Stock 88
which flowmaster sounds best...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 355
Likes: 1
From: JACKSON MS
which flowmaster sounds best...
I've got a 93 corvette with a lt4 hot cam. I want to put a flowmaster exhaust on it but don't know which one to get. Any suggestions? And some sound clips wouldn't hurt.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,087
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From: Chicago IL
My '89 had the Flowmaster replacement mufflers and it sounded pretty good. Not too loud, not too quiet and very little drone.
Personally, I hate Flowmaster on other cars. The hollow sound to and the drone are unbearable.
Personally, I hate Flowmaster on other cars. The hollow sound to and the drone are unbearable.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: No HOA, New Hampshire
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
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From: Greensburg PA
I've heard flowmaster is one of the lowest flowing exhausts commonly used. Just something to take into consideration.
They have a good tone, but the Flow's in my friends Stang drone terribly.
They have a good tone, but the Flow's in my friends Stang drone terribly.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Are you going to leave the factory resonator? That would help with resonance but otherwise a Series 40 cat back system could be hard on the ears with the interior resonance.
Back when I owned my 92 vert, I bought one of the early B&B TriFlow systems in 3". It had a very nice tone but horrible interior resonance at cruise speeds. Once I got over 70-75 it was OK But 1200 to 1600 RPM was just nasty inside. It was 100% polished stainles steel that looked as good as chrome. Even the resonator was polished
The 50 series is quieter than the 40's. The Super 40 or Super 44 is much louder. I think that the muffler cases are painted steel and not stainless.
I've also heard the same thing about flow rates with the Flowmasters. There are other systems that will flow better resulting in better HP/TQ increases.
I would look at either the Corsa or Maganflow systems. They both sound nice, provide a good power gain, but are quiet at cruise RPM's.
Back when I owned my 92 vert, I bought one of the early B&B TriFlow systems in 3". It had a very nice tone but horrible interior resonance at cruise speeds. Once I got over 70-75 it was OK But 1200 to 1600 RPM was just nasty inside. It was 100% polished stainles steel that looked as good as chrome. Even the resonator was polished
The 50 series is quieter than the 40's. The Super 40 or Super 44 is much louder. I think that the muffler cases are painted steel and not stainless.
I've also heard the same thing about flow rates with the Flowmasters. There are other systems that will flow better resulting in better HP/TQ increases.
I would look at either the Corsa or Maganflow systems. They both sound nice, provide a good power gain, but are quiet at cruise RPM's.
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I am redoing my exhaust this winter with long tubes duel 3" cats and I need some sort of muffler for the street (I will be removing them when I race). Would a 50 series be too loud for street use? I still want it to have a nice bite and be heard but not get the neighbors fed up with me! 
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Beautiful Down Town "SWINDLEHURST" Long Island NY
Completely stone stock "84" - with hollowed out cat / dyno-Max crossover pipe ( between cat and muffs ) Flow-Master's 40's @ 138-ish ( if I had another 5 miles - maybe 141 & 1/2 
/ closed runway @ 6: AM - cool air / cheap vid camera on trypod --
/ closed runway @ 6: AM - cool air / cheap vid camera on trypod --
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Santa Maria, CA
Not sure if it is true anymore, but the FM's used to have "chambers" inside them.
The 40 series were 2 chamber
and
the 50 series were 3 chamber.
The force II catback system for Vettes were the 50 series.
I had that system with headers and no cats. It sounded "muzzled"....hated it. There was no resonance however.
I had a 40 series(2-in, 2-out) on a '91 Z28. That one did have the loud "hollow" sound as heard on Mustangs also.
The 40 series were 2 chamber
and
the 50 series were 3 chamber.
The force II catback system for Vettes were the 50 series.
I had that system with headers and no cats. It sounded "muzzled"....hated it. There was no resonance however.
I had a 40 series(2-in, 2-out) on a '91 Z28. That one did have the loud "hollow" sound as heard on Mustangs also.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
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I have the TPIS exhaust kit on my car from the headers on back to the Flowmaster muffler/tailpipe....TPIS says the Flowmasters are to "their specs" whatever that means....all in all I have a great "muscle car" tone at idle and WOT...however they are painted in black and there is absolutely no way to keep the paint on the rear Y-pipe...keep hitting over with heat paint, but.......I really like the 3 inch Y pipes, front and year though....
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
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From: Warwick RI
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
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From: Warwick RI
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 129
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From: Layton ut
I have a manual L98 1986. I have the original 40s. I put them on with duals and no cats and it was way too loud and resonated. Then I put an H pipe close to the front where the pipes first come together but that lost power, possibly because the H pipe was too close to the bends. Then I put an x pipe in and that got the power back and made it almost quiet enough. After that, I put a sub box in and that made it perfect. That was with my 350 engine.
Now with the 383, stealthram, heads and cam, its too loud again. I'm going to try dual cats from a 2000 vette and put a single 3" or 3.5" exhaust with no muffler to save a little weight. I'm also going to take the sub box out as my ears hurt if I turn it on and it would be nice to have the room as it's my daily driver. I have only turned the box on about 5 times in the last 5 years. I'm guessing I'll have to put one of the mufflers back on to make it quiet enough, but we'll see. I like the current setup, but it really is too loud. My friends say it sounds REALLY good, and I've contemplated keeping a set of earplugs in the car and leaving the exhaust as is. But I really need more flow as it's currently dual 2 1/4s with crimped down turns, so I think I'm losing some power up top.
Now with the 383, stealthram, heads and cam, its too loud again. I'm going to try dual cats from a 2000 vette and put a single 3" or 3.5" exhaust with no muffler to save a little weight. I'm also going to take the sub box out as my ears hurt if I turn it on and it would be nice to have the room as it's my daily driver. I have only turned the box on about 5 times in the last 5 years. I'm guessing I'll have to put one of the mufflers back on to make it quiet enough, but we'll see. I like the current setup, but it really is too loud. My friends say it sounds REALLY good, and I've contemplated keeping a set of earplugs in the car and leaving the exhaust as is. But I really need more flow as it's currently dual 2 1/4s with crimped down turns, so I think I'm losing some power up top.
