Flowmaster Restricts more than stock?

**SAGGIN** · 05-29-2008, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Mastermindc3pro

Flowmasters just dont flow baby

they sound good thought

**nhraformula** · 05-29-2008, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by Speed Psychosis

^ flowmaster is proven do be worse with flow. not by dynos, but actually measuring air flow accurately. however, exhaust should always have sound as first priority. if you aren't looking at getting headers anytime soon, i'd suggest a loudmouth 1 or 2, or bassani if you like it deep. but its all preference.

its proven to not be the best flowing, but its better than stock.
personally i think the flowmaster sounds great until you get headers and y pipe.

**brynnda** · 05-29-2008, 10:44 PM

flowmaster blows, magnaflow WTW!!!!

**TOMASINO** · 05-30-2008, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by brynnda

flowmaster blows, magnaflow WTW!!!!

i think im goin with magnaflow since i put 80 series on, my car feels slow and louder then when i had it stock..

**RandomOmen** · 05-31-2008, 06:26 AM

I love my magnaflow catback.. especially with the Kooks LTs

**Speed Psychosis** · 05-31-2008, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by nhraformula

its proven to not be the best flowing, but its better than stock.
personally i think the flowmaster sounds great until you get headers and y pipe.

thats what i meant. not worse than storck but aftermarket. probably should have written that better.

right from ls1sounds.com

2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Dynomax Super Turbo 278 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Ultraflow Bullet 512 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Gibson Superflow 267 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Flowmaster ( 2 Chamber) 249 CFM
2 ½” Inlet Outlet Flowmaster ( 3 Chamber) 229 CFM
2 ¼” Inlet/Outlet Thrush CVX 260 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Maremount Cherry Bomb 298 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Hooker Aero Chamber 324 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Hooker Max Flow 521 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Borla Turbo 373 CFM
2 1/2" Inlet/Outlet Magnaflow 284 CFM

Standard OEM 2 ¼” Inlet/Outlet 138-152 CFM
Standard OEM 2 ½” Inlet/Outlet 161-197 CFM

i wish they had catbacks and dual kit flows as well.

**9t8z28** · 06-02-2008, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Speed Psychosis

thats what i meant. not worse than storck but aftermarket. probably should have written that better.

right from ls1sounds.com

2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Dynomax Super Turbo 278 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Ultraflow Bullet 512 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Gibson Superflow 267 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Flowmaster ( 2 Chamber) 249 CFM
2 ½” Inlet Outlet Flowmaster ( 3 Chamber) 229 CFM
2 ¼” Inlet/Outlet Thrush CVX 260 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Maremount Cherry Bomb 298 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Hooker Aero Chamber 324 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Hooker Max Flow 521 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Borla Turbo 373 CFM
2 1/2" Inlet/Outlet Magnaflow 284 CFM

Standard OEM 2 ¼” Inlet/Outlet 138-152 CFM
Standard OEM 2 ½” Inlet/Outlet 161-197 CFM

i wish they had catbacks and dual kit flows as well.

Were these flow tests done using the same equipment? I hope so or they don't mean shit.

Also, typically a straight path (straight through) design muffler will most of the time flow better than a chambered muff i.e. almost all Flowmaster. Most people would rather a better sounding muff over a better performing muff. This is true except for the typical F-Body enthusiast

**Mr. Luos** · 06-02-2008, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by 9t8z28

Were these flow tests done using the same equipment? I hope so or they don't mean shit.

Of course they were.

This test was performed by 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine, December 2002 issue (page 55) on a '90 Mustang LX coupe with 370hp and 11 second potential. 66 pulls were made for this comparison:

I am too lazy to see if I can find the magazine link.

**9t8z28** · 06-03-2008, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

Of course they were.

I am too lazy to see if I can find the magazine link.

Thats alright. It is a good comparison

**shady milkman** · 06-03-2008, 07:20 AM

magnaflow sounds amazing on my bird...at 2k it sounds sooooooooooo good...i

a lil everytime

**Firebirdjones** · 06-03-2008, 09:24 AM

I would have thought this had been put to rest many years ago. Everyone has their own opinions on sound,,,thats just personal preference.

But as far as performance is concerned a friend of mine and myself have been down this road not too long ago using his Z28 as a test bed.

We have tried many single cat back systems on his car, about a dozen to be exact,,,,spending well over $2,000 in the process,,,(some systems were borrowed for the test to save some coin)

Bottom line was,,,,we tried borla, magnaflow, edelbrock, hooker, spintech, mufflex, flowmaster, loud mouth 1 and 2, etc.....

This car produced and performed nearly identical with every system with one exception,,,when the pipe size was changed!!! Thats it!!! Mufflers didn't do a damn thing for the car except change the sound.

When I say pipe size was changed,,,I am talking about the typical 3 inch cat back,,,,once the mufflex 4 inch single system was installed the car showed an instant improvement!!! Didn't matter whether it had the flowmaster or the spintech hanging on it.

In the end, when it comes to the muffler, don't worry about it!!! Pay more attention to the pipe design and system overall.

If you are looking for an all out single catback,,,go with the 4 inch mufflex hands down the best one out there as far as HP and performance producing.

The only thing I regret is not testing the Bassani true dual system. With a real dual system along with an X pipe it looks to be promissing, I would have loved to compare that to the single 4 inch mufflex system, which was the best performing out of all the single catbacks. Unfortunately time constraints and money ran out.

Would be hard to beat a real dual system though, and the Bassani looks like top notch quality. I'm willing to bet the 4 inch mufflex would come damn close.
All of the other 3 inch catbacks performed the same,,,,so don't worry so much about it. You guys are really beating a dead horse here.
Go with the sound you like and be happy.

**LS1buckey** · 06-04-2008, 08:04 AM

^^ Well put!

**punisherTA** · 06-04-2008, 08:21 AM

Some people around here call them Slowmasters. lol
I couldn't tell you if they are better or worse then stock. The general train of thought is that they are slightly better then stock and sound great but are not nearly as good as the straight through designs of some other mufflers.
It would stand to reason an open muffler would be better then a matrix of passages the Flowmasters use.

**OnEbAdReDSS** · 06-04-2008, 08:35 AM

80's flow better than stock and the 40's flow great i gained 2 hp lower than the magnaflow and i though the 40's sounds more muscley than the magnaflow

**Y2KArcticSS** · 06-04-2008, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

Flowmaster is always at the bottom.

Could also have to do with price. Flowmasters are CHEAP, so of course, they aren't going to be the best. I have a 40 series, it works and sounds fine, but if I had the money, I would have a GMMG....just to say I have GMMG...because it is THE most bad-a$$ exhaust I have ever heard...and the most expensive I've ever seen.

**itsfess** · 06-04-2008, 02:09 PM

i wanna hear that mufflex system on a car with long tubes.

**Firebirdjones** · 06-04-2008, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by itsfess

i wanna hear that mufflex system on a car with long tubes.

It's one of the best I have heard in a long time as far as single cat backs go. Pipe diameter has alot to do with that. Awsome to see sewer sized pipes under the car,,,lol.. Actually fits quite well and as I said, it performed the best out of all the single cat back systems, didn't matter what muffler we had on it.

The car we used for all this was a longtube header car with an offroad Y-pipe,,,,although when the mufflex system was used,,,they have their own Y-pipe that we used with this setup.

**Speed Psychosis** · 06-05-2008, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Mustang=Breakfast

Could also have to do with price. Flowmasters are CHEAP, so of course, they aren't going to be the best. I have a 40 series, it works and sounds fine, but if I had the money, I would have a GMMG....just to say I have GMMG...because it is THE most bad-a$$ exhaust I have ever heard...and the most expensive I've ever seen.

its $50 cheaper than hooker. thats not a big difference. the flowmaster catback is terrible, but the 40 series are good. but if you want more than a muffler there are better options.

**LIGHTNINGMCQUEEN** · 06-05-2008, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Mustang=Breakfast

Could also have to do with price. Flowmasters are CHEAP, so of course, they aren't going to be the best. I have a 40 series, it works and sounds fine, but if I had the money, I would have a GMMG....just to say I have GMMG...because it is THE most bad-a$$ exhaust I have ever heard...and the most expensive I've ever seen.

I like my flowmasters because it has a good sound and when i rev it, it doesnt make that popping backfire sound. Ive never heard the GMMG but i wonder does that one along with other better flowing mufflers make that popping noise im not to fond of.
And if someone has a clip of what the GMMG sounds like please post it...id like to hear it.

**Firebirdjones** · 06-05-2008, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Speed Psychosis

its $50 cheaper than hooker. thats not a big difference. the flowmaster catback is terrible, but the 40 series are good. but if you want more than a muffler there are better options.

As compared to what???? I have used most all of them on the same car including the flowmaster system,,,they all performed the same as I have already mentioned. They are all 3 inch cat backs,,,,not much more to be had here,,,,,It's not until you jump to the larger Mufflex system with 4 inch piping when you will see a difference in power. Been down this road and done that, spent alot of money and time doing it.
Nothing but internet hype.