Alright, well I just want to start this thread off apologizing for posting so many new threads in the short amount of time I have been a member here. I only recently figured out that I'm keeping my Expy so I have tons of ideas and questions.

Right now though, I would like to know what kind of Flowmasters exhaust you guys would recommend. I have an '03 XLT with the 4.6L V8 2 wheel rear wheel drive.

 

You couldn't pay me to use a flowmaster muffler again. I have paid to take perfectly good flowmasters off of my car. There are much better sounding mufflers out there.

 

here is a link to a muffler test done on mustangs. flowmasters are down tords the bottom. there are better mufflers. i have run mac exhaust on many mustangs and on my 99 explorer 5.0. they are inexpensive have a similar sound plus make more horse power. Ford Mustang Muffler Comparison Test - 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine here ia another one. i got this from the boys over at stangnet, i tought it would come in handy since i see alot of questions regarding "which company flows best."

MUFFLER SHOOTOUT:

Results based on 5.0 Mustang Magazine December 2002 issue (page 55). Test car is a ’90 Coupe with 370 HP and 11 second potential. A number of 66 pulls were made to compile this information. Where does your muffler stack up?

The results in HP order:

1.Flowtech Warlock (open) 374.2 hp/ 333.1 tq
2.Bassani Real Street 373.7 hp/ 333.8 tq
3.Hooker Maxflow 373.5 hp/ 333 tq
4.Borla XS 373.3 hp/ 332.6 tq
5.Magnaflow 372.8 / 332.5 tq
6.MAC 372.3 hp / 331.5 tq
7.Flowtech Afterburner 372.3 hp/ 330.1 tq
8.Hooker Aerochamber 372.1 hp/ 330.4 tq
9.Bassani 372 hp/ 333.5 tq
10.Spintech 371.6 hp/ 332.2 tq
11.Edelbrock Performer RPM 370.9 hp / 331.3 tq
12.Borla XR1 370 hp/ 334 tq
13.Flowtech Terminator 369.5 hp / 331.3 tq
14.Dynomax Ultra Flo 369.4 / 333.2 tq
15.Flowmaster 369.4 hp / 331.8 tq
16.Flowtech Warlock 366.3 hp / 325.3 tq
17.No muffs 365.2 hp / 330.1 tq

 

Thanks Benning, I appreciate the research. BigGreenie, which exhaust do you use and do you have a link to a website I can check it out? I only said Flowmasters because thats the most known company but I'm definitely open to more ideas.

 

My original exhaust system is still in excellent shape. I had a muffler shop remove the big stock muffler and replace it with a Magnaflow muffler. I really like the sound. The cost was less than half of the cat back systems out there, and since there isn't any real world advantage to the whole system on an Expy, it seemed like the way to go.

 

I've read the older muffler threads out there. If I remember correctly there wasn't much of a benefit of trading out from the stock muffler. I've thought about trading out the muffler one time or another on my '05 Expy EB 4x4 103k. Other than a change in sound what would be the benefit??

 

Pretty much nothing

I did mine for the change in sound.

 

Flowmasters sound great on hot rods or an old muscle car, but on my expy i did not want anything too loud or something that would drone inside the cab on the highway or while towing. I purchased a manaflow from summit and a nice stainless steel tip and had a local muffler shop bend a 2.5 inch pipe for $100. Total investment was about $250 versus The $600-$700 for the catback kit from magnaflow. I also prefer the stainless steel of the magnaflow over the aluminized flowmaster. Living in northeast Ohio the road salt they use in the winter will eat up an aluminized muffler pretty quick.

 

Hey thanks so much for these awesome ideas. Basically, I'm changing the exhaust on mine because of sound. The stock mufflers seem like they restrain the V8 sound and I really don't appreciate it. I want my baby to purrr.

 

Don't by Flowmasters, They never sound good and rust out quickly. I suggest Mangaflow, Dynomax, Borla, Cherry Bomb, but no Flowmasters