Good evening,
I have a 1987 Iroc-z with 383 motor, t-5 transmission, crane cam, hooker headers with 3" y pipe to a summit muffler (3' in, 2.5" out). muffler is same configuration as stock placement.
I'm looking for a muffler that is more noticeable at both idle and WOT...that infamous "muscle car" sound.

Thanks!!!

 

There's no right answer. Most performance mufflers will work. As to which one sounds best, it's all preference. Youtube is your friend, but keep in mind an aggressive engine is gonna sound better, regardless of what muffler you have.

My choice...since you asked...Hooker Aerochamber.

 

Straight pipe duals

 

Not flowmaster, not cherry bombs and not straight pipes or any of that standard ******* its LOUD! stuff. Magnaflow, Borla or hooker are good choices.

 

Hooker Aero Chamber is, in my opinion, the best sounding single 3", dual out one on the market. I ran one for 8 years until the pipe rusted out around it and I had to replace it.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. And yes everyone is going to have their own opinion I get that. This topic will always be a ‘loaded’ question because of that. If I had it in my budget I would probably try going with the whole borla system. Don’t hear of it as often. I know a couple of you said no to cherry bomb but i got a pretty good deal on their vortex. For that it’s atleast worth a try. Thanks again guys! Much appreciated.

 

I ran a knockoff Flowmaster for years, then had a dump installed right after the manifold. The dump was fun for a long time, but after more than an hour on the road the loud drone can be really annoying, plus neighbors hated me leaving for work in the early morning. Been using a Hooker Aerochamber for around 6 months and could not be happier with them!

 

Only 1 contender here... spintech. Musclecar soubd defined

 

Lots of people complain about Flowmaster having a drone and switch to Magna flow. There are lots of styles of Flow Master though. Just grab a chambered muffler.

 

I’m a huge fan of the Magnaflow with no cat.. it has a nice rumble with no drone and isn’t too loud at idle but it growls hard and loud when you open it up.. really nice sound.. not quite as loud as the Flowmaster, but also more impressive tones IMO

 

Flowmaster sounds good to me too, but it is louder.. it’s preference..

 

I love my 3' Flowmaster cat-delete system I'm running now but had a Borla on my last 3rd gen and by far it was the best sounding I've had or heard on these cars to date.

 

The Magnaflow offering is quiet compared to a lot of the others. I like it for my car (since I want to drive without drone, but hear some noise when I'm hooning,) but others may find it too quiet.

 

Case closed

 

I have a 91 305 TPI 5 speed with Hooker 2055's Jet hot coated, Flormasater 3" cat back with the 1 in 1 out muffler.

My neighbor has a 89 305 TPI auto with non coated headers, not sure what size exhaust, and a 1 in 1 out Magnaflow muffler...

Mine sounds good, but I think his sounds better. My Flowmaster sounds "tinny" to me... His is a low deep rumble that travels... I'm headed the Magnaflow route next time...

 

I don't think that had any sort of muffler on it. In the comments the owner of the YouTube channel said he didn't talk with the owner and didn't know anything about the car.

 

Black Iroc sounded like open headers.

 

383 motor, crane cam, hooker headers with 3" y pipe......Wanting more idle and WOT sound.

This changes the dynamic considerably compared to most of us who simply want a louder than stock catback on a stock 305/350. I would recommend the Hooker Aerochamber because it has a milder idle sound, that really opens up when you get on it. The Hooker will keep you from annoying yourself with too loud idle volume. It's almost a sleeper exhaust that surprises people when you get on the gas. Whoa, where did that come from?

I don't know if you're running a cat or not.

Borla sound good on a stock engine/exhaust setup, but start to sound raspy when you get too much engine and no cat in there.

Magnaflow is a nice option for you as it has that muscle car idle sound and just the right amount of noise when you get on it. This would probably be my #2 choice after the Hooker Aerochamber.

Flowmaster, no. Too damn loud with this setup. And the drone will annoy you. Especially if you have no cat.

I'm running a GMMG (aka Madhammer) exhaust myself. I think it's the best sounding catback for these cars hands down. Sounds deeper than anything else on the market. However, with a cammed 383 and headers, it's going to sound too loud. Justin had the same exhaust on his Formula here on TGO. But after doing headers and cam, switched to a Magnaflow to tame the sound down. This exhaust does have a wonderful sound when switching gears in a manual that others don't.

My GMMG exhaust is louder with a cat than my old Flowmaster exhaust was without the cat. But I get no drone and more variety of sounds. The Flowmaster was a 1 trick pony.

 

It sure sounds l8ke a spintech super pro street 9000. I've had a few if then. Characteristc sound.

They once came on the 4 inch mufflex systems

 

Video of the same car with different flow master mufflers. Demonstrates that different models of their muffler will sound different. I wish more people would start posting the series or model of the muffler in muffler opinion posts.

 

To me flowmaster just sounded like someone screaming in your ear non stop. Reminds me of some of the harley guys I ride with that run open pipes. Yes it is loud but not good like someone with a megaphone yelling BlahhHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! in your ear non stop.

I am referring to their American thunder catback or anything like their 40, 80 or 10 series. The regular 50 series sound ok but you hear the trademark tin sneaking in. Never heard a flowmaster I really liked.

I also make a lot of custom exhausts for people and I have removed more flowmaster mufflers than any other type after the owners got sick of them

 

What do they change to?

 

Usually Magnaflow but part of that is the stainless body and price. Borla seem second most popular I believe that is because they are expensive but I think sound the best. Hooker Aero chambers are probably 3rd. I have also swapped out a couple OBX and dynomax

 

I remember Traxion had one on his cammed/MR'd L98. Sounded awesome.

 

If I ever switch from my Flowmaster 80 Muffler it will be to a " Hooker Aero Chamber".