Author Topic: What muffler do you prefer  (Read 5558 times)

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67merc

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What muffler do you prefer
« on: January 21, 2017, 06:28:31 AM »
Just curious what brand mufflers and what size pipes everyone likes for an aggressive sounding street car.

Drew Pojedinec

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2017, 11:41:48 AM »
Strictly opinion based....
2.5 inch mandrel bent pipe should be sufficient.  I have cutouts for any track usage.
I don't see any street car producing enough power on the street to require anything bigger.  At that point it seems traction would be the weak link.  I do not car if you have 1,000hp, how much can you *really* put down before the tires just spin?  Not to mention, you run out of road pretty fast at higher power levels.  If you put on slicks and run the car up to 100mph, it isn't a street car, no matter that the newest racing reality show tells you.

3inch tho nicely sized is a pain to fit in many cars and is a good deal harder to keep from droning.  It has the benefit of being stupidly loud, if that is your thing, but once again, cutouts serve the same purpose if that is your goal.

Mufflers, well there are hundreds that work well.  Next time I do an exhaust system I'd like to try out hooker aerochambers.

thatdarncat

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2017, 07:32:06 PM »
I don't generally respond to muffler questions on the internet, just because "sound" is just too subjective. I personally don't care for Flowmasters, but they sell thousands of them, so what do I know? lol. I've had a few sets of oval mufflers, different brands, on my 428 powered Shelby that I primarily drag race over the past 30 years, they've all sounded fine to me. But all of the aluminized ones eventually rusted out, and even when they had a lifetime warranty it was a pain replacing them. Eventually I decided to try a stainless steel muffler. There isn't a lot of room under a Mustang to have a muffler tucked up into the floor recess space under the rear seat and still have room for the exhaust pipe to turn up after the muffler to go above the rear axle without it having a very tight bend, so the length of muffler was one of the primary concerns for me over anything else. At the time I picked Edelbrock stainless mufflers that were a little shorter than most. Although the mufflers didn't rust out, eventually they ended up cracking badly, probably due to vibration. When I went to replace them a few years ago Edelbrock no longer made those mufflers and there were few choices in a relatively short oval stainless muffler. I found Magnaflow's and Borla's and I ended up picking the Magnaflows just because I think they were maybe a little cheaper, best I can remember. So far the Magnaflows are holding up fine. As far as sound I'm happy with them, I don't think they are loud, they do have a bit of a "rap" at full throttle. I run 2 1/2" pipe. 
Kevin Rolph

1967 Cougar Drag Car ( under constuction )
1966 7 litre Galaxie
1966 Country Squire 390
1966 Cyclone GT 390
1968 Torino GT 390
1972 Gran Torino wagon
1978 Lincoln Mk V

ericwevans

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2017, 08:44:01 PM »
I wasn't going to respond because as Kevin said sound (and "aggressive" vs "too loud") is subjective, also my ride is a truck so packaging isn't a problem.  I run 3" into 30" FlowTech Purple Hornies.  Probably too loud for most people, but I love how they sound.
Eric Evans

1965 F-100, 352 FE, Tremec 3550
1960 Falcon, 306 SBF

cjshaker

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2017, 08:53:05 PM »
Like Kevin said, sound is totally objective, so best to look for sound examples if you can find them. I had the Edelbrocks, that Kevin spoke of, on my truck for many years. I liked them, but like he said, they quit making them. I know a lot of people love the sound of Flowmasters, but I HATED them! Let me emphasize the word "HATE" there! They droned at cruise speed like nothing I've ever heard. It made it VERY unpleasant to drive...anywhere. Lots of people have the same complaint about them. I wouldn't use a set now if they were free (still have my old ones just sitting).

Lots of people like the Magnaflows, but I ended up going with the Borla ProXS mufflers. Personally, I love the deep sound at idle and aggressive sound at throttle, and they don't drone at all. Yes, a bit more expensive, but they rank very good on the flow charts (another area where Flowmaster fails) and have an excellent reputation for durability.

If it helps any, here's a short clip of my car at idle with the Borlas. This is with a made-by-me custom 2 1/2" mandrel bent stainless exhaust with no crossover, full tailpipes. Fairly aggressive sounding at idle, very moderate at part throttle, and very aggressive sounding at wide open throttle.
https://youtu.be/PDiG2OSZ0bw

Here's a short clip from inside the car, taking off. You can see how throttle dependent they are as to sound level. I love them.
https://youtu.be/1dJnx0EZK1g
« Last Edit: January 21, 2017, 08:57:20 PM by cjshaker »
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe

Tommy-T

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2017, 02:17:30 AM »
I like Hooker Maxflows. I have a Hooker Aerochamber on my Jeep and like that as well. I had Edelbrock RPM mufflers on mt T-Bird but they were pretty loud. Edelbrock isn't in the muffler biz anymore anyway.

I had 2 chamber Flowmasters on my Mustang and didn't care for them. I had Cyclone Hemi mufflers on my Mustang back in the '70's and really liked them.

I got a good chuckle from Drew's post above stating if you have slicks on your car, it isn't a street car. I find myself at the opposite end of the spectrum. If you have legit tags and insurance on your car, that is ALL that is required to make it a true street car. Besides, plenty of DOT tires enable one to go REALLY fast.

I will also admit that I have gone deep into the 11's with a 2.5" exhaust.

Drew Pojedinec

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2017, 08:25:41 AM »
nevermind.
« Last Edit: January 24, 2017, 10:52:57 AM by Drew Pojedinec »

chilly460

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2017, 03:06:34 PM »
Hooker Aerochambers, fairly rumbly at idle, loud enough for a "muscle car" but can carry a conversation at cruise no problem.  Fairly cheap too, and been very reliable so far. 

turbohunter

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2017, 03:46:27 PM »
Just to show you how personal this decision is, I dig Flowmasters. I like the "tinny" sound.
Though they can drone at certain rpms. But I think that is worse if the pipes don't run out the back of the car.
I don't like a lot of the new mufflers because they sound "farty".
Marc
'61 F100 292Y
'66 Mustang Injected 428
'66 Q code Country Squire wagon


e philpott

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2017, 08:49:34 PM »
I have the old Big Block Flowmasters since 1997 , the noise from a standard 2 chamber flowmaster scared my son when he was 4 years old so I installed the Big Blocks been on since ..... also have 3.5 inch pipes straight from header collector to a Flowmaster 3.5 to 3.0 reducer to muffler and then 3 inch out with turn downs  ..... but my son is now 22 and plan on getting Magna flow this time because I want some noise , way too quiet with the Flowmasters and 3.5 pipe ..lol ..... my Flowmasters must weigh close to 50 pounds each , they are physically HUGE so I will drop some weight with the Magnaflows too

mbrunson427

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2017, 10:09:34 PM »
i think an X-pipe changes everything.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0rnc64bws4
Mike Brunson
BrunsonPerformance.com

bluef100fe

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2017, 11:00:14 PM »
A link to a old video before my f100 had an x-pipe... I like the hooker maxflow mufflers https://youtu.be/8Exn-gQhG6g

This was before I redid the exhaust with the x-pipe and cut outs 3" mandrel bends, also Dyno max race bullets after the axle, no drone and very little power loss...


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Cody Ladowski
1976 F-100 stepside
390 C6 9 inch
1.56 sixty ft.
7.38 @ 91.5
11.79 @ 111.5

cjshaker

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2017, 01:09:34 AM »
A link to a old video before my f100 had an x-pipe... I like the hooker maxflow mufflers https://youtu.be/8Exn-gQhG6g

Those sound really similar to my Borlas; maybe just a bit raspier under WOT. And that was pretty gutsy hitting the throttle on wet roads. My luck would have led to an instant directional change :o
Cody, I'm curious if you have an aluminum flywheel in your truck?
Doug Smith


'69 R-code Mach 1, 427 MR, 2x4, Jerico, 4.30 Locker
'70 F-350 390
'55 Ford Customline 2dr
'37 Ford Coupe

bluef100fe

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Re: What muffler do you prefer
« Reply #13 on: January 25, 2017, 08:29:52 AM »
If I remember correctly since this was a very long time ago... the truck had a cheap junk 9 inch converter in it... lots and lots of slippage, stock stamped steel flexplate... I think truck should have only been capable of low 13's back then.. I added the x-pipe and cut outs later which melloed the exhaust note out a ton. The maxflows are a straight through design with very little restriction. Now I uncork it so I could hear the truck at the track :)


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Cody Ladowski
1976 F-100 stepside
390 C6 9 inch
1.56 sixty ft.
7.38 @ 91.5
11.79 @ 111.5