Magnaflow and drone??

Elwood 2000 · May 1, 2004

I was reading another forum the other day and many people with the Magnaflow cat back exhaust system (single in, dual out) with a 5.3 said that they had drone in the cab between 1800 and 2200 rpm. One poster even stated that he tried the 18 inch AND the 22 inch muflers with the same results.

That is a driving range that I will be in a LOT and I don't want drone.

Anyone else experience this??

I was set to buy a Magnaflow system for my truck next month (d**n kitchen remodel over-runs), but after reading this, I am very unsure. A couple people recommended Dynomax for a good deep sound with as close to "zero-drone" as you can get.

Anyone with experience for either system??

Thanks!!

tps0424 · May 1, 2004

I don't have any experience with either system but I think you need to get your own definition of drone. I can hear my flowmasters all the time. Some people might call it an anoying drone but, to me, it's like music. A lot of us enjoy hearing our exhaust. Some people think any sound at all is drone.

I did have what I would term an unacceptable drone on my 98 xc 5.7 when I put the dual in/ dual out Vortex muffler on it. To me it was an unacceptable drone because eve though it wasn't that loud in the cab at certain rpms the tone of it would hurt my kids ears. The new truck with the flowmasters is MUCH louder but we have not had the same experience as far as it hurting anyone's ears. In fact the kids love to hear the pipes now. (Daddy make it sound like a race car)

All I'm trying to say, (the long way of course) is that only you can decide if it is acceptable. The only way to know is to find someone who has what you are considering and listen to it.

FWIW... I've never heard anyone complain about the Magnaflow.

Good luck!

Elwood 2000 · May 1, 2004

I guess you are right about defining "drone". I like to hear my pipes, but when cruising down the road, I want them to settle down and be nearly non-existant in the cab. I like my music and I like to have conversation with the family when driving. A very nice mellow, low tone at idle, a bit louder at accelleration and settled down at cruising speed is what I thought the Magnaflows delivered, from what I have been told.

My definition of drone is that annoying "hum" or "buzz" that is in the cab when cruising.

If I could only hear what these systems sound like. I am in a rural area and everyone's idea of duals is to cut off the muffler and put on a "Y" pipe and two tail pipes. That is NOT the sound I am after. I have listened to the clips on the internet and I do like them, but with my bass and trebble settings, I can make them change sounds a lot, so who knows what they REALLY sound like.

I guess I will just decide between the two, buy one and if I don't like it, I will buy the other muffler to change out.

Thanks for the reply!

ridnlow · May 1, 2004

I dont know how different they are but i have the Single in Single out Magnaflow. It sounds sweet at idle and awesome when you get on it. I drive about a hour a day on the interstate back and forth to work, and at 80mph there is a little drone but its not as bad as some people make it out to be. If i have my radio even moderately up.. i cannot hear my exhaust at all and this is at 80.. about 2100 2200 rpm.. Like i said i dont know how different the dual exhaust one is but this is just my experience.

99silveradoz71 · May 2, 2004

(Daddy make it sound like a race car)

Oh dear I'm having flashbacks...dad had a Plymouth Horizon(ok, you may discontinue laughing) and "Back in the day" a much younger me was quoted as saying, "Daddy, make it roar like a lion"...which I guess was about anytime you needed to ATTEMPT to accelerate in a hurry.

GMCSierra04 · May 2, 2004

I have the magnaflow 3" single cat-back (22" muffler) on my 04 sierra with the 5.3 and there really isn't much drone at all. On the expressway there is minimal drone around 2,000rpm's but its nothing that bothers me at all or makes me regret buying the system. Around town the system sounds good, nice deep sound. All cat-backs with straight through mufflers are going to sound relatively the same, although I've heard corsa has no drone but for $700, I think not. There is sound clips of the 3" magnaflow system on a 5.3 tahoe on their site, sounds exactly like mine does, check it out. Magnaflow Sounds Page

AUTOGUY · May 2, 2004

Elwood,

I have a Magnaflow dual in single out on my 2003 Silverado SS 6.0 and the drone at 2000 rpm is headache inducing.

I had a Gibson System on my last three 2500 trucks. A 2002 Sierra CC/LB with 8.1, a 2000 Silverado Ext Cab with 6.0 and a 1998 Sierra Ext Cab with 5.7. I loved the Gibson on all three. Good power, good sound at Idle, no drone whatsoever, and nice soung at WOT.

I am going to be looking for a system for my 2004 Sierra 2500HD CC/LB with the New LLY Duramax.

Just my experience. If you want a nice sounding, reasonably priced system, go with Gibson, you won't be disappointed.

LikeaRock14 · May 3, 2004

Honestly, go Spin Tech. Either run their Sportsman Street XL or call them and tell them what you want, they'll build a muffler to fit your daily driving needs

Elwood 2000 · May 3, 2004

Thank you for the advice. I have noticed that Magnaflow has a 22 inch muffler and an 18 inch muffler. Is one louder than the other? I would think the 22 would be quieter, but how much so?

I have looked at Gibson but have also heard about drone. Some say "yes", some say "no".

I wish I could hear them in person, but in my area, rednecks WITHOUT any money for REAL exhaust roam the streets in droves!

Thanks guys!

LikeaRock14 · May 3, 2004

the 18" is a 5x8" case, single internal pass tubes. The 5X11" 22" Case has dual internal pass tubes, helping absorb sound and heat better.The 22" is quiter, yes. I don't know by how much, but I think the main thing is a little bit quieter and significantly quieter cabin ride

QUIKAG · May 3, 2004

I have the Magnaflow single in- single out system on my '03 5.3L. There is a bit of drone around 1600-1900rpm or so, but it's not bad. Once on the highway and at or above 2000rpm, there is no drone.

I'm happy with my system overall. I bought it for a great price with great service on www.fle-online.com I have no affiliation at all with this company, btw.

GMC_MTR_4X4 · May 4, 2004

I HAVE A MAGNAFLOW DUAL IN DUAL OUT BUT ONLY ONE MUFFLER ON MY 97 Z71 5.7 AND FROM IDLE TO ABOUT 1400 IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A HOWL THEN THERES ALMOST A COMPLETE LAPSE OF SOUND BETWEEN 1400-1700 THEN IT PICKS UP AGAIN AFTER 1700 AND SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD RIGHT UP INTO 3000+ RANGE. IM NOT TO SURE WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE ON THE 5.3 BUT I WOULD IMAGINE IT WOULDNT BE ALL THAT DIFFERENT.

fastdrvr23 · May 4, 2004

I you have quicktime, you can hear what a magnaflow sounds like on a 4.8L here:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...17&hl=magnaflow

All the specs. of my truck and magnaflow stuff should be in there.

There should be one in there were I was just cruising along at 70mph for a little bit, might give you a good idea about the interior "drone".

I would imagine the 5.3 and 4.8 sound pretty similar. I don't notice much drone at all, and I take 500 mile trips every other weekend or so. Although, I used to have a Flowmaster 40-series on my old truck, with dual turndowns, so I might be immune to drone. LOL

99GMCZ71 · May 5, 2004

I had to sell my Magnaflow cat-back single in dual out because of the drone. It gave me pounding headaches. I got the flowmaster now, a little on the quiet side, but happy with it.