I have a 69 f100 with a 390. Its a big shiny truck with a big engine so I figure it should sound good too. The last owner put on dual exhaust with quiet mufflers. I would like to change it to some type of a muffler with a strong throaty sound, kinda of like (don't be mad at me for this) the newer Chevys and Dodges. So what kind of mufflers are these? Can I get them at a regular parts store and what kind of price would I be looking at? I would only need the mufflers, the rest of the exhaust is new. By the way I have two inch pipes.
thanks for all the help
brad

 

Flowmasters seem to be very popular. They have several varieties that offer different levels of sound. Their 40 serires is popular for people who want to hear their truck in and out of the cab. AT a glance, it looks like you will have to go with a Delta Flow series to get 2" plumbing. Around $75 per muffler. There are many other brands in this price range that are comparable in flow and build quality.

They are available at all of the big online stores.

 

I have been thinking Cherry bombs ($19 Autozone) or glass packs ($15 Summit) for my 1971 390. They come in 2" sizes. I am looking at flow more than sound level.

 

Cherry Bombs are popular, the longer they are the deeper the tone. Another (cheap) option are summit turbos, around $15 each. If you can spend more, then flowmaster series 40s are always a good choice. They can be had for $60-75, depending on the retailer.

 

What type of mufflers make the tinkling sound on engines that have a lope, like someone is shaking a few screws in a tin can. Are those glasspacks?
thanks for the great information
brad

 

Brad, I think you're describing the "Flowmaster sound".

Glasspacks can make that sound if you punch some nail holes around the back.

Barry

 

If you are thinking that FM 2 chambers are too aggressive, then you might try the FM 40 series Delta FLows. They have a really deep and smooth sound that is tough, but you can't hear the tinny whistly sound from blocks away like the 40 series. Other than not being noisy enough for my taste, I actually think the Delta's produce a cleaner prettier sound. There are other chambered mufflers out there from a Company called MAC, and their Flowpath has a business oriented sound and Spintech has a chambered design but I have never heard those. Pretty much any turbo style such as a Dynomax Ultra Flow or Super Turbo and Borla will deliver throaty sounds. In my opinion the chambered designs are better because they will last longer and always sound the same where as a turbo or glasspack will burn out.

 

I have noticed that tinkling sound on a lot of performance vehicles and I could never figure out what gave it that sound... UNTIL I put headers on my 66 Mustang. Headers give it that distinctive tinkling/hollow sound that I love so much.

 

Thanks for all the great information guys. I think the Delta Flows are might go with.
thanks again
brad

 

That "tinkling" sound behind the truck is the driver evacuating his bladder after drinking a sixpack and wishing he had spent the extra cash to put 40 series Flowmasters on his truck instead of those mufflers that "bombed" that he thought were so "cherry" , fd

 

I think you made the right choice Brad.

Headers do give that ticka-ticka sound but Flowmasters have a metallic sound too.

Don't know how true this is but I once heard that the origional Flowmaster was designed for the 5.0L Mustangs to make their small blocks sound like big blocks.

IMHO headers and glasspacks sound like crap. Real blatty and makes the engine sound like it's turning half the rpm it really is.

Barry

 

I agree that headers and packs aren't a good thing. Yeah, glasspacks are loud and all, but they don't sound as good as say FM 40's. Not to mention that it really doesn't get much louder than FM's and headers. Not only are they loud, but they leave you wanting more plus they are a good crisp sound and you can stick em on any V8 and get big sound. Not anything less though or they sound wierd. FM's or Mac Flowmath's are the way to go, along with the new Delta's. If I got packs it would be Dynomax Race Bullets or something like that.

 

Nobody has mentioned Dynomax products. At half the price of the average Flowmaster you can have a very solid muffler that sounds much better than a cherry bomb / glass pack and outflows the flowmasters! In the 70 F-100 I am still having a stock type single exhaust with catalytic converter behind my EFI 302, so you will have to virtually listen to my other, non ford / non pickup vehicles:

I have the dynomax super turbos (2 1/4" behind manifolds/ duals) on my 71 cutlass converible (olds 350). They give a good rumble at idle and are hardly noticeable at cruising speeds. If you floor her, things get quite aggressive, especially outside / behind the car. I love it when my wife drives the car and I can hear how full and throaty it sounds when she is driving off / coming back home. Inside the car it isn't much noticeable cruising and idle is quite quiet too. These mufflers are for a car that you want to cruise in or use as a daily driver. You will still be able to impress the folks at the root beer stand.

I have the dynomax race magnums (now they are called ultra flows) on my olds 455 powered 71 Oldsmobile 442. They are a straight through design and are a bit more pricey than the super turbos. These mufflers are quite serious and are *not* quiet. However, I have stock single runner manifolds going into 2.5 exhaust that crosses over in an X. From the X through the dynomaxes through the tailpipes. (All 2.5"). These mufflers are great if you like a real aggressive sound. The lopey cam the car has helps too. I think the X actually reduces noise a bit. I think these mufflers are somewhere between a 2 and 3 chamber flowmaster, from their sound level. They sound different though, more throaty, a bit more muffled, not as 'ding against the empty bathtub' sound a flomaster makes. They flow fabulously too and if you want to make an extra few hp/tq, they are the way to go. They will definitely make the people at the light look at you, mustangs wanna race and cops wanna pull you over.

Just my two cents. I am a diehard dynomax fan. They are cheaper than Flowmasters and they will keep you apart from the flowmaster crowd! I like to walk off the beaten path. Flowmasters are for chevys. ;-) <ducking>

Cheers, George

 

 

Ok guys i think you all have fantastic input on these muffler choices but i would like you guys to try a set of Purple Hornies you can get them through Jegs and they are around $20 a piece they give you that smooth idle sound good sound while cruising down the highway but when you reall step in that throttle they are enough to make you ears explode and they are completely legal truct me i have them on every vehicle i own i have a 1967 Mustang with a well built 289 and a 1970 Ford F-100 custom with a stock 302 and of course the cruiser a 1978 Ford LTD they all sound just beautiful

good luck guys

Iknow you will love them if you hear them once