Muffler opinions?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Princeton NJ
Muffler opinions?
Currently my '72 sounds like a bus and I'm looking to upgrade mufflers. My price range is hopefully <$300 total. Been shopping for high-flow, less-sound mufflers, but all the blurbs seem the same to me and I can't tell the difference between Dynomax, Edelbrok, Flowmaster, etc. It appears that most mufflers describe themselves as high-flow and with sound deflection technology (or something similar). Any advice out there? 
Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
I am happy with my stainless steel Magnaflows. Good deep rumble at idle but not too loud, doesn't sound like a truck. When I giver they make my car sound way faster than it is.
Magnaflow
Some guys say the Flowmasters are too rumbly at idle.
Magnaflow
Some guys say the Flowmasters are too rumbly at idle.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by asefkow
Currently my '72 sounds like a bus and I'm looking to upgrade mufflers. My price range is hopefully <$300 total. Been shopping for high-flow, less-sound mufflers, but all the blurbs seem the same to me and I can't tell the difference between Dynomax, Edelbrok, Flowmaster, etc. It appears that most mufflers describe themselves as high-flow and with sound deflection technology (or something similar). Any advice out there? Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!Again IMHO, the only way to truly tell whether you're going to like a particular system on your car, is to first hear it (in person) on someone else's car. Go to Vette club shows and meetings, Bloomington, local NCRS shows, etc....and ask to hear the participants systems. Then decide
.Good luck,
Kevin
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 690
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From: Madison WI
Dynomaxes sound awesome...got my Super Turbos with all the extensions and hangars already in place from Mid-America, and I'm very very happy with them. Very nice rumble/growl to 'em, still have yet to hear it from outside the car, but I really like them. Gives the Vette that low rumble it should have, without any raspiness or resonance...
BTW, my setup is long tubes to true duals to the Super Turobs...
BTW, my setup is long tubes to true duals to the Super Turobs...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,018
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From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
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2017 C2 of Year Finalist
The Ultraflows are probably the best overall for power and sound. The idea is to get the largest muffler case volume as you can get with the largest internal core. Look out for designs where the only difference between a 2" and a 3" is that they swell the inlet tube!
The straight through designs with a large case around them are going to make power with lower sound. Next best is the regular Dynomax with the flow deflectors. They'll be slightly quieter, but a little less power.
Be aware that "sound" has a whole bunch to do with cam design and compression. Tight LSA's and lots of overlap sound killer, and compression always helps. It's incredible how much a cam change affects the sound of my 540.
Flowmaster designs work best with tailpipes..something Vette's don't have.
But I can give you a power idea....my 427 ran 11.20's@123 through 2.5" pipes and Flowmasters. Uncapping it made little difference. It was in the 423 RWHP range.
Same mufflers with 3" pipes killed 50+ RWHP off my 540!
Pick as big a muffler as you can get! Or go straight through types if you don't mind a little more noise.
JIM
The straight through designs with a large case around them are going to make power with lower sound. Next best is the regular Dynomax with the flow deflectors. They'll be slightly quieter, but a little less power.
Be aware that "sound" has a whole bunch to do with cam design and compression. Tight LSA's and lots of overlap sound killer, and compression always helps. It's incredible how much a cam change affects the sound of my 540.
Flowmaster designs work best with tailpipes..something Vette's don't have.
But I can give you a power idea....my 427 ran 11.20's@123 through 2.5" pipes and Flowmasters. Uncapping it made little difference. It was in the 423 RWHP range.
Same mufflers with 3" pipes killed 50+ RWHP off my 540!
Pick as big a muffler as you can get! Or go straight through types if you don't mind a little more noise.
JIM
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,018
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From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
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Not sure I can agree with the cheap turbo mufflers. My '68 Camaro with a 427 installed had a really nice 2.5" system on it with muffler shop turbos. Sounded good....but at rack it was literally .7 and 7 mph difference between capped and uncapped. Even worse when N20 was added to the equation.
Later a leaking N20 solenoid caused a huge backfire that destroyed one of the mufflers. So I cut them out and installed 2.5" flowmasers....same pipes. It immediately could run within .1 and 1 mph whether it was capped or uncapped.
Granted, there really isn't much to a muffler...but there is a reason they are cheaper besides just advertising $$$. The internal pipes sizes and construction often are poor too.
JIM
Later a leaking N20 solenoid caused a huge backfire that destroyed one of the mufflers. So I cut them out and installed 2.5" flowmasers....same pipes. It immediately could run within .1 and 1 mph whether it was capped or uncapped.
Granted, there really isn't much to a muffler...but there is a reason they are cheaper besides just advertising $$$. The internal pipes sizes and construction often are poor too.
JIM
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
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Don't know what is,but everyone compliments my Super Turbo's from Dynomax...people at gas stations etc....,once a gal asked me what kind they are..she was driving a C4...low rumble,some interior resonance at 1500 rpm,mello at cruise.......
$200 installed...another option is Dynomax Ultra Flows....
$200 installed...another option is Dynomax Ultra Flows....
Last edited by rihwoods; Jun 30, 2005 at 04:47 PM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 6
From: Palos Verdes Peninsula California
Originally Posted by asefkow
Currently my '72 sounds like a bus and I'm looking to upgrade mufflers. My price range is hopefully <$300 total. Been shopping for high-flow, less-sound mufflers, but all the blurbs seem the same to me and I can't tell the difference between Dynomax, Edelbrok, Flowmaster, etc. It appears that most mufflers describe themselves as high-flow and with sound deflection technology (or something similar). Any advice out there? Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!I know this is difficult, but the best thing you can do is try to listen in person, or at least collect some sound clips. Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 2
From: Plainfield IL
I use DynoMax turbo mufflers on my '81. They have a nice exhaust note at idle and aren't too loud during higher rpm. I use the mufflers in combination with a high flow catalytic converter.
I used to use a test pipe (straight pipe) in lieu of the catalytic. Funny thing is, the exhaust note and performance with the catalytic was the same as it was with the straight pipe.
One word of caution about FlowMaster mufflers. I've read a few posts stating they can be annoying when engine rpm creates a certain resonant frequency. This might be fine around town, but during extended time behind the wheel it can be annoying.
I used to use a test pipe (straight pipe) in lieu of the catalytic. Funny thing is, the exhaust note and performance with the catalytic was the same as it was with the straight pipe.
One word of caution about FlowMaster mufflers. I've read a few posts stating they can be annoying when engine rpm creates a certain resonant frequency. This might be fine around town, but during extended time behind the wheel it can be annoying.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 951
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From: NW Burbs IL
I love my Flowmasters 40's! No backfires and the sound doesn't resonate badly in the passenger compartment. They have enough sound to attract a little attention, but not at all obnoxious. At about 45MPH I can enjoy the rumble of the exhaust with everyone around me, but otherwise it's pretty quite on the inside.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 1,508
From: Little Rock AR
Dynomax Super Turbos Here. I have sound clips I could send if you get me your email address. Very quiet at cruise (no noise) a little rumble at idle and a controled roar at WOT. No imbarasing "whoosh" when you get on it. One of the least restrictive HP wise and definately one of the quietest HP muffs out there.
I just got an email from another CF member saying how much he liked the Super Turbos. I had sent him some movie clips and he decided to buy them.
-Mark.
I just got an email from another CF member saying how much he liked the Super Turbos. I had sent him some movie clips and he decided to buy them.
-Mark.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
You have one of the best muffler shops in the area for high performance systems. Go to Mufflex and ask for Denny. He is not the cheapest around but his work is great and the systems fit. I had a system with Flowmaster 50s put on by him about 5 years ago. I have had it off a few times and it still is perfect. Sounds great and flows more than enough air.
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Manchvegas NH
Originally Posted by stingr69
Dynomax Super Turbos Here. I have sound clips I could send if you get me your email address. Very quiet at cruise (no noise) a little rumble at idle and a controled roar at WOT. No imbarasing "whoosh" when you get on it. One of the least restrictive HP wise and definately one of the quietest HP muffs out there.
I just got an email from another CF member saying how much he liked the Super Turbos. I had sent him some movie clips and he decided to buy them.
-Mark.
I just got an email from another CF member saying how much he liked the Super Turbos. I had sent him some movie clips and he decided to buy them.
-Mark.
I was just in the same predicament as you. I am the member that Mark mentioned. He sent me the sound clips and I went with the Super Turbos. Inexpensive, and theres a rebate until midnight tonight.