The 6.6-liter L8T platform is one of the most underrated engines in the GM lineup, and this fully built, ProCharged Silverado is proving exactly why. Running around 800 horsepower through a forged iron-block short-block, this truck already had the power to back it up. Adding an L8T equal-length exhaust was the final piece needed to make the build complete.
Starting From Scratch
Before the build, the truck was running long-tube headers with a pair of Flowmaster mufflers. The shop eventually cut those off and went straight pipe, which was loud but described as too annoying inside the cab. The decision was made to start fresh and do it right with a true equal-length exhaust setup.
The engine itself is no slouch. The 6.6-liter iron block features fully forged internals, including J pistons, boost-line rods, and a forged crankshaft, which the platform actually ships with from the factory. A ProCharger supercharger sits on top, pushing the truck to roughly 800 horsepower.
Building A True Equal-Length System
The shop, Aces, out of Houston, ran new three-inch piping from the long tube headers back. Because the passenger side pipe is shorter than the driver side, an equal-length loop was fabricated for the passenger side to bring both pipes to the same length before hitting a three-inch X-pipe. From there, the exhaust flows into a set of Spintech 6000 series mufflers.
The team also tested a set of Borla XR1 mufflers during the build. The XR1s produced a deep, smooth sound that some found a bit too tame. The Spintech setup won out for its rowdier, more aggressive character while still keeping the drone out of the cabin.
The Results
Once the truck hit the street, the difference was dramatic. Inside the cab, the exhaust note was noticeably quieter and free of drone, a significant improvement over the previous straight pipe setup. Outside, the sound is crisp and high-pitched with a tone that more than one person compared to a Corvette exhaust note.
The only thing competing with the exhaust sound is the ProCharger blowoff valve, which is loud enough to steal the show on hard pulls. That is not a complaint most 800-horsepower truck owners are likely to make.
If you are considering a similar build, the shop cautions that a true equal-length setup requires starting from the headers back. Retrofitting an existing custom system is possible, but expect to redo at least the Y-pipe and everything behind it. But the fabrication and mandrel-bent piping at Aces drew praise throughout the video, and the finished product speaks for itself.
The L8T may fly under the radar compared to its LS cousins, but an L8T equal-length exhaust setup like this one makes a strong case for the platform.
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