I have a 1992 Camaro RS with a 305 TBI, my exhaust needs replaced really bad. Im stuck between the Flowmaster system and the Magnaflow system. Im looking for an aggresive sounding exhaust. Which one would you go with, and if anyone has any sound clips could you please post them. I know that the flowmaster system wouldnt be a direct fit and i would have to mod it a little but thats not a problem. Im kinda leaning toward the magnaflow just because it is stainless steel.

 

Here is muffler flow chart just for some reference......personally I think the flowmaster sounds okay....but is horrible as far as flow.....If a choice between the two...I would take magnaflow....even though I prefer hooker mufflers....

This is a chart of popular performance and a few stock type mufflers I have tested on our flow bench. These were all the most popular mufflers sold and installed at a local exhaust shop. Straight pipes have been tested and are used to compare these mufflers to "potential" flow of a muffler. When running a performance muffler on the street there are many more things to consider then just good flow. For instance pleasant tone and enough sound reduction to avoid any "unwanted" attention from local authorities. One thing to keep in mind is how restrictive tailpipes are. You can have a great flowing muffler but if your tailpipes are restrictive you may not be getting any gain from loud, high flow, and not to mention sometimes "expensive" mufflers.

 

I would take flowmaster over magnaflow with a v8, magnaflows on the v6s sounds better. The chart doesnt lie though, Flowmasters arent the greatest.

 

Do you have the part number for the Hooker system?, and is that just the muffler that flows 521 cfm or is it the whole system?

 

Well That's attached to a straight pipe, to test the muffler with no other restriction.....the hooker max flow is what your talking about that flows with no restrictions.....Of course on a third gen a mandrel bent exhaust system helps tons, even if you use the factory pipe size....but even if you increase the exhaust a 1/4" in size that helps too.....The part number depends on what size pipe your going to use....just go to summits page, click on shop, click on exhaust, click on mufflers (on right), click on hooker headers, and it will bring up a list of parts and part numbers....notice also that hooker makes the single in dual out exhaust system (aerochamber muffler) that is like the factory muffler on our car....but I don't know what it flows.....you best flowing mufflers will be single in single out, but then you can only run one exhaust tip. I run a center in center out muffler with exhaust exiting on left side of car.....it all just depends on what you want.....here is the link to the page to make it easier on ya....
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...710+115+400390
try that...

 

i dont have any sound clips for ya but i have had the flowmaster and currently have the magnaflow. the flow master is aggressive sounding but lacks in power. the magnaflow is great at wide open throttle for sound she screams. but at cruise you dont hear much. i would never put my flowmaster back on.

 

Thanks for all the replies. This weekend i plan on ordering one of these systems, probably the magnaflow. Has anyone used the edelbrock system, and if so how does it sound and perform?

 

not as good as edelbrock used to be from what i heard. i am happy with my magnaflow. like i said though it is not very loud all the time only at wot. cruising i barely hear it. i like sitting there and people think it is for show with all the shiny exhaust then bam full open and she sounds good.

 

I have the a stock cat, will i have problems mounting up the magnaflow system or is it a direct fit?

 

if your stock cat is 3" then yes it should bolt right up with no problems

 

I dont think it is 3 inches, im not sure on the stock diameter, i have been trying to look it up but havent had any luck. Did yours bolt right up?

 

I think im going to buy the magnaflow cat too, its part number 93456. Is that a good cat or should i go with a different brand or part number? It is 2.25 inlet and 2.5 outlet, and how do i get the 3 inch pipe to bolt to the 2.5 inch pipe?

 

check your what will i need thread i responded there

 

Stay away from Flowmaster, they breathe just about the same as an 80 year old with emphysema.

 

 

If you live where it is likely you might driving in salt treated roads during the winter stainless exhaust would be much more durable than aluminized steel.

 

My car has never seen snow before, and i dont plan on letting it see snow. For right now my dad just bought the intermediate pipe that i needed just to get the car on the road for prom. I just started my summer job and my first paycheck is going toward the magnaflow system. The intermediate pipe only cost $23 so it is just temporary.

 

hello i'm new on here 1st time trams am owner my question is how can you tell the difference between flowmaster or magna flow whatever is on my 85 it is stainless steel crome tips a noticeable rumble at idle can hear it coming from blocks away any info will b helpfull

 

Here is a link with videos of my LS1 cat-back Magnaflow ( Texas Speed & Performance Rumbler ) on my L98.

 

magnaflows are generally labeled on both sides. flowmaster one side. all flowmasters i have seen look alike. just look on summit for a flowmaster with a pic and a magnaflow with a pic. you will spot the difference right away.

 

I prefer flowmaster, magnaflow in my opinion on a 3rd gen sounds like crap, even if it flows better it won't be much of a difference you'd notice over flowmaster.

It might be stainless steel and mandrel bent and all that but It's just too all around quiet, and I hate quiet, and I just can't like the sound.

I'm running hooker 2055's with a 3" magnaflow new style spun cat, and 3" flowmaster cat-back, i always seem to mash the peddle.

 

thank you for the info

 

Magnaflow=quaility

 

yea dude and you have a freakin stock 305...whadda ya expect.

magnaflow all the way. every car and truck on the road has a flowcrapper.

 

If your car is stock or close to stock, pick the one YOU think sounds the best. You are not going to see any noticeable performance gains between the two with a stock 305.

 

Either I'm lost, or your post is just biased, you also have a 305 tbi, stock or not. A lot of cars and trucks also have magnaflow, magnaflow came late in the game to third gens, I just think it sounds like crap, and quiet, however it is a quality system that won't rust.

Obviously, with a stock 305, considering the gains a stock 305 would make with either magnaflow or flowmaster, it's buyers preference, I simply stated my opinion for the threads creator, NOT you.

As IROCThe5.7L said, pick what you think sounds best, ruberbanman126.

 

 

My flowmaster (2 chamber) finally died after 15 years.....probably flowed like a 95 year old.

 

Didnt you get banned from this site HBZ28 ???

 

lmfao wow thats funny

 

I agree with the later statements, that it doesn't matter on your 305 as far as flow of the muffler. You'll most likely not notice a difference in performance between the two...
I have a Flowmaster and I think it sounds great. I don't know what series since the previous owner installed it. Here is a vid I have that has a great audio clip of the Flowmaster BEFORE I even had headers...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li7Iytg67MQ

Here's a vid from Brisk's Camaro (I hope you don't mind ) with a Magnaflow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi40rYz2lPU

 

It's jsut a TBI 305... I say just put the one that sounds best on it, and to me, the Flowmasters sound the best by far. Some dont like 'em, but if it were my car I'd ahve a flowmaster on it all day long. Unless you've got plans to make it a race car, I dont see the point in getting a muffler for anything other than a good sound.

 

There is a wise post!


I have a question to, what taste better, apples or oranges?

 

i have another question. im getting hooker 2055 ceramic coated headers and they come with a 3 in collector so i need a new cat. i am looking for some advice as to witch brand or model of cat to get. im looking for a 3 in/out emissions legal cat. HELP!!!

thanks

haha and i think apples is the way to go

 

i bought the magnaflow direct fit 3" in and 3" out cat for my 2055's it does have the tube hanging off the side. it is legal everywhere but cali.

i like pears. the asian ones. they look like apples but softer and the skin doesnt stick in your teeth

 

ya i think ill go with magnaflow. ive been looking this morning online cause im bored at work and i found a new one on ebay for like 50 bucks

 

Simply put to answer your original question.

Flowmaster = Poor Flow = Great Muscle Sound through RPM range

Magnaflow = Good Flow = Like the hulk, soft and suttle when idle, screaming when pissed off at WOT.

I have the 16829 Magnaflow and got it mainly because all I hear is flowmasters on these cars, NOTHING else, maybe the change in cat every once and a while. So when magnaflow came out with their kit for our cars, I jumped on it, its SS, its mandrel, it's not flowmaster, and it has 3.5" tips (I like them a lot).

Take care and post up your before and after if possible. Thanks. We could use another video clip for the exhaust vieo section on here. Since the Magnaflow 16829 kit is roughly new.

 

I disagree, pears are not nearly as good as apples!Oranges are the best though!

 

i dont think there will be much of a differance on his 305, especially if the motor has problems like it has, i would say fix the screwed up motor before adding performance mods.

 

This is absolutely true. I have a highly-modded 383 GTA with nice paint and a true-dual Bassani. It's pretty quiet until you get the RPMs up. I also have a stock Formula 305 with 1/3 of the clearcoat missing and a flowmaster muffler that the previous owner just welded into the stock piping. I get more compliments on the Formula by a huge margin, and it is because the Flowmaster sounds "rad" and very growly.

On a stock 305, the rest of the system cannot support the difference in flow between a Flowmaster, Hooker or a Magnaflow, so power gains between these different mufflers will be pretty much zero (all flow much better than stock) and if you like clueless people telling you "bitchen car, dude!!" go with the Flowmaster.

never thought I would recommend Flowmaster, but thats' the truth.

TA

 

is your car a silver gta with a sidebuldge hood? and was it in a pontiac mag awhile back?

 

Agree on a stock LO3, one muffler or another isn't going to make any difference in performance, so pick the one that sounds the best.

Which is hard to know which is going to sound better until you get it on. . .

Interestingly, my stock Berlinetta #2 with stock cat, stock size 2-1/4" I-pipe, and 80-series Flowmaster (3" inlet necked down to 2-1/4" to mate to the I-pipe) sounded really good - nice deep rumble, not too loud. Total poser.

However, an 80-series Flowmaster on Berlinetta #1 with 2055's, 3" I-pipe & muffler inlet, 2-1/2" dual tailpipes, sounded raspy, droned something fierce, and was generally loud - hated it. The Magnaflow 3" single in/out on there now sounds much better, and the car picked up in the 1/4 mile vs. the Flowmaster.

Still have the Flowmaster off Berlinetta #1 w/tailpipes if someone is interested.

 

Similar experience here... I've heard lots of these cars with the FLowmaster 80s, but I think my old crappy TBI 305 sounded better than most of em.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjOQRVUCMQQ

I think it's the gutted cat + the tiny I-pipe that does it. The small pipes I think give it a slightly deeper sound. Bigger pipes make it more raspy. But that's just from my very limited experience, so take it for what it's worth - not much.

 

my 76 with a good size cam and open headers...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5NZMzB7sww

my 88 ls1 gta with long tubes, slp loudmouth exhaust, no cats...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=700D4eeDwBc

 

I finally found a thirdgen guy that will part with $4 to read a magazine! I thought we were extinct!!

TA

 

nope, im subscribed to high performance pontiac, but i think it was another mag i saw your car in, pontiac inthusiast maybe?
Id like to see more pictures of your car, when i saw yours i almost yanked the hood off my gta and stuck on a sidebuldge hood i had.

 

i got a Magnaflow exhaust put in my 89 gta and its real quiet at idle. but when i get on it. it sounds amazing to me.

 

same with my loudmouth exhaust, doesnt idle loud, but WOT is LOUD.

 

found it! High performance pontiac, March 2009, article on the 700r4, and the pic is you doing a burn out! NIiiiiiiice, i hope i can get in a mag someday.

 

i have a magnaflow on my 89 firebird. it has a 305 and to be honest i love the sound it has. if i was that concerned about power i wouldnt be running with a 305. magnaflow is all around the dominate system to have. it pays to be different. constanly hearing a loud rumble is not my piece of cake, im all about being the silent sleeper till i slam the pedal down.

the decision should be made on what you want, not what other people say. just do the research and cough up the cash.