If you like mild drone and a real deeeep vibrating sound, go with the flowsy. If you dont like drone go with the mags.
FlowMaster?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Escondido, Ca
I have a FlowMaster siso cat back with the 50 series muffler...
It sounds great. You can hear it, but it's doesn't drone. I've heard droning before...
Hmmm...I'm 66...maybe I'm too deaf to hear it...!!!
It sounds great. You can hear it, but it's doesn't drone. I've heard droning before...
Hmmm...I'm 66...maybe I'm too deaf to hear it...!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I don't like Flowmasters myself.
IF I had to spend $80+ on a muffler, it'd be a magnaflow.
But on the 04 in my sig, I have a y pipe then straight pipe after. It isn't real loud, and it doesn't pop, but it sounds great....got a deep mean tone to it.
IF I had to spend $80+ on a muffler, it'd be a magnaflow.
But on the 04 in my sig, I have a y pipe then straight pipe after. It isn't real loud, and it doesn't pop, but it sounds great....got a deep mean tone to it.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
simple choice, if you want the stainless feeling, go magnaflow. If you want the great deep manly sound, go flowmaster. Sorry magnaflow, you just don't sound as good as the flows, never have, never will.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 6
From: Ketchikan, AK.
ill have to go ahead and disagree on this.... the last time i tried a flowmaster, there was almost no difference between that and stock. the only way to get it to even remotely sound "manly" was to remove the cat, (and then deal with the annoying resonance). as for my magnaflow, i still have the cat installed, and it is producing a great sound.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
I do not like Flowmasters.
I have heard one truck with flowmasters that didn't sound bad, but not as good as my 04. The guy w/Flowmasters has true duals with 2 flowmasters (don't know how much it cost him, but I'm guessing at least $300).
I have a y pipe then straight pipes (not that loud), and I spent $150. Better sound w/ at least half the money.
I have heard one truck with flowmasters that didn't sound bad, but not as good as my 04. The guy w/Flowmasters has true duals with 2 flowmasters (don't know how much it cost him, but I'm guessing at least $300).
I have a y pipe then straight pipes (not that loud), and I spent $150. Better sound w/ at least half the money.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
The whole flowmaster vs magnaflow thing is like comparing lineX to rhino. Both have some good and bad features/qualities. The best advice for someone wanting custom exhaust is to actually LOOK at the different systems, then find some trucks and LISTEN to how they sound. Everyone's impression of what sounds manly and righteous might not be the same, which if you read the many threads on this, it will be very obvious that's the case.
mattd17, you know Flowmaster makes many models depending on what sound you like. What did you try, the stock version b/c I find it insane to say flowmaster sounds anything like stock? That's almost comical.
mattd17, you know Flowmaster makes many models depending on what sound you like. What did you try, the stock version b/c I find it insane to say flowmaster sounds anything like stock? That's almost comical.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
From: Denver USA
Just my .02, I have no preference either way.
Had a Flowmaster sido on my '02 F150 5.4L. It had really good sound and decently loud but my wife hated the drone.
My friend has a '96 5.7L Camaro with a Magnaflow sido. It had a little deeper tone but wasn't nearly as loud with less drone.
Not sure what series MagnaFlow or FlowMaster each was, this could have made the difference. Then again, the difference could be due to these having two completely different motors. The same place installed both our systems and they did say the Flowmaster was louder with more drone.
I'd have no problem getting a FlowMaster again, then again I'd have no problem buying the MagnaFlow either.
Had a Flowmaster sido on my '02 F150 5.4L. It had really good sound and decently loud but my wife hated the drone.
My friend has a '96 5.7L Camaro with a Magnaflow sido. It had a little deeper tone but wasn't nearly as loud with less drone.
Not sure what series MagnaFlow or FlowMaster each was, this could have made the difference. Then again, the difference could be due to these having two completely different motors. The same place installed both our systems and they did say the Flowmaster was louder with more drone.
I'd have no problem getting a FlowMaster again, then again I'd have no problem buying the MagnaFlow either.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
I have posted this comment before with no response, here goes. Owning numerous 5.4's I have used both Flowmaster and Magnaflow, like the Mag's better! What I have noticed with the 08 that I now have, still stock exhaust, this truck will pull the same grades with out downshifting where as the previous trucks (same gears etc.) would drop out of OD. Does the stock exhaust and revised exhaust manifolds produce more low end torque? or is it just a better wax job on this truck??
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