Hey guys, I have a 40 series Flowmaster dumped before my rear axle and it isn't sounding as good as before. It has a lot of mid range rasp and it only sounds deep with mild acceleration. It sounds genuinely crappy at about 1/2 throttle (not enough to cause a downshift, but more than usual). I want a sound with less rasp and more smooth growly truck sound. I still want it to be loud if possible. I guess sometimes it just sounds too much like a Mustang (yes, I know, it is the 4.6L) but it doesn't sound deep enough. I heard a Gibson on a friend's Jeep Grand Cherokee tonight (5.2L engine) and was impressed by the deep and growly but still smooth (not Flowmaster raspy) acceleration. I've heard the sound clip on the IMCO Xtreme 1-chamber muffler and it sounds very smooth on the 4.6L, but I'm not sure if it will still sound like a Flowmaster at mid RPMs. I guess I'm looking into the IMCO, Gibson, and Magnaflow lines. I know everyone here likes Magnaflow but the Gibson sound has me impressed. I understand that any of these selections would present larger gains in low end than my current performance with the Flowmaster. I'm going to run my new exhaust from the muffler with a 3-inch pipe exiting in front of or behind the rear tire (haven't decided yet, still not sure about tips). I'm not interested in duals on the 4.6L engine. Please give me your wisdom guys! Thanks!

 

Well that sucks, I am considering getting a flowmaster for my '04 5.4L. I've heard that they are loud and growly. Do you know more about your muffler, is it delta flow because if it is then that makes it quieter too? I've got an original 40 on my old '93 f150 w/ a 5.0 and it sounds pretty good. Not quite as loud as I want it, but plenty loud enough and sounds very good and I am satsified. I couldn't imagine these new trucks being quieter than that with a flowmaster. I was told at an exhaust shop that they're loud with a flowmaster. I didn't think the 4.6 and 5.4 would be that much of a difference in sound. Anyway, from what I gather, magnaflow is a much quieter muffler than flowmaster. From their sound clips, it sounds to me like magnaflow has a good low and clean growl to it, but it's like you need to take the tv remote and turn the volume up about 3 more notches for it to be like YOU want. That's why I won't buy a magnaflow. I've heard that gibson is nothing more than 1 notch louder than stock exhaust. I would never buy gibson, it doesn't impress me in any way because there are too many others that beat it all the way around.

Here's my recommendation...I've heard sound clips and read many forums on IMCO on the 4.6's. They sound similar to the growl flowmaster puts out, but I'm not sure about the mid range sound it gives. They are cheaper than flowmaster and supposedly flow better. I would strongly recommend checking further into IMCO, and then Banks monster exhaust. Banks is supposed to be louder than magnaflow, quieter than flowmaster, and a very good and clean sound. Plus you get your performance along with that. They only offer it in a SI/SO 3" setup though. If that's okay with you, that's what I'd recommend. The way they talk, Banks is more mac-daddy than magnaflow is. I won't ever buy banks because I want a SI/DO setup, plus I've got a feeling they're not as loud as I want. I'll probably go with a super 40 flowmaster. I'll find another way to get those minimal torque/horsepower gains that everyone talks so much about and worries about.

 

I have the Magnaflow 3" Catback on mine. It growls when I start my truck up and put out a nice deep sound when cruising. I had heard things about the flowmaster and read on some sites about it vs magnaflow. I am glad I went with the Magnaflow.

 

Ditto on the magnaflow. I love the deep growl at startup, and when I hammer down, which is quite often.
I'll take a deep growl over a loud trash can echo any day.

4point6

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Higdogg, the muffler is an Original 40 series. The muffler is plenty loud - it sets off car alarms easily and is audible inside a house when you pull up to it. The problem is that I want better sound quality, and judging from the soundclip and the reviews posted by the guys on this forum and others, the IMCO Xtreme 1-chamber is smoother AND louder than a 40 Series Flowmaster. This would be perfect for my application, as I don't mind loud exhaust as long as it sounds good!

I've heard tons of positive feedback about the Magnaflow system. My only concern is that it will be too quiet for me. However, I am completely confused by what I experienced tonight. The Gibson on my friend's Jeep was definitely much louder than stock. I found this strange because it is Gibson's SI/SO system, which is supposed to be the quietest of their line. This totally contradicts everything I have heard about Gibson in the past, and I was very impressed by the sound quality. Furthermore, he reported some noticeable gains in low end, which is very desirable to me. I was wondering if anyone has experienced both Gibson and Magnaflow. How do these two stack up against each other? Thanks for your replies!

 

fourpointsix,

How exactly does your flowmaster 40 sound again? I have heard good and bad about them on these new f150's, but never actually heard one in person. I'm like you, I want my exhaust to be audible, but to sound smooth and good. I think the magnaflow guys really love theirs and for good reason, I think it must be a great setup, but I just really believe it would be too quiet for what I want to hear. Like I said before, kick it up about 3 notches and it would probably be absolutely perfect. I've heard a sound clip of the IMCO on a 4.6 I think, but I didn't consider it as sounding as smooth as flowmaster. It had a little more of a rough sound to it, but it still sounded good. I figured that it would probably not be quite as loud. Do you care to post the same sound clip you listened to? Got any sound clips for the flowmaster?

 

I've got the 4.6 w/ flow si/do to the rear. I realy like the sound, nice rumble not too loud at idle but laces into it pretty good when i get on it. I think the raspy sound mentioned above could be because of the shorter tailpipe run, there is not as much distance or room for the exhaust gases/noises to bounce off of so it is coming out quicker, hence raspier. I've got probably 6-7 foot of tailpipe between the muffler and exit on both pipes, the side dump is probably 2 feet or less. Just an idea

 

I have the Flowmaster 40 on my 05 and i really like it. Any louder and it would be obnoxious. Very nice "throaty" sound, and loud enough to draw attention when started up.

 

I put on magnaflow about 3 weeks ago looks nice but thinking of changing mufler to a 2 chamber flowmaster .

 

i have the single in and out 3" magnaflow cat back. i love the way it sounds except for the cab resonation at cruise. i am adding a magnaflow resonator this week. ill report back on it.

 

Hey ONE04FX4 -- what's the resonator supposed to do to the sound of the Magnaflow system? I just installed a SIDO Magnaflow cat-back system on my '05 with the 5.4 engine, and can't imagine anything I could do that would make the sound any sweeter (?).

 

it is designed to take the drone out of it. they say it quiets it down a little. but not to much. i dont have a way to record it. but i will for sure let you know.

 

For what it's worth, guys, I was afraid when I ordered my Magnaflow system that it would be too quiet. When I listened to the sound clips they had of a 5.4 Expedition with the SIDO cat-back, it sounded just a little bit meaner than stock.

However, when I got mine installed and out for a test drive, I was relieved -- it has a lot more "bark" in person than what is shown on their website sound clip. In my opinion, anything more and it would just be annoying and/or you would drive around town sounding like an eighteen-year-old boy!

 

I put the series 50 flowmaster on my 04 mellow tone siso, I use my truck for a tow vehical and the tech at flowmaster said no to the 40 they make a lot of noise nothing else. the 50 gives it big block sound happy so far.. $240 summitt

 

I have The Flowmaster 40 Series, Catback. 5.4 Liter with 3 Inch Pipes. On a 2000 150..

It gives a nice howl on start up. And usually deep and smooth when Idling. I love it, I've heard Magnaflow, and it sounds too gurgly to me.

Wonder if there's something different on the newer F-150's.