After 18 years the muffler on the old Chevy 8.1L has a hole in it. Sounds like an old grain truck going down the road.It's a dual-in, dual-out 3" pipes all the way around. The only "OEM" style replacements I can find are dual-in, single-out.I'm also hoping I can just use those fancy band clamps to install the new muffler. Cut the old one out, clamp the new one in.

Had a Magnaflow dual in, dual out on my 7.4L for years and yearsFinally rusted out and became very loud like your description of yoursNow have a Magnaflow SS dual in, single out. 2 inch single with a SS tipLIke it better than the dual in, dual out...as this one is quieter, but not OEM level

I'll second the Magnaflow recommendation. Stainless Steel full cat-back or just muffler.

Car Id has them , if that doesn’t work for you , google is your friend

Busdriver wrote:Car Id has them , if that doesn’t work for you , google is your friendCar ID has what? I've been googling for months, found nothing for an OEM application. Everything requires changing all the pipes out. I just want to plug a new muffler in, not redo the whole exhaust system.

Yeah thats what all the walker mufflers say is that the dual out was replaced with the single for stock apps. Dynomax makes one part# 17554specswww.dynomax.com/ultra-flo-welded-x-offset-offset-599.htmlCheck its measurements against yours

8.1L Muffler Recommendations | Good Sam Community

BenK
Explorer
Jun 26, 2020
Had a Magnaflow dual in, dual out on my 7.4L for years and years

Finally rusted out and became very loud like your description of yours

Now have a Magnaflow SS dual in, single out. 2 inch single with a SS tip

LIke it better than the dual in, dual out...as this one is quieter, but not OEM level
APT
Explorer
Jun 26, 2020
I'll second the Magnaflow recommendation. Stainless Steel full cat-back or just muffler.
Busdriver
Explorer II
Jun 26, 2020
Car Id has them , if that doesn’t work for you , google is your friend
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jun 26, 2020
Busdriver wrote:
Car Id has them , if that doesn’t work for you , google is your friend

Car ID has what? I've been googling for months, found nothing for an OEM application. Everything requires changing all the pipes out. I just want to plug a new muffler in, not redo the whole exhaust system.
K-9_HANDLER
Explorer
Jun 26, 2020
Yeah thats what all the walker mufflers say is that the dual out was replaced with the single for stock apps.
Dynomax makes one
part# 17554
specs
www.dynomax.com/ultra-flo-welded-x-offset-offset-599.html
Check its measurements against yours
msmith1_wa
Explorer
Jun 27, 2020
Another vote for the Magnaflow cat back. My truck did not have any clamps from the factory. it was all welded. So any muffler replacement was going to require cutting. To install the catback system all that was necessary was to cut the two pipes on the inlet side. Pull the old out. Install the new muffler then the tailpipe, tighten the clamps.
Hannibal
Explorer
Jun 27, 2020
The only high performance muffler I’ve experienced that didn’t drone in the cabin was a Dynaflow Super Turbo three chamber muffler. For dual in dual out, a good exhaust shop would be able to run two mufflers in place of dual in dual out single.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 28, 2020
18 years on the orig in NY, truck must be mint and not see much salt!

That said, if you plan on keeping it a long time, I'd just pony up the $ for a new exhaust system. The rest of it can't be far behind in rust.
If you find the right muffler though, the stainless band clamps work Great. I've got 4 of them in the cobbled together exhaust on our 07. Muffler delete then the cat got removed too. Been solid for many years.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 28, 2020
And what Hannibal said. Can you stack 2 mufflers side by side? Easy solution for a hard to find part.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jun 29, 2020
Flowmaster from Holly has a quiet 2 inlet/2 outlet big block 50 series muffler.