First thing is what's the difference between the American Thunder systems and the Force II systems they carry in Summit?

Then, I know Flowmaster makes bunch of numbered mufflers - I've seen 40-series, 50-series and 80-series - what's the difference here?

Haven't yet been to their website - do they have sound clips there?

Thanks in advance,
K

 

forget flowmaster... get hooker. Hooker flows better, sounds better, IS better. and cheaper!

 

The 80 series is the crossflow style, like a stock V8 Muffler.

The 40 series is a one chamber, which means that if flows more, but is louder.

The 50 series are a little quieter, but Flowmaster claims they flow nearly as well as the 40 series.

Yes they have sound clips.

http://flowmastermufflers.com/

 

The american thunder system is the loudest.

80 series = dual outlets

40 series = single outlet.


Flowmaster > Hooker

 

The American Thunder has an 80 series 2 chamber 3" crossflow muffler with outlets on both sides. The Force II has a single inlet/outlet 3 chamber 3" muffler. The American Thunder system also sports polished stainless steel tips instead of the plain aluminized piping that the Force II has. The AT system is louder than the Force II.

As for flow, the 30 series Flowmaster is the NMCA Fastest Street Car 2 chamber race muffler and you can count on it to blow a Hooker muffler away...lol. I haven't seen figures but I know of one car with a single 4" Mufflex system with a 30 series Flowmaster that put 500 RWHP down through the system with a 383. It's a much different sound than the normal Flowmaster muffler too... Smoother than the normal brash Flowmaster sound.

40 series are also 2 chamber. The Delta Flows are the ones you can get as 1 chamber mufflers.

None of the crossflow mufflers will flow as well as a single inlet/outlet system due to their design, so if flow is a concern, go with a single system that is huge or find a way to run true duals.

 

Get the 80 Series, forget about the Aerochamber.

 

I would really look into another product, alot of people who have run the Blowmaster setups are cutting the mufflers out and replacing them.

You run the risk of a horrible drone at low rpm cruise speeds, this drives many people up the wall.

I have run the Hooker setup in the past. It had a killer throaty sound under load and WOT with a very mellow yet pronounced idle. No drone with the Hooker to drive you nuts either. The only reason I got rid of it was to install a bigger Mufflex/Spintech 3.5" swtup.

Its your call but I would think alot about it first.

 

Yeah, you wish!!

Hooker flows better, sounds better, looks better, and you dont have to be a copy cat like the rest of these people!! AHAHAH!

 

Flow better is one thing, if you can prove it. But looks better and sounds better is all relative.

The droning is definately there at certain RPMs with Flowmaster but it is also there in a friend of mines LS1 with a Hooker system on it, so........

Who cares if you run the same system as somebody else??? If it works, it works... Guess I better hurry up and take the Miniram and ZZX out of my 383... Or better yet pull the 383 since lots of people run those too.....lol.

 

not too many people run the miniram (we cant afford it lol) but yea, that 383 is too common.. better get a 454 small block to stand out.



heres a good question.... besides flowmaster, who makes a all metal baffled muffler that doesnt have fibers in there that wear and blow out?

 

The funny thing is that most really fast cars use Flowmaster. Even on the boards, 87_TA has 2 of the fastest cars around, a Camaro and a Firebird. The Camaro runs 10.60@128MPH with a 355 and the Trans Am runs 11.09@125.8MPH with a 406. He has Flowmaster on both.

 

props to flowmaster:hail:

 

*Ding Ding*!


Couldnt have said it better.



I like my drone, it isnt that loud, and it still gives off a nice rumble when the rpms are low. I love my american thunder systems interior noise, the louder the better, esp when I nail it

 

how do you think you got the idea to use hooker....hmmmm??

 

my vote is for flows

 

Well, its been proven by people on this site that the hooker aerochamber mufflers flow better. Fights and wars were started on this topic before most of you were joined the site. There was flow numbers posted on here. Ill do a search for it as this data was posted 2 years ago. Dont get mad at me cause you just follow the leader...

 

Big al, I will be waiting for that post. Personally, I do not think anyone should be saying this out flows that without proof. Unless it’s something obvious, like saying a loudmouth will outflow the American Thunder cat back. Which is quite obvious, because the 80 series chambered muffler is not going to outflow a system with no muffler.



Back on topic though please....

 

I actually spotted flow data in the Summit magazine not too long ago, it covered some of the hooker mufflers, and a few other oddball brands.

 

Well, just a simple search has shown that hooker flows better, but flowmaster sounds louder. do one? Im still looking for the thread for the info. ODB had info, but he was banned for whatever reasons.

 

I did a search. I see no dyno or flow numbers. On a stock L98 catbacks are not going to give big gains between each other. You will not see that until the car puts out higher numbers. Even then, the big differences are going to be between the chambered and straight through systems.

 

i have also been doin some research and havent come up with anything....btw what leader did you follow eh>?

 

no one really... I didnt want exhaust like everyone had, i like the look of the hooker, and the $$$ you cant beat. Sounds good at idle and better at/near WOT. I didnt want ot be like every other car on the road so i went with hooker. Now that i look back, I should have done more reasearch on the banks system. Little bit more money, but worth it for stainless steel.

 

Hooker & Spintech

Spintech Sound Clip

 

Its already been said b4 but i'll say it again, if it works it works, who cares if everyone has it, thats why they have it because it works, now im not saying anything bad about hooker, because hooker is good, but so is AT, the thing you should care about is WHOSE CAR IS FASTER!?!?!? (the guy with the most money)

 

Hey all - great response, great help.

I hadn't thought about the drone sound at low RPM cruising - my ride has a pretty tall rear end gear ratio - probably 3.08. As I'm sure some of you know, at 65-70mph the thing's only running 1700 or so RPM.

I really would be majorly annoyed with resonance or drone-type sounds at those cruising speeds - is this somthing I have to just deal with with any of these exhaust systems?

The worst thing by far about shopping for exhaust systems is that about all you can do is think about it - because you can't go and have the shop bolt on three different systems, one after the other, so that you can decide which one you like. The last thing I want to do is drop a load of cash and then not like what I got.

Gettin' frustrated trying to find that "right" exhaust set up. The only thing I really do not want is too much interior sound, esp at cruising speeds. We all have opinions and mine is that the sound should be on the outside of the car and not so much on the inside.

What to do, what to do.......

 

mmm i have the 3.08 rear end too, i dont think the AT would be for you then... if you dont like interior sound...

 

_deleted_

 

The best souding high-flow cat-back made for our cars (with built motors in need of better exhaust), is the 3 1/2 in. mufflex single in / single out with Flowmaster race series muffler.

That is what I will be putting on my car.

Even though my american thunder cross flow setup sounds nice, it wont make near the power that the mufflex 3 1/2 inch cat-back will. PLus, that mufflex system sounds mean as hell !

 

do you have any soundclips of the mufflex??

 

Thats because you have a stock car.. Toss a flowmaster on a modified car and the word "obnoxious" comes to mind.

Flowmaster sounds nice on a 5.0 mustang with true duals. On a thirdgen, its just plain anoying. I've tried flowmaster, flowtech. Just bought hooker. I'll post results..

You shouldn't have to have a 1200watt stereo to enjoy driving a 12 second car..

-- Joe

 

Well we are pretty much talking about stock cars. I don't care about drone anyway, I doubt id get annoyed. Hell half the time I drive with no music just to hear my exhaust


Sound is an opinion. We all can sit here and argue forever about it. Listen to sound clips, and get what you like.

 

True but don't ya think it gets to a point where its just too damn loud?? .. Maybe my car was exceptionally loud with the flowmaster..

I still have it btw, if anyones interested in buying it. (just the muffler)..

-- Joe

 

Nope My buddy has a 95 z28, Headers, no cat, and a loudmouth. Talk about loud, and Id never get sick of it!

 

As of right now I have no catback system at all and that sucker is loud, but even without any muffler at all it's still not unbearable. I can't imagine a flowmaster being any worse. The point about flow ratings means nothing to 95% of the cars on this site because they won't be able to take advantage of the flow of the flowmaster, let alone a higher flowing muffler. I have a cutout, which I think is the best of both worlds. Have THE best flow you can get, and IMO, the best sound with the flowmaster as well. Can't beat that. Also, about following the leader, it seems tha a lot of people on here are doing that with the hooker. Who cares anyways, like said before, if it works, it works. There's a reason why so many people have flowmaster.

 

Do you one better... friend of mine and a member on this site has ede headers, no cats, and a loudmouth on this supercharged 305... He idles louder then most cars are at WOT.

 

SWEEEEEET! /\ /\ /\ /\

 

What do you guys mean when you talk about the "drone" from a flowmaster? What the hell is a drone?

 

The exhaust is pretty much loud at all rpms. So if your cruising at 70 mph for an hour, your going to hear the same exact sound for an hour straight, so I guess you can call that a drone.

I do not take long trips with my car, just around town driving. So the rpms are always changing anyways Even if I am in OD for a while, it has a nice deep rumble, I am pleased with the system.

Hooker does not have as loud of interior noise. You might want to look into that system if you want it quiet in the car.

His 95 Z28 is a convertable, driving around with the top down will give you enough interior noise for a life time

 

I will attemt to do such noise in print


muahhhhhahddadmmmmmmmerrraaaaaammmememmrmmmfararrraffmmmmammammrmmrmm.....














sorry, Im bored... Go Hooker!!

 

Lol yah i luv tha loud *** noise thats wat a muscle car should sound like lol. i drove around wit my car for 2 days wit out the exhaust it was soo damn loud i loved it, but i dont think the people in my apt complex liked it

 

The drone is a loud interior resonating effect that is produced by the Flowmaster muffler at low sustained rpms.

It is due specifically to the design of the flowmaster. Mufflers are designed to absorb (packed muffler) or cancel out through tuning (chambered muffler) certain sound frequencies, and as a second effect produce a custom sound output, you will notice that every brand of muffler sounds different. The flowmaster however amplifies a certain low frequency that penetrates the interior while canceling other frequencies within that range and higher. So it just drones out like a stereo system that has the bass cranked and all other frequencies cut off while playing some type of rap music. Problem is that this occurs at cruise speeds for alot of cars and drives the people inside nuts.

My Mufflex/Spintech exhaust also produces a drone but it occurs at about 1200rpm, I am never in that range unles I am like idling into my garage, it has no effect at cruise speeds.

 

i love it big al! LOLOLOL :hail:

 

I dont swing that way, but whatever floats your boat sure glad I could help.

and when did TGO get all these smilies?

 

WHOA WHOA buddy, dont jump to conclusions now!!! who says im male!? no just kiddin, neway i just thought your impression was very humorous and figured since nobody else acknowledged it, i would no gayness intended

 

Ok, Ok - I'm hearing that I should avoid Flows if I don't want a ton of interior noise; I've got one vote for Hooker for less interior noise - anybody else want to support that motion??

I've heard on other posts that Dynomax is about like stock for sound character/loudness - don't know if I want to go that route. Like one person mentioned about just around town driving, We will probably be taking our IROC on a few bigger trips each year to visit relatives etc - it can't be too loud for the "better half"s sake, if you know what I mean.

For a nice outside sound with minimal interior resonance/"droning" - what are other options fellas??

Great post so far, very helpful -thx.
K

 

i vote for less interior noise with the hookers...

 

Have you ever ridden in a muscle car with open headers? The so called interior resonance produced by flowmaster can't even hold a candle to open headers, and it's not even that bad. Just get the flow. You can't go wrong.

 

dude, why even say that, you act like hooker sux *** or something, hooker is what this guy is looking for and that is what he should go with, it has less interior noise and the same flow numbers as flowmaster, open headers have absolutely nothing to do with this, obviously he wont b driving with those, lol, but yes they are very loud, but who the hell only has open headers as a daily driver!? not many people, and if they do they DONT care about interior noise...

 

I think 90formula5spd has a point - I might have put it differently, but that is really along the lines I'm thinking.

All y'all that like 'em really loud - that's cool, your perogative. But come on - if you were gonna drive the car on a 500 mile drive to visit Auntie, would you really be so gung-ho about having "open headers" to rattle your brain for the entire drive?........

I've just got a few criteria that have to be met for MY situation and I'm looking for help to figure out what might best work for me. I want a nice sound. Can't be too loud cause I don't like a ton of interior noise and I want the fiance to like the car, not nag at me "why'd you get that loud a$$ car, I hate it!!". That's all I'm asking for help on - and for the most part I'm getting good feedback. I see you all as a super resource for me and others like me who haven't had the time or opportunity to try out multiple parts on my car to see which I like - that is why I'm asking for help.

I sort of see the comparison of open headers to flows as fine and dandy and definetly true, but maybe the flows are still louder than I would like. I wish there were some good "sleeper" systems out there - the kind with a nice low throaty rumble at idle and a real deep mellow tone as you lay on the pedal.

Still, thanks for all the input - starting to think about a hooker system, but the more feedback the better on this. I'm relying on your all's experience here.

K

 

My point was simply that if open headers are bearable then the flowmaster can't be that bad. I currently have no catback and my y pipe exists directly under the floor board. It's loud, but not bad and cops don't bother me either. The flowmaster system, loud or not, is still a muffler, which muffles the sound and exits out the rear. Should make a significant difference in quieting down an already loud, but bearable sound. I never said I hated the hooker exhaust either. I have their headers and am sure their catback is top quality as well, but I prefer the sound of a chambered muffler. I think most people that say flowmaster is too loud havent even heard it in real life. Maybe try to find someone in your are with a flowmaster system and se if you like it or not. If you don't then dont get it, but I find that the majority of people who dis flowmaster have never even heard it in person. From what you are saying about not wanting any resonance, which you will get with just about any system, I'de say dynomax will suit your needs just fine.