I need to install a muffler(s)and looking for suggestions. I'm sure that there has to be more than Flowmaster and magnaflow.

Excluding those two brands, what other brands make a decent muffler? Looking for an up and coming company. Is the exhaust tip for looks only or does it change/help tone?

Also, would prefer a 2 in and 1 out configuration.

Specs...79 f150 scab 4x4 400cid (slightly worked over but do not know the specifics) AT.

 

Well, advertising, sponsorship and convenience go a long way to making them popular! Not to mention that Flowmasters sound really great.
I hate the small ones though, as they're too loud.

Another company is Dynomax (is, or used to be a Walker company) and they make Super Turbos (I had two on a 5.7 GM and they were very quiet with just a slightly deeper tone.
I wanted the Ultra-Flow model which is a stainless straight-through design (would put it with the Dynomax and Borla category) but the shop I had do it would have needed to order them.

I've got a Flowmaster 40 on my Bronco and it's sweet sounding, but a little loud for me (I'm old and like to sneak out (and back in) in the middle of the night without waking neighbors) so may get to try out those Ultra-Flows soon after all.
Have generic "turbo" mufflers on my other EB and they are almost too quiet. But then again, I really do appreciate quiet especially in these trucks that have enough of their own ambient noise to go around.

Honestly, I really like the sound of "glass packs" if you can believe that. When they're new, they're actually fairly quiet. But the old-school versions that are truly packed with fiberglass tend to blow out after not too long and get much louder. Obnoxiously so. The newer class of them from Cherry Bomb and one or two other companies probably don't have that same issue. And you can't argue with packaging and ease of fitment into tight places.

Borla and Gibson are very nice, but higher priced than I like to spend on mufflers. Corsa is the stuff, but also expensive and tuned for each vehicle/engine combo in most cases.
The Gibson kits I used to sell for Fords were really quiet at idle and really loud under heavy acceleration and just about in the middle under mild acceleration. Just exactly what most customers liked.
However, I put a Gibson muffler alone (not a cat-back system as with the other trucks) on a friend's '77 Bronco and that darn thing was LOUD ALL THE TIME!!! Drove me nuts on the trail and around town.

That's about all I've got with any semi-direct and second hand experience. Lots more out there.
Engine Masters just did a "cheap turbo muffler" shootout that was very interesting. But I'm more on sound than horsepower, and that's subjective. So only I can decide what I like to hear!

Good luck.

Paul

 

I really want to try the flowmaster HP 2. the longer one for sure. I heard them on another car and they sound great.


https://www.holley.com/products/exha...r_hp-2_series/

 

I've used Hooker Aerochamber mufflers on my last few builds. Nice sound at idle, not to loud. Sounds good when you get on it.


Jess

 

I have a 73 with a 302 and used the Porter Steel packed mufflers and love them. Have had 3 other buddies go with them after I got them. Have a nice rumble at idle and sound absolutely awesome under load.

 

I have Walker DynoMax super turbo mufflers on my 78 Bronco with a fairly mild 400 - it sounds really nice in my opinion. My son's 78 F-150 with a 400 has Flowmasters and it sounds good at idle for sure, but a little "boomy" beyond that for my taste. That, and the "fact" that the Flowmasters aren't really a performance muffler - I.E. they don't really flow all that well - I prefer the DynoMax muffler.

 

Sat at a stoplight yesterday on the way home from work next to a dent side with some Black Widow mufflers. They sounded Bad *** at an idle and when the truck accelerated away from me. The truck had a Black Widow Exhaust decal on the rear window so I’m assuming that’s what it had.

Checked out their web site and some sound bites after dinner. They appear to be an up and coming company. Good luck.

 

Bear in mind as you search for your ideal sound that where you place the muffler and or resonator is as important as which you choose. Glasspacks at the extreme rear of the exhaust can be ear-splitting, the same glasspacks placed well forward will be much quieter. I wanted performance without the noise so I increased pipe diameter about 50% over stock but put the muffler well forward. I get just a little rumble at startup, otherwise the truck sounds almost stock. Everyone has a preference.. just be aware that your preferences end at your neighbor's ears.

 

Another vote for Dynomax Super Turbos, quiet at idle with a nice tone on acceleration..

 

Watching the video, as usual there were many others to click on. In one case, there was a live demonstration by Dynomax at a car show with an engine and up-pipes where they started the engine with the pipes open and then slipped each of the muffler types over the open tubes.
Even though it's not 100% real world, it's still pretty indicative I would think. Made me re-decide to try Ultra-Flow stainless the again the next time.

Even though I like the ones shown by Flowmaster and the others, I'm still going to give the straight-through a try on my own vehicles.

Paul