I'm looking to upgrade from my factory exhaust since my cat converter died on me. I'm fairly new to this side of things and have been looking around for the best sounding setup but am stumped with all the different options. What do you guys recommend for the best sound?

 

Look into Magnaflow - stainless steel pipes, great fit, and (if you like them), standard chrome exhaust tips. About $535 for a system.

 

the "best" sound is very subjective. Some people like that deep Dynomax sound, some like the tinny Flowmaster sound, and some like the mellow tone from a turbo-style muffler. The best you can do is find other stock 305 thirdgens (assuming that yours is stock) and see what you like the sound of.

 

The Flowmaster on my IROC is a lot deeper than the Mganaflow on my 305. Maybe it's different on a 305, but the Flowmaster is anything but tinny.

 

It's got nothing to do with the size of the motor. The tone is based on muffler design, as well as the muffler size. You may be comparing a small magnaflow to a large Flowmaster. The longer the muffler case is, the lower the frequency range it's able to filter out. The more midrange and highs you can remove, the "deeper" it sounds.

In general, if you take two equally sized mufflers, a Magnaflow with fiberglass packing, and a Flowmaster with it's chambered design, the Magnaflow is going to filter out substantially more high frequency sound than the chambered muffler, so the Magnaflow will sound much deeper.

Some of the larger Flowmaster crossflow mufflers might do a pretty good job of filtering the high frequencies, but most of the 40-series and other smaller cased mufflers have that signature "tinny" sound that Flowmaster is known for.

 

As has been said, what sounds good is subjective.

What I don't agree with is that it doesn't have anything to do with the size of the engine. I've had the same exhaust moved from my 305 crossfire, to my 350 LT1, 350 TPI and then back to a 305 TPI, and the 2 350's sounded the same and the 2 305's did too. For some reason the 305 sounds smoother (actually a lot like an LSx) and the 350's sound rough/uneven with a more open exhaust.

If you want something loud on a 305 I loved the sound of a set of headers, 2 x 2.5" high flow cats and 3" OOA pipe and either a single or dual 3" tailpipes (no muffler), that same setup sounds awful on a 350 (and headers sound significantly different then manifolds). that same setup with a dynomax ultraflow muffler is a really nice, mellow sounding exhaust.

One cat back that I have never heard of anyone not liking is the hooker aerochamber setup.

 

Thanks for all the responses! I've found a setup that sounds pretty sexy, consists of hooker 2055 headers, borla catback and a 3 inch catco cat. What do you think?

 

Indeed, best sounding is subjective.

But I would disagree with the Flowmaster being tinny. Jr has a 305 TPI with a mild cam, stock manifolds, and a 3" Flowmaster 80 series crossflow and the tone is very deep. Wife can tell he's home when the china cabinet is rattling.

 

That's not entirely true.
The size, design, and parts in an engine will change the tone of any given muffler. Also, the location of the muffler and the design of the system will greatly alter the volume (sound level) and the tones generated.

A 5.0L mustang on flowmasters sound greatly different than a 5.0l camaro on flomasters, conversely, a 350 sounds noticeably different than a 305 with the same exhaust system/muffler. Mainly due to differences in exhaust volume and velocity which determine sound frequencies and intensity.

My own personal observation on the 350 sound vs 305 sound was the engine swap on my truck. I had a flowmaster super 40 3" single exhaust that stopped right past the cab. With the 305 it had a good "midrange" sound that passed local sound ordinances with ease. When i switched to the 350, the muffler had so much "bass" it would rattle my rear view mirror at idle. I had to add 3.5' of pipe to lower the db output and soften the tone to an acceptable level.

In general, a welded/chambered muffler will be a harsher raspy tone, while packed/perferated mufflers will have a softer poppy tone, but that is in no way the rule. There's hundreds of factors that will change an exhaust note and the muffler design is only one.


As far as selecting an exhaust system based on the sound, try to find sound clips from a car that is as close to what you have as possible. Chances are its been done before.

 

The "tinny" sound from welded mufflers isn't actually the exhaust note it's the sound generated by the vibration of the case/baffling itself as the force of the exhaust pulse expands/slams into the baffling inside the muffler. It's basically like ringing a bell. The "tinny" sound is subjective too, just like dragging your finger on a crystal glass, a certain amount of pressure and speed must be present in order for it to resonate through the muffler case. Some engines generate it some don't. It's usually more apparent on moderatly cammed higher compression engines than stock since they produce a faster, higher volume exhaust pulse.

 

When I was at Bristol I could always tell when the Fords were coming around the track - they just sounded different. All the cars have similar setups. Firing order?

Anyway - (1) vote for Dynomax Ultraflow!

 

See how subjective this is hahaha, hit a u pull junk yard they're cheap, and u can try them yourself... this is like a "will your shirt look good on me question, it all DEPENDS

 

Oh and I don't know what series my flowmaster is (came with car) but it does sound "tinny"

 

firing order definitely, but also exhaust port design and volume, primary size and length, cam profile, etc.

 

Firechicken86 ,
I like the sound in the video you posted even though Im a Flowmaster guy. My car is a TBI and I like the sound of my Magnaflow cat into a 3in Flowmaster American Thunder cat back with 80 series muffler and cut back 3in tips.

 

Engine size, firing order, angle of the heads, etc. all play a role in how an engine sounds. Ferrari V8s sound much higher pitched than Ford and Chevy V8s, but because they're designed much different than american V8s for the most part. Then add exhaust systems to the mix and it's another ballgame in itself. The better it breathes, the louder it'll be. If anyone here plays electric guitar you'll know you play a similar game to the sound of your rig.

I've been fairly fond of the Flowmaster sound, particularly the 80 series. I like them best on Gen II/LT1 engines, but on traditional SBC and LSx type engines just doesn't sound as good to my ears, but still gets a nod every time I see/hear one pass by.

From what I've been reading, the Hooker Aerochamber systems aren't a bad choice. 3" mandrel bent system with a nice throaty sound, although not as loud as Flowmasters or such, and the price is pretty good as well.

As for my current setup I have an SLP Loudmouth I system on my '92 305 TPI. Decibel wise it's really not bad, but I am running stock manifolds/y-pipe/cat. Sound wise I would probably pick Borla or Hooker Aerochamber and add an electric cutout somewhere. Running an exhaust system like the LM1 is pretty raspy, or as my wife puts it - 'gargly' until you really get on it. Pretty dead on description.


BTW Ron U.S.M.C - Love how your IROC looks. A sleeker/meaner version of mine!

 

I got alot of compliments when I had a stock 305TPI with the full Flowmaster American Thunder system. It was almost as quiet as stock when it was new, but after 6 months it got louder and sounded real nice. In mine and many others' opinion.

 

Kinda sounds like the Borla exhaust car has some holes in the muffler. I don't really like it.

 

I am extremely satisfied with my magnaflow. it has a nice deep rumble without being obnoxiously loud or rattly like a flow master is

 

i like borla or SLP

 

I have flowmasters 80s series with a magnaflow cat. I like the sound. I am thinking if getting headers but by reading some post they seem a pain to install

 

obx makes the best stainless catback exhaust for the money . i have videos on here of mine after the install
heres the link to my obx with pics an video :
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/exha...t-obx-cat.html

 

I think the MAC system sounds pretty good...

 

I had a flowmaster on my 305 camaro, and it sounded mean. Right now I have a quiet exhaust on my hotcammed 355 and its louder than the 305 with the loud flowmaster.

 

I LOVED the ound of my Borla. although I did have a set of SLP headers to a custom ypipe with a 3 inch to said Borla. Extremely snappy. very aggresive when I would hit the throttle. no drone. wasnt obnoxious. It was my favorite exhaust until i stumbled across GMMG chambered exhaust. the 383 Stealth ram im building will be gettin Stianless works long tubes, and a GMMG. Im looking to be the scariest sounding thing in Tampa. I want people to thik twice before I take their money.

but as previously stated. best sounding is up to u and it depends on what it is that you want. also dont forget it depends on how deep your pockets are. Im currently selling my SLP headers and the Borla system to save up for the new system.

 

What muffler system to buy? Ask your wife. Mine says, "too loud," so it must be about right.

Flowmasters come in three flavors. I got "medium." Iowa Muffler said I could bring it back and swap for another for free, if I didn't like the sound. $300 installed for the #80, including tips. It took three hours to install, because of welding.

 

I prefer the exhaust that stays quiet until you romp on it. Love me my SLP 2 on the Left cat-back! Sadly, this is not available anymore. Frustrates me that SLP discontinued this exhaust. I cannot EVER get parts for this exhaust again. The pipes aren't really a problem. But the muffler is if it rusts out (shouldn't, its stainless)

LT1 (Sounds just like LB9/L98), Hooker 2055 shorties, catless, SLP 2otL.

However, I also love the Hooker Aerochamber cat-back, its much more aggressive sounding than the 2otL I have now. Sounds like it wants to set Babies on Fire.

But, due to the way sound are recorded you really want to hear some of these in person.



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