Christmas Exhaust

[DanoDMano]

Well my wife is going to buy me a new exhaust for my 70' FS for Christmas, and I need some wisdom from you out there with dual exhaust.
I currently am running single exhaust with the stock Ramhead manifolds. I have a set of headman's
I am going to install on my stocker 350.
My question is, What kind of mufflers would you recommend to give me a real nice rumble??
In the future I am going to stroke the engine, and probably add some ceramic coated headers when I can afford them.
What are you guy's running as far as mufflers, and what size pipe?? I really want this thing to sound tough, but still be able to hear my stereo!!

Any info would be great, and I know you guy's are full of great info!!!!!

I appreciate it and Merry Christmas!!!

[WORNBRAKES]

I recomend 40 series Flomasters with 2 1/2 or 3 inch pipe. 3 inch may not be legal for street in your area.
Do you want it to exit infront of rear tires, behind rear tires, or out the back.
I have glass packs ran out behind the tires on the 69. On the 68 I have bombs ran in front of the tires. I HATE GLASS PACKS. I will be putting on 40 Flowmasters soon.

[crazy longhorn]

Im runnin Hooker comps, with 2 1/2" pipe/H pipe through Dynomax Super turbos, With 3" tail pipes Turned out ahead of the tires.......that 383 rumbles

[Mike C]

I have a set of Flowmasters on my Camaro. The exhaust was welded up in 1985 and it does sound fast...(actually getting people to pull up next to you is virtually impossible) but having said that, I am not a Flowmaster fan. In test after test, they are beaten performance wise AND noise wise and as a bonus, pricewise. My choice for a street vehicle is 2 1/2" aluminized tubing with Dynomax Hemi Turbos. Walker says these mufflers will support 275 hp EACH without any noticeable loss (That's 550 in a dual exhaust setup) and they are nice and quiet. If there is a drawback, it is the 20" length case in which I would substitute the Standard Dynomax turbo. As a bonus, they are half the price of Flowmasters as well. (Buy one get one free?) Dual 3" exhaust is not appropriate for a stock motor, or for that matter, even one with less than 400hp.

[NSANE68!!!]

MAGNAFLOW's!! Unless you like the Flowmaster sound of an empty tin can. sorry all you flowmaster guys. But I had em on my 72 for about a month. I went on advise from friends. The in cab noise was terrible and there is alot of pinging, mainly cause they are hollow cans no packing.
I quickly cut them off, threw them in the dumpster and drove to the shop and hooked up some MAGNAFLOW'S. Less in cab noise, nice low DEEP rumble and when you stand in it it ROAR'S up nicely.

[jeffbo]

I would have to agree with the others and say Flowmasters. They sound great. You could try their Delta Flow Series if you want to keep interior noise levels to a minimum. They do cost a little more than a standard Flowmaster though.
I've also heard good things about Flowtech Afterburners. Although I've never actually heard them, Car Craft magazine spoke pretty highly of them, and as far as I'm concerned CC is the best car mag out there. Come to think of it, they had an muffler comparo test in an issue not to long ago. I'll try to see if I can find it and get back to you later.
Also, I think it looks pretty sweet if you dump the exhaust out right in front of the rear wheels, instead of behind them or straight back, but that's just my opinion.

[srhart71]

I run the 40 Series Flowmasters on my 71. I have a 402, full length headers into 3in duals, with a H-pipe. After the mufflers , the pipes neck down to 2.5 inchers. This is supposed to help keep up exhaust velocity to help torque. It has worked for me so far.

[Blackhawkdc]

From working at an exhaust shop, I've had the opportunity to try out different systesma dn hear different muffler. Personally, I'm not a Flowmaster fan. the sound isn't the greatest and the price is a definite drawback.

I currently have full 3" dual exhaust with 36" long 3" diameter glasspacks, but that's with a 440 horse engine. I love the sound, but it get quite loud, but a goods loud. A nice low rumble at idle, with a nasty, in-your-face snarl at full-throttle.

I had a 2 1/2" system before with a couple Flo-Pro mufflers and loved that sound. Nice rumble at idle, with a good sound at full-throttle.

I have also put many systems on other trucks too. One of my favorites for full dual systems is called a Rhino muffler. Flow wise it has tested better than Flowmaster, and has a deeper, mellower tone to it. but when you get on the gas it gets that wonderful musclecar tone to it.

So there is my 2 cents, got a lot for a little, didn't ya? But there ya go. If you have the system installed at a good exhaust shop, ask if you can hear a couple different systems. If I've got a customer that isn't quite sure what he wants, I'll get the system built to where the mufflers go, and we'll try a few different mufflers on the truck and decide what sounds the best. but there you go. Let us know what you decide, we're always lookin for new ideas.

Happy truckin!

[DanoDMano]

Thanks for all the great Info!! I am going to see if I can hear a few before I decide I think.. So much to think about... As far as headers, will the headmans be okay??

[jeffbo]

You should try checking the websites of the different muffler manufacturers. Many of them have audio files of their mufflers that you can listen to. Your truck won't sound the exact same of course but it will give you somewhat of an idea as to what they sound like.

[racedvl]

I like the Summit $ 15 turbos. . . . .

[Ackattack]

Right now I'm running true dual 2.5" with 40 series Flowmasters. Not too bad, but I think I'm going to redo my exhaust.

What I plan on doing is 3" with dynomax or summit mufflers (will have to do some research on exact muffler) x pipe. No one in my area does mandrel bending, so that is why I'm going with 3", otherwise I would stay with 2.5" if you could get it mandrel bent.

A few years ago Hot Rod Mag did a test of straight true duals, H pipe, x pipe, and open headers. True duals made the least power. The X pipe lost like only 4 HP to the open headers, but gained like 10 ft lbs.

[Longhorn Man]

Evein if you like the hollow tin can Flowmaster sound...you gotta love when the baffles fall off inside and choke the engine ...even after only 4 years or so on the road. (most of those years in TX..no no one can cry that it is my rust belt location)

[HotRod929]

I love the sounds of glass packs. Wish they were a bit louder though. Would shorter glass packs keep the same sound as the longer ones but just make the sound louder?

HotRod

[stllookn]

Just installed Dynomax ceramic headers and Dynomax Turbo mufflers on my son's 350 short box. You are welcome to come listen to them...some think they are too loud some think they are too mellow. Also try the Flowmaster web site for their audio. PM if you are interested...we live in Kent.

[Longhorn Man]

Hot Rod...yes.
But you may run into the 'cackling' mini back fires when you let off the gas.

[Low69CST]

I have 3in. pipe and Flowmaster 40's. They are very loud. You may want to go with a 2.5 pipe and 50's mufflers if you just are after the rumble.

[DanoDMano]

stllookn, I Pm'd you!

[SweetandLong68]

What about some Hooker AeroChambers? I am thinking about using those on my truck. I have heard them on a few other SBCs and I loved the deep rumble that they have.

Just a thought!
lata
CHRIS

[chevypete396]

I like the sound of short glass packs when you get the 'cackling' mini back fires from letting off the gas, but, I wish there were more back fires. Can you take off the glass packs and run strait pipes and get more? j/k.

The new 72 has strait pipes (from previous owner), its kind of embarrassing and annoying. I can't wait to get better exhaust on that thing. I like the sound of glass packs but I’m not sure why people around here have an appeal to strait pipes on the street... other peoples trucks... What ever happened to "the bluff" of mellow but stern exhaust? All you see lately is people trying to get the most noise out of there engine. I'm guilty too, my 68 is louder than the depths of hell, by my choice. Mostly to prove that 4 cylinders with fart cans are quieter than their owners think; but I'm tired of rebelling after running around in the new 72 w/ strait pipes... Pete.

[Long Knight]

I have turbo packs (big glass packs)on my truck, it's hard to carry on a conversation without sound insulation. My dad has loud glass packs on his 66 that bellow 3 blocks in every direction, and "crackles and pop" like a mo fo when you let off the gas. People would normally get mad, but the truck looks good so they just smile.

[HotRod929]

Yea I like that crackleing sound when u let of the gas...more of that sounds good to me.

HotRod

[694X4]

WOW does you wife have single sister 20-25? I have headers and 2 1/2" flow masters exiting behind the tires now and i like it but i think next time I will turn them down under the truck at the axle. I had headers and very loud glass packs when i was in high school and I quickly learned that there where times that I was somewhere I didn't want people knowing i was there, ex: girl friends drive way late, going back to that favorite "parking spot" on the back side of a field.

[jmil1974]

Suggestions from lots of recent research:

Get an H-pipe, better yet, an x-pipe if you can swing it. You will lose sound, gain power, but gain a smoother sound quality. You will actually quiet your exhaust 2-6 dB using an X-pipe

2.5" pipe is a good size, big enough for most any small block.

What's your budget? If you want cheap and mellow, go with Dynomax Super Turbos or Summit Turbos.

I love the sound of all the Borla and Magnaflow mufflers, very smooth and classy -- but you will pay more.

I don't like Flowmasters as a rule but I am looking into the 50 series Delta Flow and the 70 series Big Block. You'll get the Flowmaster sound without all the damn extra noise and resonance. You'll pay more for these too.

This is all geared towards what I think of as a quiet, classy rumble that still roars when floored. Some would think it too quiet. Good luck!