More Muffler Questions

OUMike · May 20, 2004

I made a few phone calls today and this is what people said.

MAGNAFLOW-

One place said that Magnaflows didn't sound good on anything but Corvettes. Everyone else said that was the way to go. Price was about $345 + tax.

FLOWMASTER-

This was a good way to go by most people except there was a difference of opinion about which one. The general feeling is that the 50 series (3 chamber) sounds better on the 4.3L V6s. Price about $307 to 340 depending on series.

DYNAMAX-

Same story as Magnaflow only much cheaper..$339.41 out the door.

What is the general feeling about these brand names on the 4.3L V6? Everyone said that all 3 sounded good at idle and at crusing speeds, but only the 3 chamber and some Dynamax setups sounded good at higher RPMs. Opinions??

GlennRMK · May 20, 2004

I have a 50 Series on my V8, and it sounds really nice. Not real loud, but not quiet either.

On a V6 I would go 50 or 70 series.

Personally, on my next V8, I'm going 40 series. The neighbors will probably be pissed but o well:)

OUMike · May 20, 2004

Yea, I was thinkin' 50 series myself. Thanks a lot

rikhek · May 20, 2004

Just remember, if you go with the Flowmaster you'll lose significant low end and gas mileage. I had the 40 series and it was so bad I took it off and reinstalled the factory exhaust. Anyone who says otherwise is talking BS and just likes the "sound".

rtbrick · May 20, 2004

My father just put 50 series on his 2004 4.3L S10. I do not like the sound at all. He likes it, but I think it sounds too raspy; like the engine is bogged down or something. I'd try the Magnaflow or Dynamax. I have a Gibson on my 2000 Silverado 5.3, but I don't know how it would sound on a V-6. It is not as lound as the 50 or Magnaflow.

fastdrvr23 · May 20, 2004

Go to www.bigexhaust.com and see what they are now, that's where I ordered my magnaflow from. I bought two stainless magnaflow tips off ebay, and had the muffler shop bend the pipes and install everything for pretty cheap.

Prices I paid:

Stainless Magnaflow muffler: ~$130 shipped

Tips (2 stainless): ~$70 shipped from ebay

Shop Install and pipe: ~$80

I couldn't be happier with mine!

I love the setup, and have owned d**n near every major muffler magnufactured over the past 11 years. Click the link in my sig. to see what mine sounds like now... The Flowmaster 40 series I had on my old truck sounded absolutely wicked outside of the truck, but inside the drone was horrific. (I still liked it though, lol)

I liked the 50 series on a buddies truck, until he removed the cats. It sounded like ass then. 70-series sound nice on a stock exhaust setup.

Dynomax turbo mufflers were too quiet for me, too close to stock. I think the dynomax ultra-flow mufflers are the same as magnaflow, as they looked the same internally at the shop.

EDIT: I just realized this was for a 4.3 Liter... Ehhh, I'm sure I really heard too many setups on a 4.3L at all.. A friend of mine in High School had a Syclone with a straight pipe that sounded awesome, but I guess that's apples to oranges.. Good luck!

fastdrvr23 · May 20, 2004

Just remember, if you go with the Flowmaster you'll lose significant low end and gas mileage. I had the 40 series and it was so bad I took it off and reinstalled the factory exhaust. Anyone who says otherwise is talking BS and just likes the "sound".

My old 1989 C1500 gained 2/10's in the 1/4 mile and 2 mph with the addition of a Flowmaster 40 series Single In/Dual Out 3" X 2.5"... That was switching from a Straight pipe from the catalytic converter back.

It will help performance wise, just not a huge amount. I was happy with the results I had with mine.

Also, I routinely got 14 MPG stock and with the Straight pipe setup, with the Flowmaster I routinely got 15 and 16.

I'm not sure what they'll help with on a stock truck, but it lost absolutely nothing on my fairly modded setup.

Ideeho · May 20, 2004

As I always state here on exhaust questions....don't forget the little guy who doesn't blow his budget on marketing...I bought a Goerlich's www.goeurlichs.com Xlerator flow through exhaust, twins out the sides...for $330 or so installed and out the door. Don't buy the marketing fluff either about the mandrel bending, you would need 600bhp to get any gains from that pipe. Best decision I have made, costs less, great performance gains, and am completely happy with the tone, great off the line, quiet at cruising speeds, no interior resonanace, and at WOT she barks.

mcbearbryant · May 20, 2004

One Question on LOWER MPG. What in a free flow system would reduce the miles per gallon? I assumed that there would be a bit of increase in MPG since you were, in effect, increasing the efficiency of the engine.

What am I missing?

rikhek · May 20, 2004

I also didn't realize the truck in question was not a Vortec. I agree that the Flowmaster's improve performance on pre-Vortec engines as I had one on my previous truck and liked it a bunch. However, on Vortec engines they are terrible, they don't provide enough back pressure.

fastdrvr23 · May 20, 2004

I also didn't realize the truck in question was not a Vortec. I agree that the Flowmaster's improve performance on pre-Vortec engines as I had one on my previous truck and liked it a bunch. However, on Vortec engines they are terrible, they don't provide enough back pressure.

Yeah, me either till afterwards. My bad...

J-rod is a friend of mine here that works with me, he has a Flowmaster Dual setup on his 2002 5.3L setup, maybe he could add some stuff... I know from outside, his truck sounds pretty wicked

J-rod · May 20, 2004

Ummm, I didn't notice much as far as "seat-of-the-pants" performance, but I certainly didn't notice any loss. I also saw little to no change in mileage other than a sharp (temporary) decrease which lasted for a couple weeks after having the pipes installed thanks to my heavy foot and me wanting to hear that flowmaster talk. No improvement in gas mileage though ... that woulda been nice. I don't know, maybe it has to do with the vehicle or the setup or something. For reference, mine is 5.3L and the Flowmaster is a 40 series single 3" in / dual 2.5" out and the pipes exit straight out the rear.

OUMike · May 20, 2004

okay..so after everyones opinions it sounds like the the 50 series Flowmaster the best way to go...wish I had the 5.7L. I'd be so much easier to figure this stuff out. I just don't wanna spend all kinds of money, and then not be happy with it.

Anyone tried Borla?

GMCSierra04 · May 20, 2004

I personally would go with magnaflow or dynomax mufflers. If you are looking for a performance muffler, don't get flowmaster. Just look at a cut-out of one and you'll see how much of a "performance" muffler they are. They do flow better than OE mufflers but both magnaflow and dynomax's straight through performance mufflers will offer supier flow capibilities and great sound. Here is Dynomax's website for their ultra flow SS muffler, check out the flow chart.

Dynomax Ultraflow

LikeaRock14 · May 20, 2004

Everyone puts down Flowmasters for their flow characteristics, but it doesn't make any difference what muffler you put on any engine, it all depends on the correct pipe diameter, how you drive, how heavy your foot is (mines about 1 mil. lbs hehe), etc etc. Every muffler is right for any application, it just depends on what you go with.

From all the flowmaster equipped 4.3's I've heard clips of and have heard drive by me, they are honestly too raspy, as stated above. And the drone factor is horribble on the 4.3's with an Origonal 40 series. A 50 series wouldn't be as bad, but you're stil going to get a raspy tone. Any straight through muffler, such as Dynomax, Magnaflow, Bassani, etc, is going to actually give you sort of a ricey tone on any 4.3, especially if you use larger diameter pipe on these engines. People also will tell you of course you'll lose mileage with an exhaust, but with the right muffler and system and with the lighter foot, you'll notice at least 1 mpg better. I've seen people go 2.5" dual out, 3" single out, etc on 4.3, don't. You're going to notice a significant loss of low end and you will notice a slight loss in mileage, it's likely and it's not likely. 3" pipe will take away too much backpressure on ANY 6, even a 4.3.

2.5" single and 2.25" dual is the limit, even w/ 2.25" dual you're pushing it with this motor.

the one muffler I VERY strongly reccomend is a Spin Tech Pro Street muffler. I have a 91 S-10 Blazer, currently not running due to an engine swap, but I talked to my exhaust guy, and he reccomended we install that muffler for me. He said it's the closest thing to a V8 sound you can get, and he was absolutely right. It has a slight V8 lope to it almost at idle, it's as smooth and deep as can be, and it's never loud inside or raspy at all. I honestly couldn't be happier with the setup. It's the smoothest, quietest inside, yet stil has an awesome deep smooth exterior tone muffler you'll find. I wish I had a sound clip, unfortunatley I don't, but once my new engines in I'm haing a new cat and new muffler w/ 2.5" piping installed, I'll have to make a clip. It'll be a few weeks, so I imagine you'll already have exhaust (maybe?), but I'll eventually have a clip to show everyone.

But yeah, Spin Tech's are the way to go for any 4.3 setup. You honestly can't go wrong