FlowMaster vs. MagnaFlow
Thread Starter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Apr 2005
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FlowMaster vs. MagnaFlow
Lookikng for input on FlowMaster vs. MagnaFlow mufflers. Any preferences? If so, why, and what are the major differences between the two?
I have a chambered exhaust with headers now, but am looking to avoid the "noise police"
. Any opinions/advice would be appreciated.
I have a chambered exhaust with headers now, but am looking to avoid the "noise police"
. Any opinions/advice would be appreciated.
Thread Starter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,550
Likes: 0
Sad but true. I buzzed the old girl thru the beach today, first time ever to get stopped. I asked why I was stopped, I thought maybe I was going alittle fast. The reply I got was noise. No ticket but a warning. Honestly, she is a tick loud and I am getting older (also sad but true) 
. If I do quiet her down it will be for me and no other reason. These are the two mufflers I am considering. Any feed back? Thanks in advance.
--Sixty4
. If I do quiet her down it will be for me and no other reason. These are the two mufflers I am considering. Any feed back? Thanks in advance.--Sixty4
Last edited by Comp Cam 1; May 29, 2005 at 09:33 AM.
7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: TN
I used to have cast iron manifolds to factory sidepipes on my '69 big block roadster. The noise was too much ! Over the years I tried several attempts at mufflers between the two...still too loud. I recently put on headers to "X" pipe to Flowmasters out the back while leaving the sidepipe covers for "the look". I have a big cam in the engine and it all sounds great together. I think the "X" pipe splitting the sound waves is the way to go...more of a powerful 16 or 32 cylinder Ferrari-like sound rather than the pounding sound of straight duals. Flow's, of course, are sound wave splitters also. At about 65 mph and up I seem to notice a tuned pipe type effect(from the headers ?)...the exhaust sound changes and perhaps more hp. 
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Bellevue WA
Originally Posted by sixty4
Lookikng for input on FlowMaster vs. MagnaFlow mufflers. Any preferences? If so, why, and what are the major differences between the two?
I have a chambered exhaust with headers now, but am looking to avoid the "noise police". Any opinions/advice would be appreciated.
I have a chambered exhaust with headers now, but am looking to avoid the "noise police"
. Any opinions/advice would be appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,480
Likes: 12
From: New York
A friend of mine owns a shop, and actually did a study on FlowMaster vs MagnaFlow vs a custom unit. Now this is exhaust systems not just mufflers, but he proved that Flowmaster may add horsepower compared to the old exhaust, but it limits it more than other units. I would buy MagnaFlow.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,182
Likes: 94
From: going faster miles an hour...with the radio on in browns mills new jersey
I have FlowMasters on my daily driver 65 GTO. Now it sounds like every Mustang, Camaro, and pick up truck in the neighborhood. They have a nasty resonance at 45-55 mph. I think they are too loud. No, I'm not too old - my BB Vette has side pipes; that's a GOOD loud.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,721
Likes: 3,706
From: Central Arkansas
Originally Posted by nassau66427
I have FlowMasters on my daily driver 65 GTO. They have a nasty resonance at 45-55 mph. I think they are too loud.
Muffler sound is a highly personalized taste but I had Flowmasters on my 67 GTX and they didn't sound good - also had the resonance as noted above. I replaced them with Dynomax and they sound much better. I also have Magnaflow on my pickup and like it. So I vote for Magnaflow or Dynomax - both have a mellow rumble. But it just depends what type of sound you are looking for. 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,631
Likes: 11
From: Rocklin California
Magna flow all the way
I run FlowMasters on my 04 Silverado. While they have that deep rumble they don'y come close to MagnaFlows. I have the MagnaFlows on my 32 Ford streetrod. Has a Edelbrock 350 Chevy motor and puts out 420 ponies. The MagnaFlows sound great and it is a straight through muffler so backpressure is limited. FlowMaters develope much more backpressure which sounds nice but for performance they just don't get it. Buy the MagnaFlows. 
Racer
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Berea, KY, USA
sixty4,
I recently purchased the Flowmaster Hushpower II Mufflers for my 62 Vette.
They are not chambered mufflers. They have a different more 60's sound. They are not as loud as Flowmaster 40's but are louder thn the Flowmaster 50's. These are high quality mufflers....and expensive.
I like them....just right for my 62. I did not want the chambered sound.
Dave62
I recently purchased the Flowmaster Hushpower II Mufflers for my 62 Vette.
They are not chambered mufflers. They have a different more 60's sound. They are not as loud as Flowmaster 40's but are louder thn the Flowmaster 50's. These are high quality mufflers....and expensive.
I like them....just right for my 62. I did not want the chambered sound.
Dave62
One gear at a time
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,244
Likes: 24
CI 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
Given the two choices, I would definitely go with the Magnaflow. I would also recommend the Dynomax Ultraflow with the polished case. Similar sound and performance to the Magnaflow. I added a 2.5" exhaust with 2.5" large case Dynomax Ultraflow mufflers to my '59 and was very pleased with the sound and performance. Another good alternative is offered by Pypes exhaust. Same design as the magnaflow, but a hair cheaper. I have the 3" large case mufflers on the 3" exhaust on my 496 powered 65 Malibu. Quiet rumble at idle, deep mellow tone at cruise and it screams at W.O.T.
