Alright looks like when im debating over a few different companies my thread names are going to be "Battle of the ......" cause so far its been this way on a few. Anyway to the point of my thread i am looking to buy a exhaust for my 05' F-150. So far im looking at Borla, Magnaflow, Banks, Corsa, Gibson and Flowmaster. Im not particulary looking for a lower price as long as its not lik 800 which Corsa seems to be but i know they are great. Im not real fond on split rear exhaust unless its side exit. So that basically eliminates Borla and Magnaflow but not compeltly cause performance is my main concern. Gibson looks good and everything but is cheap to everything so im not convinced on how good it is. I like the Banks alot especially its 5 inch tip wow. But what i really want is a dual rear split side exit. Mabye i should get a custom exhaust done......................

 

i am not even going to get involved in this one, go with the one you like the best, everything everyone is going to say is going to be their opinion from performance to sound, so on that note i recomend flowmaster

 

Alrite but now you say flowmaster? Are you saying that from a performance stand-point or sound? Thanks for posting my threads youve helped a good bit!

 

i say flowmaster for sound and performance, no one has any factual data I.E. back to back dyno pulls with any exaust but from my experience both from a performance and sound standpoint i say flowmaster they have done me good on just about every vehicle i have owned since i started driving, good luck and you should just get the one you like and the one that fits your budgit, good luck

 

I beg to differ. Regarding the #15609:

"We spent 23 months testing virtually all of the "name brand" cat-back exhaust systems on the market for the Ford F-150 platform, in SISO, SIDO & DIDO configurations. This Magnaflow was the only F-150 system that showed positive torque gains at any throttle position tested, as well as at any rpm."

Mike Troyer

If you want performance improvements you have to use the R&D of a cat-back system from Magnaflow or Borla. If you don't care much about 5-10% differences in power, then any custom exhaust with any muffler will be fine. 90% of people want the right sound with their aftermarket exhaust. Flowmaster has the largest name/sound recognition and a lot of people like its tone. However, no local custom shop dynos their work so they have no idea how their work affects performance.

 

OK, I'll bite

You really need to listen to both exhausts on a truck like yours. There are individuals who feel strongly about both Magnaflow and Flowmaster. They both offer very different, distinctive tones.

Your truck being the newer 3 valve 5.4, I don't have any experience with those.

I do know that on the 2v 5.4s, they have a different sound than the competitors V-8 trucks. It seems that on Dodge and GM trucks, any muffler will sound great and be loud. The 5.4 and 4.6 also sound different. The Magnaflow will tend to be quieter than the flowmaster. The Magnaflow has a deeper, more rumbly tone. The Flowmaster has a kind of whiny V-10 sound. Very different tones between the two.

I think the biggest differences come down to quality and fit/finish. Even Flowmaster fans are forced to acknowledge that Magnflow has the edge here. Their cat-back systems are either dual 2.5" or single 3" T-304 stainless mandrel bent pipes with a polished stailess muffler and polished stainless set of tips. I know that Flowmaster offers a cat-back system, but isn't available with the 40 series muffler everyone likes, so it isn't used much. There kits are also mandrel bent, but use aluminized pipes and muffler and overall fit/finish is lacking.

As far as performance, Magnaflow has the edge there, too. You probably won't be able to notice the difference in the two systems, but the Magnflow does produce more power. Probably in the 2-3 horsepower range. Either way, you won't notice much performance out of exhaust alone. When you start doing other mods, the exhaust will play a bigger role.

I had a Magnaflow cat-back on my previous F-150. I loved the way it sounded, but was too quiet for my tastes. I have struggled with the decision of what to do on this truck. I wanted sound levels of the Flowmaster, but I don't like the way they sound. What ended up making my decision came down to quality and fit/finish. I could have stainless, mandrel bent 2.5" pipes with a polihed muffler and stainless tips for the same price I was qouted at the muffler shop. The muffler shop would have used 2.25" crush-bent aluminized pipes and mufflers with regular chrome tips.

But it is your truck and the most important thing is to decide what is important to you. Quality and fit/finish? Sound quality? Sound level(loudness)? Price? Aluminized? Stainless?

All things you'll need to consider before making a decision.

 

i am not talking about the website of the product or the seller of the product or hearsay, i am talking about factaul data taken froma dyno by a unbiased person, the flowmaster site claimes the same HP and TRQ numbers as anyone else maybe even more but without a dyno sheet and back to back testing made public for our engines we can not know what any muffler or catback system will make as far as power threwout the RPM band, that is all i am saying

 

K well what about magnaflow vs. Banks????

 

FLOWMASTER

They have brand recognition for a reason. Flowmaster is one of the first words you hear when someone says V8 exhaust.

I don't believe for a second that magnaflow can out produce flowmaster in any catagory, except that of cost. ANd if you really wanted SS, then flowmaster offers most of its mufflers in SS for an additional cost. That way, the people that live underground can see themselves in the reflection of your overpriced exhaust. Save the money from SS and get more bolt ons!

 

I like my Magnaflow. Not too loud at cruising but you know its there when you get on it. No loss in power. According to a truck magazine that someone posted a link to a while back, Magnaflow was the only exhaust to not only not cause a loss in power but the only to give a gain to the new 5.4 3V. Wish I could find that link. By the way, I'm only a few miles from Braselton.

 

U are? thats cool. I live up at Chateau Elan

 

I live in Jefferson. Let me know if you want to hear a Magnaflow sometime!

 

Both you guys are right down the street. I am just a few miles down off the Mall of GA exit, 115. If you want to hear and see badazz one day, let me know and I'll meet you over at MOG. I am actually off tues and wed if you want to hear the 40 series flowmaster at work, with a blower pushing them of course. Sounds like a Nascar

 

That's in your Navi?

 

Ask Mike T. to send you the dyno plots from his unbiased testing prior to selling Magnaflow products.