Thread: Mufflers

Tweet

So having not gone the muffler route before, what's the muffler of choice for a street rod? Wanting something that's got some attitude but not the aggressive thunder of the '33 with baffled lake styles. What have you liked?

what routing are you using????down dumps before axle are noisy----out before rear wheel area not as bad but out the rear is best----


I use components for 2000-2004 mustang clear coil overs and lay below rear frame rails beside fuel tank


Also look at the side pipe set up on the 32 in my gallery


Choice of components for me is Magna flow stainless---you can get about whatever pipe diameter you want


however will those lower rear end bars toward the middle be a problem?????

Ditto on the Flowmaster's, they have a nice smooth sound. Mine run out the back, make plenty of noise without being irritating inside.

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/s...ayproducts.asp


these are some of what I have used---the tail pipes work up over the normal type coil over suspension and then along under the frame rails beside the fuel tank--choices have oval or round mufflers, a set up under the rearend like for the mustang cobra with the irs, and a set up with turn downs before rear axle---my preference is #15673 with round mufflers altho ovals might be touch quieter


need to shorten the pipe where tip fits over to fit length of car--------simply slide it on further----

I used these in lieu of mufflers.. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hs...2400/overview/
pipes go all the way out the back so there isn't any droning - car sounds good!

When I had the '62 done my Muffla man told me about a Flowmaster Clone and I am very pleased with them.
Sounds about like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyHcMt5ezng

Em

Mufflers???? Seriously, I used Thrush Turbos on my roadster. They sound good behind a pretty stock 290 HP 350 SBC.

36Sedan, which model Flowmasters did you use? Series 40?

Mike, those HushpowerII resonators say that they are intended to run in conjunction with HushpowerII mufflers. You're running the resonators alone and it's not too loud?

Jerry, I appreciate the link to the Mustang system, but I plan to get a box of mandrel bends and straight pieces and put together something custom for the routing I want. I have not yet made any firm decision on any of the questions you pose regarding exit point, but at this point I'm leaning to straight out the back, but NOT SS tomato can accessory tips.

Oldschool66, thanks for the Thrush Turbo info. Those look like they might be a good, economical choice.

You asked so in my opinion Flowmasters sound tinny and cheap. They are the choice of Daddy's Boy Mustangs. Borla's sound much better. And some long tube types sound good, longer tube the deeper the sound. And since you asked, I really dislike Flowmasters, almost as much as the tiny cans on the rice burners. Hey you asked and I likely now have a smaller group of friends.

Originally Posted by Scooting

You asked so in my opinion Flowmasters sound tinny and cheap. They are the choice of Daddy's Boy Mustangs. Borla's sound much better. And some long tube types sound good, longer tube the deeper the sound. And since you asked, I really dislike Flowmasters, almost as much as the tiny cans on the rice burners. Hey you asked and I likely now have a smaller group of friends.

Ray, that's exactly why I asked! I appreciate any and all input at this point. I'll offer that I can't really see the logic in a pair of $200 mufflers. Getting something more reasonable in cost they can be replaced if they don't work out as expected.

Originally Posted by rspears

36Sedan, which model Flowmasters did you use? Series 40?

Yes, I have the 40 series, they sound great to me. They have a nice deep growl, not tinny to me.
But, I'm just a player in a rock-n-roll band.

What makes this question tough is the subjective nature of the outcome. Kinda like "what's the best color.......?".

I've told my sound quality story many times and I've come to the conclusion that nobody believes it, or it's more thinking than they're willing to invest. But here goes again, short version. I picked up a '40 Ford coupe a number of years ago. Had a mild built flathead, no interior, crappy paint, yada yada. The old bullet shaped glass packs sounded like crap even with full length pipes. Exhaust rehab was at the bottom of a lonnnngggg list of things to be done. In the process of doing the interior I did a full insulation install, roof, trunk, and all. When I fired the car off to pull out of the shop at the completion of the upholstery install I was amazed. I expected the inside sound to change, but when I got out to close the shop door the outside had changed too. Had the bride drive the car up and down the street to confirm. The insulation had dampened the resonance and completely changed the character of the sound from the car. Never did change those tired ol' glass packs.

Similarly, a Flowmaster 40 tale. I put pair on the '64 Plymouth with 440. I didn't care all that much for that Flowmaster echo that I think some mean when they say tinny. Again, after floor insulation and an H pipe added to the full length system that car ended up with the absolute best sound I've ever heard from any V8 car. My '05 Mustang with Magna Flows came close, but not quite as good (cat converters change that game though).

A roadster is going to have a whole different dynamic, sound wise, from a closed body car. I'm convinced it's more than just the muffler and pipes that affect sound.

Personally, I think Flowmaster's and the like is just another case of paying way too much to get the name!!! I use plain old turbo mufflers my pal Roger sells at his exhaust/repair shop. Other then that, I'd just suggest reading Uncle Bob's post again..... Resonance is the big deal, just like in a stereo speaker enclosure... Other thing I do as a matter of personal preference is put the mufflers as far back in the exhaust system as possible.

Uncle Bob, some interesting observations about the insulation and sound deadening on body panels affecting the overall sound output outside the car! That points to the exhaust note being a product of the vehicle system, not simply the mufflers, or mufflers & resonators, and the fact that the body panels may tend to amplify certain frequency ranges that may be less desirable (lots of "may" in that last statement....)

Dave, I agree about paying for the name, especially when a big name company has come up with an approach that's been shared in the glossy ads for years and others have copied for ten cents on the dollar. Just looking at Summit, their house brand turbo is about the same as the Thrush turbo, and the Flowmaster of comparable size and description is three to five times more.

In my past I bought a '68 Dodge Monaco, 383 auto back in about '70 and that car had the sweetest, most mellow exhaust note of anything I've ever owned. People used to stop me and ask what I'd done to get the exhaust to sound so sweet, and I had to say "I have no idea!" It had a pair of no name round galvanized mufflers that were about 6" OD and 32" long with traditional construction, no "cherry bomb" or "walker continental" bullet shape, just good sound that was likely a coincidental bonus when the original owner needed/wanted mufflers.

I like the stainless stuff because it doesn't rust-------------


I like the magna flow ss stuff for the 2000-04 mustang because the mustang rear end and frame/exhaust width is pretty damn close to the size/spacing of 32-34 fords----the 2 1/2 tail pipes (3" are tight) fit pretty well and I just need to shorten the end so they don't stick out past the frame extensions-------the kit comes with hanger pieces, clamps, etc and pretty well clears everything. Rogers car has those Nascar/earky 50s chev truck bars on it and might be an interference factor but for any system--------


I have built dozens of systems from bends and straights and the cost is probably double to 3 times as much as one of these kits----argon and ss welding rod are $$$$$$$$$$$


On a high boy type I'd still probably build headers and Cobra type side pipe system like on the 32 in my galley--------