Next week is D-day. Engine is going in. I am also installing completely new exhaust from the exhaust valve back since im in the mood for spending money. Hooker long tubes, 2.5" true dual exhaust. Originally I planned to run a Magnaflow 5X8" dual in/dual out. They are a straight through design and doesn't have that common DRONE like the flowmaster. But ive been looking around and people seem to think this is a quiet setup. I certainly don't want to be "tuned" out by the local chev boys with their cherry bombs, but I also don't want it to be obnoxiously loud if you open the throttle a bit. I am running with NO cat convertor so that will obviously increase the decible level quite a bit along with the long tube headers. I have also heard a few sound clips of Flowmaster 40 series (original). But I think they were on cat'ed engines. Any suggestions?

Right now im running true dual exhaust with no cats, stock manifolds, and glasspacks. Not overly loud as far as im concerned.

 

Personally I like the Flowmaster tone better than the Magnaflow.
My cousin has a Magnaflow on his Dodge and I think it sounds pretty much the same at all RPM's, but with the Flowmaster, you get that low rumble at low RPM's and the all on sound when you get on it. I have a 98 F-150 4.6, 4X4, shortbed step-side with dual pipes and single outlet Flowmaster 40 series on each side at the bumpers, and i also still have the cats (which are coming off next week). I like the sound, it is obnoxiously loud even with the cats, but it's a nice loud.

 

I'll second the obnoxiously loud comment on the Flowmasters - I just had a dual settup with an H pipe run to just in front of the rear tires on my '64 (the only cat I have has fur and meows a lot...) with a pair of 40 series - OMG! I knew the flows would be kinda loud, but they turned out much louder than I really expected. frdstpsd98 is right about the tone though, nice low rumble at idle, step on it a little and it just roars! I love the way it sounds, but somehow I think my neighbors won't... I don't think the H pipe did as much to lower the DB level as I thought it would. I don't have any experience with the Magna's to compare it to.

 

i would go with magniflow, it sounds great and will be loud with no cats. i am doing the same thing you are right now, new engine new exhust from the valves back with hooker headers and dual 2.5" exhust. got one question though, you said you are going to run one magniflow with dual inlet and outlet? how will that be routed? Again go with magniflow, i have it on my suburban and it sounds awesome. you just can't beat liftime warranty great sound and no restrictions in them at all.

 

Well if no cats and glasspacks aren't overly loud to you then I don't think Flowmasters will be the least to loud for you. But maybe get the delta flows to be on the safe side. Magnaflows sound a lil' wierd to me except on the modular engines.

 

Magnaflow's are going to be far quieter...they won't drone nearly as bad either. That dual in and dual out also has a built in X-crossover.

Flowmasters are going to be loud and well that's about it.

Performance wise, the Magnaflows will make more power as there is nothing to inhibit flow...the Flowmaster uses chambers to control sound and the byproduct is a flow restriction.

Flows do make a nice sound under acceleration but I just don't like them any more.

 

Just because a muffler has chambers doesn't necessarily mean it is more restrictive - a run-of-the-mill turbo muffler is less restrictive than your average glasspack because of the pressure waves set up inside a glasspack...

 

There is alot of people around town running straight pipes after the stock cat. I really like the idle on those. This to me sounds plenty loud but I would probably consider doing the same thing if I bought a newer truck. The only thing I was wondering about with the flowmaster is adding the long tube headers into the mix. I have always heard that headers make it a bit louder. However, above all, my main concern is to NOT be quiet.

Texan1983,

I will probably have the exhaust ran just how my duals are right now, except the drivers side will probably have to cross over behind the transmition since the long tubes go half way past the trans anyway. The mufflers on my setup are connected under the box of the truck just after the cab. Then they split over the rear axle and exit behind the rear tires. The only thing I don't like about that setup is the rock chips!!! Sure does a number on some nice tips.

I went ahead and ordered the magnaflow dual in/dual out from jegs. It was the aluminum coated one since they didn't have the SS with the dual in/dual out. I believe it was 90 bucks. I also looked for the flowmaster 40 series to compare it to, but I couldn't find a dual in/out setup. And I certainly don't want to spend 150 dollars on mufflers buying 2 separate ones.

I also ordered a whole host of parts from summit and jets. I bought the hooker long tubes, but I fear I wont have enough time to send them to jet coat so I will probably just pain 'em up. I was looking at U-pullies and ended up buying a set of ford motorsports ones for the mustang from Jegs. Cost was $100 and I really like the blue color.

 

johnsalterego: glasspacks are typically very narrow in diameter and that is what I would assume that would disrupt flow as all the gases merge into one tiny area. I have seen all the large high flow straight shot mufflers flow far more CFM than the chambered ones.

If you paint them headers...

strip the rust preventative paint off first. Sandblasting will be ideal. When you paint them with light coats of 1200* paint, you can toss it in your oven to temper the paint! Just make sure the wife/sig other is out for the day...lol

With those pullies you will now have an undercharge at idle. If you haven't already, go ahead and upgrade to a 130A alternator to help. E-mail me if you need a place to get one for a killer price, brand new!

I think you will like that Magnaflow, it is really deep as well as smooth and mine sounds pretty good with the Hooker's and highflow cat. It just won't be really loud, they do sound pretty kickass with a full exhaust and no cats though from what I've heard.