A while back, I had posted about what was the best way to go for a simple muffler replacement. When I bought my '97 F350, it had the cat removed, and a 2 into 1 wrapped muffler, that I'm sure was installed backwards, and sounded very restrictive. Since the 2.5" pipes in and the 3" pipe out was in good condition and just rattled in a few spots due to close routing, I decided to just have a shop replace the muffler and fix my clearance problem. Didn't want to spend much money on it; sooner or later, I'd like to install the complete Banks system.

I found a brand new Hooker Aerochamber dual in / single out muffler on ebay, and paid under $40 shipped. After the shop fabbed it in, I still have under $100 in it all together. Not bad for a muffler that's near the top of reviews and charts for torque, flow and hp production.

I've gotta say...I've never heard a truck sound like a mild 5-liter Mustang before...you know the sound, but now mine does. I had true dual 50 series flowmasters on my 95 F150 393 stroker, and although it was louder, in my opinion this has a MUCH better...and different tone. It sounds jussst manly enough at idle, and while shifting thru the gears, it has a bit of a bassy-drone around 1700-1900rpm, and quiets right down around 2k plus when you lay into it and while cruising. When the windows are up, it's a lot less pronounced. It's definitely not a high rpm truck, but throttle response improved as well as torque...seems to pull just a bit better right off the bottom even when towing a light load. I wouldn't call it obnoxious, but it's definitely not tame...just about right for a good performance sound. I was always a Flowmaster guy before but bought this can because it was a good deal and now I'm definitely impressed. The aerochamber muffler seems to have the best of both worlds when it comes to a chambered & straight thru muffler- you can look in one side and see out the other, but it seems to cancel the noise pretty well coming from 460 cubes.

 

Good info, I have the complete banks on my 97 (5+ years now) great improvement on power. "highflo" (wink wink nudge nudge) cat was another huge improvement on power. Not very fond of the banks muffler though, no real tone, but neighbors and wife say it is loud.

 

wow talk about a let down.... o.O here i was thinking this was going to be a great story about a guys experience with a hooker but it was entirely the wrong kinda hooker

xD

 

i thought it was that or some headers...

 

i agree with you icutmetl.......i have never bought a flowmaster or have owned 1 in my life and you are right about the hooker aero chamber muffler. i have a single in duel out 2 1/2 on my 94 f150 Flare Side 302/5.0L for the last 4 1/2 yrs. i also have 1 on my 97 s10 blazer with the vortec motor. when i lean on it to get up to speed its loud and when crusing its mellow. it definitly has a very different tone to it and is better than flowmaster. i know you will be happy for many years to come with that muffler. i am a very happy camper and thank hooker headers for coming up with the build and design of this muffler. anyone out there running this muffler knows what i am saying...............