I've been researching lots of different exhausts, listening to audio clips on Youtube, and really just trying to make a decision. I'm not asking for another "Flowmaster 40 vs 50" debate, but which sounds best AT OR ABOVE 3k RPM?

I've heard several that sound great at low RPM's and have even read various threads and pretty much all agree on this, but at higher RPM's the "ricer" comment has come up a few times. I hate a raspy sounding exhaust. Down low you don't recognize this but as the RPM's climb between shifts they can get kind of raspy.

Of the different exhaust options, Flowmaster 40 and 50's included, are any less raspy in this higher RPM range? Little to no drone would be nice but for me, a rasp is far more annoying.

 

Can't help with your choice, just a comment to say that I agree with you on the sound. Around here, apparently the 'IN' thing is to buy a big v8 sports car and then throw an exhaust on to make them sound like import ricer street racer. Horrible thing to do to American Muscle. No way I could listen to it every day from my Jeep.

 

I'm exhausted just thinking about this

What I will say it's hard to judge opinions on this subject online as everyone has such different ways of explaining things. I had to replace exhaust few years back and didn't want to spend much at all. I ended up reading about Thrush Welded mufflers. They are dirt cheap, like $35 at Advanced Auto. I read a lot of stuff and many people hated them and the sound. I read a few things that were ok about them however. Figured it wasn't much money to try one. $35 for muffler, $40 for a shop to mount it in with a few custom bends and viola.....I actually think my exhaust sounds great. It's just a bit louder at idle, has a nice tone to it, and it doesn't have a massive drone at the high end. I've received many positive comments on the sound of that exhaust also which I think it pretty funny considering how little I have it in vs. what most people do. I'm not advocating that's what you should do, just that I think exhaust opinions are so wide stretching. As reference, my 3.6L has run around 3k RPM at interstate speeds for the last few years. If I had something that droned real bad up there it would have killed me I think.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I ended up listening to a local muffler shop and tried their "custom" bullet which is supposed to be similar to the Flowmaster Outlaw. It doesn't sound bad down low. In fact, I like the way it starts up and idles but once I hit 3k rpm it sounds like a ricer a little bit.

What's odd is when I record the audio inside the cabin you don't really hear it but in person it's obvious. This is why clips on Youtube can be deceiving. You have a phone recording and then uploaded to Youtube which compresses the file and the playback is coming through crap speakers lol

 

I bought the Magnaflow performance muffler. Ripped out the resonator and put the magnaflow in its place. Then I ripped out the stock muffler and replaced it with a turn down tailpipe. Sounds pretty dope. At low rpm’s almost sounds like glass packs, and at higher rpm’s it’s really not that raspy. More like zippy :-)

 

What are you looking for? Noise or is it time to replace? With my Chev 5.3 I am running the stock 2.5" line back to a changed muffler from Dynamax. Flows about 825cfm which is good enough. After a while sound gets to you so be careful what you end up with.

 

I'm just wanting a little more growl with little to no rasp and drone. I know with a v6 this might be asking for a lot.

For guys who run 40s what's the difference in mounting it beneath the drivers seat and running pipe back and over the axle as opposed to mounting in the stock location? Is this for clearance only or does location of the muffler also affect the sound?

 

Most people are mounting between the axles for added clearance; however, there are mufflers that don't take up much space when mounted in the factory location. My Thrush Welded is small. It's tucked way up there and even with a skinny bumper in back you can barely see it. Here's a pic from long ago when I slipped off a bad line.....



It depends on the muffler, but some can be mounted back there pretty innocuously. If you mount between the axles, you typically will need to reloacte the evap canister.

 

I read on another thread that flowmasters are sensitive to the amount of pipe and bends before and after the muffler. All these factors will affect the sound. I just don't want raspy.

 

I went with Dynomoax and with Dynomax's help I pieced together a $70 version of their $300 offroad version 39522.
http://www.dynomax.com/single-2-5-ca...ler-39417.html