Thoughts on flow master super 44?
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2018
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Thoughts on flow master super 44?
I am thinking about getting the Flowmaster Super 44 for my 95 F150 5.0 V8. Any thoughts/opinions on the sound/loudness/performance decrease/increase of this muffler??
PS... I’ve heard that changing your muffler will decrease high end torque, is that true? I feel like it’s a myth but ya never know.
PS... I’ve heard that changing your muffler will decrease high end torque, is that true? I feel like it’s a myth but ya never know.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,716
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From: Chillicothe
It won't make it much louder. The factory catalysts kill 95% of the exhaust noise. I know. I have no muffler at all and have the stock exit location and the truck makes little to no noticeable noise hearable from the cab.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 400
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From: Saskatchewan
No personal experience with Flowmaster, but what I tend to hear is disappointment with loss of performance and droning complaints. Magnaflow seems to get better ratings for sound and performance. The decrease in high end power may be where the name "Slowmaster" is coming from.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2012
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I've heard complaints of the Flowmaster's drone, but personally it doesn't bother me on any of our 4 trucks with Flowmasters. And I can't say I've heard of anyone having a loss in performance and we certainly have not experienced a noticeable loss in any of our trucks.
With factory cats they will not be loud at all, but with aftermarket high-flow cats the Super 44 will have a low rumble at idle.
With factory cats they will not be loud at all, but with aftermarket high-flow cats the Super 44 will have a low rumble at idle.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 793
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From: Vernon, BC
Drone master is also another nick name for Flow master. As far as power and torque, a muffler really doesn't have that much effect on a stock engine. It's the diameter of the exhaust up to the muffler that has the biggest effect.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 904
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From: Pittsburgh
I had a flowmaster 40 series on my old Chevy and the drone was ridiculous. Sounded nice outside the truck though.
That said I've run my Ford with no muffler at all, and it was fairly quiet with the cats in place.
That said I've run my Ford with no muffler at all, and it was fairly quiet with the cats in place.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I have owned 3 different DroneMasters, a 44, a 50 and a 70 I believe and they are all the same design.. just a big empty chamber with a deflector welded in, no sound absorbing material at all. They actually amplify resonant frequencies so it's a bit of a joke to call them mufflers. I cut the biggest one open and built a Magnaflow style "blond" muffler that was straight thru with a perferated pipe down the middle wrapped with rockwool and that sounded much better IMO.. nice deep rumble that roared at WOT but didn't have that DroneMaster bite that I dislike. All of this on a truck with an XE grind cam and longtubes so it made a lot more noise than a stock motor anyway, if you still have the stock cats I'd suggest just straight piping it.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kentucky
As Paul stated the factory converters are effective mufflers. Anything behind those make very little tone difference.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2013
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I have owned 3 different DroneMasters, a 44, a 50 and a 70 I believe and they are all the same design.. just a big empty chamber with a deflector welded in, no sound absorbing material at all. They actually amplify resonant frequencies so it's a bit of a joke to call them mufflers. I cut the biggest one open and built a Magnaflow style "blond" muffler that was straight thru with a perferated pipe down the middle wrapped with rockwool and that sounded much better IMO.. nice deep rumble that roared at WOT but didn't have that DroneMaster bite that I dislike. All of this on a truck with an XE grind cam and longtubes so it made a lot more noise than a stock motor anyway, if you still have the stock cats I'd suggest just straight piping it.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
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From: Central Indiana
If you do buy a BlowMaster, make sure it's a real one and not a knockoff. A real one has "Flowmaster" stamped right into the shell.
I bought a truck (1973 IHC 1010 pickup) that the previous owner tried to make it a Kid-Kar for his son. Dropped the front (torsion bar) and lifted the back (coil-over shocks). He then added some "Flow Sound" mufflers that had a very irritating chirp to them. one muffler shop said they were on backwards, they had to eat the bill when reversing the direction changed nothing.
BTW, Gibson or Magnaflow for the win.
I bought a truck (1973 IHC 1010 pickup) that the previous owner tried to make it a Kid-Kar for his son. Dropped the front (torsion bar) and lifted the back (coil-over shocks). He then added some "Flow Sound" mufflers that had a very irritating chirp to them. one muffler shop said they were on backwards, they had to eat the bill when reversing the direction changed nothing.
BTW, Gibson or Magnaflow for the win.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2003
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I've had a Flowmaster 40 for years and years on my 5.0 auto and it has always sounded great.
Not too loud, but definitely aggressive when you stomp on it.
Never droned at all at any speed.
I have no knowledge of any power increase or decrease with it.
But, just a few weeks ago the part of the exhaust that extends up and over the rear axle and out the side rotted off.
With the 5 extra feet AFTER the muffler gone, it is obnoxious and now it does drone at all speeds.
You need the pipe to extend all the way to the back corner of the truck and then it should be alright.
Here is a Q&A from Summit Racing page for Flowmaster:
Not too loud, but definitely aggressive when you stomp on it.
Never droned at all at any speed.
I have no knowledge of any power increase or decrease with it.
But, just a few weeks ago the part of the exhaust that extends up and over the rear axle and out the side rotted off.
With the 5 extra feet AFTER the muffler gone, it is obnoxious and now it does drone at all speeds.
You need the pipe to extend all the way to the back corner of the truck and then it should be alright.
Here is a Q&A from Summit Racing page for Flowmaster:
Q:What is the difference between the 4o's and the 44 series? Sound,performance? This is for a double exhaust amc 360.. Thanks Asked by SYLVAIN on October 19, 2017
A: Thanks for the question Sylvain. The difference between the Original 40's and the Super 44's is the 44's have 1 more baffle which will make it a hair quieter inside the vehicle then the 40's but still give you the Aggressive 40's sound outside that we are all used to. Thanks, Flowmaster
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Rhode Island
I absolutely hate the hollow tin-can sound that Flowmaster mufflers have. I've recently become a huge fan of the large oval straight-through Magnaflow stainless steel mufflers. They sound absolutely amazing. No drone, no hollow tin can sound, and not too loud. It's a very crisp clean V8 sound, and basically makes any V8 sound like a Corvette Z06. Autozone usually has their medium-sized one in stock 2.5" inlet and outlet, with one offset.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2012
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I absolutely hate the hollow tin-can sound that Flowmaster mufflers have. I've recently become a huge fan of the large oval straight-through Magnaflow stainless steel mufflers. They sound absolutely amazing. No drone, no hollow tin can sound, and not too loud. It's a very crisp clean V8 sound, and basically makes any V8 sound like a Corvette Z06. Autozone usually has their medium-sized one in stock 2.5" inlet and outlet, with one offset.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
And speaking of Corvettes... anybody else think they are the worst sounding V8s on the road today?