Hoping I'll finish this reply, as last Friday I was writing a reply to this thread; it was unusually slow at work until 2:00 PM then all heck broke lose. As I was saying last Friday until I had to log off, I always felt since being a teenage that there is no better sound than an American V-8 and I still feel the same way. The three Ford trucks that I have and what I consider as nice sounding, but not obnoxious are:
- 77 F-150 351M re-built to a 400 W/headers, mild cam and true dual 2 1/2" exhaust that exit behind the rear tires. Sounds perfect at any speed and RPM range.
- 95 F-150 302 W/Ford Racing (California CARB compliant) headers and CAT back dual 2 2/12" exhaust that exist behind the rear tires. Sounds perfect at 35 MPH and again between 65 and 67 MPH. Was wrecked when I acquired it and have re-restored it.
- 95 F-150 SVT Lightning, 351W, OEM headers W/CAT Back 3" dual exhaust that exit in front of the passenger rear tire. Changed axle ratio from OEM 4:10 to 3:73 and air induction from the 460. Sounds good at any speed or RPM.
All three of the trucks I'm consciousness starting them too early in morning, as they are allot louder than a stock P-U. If I want to drive the 77 F-150 to work, I coast out of the driveway and start it in the street, to avoid waking up my neighbor. As Houston Dave mentioned, it's important to be considerate. Just like the old saying, "it's better to make allies than enemies".

 

I like straight pipes, if they are behind a built motor. A stock motor with straights sounds like a$$ though.

I have a '67 F100 shortbox, tubbed and narrowed (pro street) with a 1970 351 Cleveland (4 barrel heads) and run Hooker Super-comp header with dual 3" exhaust all the way out back. Sounds awesome at idle, and driving around, but I bet gets a little obnoxious to some at a 7,000 rpm shift. To each their own...

 

The question was straight or not, which sounds better, and if mufflers which is the best sounding for the 360 fe

 

 

 

Straight pipes vs. mufflers? I think the right pair of mufflers will give you a much better tone than straight pipes. But if you run the straight pipes all the way out under the rear bumper, the length should mellow it some.

I'm thinking straight pipes exiting in front of the rear tires is going to be bordering on too loud.

 

Straight pipes on the street are so obnoxious … but they keep LEOs happy.

 

you live in city-straight pipe( small diameter (2.25"=loud, snap, crackle, pop) cop may not? pull you over, (2.5"=medium, snap, crackle, pop), (3"=just MEAN period)
country-open headers BABY!

 

That stupidity has made it to Texas then cause I've seen that around here. I cant even describe how stupid that looks.

 

Im running flowmasters then up right behind the cab to twin 4" stack. I open my back window for music.

 

I had a 360 with headers, 12" header mufflers, and turn downs. Dumped right under the cab. Sounded great when you were really into the throttle, but driving normal it was pretty tame. Had a heck of a drone at sustained rpm aka highway driving. That got old.