Flowmasters.....how bad?

[nitrorocket]

I changed my Flowmaster 3" 50 series Delta flow's out to Dynomax 3" ultraflow welded, I pick up huge power. I would guess Dang near 100 hp! Also droped my AFR to the lean side by almost 1 point. That just shows right there how restrictive they are!

I think for a car without much power that you will not notice much of a difference. The more power you make the more difference you will see.

The car now has a deeper more quiet tone. The Flowmasters had a higher pitch hollow tone. I like the now quieter sound.

[zbugger]

Nitro, the mufflers work uner different principles. Chambered mufflers usually work on a scavenging principle. Turbo motors, last time I heard, don't really use scavenging. Therfore, a straight through style muffler will work better for your application. There have been people with N/A motors pick up upwards of 40-50 hp by swapping to Flowmasters. It all depends on the motor, how it's designed, and whether or not it's forced induction.

[Bill Howell]

I honestly do not know how much hp I gained/lost when I installed the flowmasters on the goat, but, like all my other cars, I love the way the exhaust sounded. I have used flowmasters for years, and always been happy. Maybe it is because of the blower, but I like the way the tone turned out on the goat.

[69ratfed]

I like my Spintech Sportsman XL's

[CHILI442]

If Flowmasters are so great, let me ask you a question. What mufflers did the top competitors use in the Popular HotRodding Engine Masters Challenge? The top three competitors the first year all used Magnaflow. The top two competitors the second year used Magnaflow, and the third place competitor used (I believe) Hooker Aero Chambers. After that PHR made Magnaflows the standard for the competition. Anyway, I don't claim to know everything, but when Joe Sherman and John Kasse use a product with such a high level of success I tend to take notice. If the almighty Blowmaster is such a great muffler then why weren't these guys using them. In my opinion, you can keep those coffee cans. I'll never run a set.

[go-fish]

Go Old School!!! Glass Packs, baby !!!
Really though, There is a little too much emphasis on finding the "KIng of Mufflers" As stated above, different applications respond better to different mufflers. I wouldn't ever build an engine that was exactly like an Engine Masters engine for the street, I would look at each individual component and evaluate whether it would work with my combo. I would do that right down to the muffler. I've seen vacuum pumps on those engines, I'm not going to put a vacuum pump on mine because they use'em.

[1Fine69]

im torn between the new super 40's that flow slightly better than my original 40's but sound deeper and the delta force race 40's single chamber. i dont think the super 40's have that old school tone i like so im leaning towards the delta forces. the delta force 40's do come in a 2 chamber as well though. will the 1 chamber be to loud? i mean i have the originaly 40's now which everyone says is loud but i dont think they are bad at all. everyone says how the 1 chambered flows are much better than the two so i dont see anything wrong with the 1 chamber delta force 40's. what do u guys think?

[NOVA]

I changed my Flowmaster 3" 50 series Delta flow's out to Dynomax 3" ultraflow welded, I pick up huge power. I would guess Dang near 100 hp! Also droped my AFR to the lean side by almost 1 point. That just shows right there how restrictive they are!

I think for a car without much power that you will not notice much of a difference. The more power you make the more difference you will see.

The car now has a deeper more quiet tone. The Flowmasters had a higher pitch hollow tone. I like the now quieter sound.

I am doing this exact same switch next week on NOVA, I am tired of the sound of the flowmasters, and after reading this post sounds like I coud get a bonus with added H.P? that would be sweet!

[LS6 Tommy]

Although I know there's much more to muffler design than just flat-out CFM capability, most other mufflers out flow Flowmasters. I won't say that Flowmasters "suck", but I do know every single exhaust system shootoot I have ever read or seen live has proved that they are not as good as Dynomax Ultraflows, Borlas or most of the other similar designs. Forget about the fact that they cost more, rust out in a year, the baffles break loose and they weigh a ton. I also don't particularly like the way they sound, but that's a personal preference issue.

Tommy

[vcho455]

Exhaust systems are a exercise in compromise. How much noise can you live with to get the power you want. I've seen a low 10 second 55 corvette make a pass with less noise than most taxi cabs. Did he give up power? Of course. Was he happy with the trade off? Yes. Was it easy for him to get there? No. Most people can be satisfied with a stock system. But for the rest of us we will have to experiment with different systems. If your picky about your sound, be prepared to buy several complete systems for your car. If your looking to have every pound/foot of power you can get. Get yourself to a chassis dyno or to the track with a data acquisition system. Be prepared to buy several complete systems. You may have to mix and match stuff. You should be prepared to change the system with every substantial change to your power plant. The good thing is that is easy to sell used mufflers your not satisfied with. This is the only way to satifaction.

The information that Jim Hand has is available in his book on HOW TO BUILD MAX PERFORMANCE PONTIAC V-8'S. The information on mufflers is without equal. (Although some of the part numbers listed are no longer available.) But beware that his car has to live with in certain rules to be legal for the stock classes he runs in. Flow numbers are also not the end all for exhaust performance in every situation. Buying a welder and learning to do it yourself, will pay for itself. Plus, no one else will get your system tucked up out of the way for the best ground clearance the way you will.

[93HULK]

I like turbo mufflers. Especialy 76mm or bigger thats where I found the most HP.J/K

[Norwoodx55]

I like turbo mufflers. Especialy 76mm or bigger thats where I found the most HP.J/K

Too bad those are so damn expensive or I would have a pair of 'em too!