Changed my exhaust and hate the way it sounds, need suggestions

[Empty V]

So I decided to change out my muffler and went to a local exhaust guy. I told him that I was thinking of doing a flowmaster 40 and he recommended a 50. Thinking that he knew what he was talking about I took his advice. Needles to say I can't stand the way it sounds, it's somewhat deep but way too ricey.

I think I originally overpaid a little but he's down the street from work and figured it was worth it for the convenience. So my question is which should I have him change it to and what's a fair price? Should I change it out for a Flowmaster 40 like I originally wanted or try out a magnaflow which I've heard are of higher quality.

Thanks for the help!

Billy

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Personally I think you should switch to a Magnaflow, they have a much better warranty than the Flowmasters. Also the Magnaflows are a straight flow-through design which is better in terms of performance. The Flowmasters are aluminized steel, which means they will rust, most likely before the three year warranty they carry. The Magnaflows are all stainless steel and will be less likely to rust.

When I put in my new exhaust I plan on going with a double-in/double-out Magnaflow.

[Lars]

That sucks. I'd take it back. I bought an exhaust for my old Tacoma, and hated it once I installed it... way too noisy. I added in a resonator and that helped, but I still wasn't too happy. Sold the truck to buy my Pathy not long after.

[Empty V]

Personally I think you should switch to a Magnaflow, they have a much better warranty than the Flowmasters. Also the Magnaflows are a straight flow-through design which is better in terms of performance. The Flowmasters are aluminized steel, which means they will rust, most likely before the three year warranty they carry. The Magnaflows are all stainless steel and will be less likely to rust.

When I put in my new exhaust I plan on going with a double-in/double-out Magnaflow.

I wanted to go with a double in double out but he suggested against it because he said it would limit my clearance. I don't really see what the difference is between one and two pipes. I think we have 2.5" pipes right? Is there a certain model you're looking at? Out here in so-cal we don't have the rust issues that you do in the NE so I don't think that would be an issue.

Billy

[fueler]

got pics ?

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I wanted to go with a double in double out but he suggested against it because he said it would limit my clearance. I don't really see what the difference is between one and two pipes. I think we have 2.5" pipes right? Is there a certain model you're looking at? Out here in so-cal we don't have the rust issues that you do in the NE so I don't think that would be an issue.

Billy

Clearance issues? Generally a double-in/single-out will be the same size as a double-in/double-out (maybe a 1" difference at most). The R50 has 2.25" pipes so the Magnaflow 11385 would be the perfect size double-in/double-out muffler and should replace the stock muffler without any issues. You always need to be worried about rust, no matter the location. One of the bi-products of the catalytic converter is water, that water will make its way to your muffler and can cause a muffler to rust from the inside out.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Did the guy that did your exhaust have to special order the Flowmaster 50 series muffler, or did he have it in the shop? Also, which 50 series is it (super 50, 50 series big block, 50 series HD, etc.)?

This sounds like the guy had a 50 series laying around and to try to get rid of it, he tried talking you into putting it on your car and having it installed ASAP. From what you've told me so far, this place sounds a little shady.

[Empty V]

Did the guy that did your exhaust have to special order the Flowmaster 50 series muffler, or did he have it in the shop? Also, which 50 series is it (super 50, 50 series big block, 50 series HD, etc.)?

This sounds like the guy had a 50 series laying around and to try to get rid of it, he tried talking you into putting it on your car and having it installed ASAP. From what you've told me so far, this place sounds a little shady.

He did have to order it, unfortunately I'm not sure what model it is and I will take some pics once I get a sec. It's a really small 1 man 1 lift shop that probably can't afford to keep anything on the shelf. I just called the guy and told him it's way too ricey sounding and he said that he thinks it's going to be hard to avoid that because it's a V6. He's going to check with his distributor to see how soon he can get the magnaflow. My GT500/Cobra buddy told me that the flowmasters are kind of cheap and he's also recommending replacing it with a maganflow.

Billy

[KyooX4]

If you don't mind my asking, in what kind of ballpark did that set you back? I might want to get a new system sometime in the future when I have the means.

Is it possible to buy a new muffler/system/etc and have it installed in a way that gives better ground clearance than stock?

[Empty V]

If you don't mind my asking, in what kind of ballpark did that set you back? I might want to get a new system sometime in the future when I have the means.

Is it possible to buy a new muffler/system/etc and have it installed in a way that gives better ground clearance than stock?

It was a total of $270.00USD which was for both parts and labor. Like I said I feel like I overpaid a bit but the guy is so close to my work it was worth the "convenience fee."

Billy

[Empty V]

got pics ?

Here ya go:












Modified by Empty V at 10:19 PM 9/18/2009

[Empty V]

Also I'm not sure if this is normal but it smells very odd if it's run for more then 15min. Is there a break-in smell with new mufflers?

Billy

[fueler]

looks like he did a nice job.... flowmaster is generally associated with domestic muscle, and V8's..... magnaflow focuses a little bit more on the japanese side....

either way its gonna be loud. do you not like the tone or do you not like the noise level ?

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I hate you for having such a clean and rust-free undercarriage.

[Empty V]

looks like he did a nice job.... flowmaster is generally associated with domestic muscle, and V8's..... magnaflow focuses a little bit more on the japanese side....

either way its gonna be loud. do you not like the tone or do you not like the noise level ?

This is the first time I've had the exhaust modified on any vehicle so I wasn't sure what to expect. I think the sound level is okay it's really the tone that bothers me. It almost sounds like a deep tuned lawnmower which is not what I was going for.

Billy

[Empty V]

I hate you for having such a clean and rust-free undercarriage.

It won't be like that for much longer. It won't be covered with rust, just lots of dirt.

Billy

[Pwnin O'Brien]

I think that $270 is pretty average since that includes the muffler, tip, pipe and labor. You may have saved yourself a little money by buying the parts yourself off the internet. I'm looking to buy my Magnaflow off of Amazon.com, they have the lowest price so far (and shipping is free).

[KyooX4]

Who was saying they got theirs for like $700-1000? Or is was that a full cat back?

[Empty V]

Who was saying they got theirs for like $700-1000? Or is was that a full cat back?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the only difference between replacing the muffler/end pipes and a full cat back is 2 pipes between the cats and the muffler. I remember seeing someone post that they spent $1400 on their exhaust.

Billy

[slickroger]

I hate you for having such a clean and rust-free undercarriage.

for real i would kill for that look mine is almost all rust

Get the magnaflow if your still debating well thats what i think and I am very interested to hear if you like it

[korbeano89]

iv never heard the magna flow but iv got a flowmaster 40 and love it heres a vid

http://vids.myspace.com/index....65990

[ferrariowner123]

Also I'm not sure if this is normal but it smells very odd if it's run for more then 15min. Is there a break-in smell with new mufflers?

Billy

im sure if anyone anwsered this but yes from my experience with new exhaust systems (only once) they do sort of have a break in smell

When me and my dad did his 1999 expedition from a catback to dual (not true dual, but whatever), the system we bought from gibson i think had some sort of werid grease looking type thing, it was funny because for like the first week it smelled like carnuba wax, but it didnt smell bad it was just kinda werid like you said, so that is just my two cents, and sorry to here about your exhaust, i would hate having to drive a car everyday that sounded like s***,

Hope you can get it fixed for cheap

Ferrari

[Mikey178]

Hey guys, I got the system done all the way stainless steel and put the dual in and dual out.

I will highly recommend the magnaflow, it took some time to get use to but I really like the sound. Its deep but not ridiculously loud either but at times I do find it loud.

When I did mine, I had the option of Flowmaster or Magnaflow and I was recommended to go with the Magnaflow for the sound difference. As someone said previously, the Flowmaster is more aggressive and made for the domestic vehicles whereas the Magnaflow was more tuned to the japanese vehicles.

I'll try and upload a vid of the sound tommorow.

[ferrariowner123]

Hey guys, I got the system done all the way stainless steel and put the dual in and dual out.

I will highly recommend the magnaflow, it took some time to get use to but I really like the sound. Its deep but not ridiculously loud either but at times I do find it loud.

When I did mine, I had the option of Flowmaster or Magnaflow and I was recommended to go with the Magnaflow for the sound difference. As someone said previously, the Flowmaster is more aggressive and made for the domestic vehicles whereas the Magnaflow was more tuned to the japanese vehicles.

I'll try and upload a vid of the sound tommorow.

yeah man please do, if its as good as it sounds, i might do it to my pathfiner

[carnal_c30]

Maybe look it up on YouTube and see if you can find what others sound like I personally won't add an exhaust to my qx because I think it would be tough to get something I really would like.

The work looks decent and I'm sure there isn't much difference between the 40 and 50

See what other people have and maybe you'll find something that suits your liking better

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Empty V:

I also meant to ask....Is there a specific reason you didn't remove the resonators? To get the best possible sound from a new muffler I think you would definitely want to remove the resonators (they're also a weak point in the exhaust system, they fail all too often).

[Empty V]

Empty V:

I also meant to ask....Is there a specific reason you didn't remove the resonators? To get the best possible sound from a new muffler I think you would definitely want to remove the resonators (they're also a weak point in the exhaust system, they fail all too often).

Where do you see resonators? This is coming straight off the muffler.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Where do you see resonators? This is coming straight off the muffler.

The resonators are before the new muffler and after the catalytic converters/exhaust manifolds. They are the two things which look like catalytic converters under the driver and passenger seats.

The resonators are the things in the red ovals:
Modified by Pwnin O'Brien at 12:54 PM 9/21/2009

[Empty V]

The resonators are before the new muffler and after the catalytic converters/exhaust manifolds. They are the two things which look like catalytic converters under the driver and passenger seats.

The resonators are the things in the red ovals:

Modified by Pwnin O'Brien at 12:54 PM 9/21/2009

Oh man I thought we only had the one resonator before the end of the tailpipe. I thought those two were cat's. So I wonder what it would sound like if we removed those. If would be a bit throatier then I'd be stoked. I also wonder how much louder it would be, right now it's almost perfect,just a little loud but close enough.

Billy

[SixGuns]

I have a Super40 on my Pathy and a Super44 on the wife's Tacoma..hers is a little dull for my likes. My 40 is nice and rumbly and sounds great. But it also dumps straight with no tailpipe...I've heard the 50's sound like hell...if you go with magnaflow, cool, but if anyone wants to go FM, Super40 has my vote.