Okay, seriously, I'm gonna be honest with you guys. I didn't know there was a huge battle going on between Flowmaster and Magnaflow, but I just needed some advice. To be completely honest, I had never even heard of Magnaflow (or any other exhaust system other than Flowmasters for that matter) until you guys started arguing over it. I'm kinda new at all these truck accessories and I wanted some exhaust that sounded good for my 5.4 and the only company I knew of was Flowmasters.

Now, whether or not I just helped or hurt one side of the argument, I don't really care. I just appreciate your help in finding me the one that will sound the best.

Now, my question is price. Both Zaairman and 5.4ever said their Flowmasters were unbelievably cheap and still high-quality. What did you guys pay for them? Can I find them cheap? As I said, I need maybe $200 range, $150-ish would be better.

Thanks.

 

i bought my flowmaster on ebay for 40 bucks and had installed with a turn down at the muffler shop for 30 bucks

 

hmmm what part of florida do you live in? i just got a flowmaster on my 2005 supercab with a 5.4L couldnt be happier although it is loud thats how i like it.. im not sure what your hoping for or what your after but mine was profesionaly installed and completed welded and such and as such cost me 445.. o and you buy the tips seperate.. mine were 65..
o and the 445 was the total cost after everything and heres a pic

 

Wow, yours look great, but I think I'd rather pay the 40 bucks than the 445.

I live in Ocala, FL by the way.

 

Thats one fine red Lariat Johnboy. My truck has the 4.6, I've heard they're louder than the 5.4 for some reson. But if you go the simple route like I did....no fancy exhaust just a muffler, i took the turn down off cause it acted like a suppressor on a gun. I will eventually get dual tips ran out the back.

 

You still haven't addressed anything I've said regarding Flowmasters. You grudgingly admit there is a performance advantage but still say Flowmaster "sounds" better. I think we all agree sound is a preference so lets just strike that issue out of the debate altogether. I like the way Magnaflow sounds better because it isn't raspy like a Flowmaster, but in some people's opinions Magnaflows don't sound good and Flowmasters are extremely smooth. To each his own. No one is coming onto a thread because we are "pist" (nice spelling dude) about what we paid. I paid 100 bucks for my Magnaflow installed. I chose not to buy the stainless catback because I don't need it here in California. Let's not forget the fact that if you live in another state and you do need stainless you are SOL with Flowmasters. Of course there is no rust on your Flowmaster. You live in California! The reason I "chime in" (which of course only YOU can do because apparently you control the rights to speech on this board) on Flowmaster threads is because I went with Flowmaster because it was the ONLY exhaust I had heard of (the same case of the gentleman who started this thread.) I'm just trying to get as much information about it as possible out so that he can look through all the brands and make the best decision so he doesn't have to go get it redone if he doesn't like it. I forgot though, you said that isn't an issue because IN YOUR OPINION Flowmasters sound better, so they must sound better to everyone. And, for future reference, you might want to learn to proofread your posts if you plan on debating someone.

 

Usually, if somebody wants someting, it's because they know what they want! Just because you don't like Flowmasters doesn't give you the right to come in here and start bashing them. I live in Missouri, where it snows! And when it snows, they put salt on the roads. Two winters later, my Flowmaster looks almost new! Way to strike that issue out of the debate dude.

Johnny - BTW, I paid $349.17 installed for a full catback with 3 1/2 chrome tips.

 

I was giving my sound preference as bigtruck311 had in his last post as an example. I am glad to hear your Flowmaster system isn't rusting. That really isn't an issue for me either way since I live in California. I'm not here to "bash" anything. I am just pointing out that many people think the only performance muffler out there is a Flowmaster and that is untrue. I am trying to educate people about all options so they don't put three different mufflers on their truck looking for the best combination of sound and performance like I did! Hell, if people have the dough they should go get the Rousch (SWEET sounding!) or Borla or Bassani systems. Or the Corsa if they are really spendy! Those are great systems. Magnaflow and Flowmaster are more in the average guy's budget though!

Hey, Zairrman (sorry if I spelled that wrong), where did you get your pipes mandrel bent? I think I might want it SI/DO the back eventually when I have the money. I had a 40 Series SI/DO on my 1990 F250 and I really loved the look, and the sound was pretty good too.

 

lol.. all i know is that at the muffler shop where i got my exhuast there was nothing but magnaflow advertisements and magnaflow merchandise.. and the guy put a flowmaster on my truck. and no i didnt ask for it.. i asked for a good manly sound and IMHO thats what i got. and while it does drone at 2K rpm's i dont accellerate that fast i keep it at 15 to 1800 rpm cause i have a 5.4 and i dont need to mash it to go...

what you need to do johnboy is go around town to these different muffler shops and ask questions.. thats what i did..

 

4.6 - I got them from the local muffler shop. I'm not sure where they got them from. I'll see what I can turn up.

 

Look.. It exhaust. Dont over complicate it.

If you have a Naturally aspirated truck, you dont NEED dual exhaust. Your engine doesnt exhale that much air.

If I really wanted to go the performance exhaust route, I'd go with JBA headers, hi-flow cats, Dual-in/Dual-out Magnaflow muffler.

Since I dont have a supercharger and I really just wanted a difference in sound, I opted for the SI/SO Flowmaster 40 series. to me, it sounds awesome. Its a low rumble at low speeds, but when you hit the go pedal, it gets LOUD. I used the stock piping and just replaced the muffler. 3.5" tip on the end. I let someone else drive my truck once. I told em to get on it a little when they left. The truck sounds amazing, inside and especially out.

From what I hear, magnaflow is slightly milder in sound. I personally woundt recommend dual exhaust unless your truck actually NEEDS it. BUt to each his own.

Dual Flowmasters or Magnaflow, or Borla, or Bassani, or IMCO, or Jegs special, or Glasspacks, or ect, ect.... Im sure your be happy....

Unless you're "fourpointsix"...

Sorry "six", I just coudlnt help myself.. Im j/k

 

ive had flowmaster (di/do w/x), gibson (si/do), ravin (si/do), magnaflow (di/do w/x), and now imco (di/do w/x). the only thing that really matters is tubing size and the exhaust setup to get perfomance gains. i had 2.5" true dual flowmaster 40's delta flow w/an x-pipe and i lost a lot of low-end torque. i switched to magnaflow 4x9 (11" case) mufflers and 2.25" tailpipes and felt a gain in my low-end over what was stock. i now have swapped out the magnaflows to stainless imco pros and the same gain is there. magnaflows are deep, but not loud enough for me. flowmaster 40's and imco's are just about the same muffler, but the imco's are a little louder and cheaper. im not saying i have a problem with flowmasters performance or sound. the only reason i lost low-end with flowmaster was because the tubing was too big. i would also advise anyone to get stainless steel everything (mufflers, x-pipe, tips), but 14 ga. aluminized tubing is fine. i think stainless is worth the money. btw, this is on an 05 5.4l 3v super duty. 3 setups in 15 months! imco has the right sound for me, but if flowmaster made their original 40 series in stainless i would get them.

 

i never admited anything about the HP increase or performance difrence between magnaflow or flowmaster, but i will now, with a straight threw design such as magnaflow you will lose low end TRQ (bellow 2000 RPM) due to exuast scavenging compared to a flowmaster one chamber, with the straight threw design you will likely gain some on the high side of the RPM scale 4500 RPM due to the increased exuast velocity, but on these heavy trucks the low end TRQ is what you need to get them moving and that is why i went with flowmaster because i spend alot more time at below 2000 RPM than i do at 4500 RPM on up, like i have said many times if any one wants to let me borrow there magnaflow i will do back to back testing on a Dyno to prove this i have access to a dyno and i will give my time to prove this, by the way i am a ASE cert. tech, i will than post the results and video of the test for all to see once and for all the diffrence, you all have a good day

 

Can't we just all get along.

 

no