Magnaflow vs. Flowmaster
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
I'm looking to replace the stock mufflers on my 88 to get a boost in power and definitely sound.
I think I have narrowed it down to Magnaflow or Flowmaster, but I wanted to get some opinions.
Of, course if I was going all the way, I would get headers, etc, etc. But with babies to feed, clothe, etc for the next 18 years, mufflers will have to be it. For now.
I think I have narrowed it down to Magnaflow or Flowmaster, but I wanted to get some opinions.
Of, course if I was going all the way, I would get headers, etc, etc. But with babies to feed, clothe, etc for the next 18 years, mufflers will have to be it. For now.
1) Replace main cat with Magnaflow universal cat eBay $65.00
2) Replace stock mufflers with Magnaflow catback (stock type) from Corvette Cental part # 324120 . This has a rear Y-Pipe with crossover and dual outlet aluminized mufflers. $ 419.00
3) Have your muffler shop remove the 2 front cats and sleeve the front Y-Pipe. This won't disturb your O2 sensor and should cost about $50.
There you have it, a poor man's performance exhaust. Very little drone and you should pick up around 20 CHP!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: OBAMA IS HITLER
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
I have Magnaflows. Very deep bassy sound. Makes the car sound very muscular....sorta like JSLT1's profile picture!
Interior, there is drone, but it is not too loud like other systems. I let someone drive my vette recently
(I know that's a cardinal sin...but she had blond hair and we were on an airport:o ).
The first thing she commented was she liked the way the car sounded when she hit the gas.
good luck in your search.
Interior, there is drone, but it is not too loud like other systems. I let someone drive my vette recently
(I know that's a cardinal sin...but she had blond hair and we were on an airport:o ).The first thing she commented was she liked the way the car sounded when she hit the gas.
good luck in your search.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 336
Likes: 3
From: State of Confusion
I guess I'll have to ride in sombody elses C4. I have the Flowmaster cat-back and I don't notice the drone that everyone talks about, just a little bit in 6th gear at less than 55 mph. Then again, I'm deaf from listening to diesel engines all day
I like my set-up, but I would like to have a listen to a Magnoflow to see why everyone raves about them.
I like my set-up, but I would like to have a listen to a Magnoflow to see why everyone raves about them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Indianapolis IN
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 766
Likes: 42
From: Laguna Beach CA
Magna-Flow all the way. My 86 was used as Magna Flows test car at their SO.Cal loation over five years ago. Magna flow used my car to test fit the C4 system.. At the time I was good friends with the owner of the local Corvette shop. One day I got a call and Randy told me he needed my car for a week and he was giving me a new exhaust system no questions asked I gave Randy the keys and a week later I had a great exhaust system. At the time I had no mufflers, which did sound good but resonated alot at certain speeds. Overall I prefer having mufflers.
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Team Owner
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I've listened to Flowmaster on a couple C4's and I think they're garbage all-around. I even hate them on Mustangs.......No, I hate Flowmaster, period. I suppose if I was 12 or 13 yrs. old, I'd think Flowmaster was really somethin'.
Magnaflows are much better looking & sounding.
Magnaflows are much better looking & sounding.
(see Hot Rod 90's 2nd post)
I love the way flowmasters sound on mustangs but, they sound like crap on chevy's of anykind for some reason. I have magnaflows on mine and they have a smooth deep tone. I have heard Borla on several lt1's and ls1's and they sound damn good also. But, I dont think you can beat the Magnaflows on a chevy
You might be able to get it done there, but it's not legal anywhere. But if they actually enforced the laws in your state, you would've put the Clintons in jail instead of sending them to Washington where we all have to put up with them. Thanks for NOTHING!
Compared to a lot of the nicer mufflers out there, Magnaflows generally offer quite a bit of quality per $ spent. Although they retail a bit higher, I found one of their dual in and out mufflers with an internal X-pipe on eBay, brand new, for around 100 bucks. That, combined with Corsas on the rear, (speaking of high priced mufflers!) make for a very nice sound on my modified LT1. Not overly loud but always turns heads, especially when hard on the fun pedal!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,012
Likes: 5
From: OKC OK
You guys need to be specific on which Flowmasters your talking about...depending on the type they can sound/resonate differently.
Also, I think you guys hating on the Flowmaster/Mustang sound are f'in crazy (and chevy bias).
Also, I think you guys hating on the Flowmaster/Mustang sound are f'in crazy (and chevy bias).
Last edited by LT4POWR; Apr 28, 2007 at 02:41 PM.
Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I've owned many more Fords (and Mopars) than I have Chevys over the years. There is one Flowmaster system that sounds good on the LT1/4 cars. It is the Force II system. It uses some type of 50 series mufflers and overall has a pleasing sound. And although not a stainless system, it offers decent value for the money. Flowmaster 40s sound like crap on anything I've ever heard them on. That ratty, hollow sound makes me cringe just as does an unmuffled Harley or those G'damned booming, thumping stereos enjoyed by the barely functioning brain-dead.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,012
Likes: 5
From: OKC OK
I hear ya, my buddy is a Mustang maniac (he currently owns three) so I’ve hear about every possible muffler combination on ‘em. Relating to our LTx motors I had the old TPIS Flowmaster kit (not sure what series mufflers they were) and absolutely loved the sound of it, now the fit/finish of the kit was a totally different story. I always got lots of compliments on the sound. Anyway, I recently changed to Dynomax ultraflows because I felt that I could get some more power (and they were super cheap). Now I haven’t been back to the dyno, but I can tell you that the Dynomaxs sound like crap (like a dump truck or something) compared to the Flowmasters. That being said I’m thinking about changing to some single chamber flowmaster just to see how evil they’ll sound.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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I've listened to Flowmaster on a couple C4's and I think they're garbage all-around. I even hate them on Mustangs.......No, I hate Flowmaster, period. I suppose if I was 12 or 13 yrs. old, I'd think Flowmaster was really somethin'.
Magnaflows are much better looking & sounding.
Magnaflows are much better looking & sounding.
Exhaust is like picking toothpaste. In saying that, I still want to load my vid up.
Last edited by 88BlackZ-51; Apr 28, 2007 at 04:32 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Didn't Flowmasters come stock on fox-body Mustangs? Or was it just the ratty, primered ones?
BUZZZZZZZZZ! Wrong answer, you're outa' the game!
(see Hot Rod 90's 2nd post)
I think they sound like crap on Mustangs, too. But maybe that's because I think Mustangs sound like crap. Or maybe that's because they all seem to have Flowmasters!
You might be able to get it done there, but it's not legal anywhere. But if they actually enforced the laws in your state, you would've put the Clintons in jail instead of sending them to Washington where we all have to put up with them. Thanks for NOTHING!
Compared to a lot of the nicer mufflers out there, Magnaflows generally offer quite a bit of quality per $ spent. Although they retail a bit higher, I found one of their dual in and out mufflers with an internal X-pipe on eBay, brand new, for around 100 bucks. That, combined with Corsas on the rear, (speaking of high priced mufflers!) make for a very nice sound on my modified LT1. Not overly loud but always turns heads, especially when hard on the fun pedal!
BUZZZZZZZZZ! Wrong answer, you're outa' the game!
(see Hot Rod 90's 2nd post)
I think they sound like crap on Mustangs, too. But maybe that's because I think Mustangs sound like crap. Or maybe that's because they all seem to have Flowmasters!
You might be able to get it done there, but it's not legal anywhere. But if they actually enforced the laws in your state, you would've put the Clintons in jail instead of sending them to Washington where we all have to put up with them. Thanks for NOTHING!
Compared to a lot of the nicer mufflers out there, Magnaflows generally offer quite a bit of quality per $ spent. Although they retail a bit higher, I found one of their dual in and out mufflers with an internal X-pipe on eBay, brand new, for around 100 bucks. That, combined with Corsas on the rear, (speaking of high priced mufflers!) make for a very nice sound on my modified LT1. Not overly loud but always turns heads, especially when hard on the fun pedal!
BTW the only Laws we is wurried about is them revenuers.
Frustrated Corsa owner driving by!
Last edited by BADDUCK; Apr 28, 2007 at 04:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 32
From: Mission Viejo California
I absolutely loved my dynomax ultra flow welded mufflers on my mustang. If they had something that would look decent on my vette, I'd toss them on. I do have a b&b currently but one of the mufflers is leaking so I'll probably have to replace them. I'd be looking for a muffler with one input and dual out puts in 3" to replace my current stuff.