think its going to be a done deal, they just look so much better with duals! Yours has the duals, right? Hey, you want to donate them to me?!

 

[Malibu Bob E]

DING DING DING

Is that my doorbell.....again!

 

[Malibu Bob E]

Bit the bullet, went by my dealer this morning and looked under a V6 and a 4. I think the exhaust will be a direct replacement so I ordered the V6 exhaust from the cat back and also the rear dual valence below the bumper. The parts man thinks it will be in Tuesday of next week. That means, if it looks like a direct replacement, will install next weekend. Will take photos of the install. Anyone interested in knowing what it entails after I am done, feel free to drop me a line. Its going to look lots better, I know that. Also ordere k&n drop in air filter, vent shields for the windows, and thinking about painting my brake calipers a dark red. Just getting the car like I want it, a little different and unique. Will report back when the exhausts are on.

 

[Malibu Bob E]

Found out today that the exhausts are on back order. Hopefully not for long, but who knows. Guess they need all they are making to make the cars with the duals.

 

[Malibu Bob E]

Can't wait to see photos! If it turns out to be just as clean as the LTZ exhaust, i'm jumping on that and putting them on my LS. Good Luck!

I can hardly wait too, but got to! Will post when I get them.

Bob

 

[Malibu Bob E]

Got the exhaust and valence! The valence has a screw on each side with the head to where to can not get it. Pain, but took pliers and backed it out - the rest just comes right off with male/female plugs. When I put it back on put ties thru each hole - 2 - where the reverse screws had been.
Just finished installing the factory V6 exhausts to my 4 cylinder. It looks great now, but what a pain (same word used multiple times). I thought it was going to be a direct swap, but the 4 has a cat in the line and the V6 does not. Perfect if you want to run cat less, but I wanted no codes.....so I cut the stock exhaust off right beneath the back doors and then cut the V6 muffler and pipe at the same place and hooked them together. In theory, it should have worked....it didn't. The driver's side pipe was sticking out further than than the pass. side. A trip to a muffler shop fixed that, they heated the pipe behind the muffler and bent that around and then cut off the shorter tip and made it longer. Looks factory now with the dual valence and all. I put photos up on a kodak site, if anyone wants to look at the 2 pipes off the car and how the car looks now, send me a email to [email protected]. Looks great, but what a pain!

 

[Malibu Bob E]

ok, did you try to run the exhaust with no cats? is there an o2sensor after the cats on the stock 4cyl? is there a place to put the o2sensor on the 6cyl pipe? just curious. thanks....oh and please send me pictures to [email protected].

Ross

No O2 sensor. I used the 4 front section with the cat. I did not want to run any codes. Will send invite to see photos.

 

[Malibu Bob E]

Good job on the install.. How about difference in performance.. Ive heard that by going dual you will loose back pressure on a 4cyl and have power loss.. I know alot of imports that happens to if you do not have any power upfront to make up the difference in the larger amount of exhaust flow.. Have you noticed any difference good or bad?

No difference in performance that I can tell. It is almost identical, its too bad you can't just buy the muffler for a V6, that is all you need and the valence. The single pipe goes all the way back to the muffler. Only duals is an additional pipe exiting the muffler to make it duals.

 

[Malibu Bob E]

Malibu Bob E, if you can , send some pics to my email, [email protected].

You have an invitation to view my photos.

 

[Malibu Bob E]

On the topic of dual exhausts....you can build an 09 with the performance package which iincludes the dual exhausts and put the 4 in instead of the 6. The only issue is that if you choose the performance package with the 4 you get no credit for the engine which i think is a bit of a rip.

I could not find this, can you tell me what else the performance pkg includes? Thanks, Bob

 

[Malibu Bob E]

awsome! thanks for the pictures, im going to get this done soon, also i dont think any codes will come through since there is no o2 sensor after the cat.

Ross

You are welcome, looks great and no effect on anything else. Just the shipping of such a large piece - guess its hard for it to arrive without any bends you don't know about until you put it on the car!

 

[Malibu Bob E]

No you can't, that does not exist. Maybe you're seeing one of the common glitches in the build system, but there is no performance package having anything to do with an LTZ, just the V6 package that includes the 3.6L, dual exhaust outlets, and hydraulic steering.

Otherwise, nada. It doesn't exist. 4-cyl Malibus come one way, aside from trim level, with the only differentiator now being the 4-speed vs. the 6-speed with it. No other option is available, as talked about above, in the glitch. When you click the V6 package it should lock the 2.4L checkbox out, but it doesn't due to an error.

I thought it was a little unusual to hear there was a performance pkg. I bet I have the only 4 cyl. LTZ with duals! Thinking about taking the LT off and just leave the Z. Then it will be my Malibu Z parked next to my Z06 in the garage! I think that would be kinda neat to do. What do you think? Maybe I would generate some questions about the Z pkg option!

Love my 4 with the gas prices the way they spiked due to the hurricane in Texas. My prayers are with everyone down there around the Gulf. May God Bless all of you.

 

[Malibu Bob E]

would you happen to have the part numbers? thanks

Ross

Sure, the rear dual valence is 15831263, the exhaust assembly is 25922925

 

[Malibu Bob E]

Thanks for the parts numbers Malibu Bob E.

Glad I can help. I wonder about spending money to do this, but then I look at the rear of our Malibu and yes, it was worth it. Nice looking rear, if I do say so!

 

[Malibu Bob E]

It looks a whole lot better to me. I just had to witness someone do this to their Malibu before i tried to do it to mine. Now i feel good about doing mine the same way. Thanks Malibu Bob E!!!

The look is much better, no difference in sound. Think it might be my imagination, but seems like the mpg went up slightly. Hard to believe with the duals not starting until exiting the muffler.