Has anyone done anthing with mufflers ?

Is it possible to make a 2.9 sound like it has just a little bit
of attitude?

Never messed with it before so I'm curious. Just looking for some moderate
rumblin ideas, unless it's just gonna have restriction/flow issues or sound like a honda.

If it matters, it's an 87

Thanks

Edit:

I know it can never sound like a v8, not really trying to achieve that.
I've read different things and ideas and wondered if anyone has ever
had any success.

Straight exhaust -- did this, sounds like absolute spit.
Straight exhaust with long pipe - ??
glasspack / cherrybomb - I read that it sounds pretty cool after carbon builds up 800 miles or so. Somewhat ricey till then
Flowmaster 40 - Out of my league !!

 

Dual cherry bombs are nice. But, for a bit of peace I am now running a muffler for a 1986? F-150 2 1/4" in and out. Was a bit of a squeeze to fit it up there so it does not drop below the frame rails, but, it fits.

 

There are 'cheaper' Flowmaster-type mufflers out there that aren't too bad. I would avoid a 12" length case glasspack, the 18" and 24" have a decent sound to them and aren't very obnoxious - you may want to go with the 18" due to space constraints, though. On the '86-'87, you can get away with a single 2.5" exhaust/muffler from the cat back. The '88-'90 models' cat outlet is only 2.25" IIRC. I have a Magnaflow turbo muffler on my '87, it doesn't sound too bad, but eventually it's going to be switched over to a glasspack. Not sure what exactly you're looking for as far as advice?

 

Thanks.

Advice / opinions, that's what I'm looking for.
maybe something worked for someone and maybe something didn't

I don't want to spend a whole lot but would respect the opinions of those who have experience with the same rig

This was helpful, missed it first time...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...t-options.html

 

Conventional "glass packs" are proven in flow testing to out perform many of the so-called "Free Flowing Real Mufflers". For reference, WyoTech, Hot Rod Magazine have numerous published articals on this. On the net, please read:

broaderperformance.com/muffler_flow_tests.htm (Independently tested cfm flows of the more popular mufflers, glasspacks and resonators.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eng...../index1.html (this is an indepth artical that tests not only the mis-conception of flow demand but also how placement of a muffler (a glass pack in this dyno test) can actually "fool " the system into thinking that it is essentially a straight pipe.

I have listed here a muffler shootout test done by CAR CRAFT:

The Mufflers
MAKE MODEL Part No. COST
SUMMIT Turbo 630125 $14.75
THRUSH Magnum Glasspack 24214 $16.50
THRUSH Boss Turbo 17718 $23.95
HOOKER Competition 21006 $25.95
DYNOMAX Super Turbo 17733 $28.50
DYNOMAX Race Magnum 24215 $31.95
HOOKER Super Competition 21106 $35.95
SUMMIT Fully Welded 630325 $38.69
FLOWTECH Afterburner 50322 $39.95

MUFFLER FLOW TEST

MUFFLER Flow at 28-in H20
DynoMax Race Magnum 528.64 cfm
Thrush Magnum Glasspack 507.40 cfm
Summit Fully Welded 343.38 cfm
Flowtech Afterburner 342.20 cfm
DynoMax Super Turbo 333.94 cfm
Hooker Competition 232.46 cfm
Hooker Super Competition 320.96 cfm
Summit Turbo 331.16 cfm
Thrush Boss Turbo 297.36 cfm

MUFFLER Idle dB WOT dB
DynoMax Super Turbo 89 123
DynoMax Race Magnum 94 133
Flowtech Afterburner 92 124
Hooker Competion 92 122
Hooker Super Competion 90 125
Summit Turbo 89 124
Summit Fully Welded 92 125
Thrush Boss Turbo 90 123
Thrush Magnum Glasspack 92 128

DYNO TEST
All mufflers were dyno-tested on a 355-cube SBC with 10.0:1 compression, Air Flow Research 190 aluminum heads, a CompCams 292 hyd. a Victor Jr. intake, a Holley 750-cfm double-pumper, and 1 5/8 Headman headers.


MUFFLER HP TORQUE 2,500-6,000rpmAverage
Hooker Competition 397.4 381.1 286.8hp/351.9 lb-ft
Thrush Boss Turbo 407.1 384.9 292.1 hp/357.5 lb-ft
DynoMax Race Magnum 409.5 394.3 298.8 hp/366.9 lb-ft
Flowtech Afterburner 409.7 391.2 294.8 hp/361.7 lb-ft
Thrush Glasspack 409.5 389.8 297.7 hp/365.3 lb-ft
Summit Turbo 411.5 386.3 291.5 hp/357.4 lb-ft
DynoMax Super Turbo 412.7 387.2 292.6 hp/358.6 lb-ft
Hooker Super Comp 413.8 387.2 292.8 hp/359.0 lb-ft
Summit Fully Welded 415.4 390.7 295.6 hp/362.4 lb-ft

While there are mufflers that will out flow a glass pack design, it also depends on the design. Does the glasspack use "louvers or perforations" - Louvers reduce the flow by as much as 50% but Allied resonators (that sell for $20-$40) each and available at any muffler shop) installed backwards in independent test flowed 90%+ of a "race spec muffler". Others using other brands consistantly showed similar results.

 

I used to try to get a nice sound from my Ranger V6s, everything seems to produce a annoying drone. I gave up and went back to a OEM style muffler............They will just never sound like a V8.

 

Yeah, I may try a glasspack type one, may not like the sound but at least I'll only be out about 15-20 bucks.

I've heard that installing it at the end of the tail pipe creates a better sound.
Something about cooler gasses resonate better. So I read anyway.

Eh, I'll play around with it. worst case, I can always put the stock muffler back on

Thanks for the info !!

BTW.... what does installing backwards do ?

 

The closer to the tailpipe, the higher the tones will get. Install just forward of the rear axle and that will typically be the best location for the deepest tone. In readds to cooler air making increased flow, well, that is somebodies dream article- just isn't reality.

Allied probably makes the best "resonator" (glasspack) today and is carried by any muffler shop- cost is in the $20-$40 range depending on the length. Perforation style is better than the louvered style in terms of flow, but if you install a louvered glasspack backwards, a flow reversion occurrs that will actually increase flow.

But something else to be aware of, Fords cat's absorb alot of the exhaust sound...on V8 trucks that works out to about 80%. You might want to try a stright pipe at the muffler shop first, see how it sounds, then hold up a muffler to the head pipe to see if the sound is what you like. Any muffler shop will do this.

 

Well, I ended up with a Flowtech Raptor 50050FLT.
I really like the sound it produces. It's no V8 obviously but
it does produce a reasonably throaty sound.

It was only about $20.00 and so far I'm happy with it.
The little donkey has some attitude now

Thanks for the input!!



Product Description

Flowtech Raptor Turbo Performance Muffler

If you want a mean muffler that won't tear the guts from your wallet, get a Raptor -- and watch out! FLOWTECH's new Raptor Turbo Performance Muffler features a unique sound rib case design and aluminized, lock seal construction. It offers gigantic, high-output flow tubes to provide more horsepower, better mileage, and a sound of pure performance!Features: Free-Flowing Inner Pass Tube; Great Performance Sound; Heavy Gauge Ribbed Case For Durability and Sound Control; Low Restriction,Reduces Backpressure; Increases Performance