Hey guys,

New here. My truck is 2011 F150 5.0L V8. I've been lurking on these forums for a while trying to do some research on dual exhaust for my truck. Basically I'm looking for a good deep rumble; not something obnoxious, raspy, or popping. Single in/dual out seems to be the way to go to keep the warranty intact.

At one point, I had narrowed it down to Flowmaster Original 40s. But then I started reading on here the Flowmaster and F150s don't mix so well, and Magnaflows seemed to be the way to go.

I recently went to a local muffler shop in town to get some in person advice. When I mentioned Magnaflow, he scowled at me and told me I might as well leave the stock system on. He recommended the Flowmaster Original 40s.

I also mentioned that I was looking at the rectangle style tips coming straight out the back. He went on to say that all those types or cheap and discolor real easy.

He also recommended taking the resonator out, but I'm afraid that might make it too loud. I'm thinking of asking him if I can leave it in, and take it out afterwards if it's not what I want.

I didn't get a good "warm and fuzzy" from that guy. Am I just being paranoid? What should I look for in a good shop? I don't want a shoddy job; I want to make sure I get it done right the first time (which is why it's taking me so long doing research)

What types of tip should I look for? Chrome, stainless? Clamp on, weld on? Since I'm not looking at taking out the whole system, it seems to me that doing anything stainless would be pointless. Borlas would be nice, but that might be well outside my budget.

From what I understand, removing the resonator and keeping the stock muffler sounds pretty good all by itself.

Sounds like that guy is just trying to sell you his product. Magnaflows are very nice and in my honest opinion sound better than fartmasters.(plus flow better)
But out of those two I would pick a Borla. Be it the XR1 or Pro X. I just love the sound of a Borla. Nice deep aggressive tone.
Don't know too much about those tips, but I had MBRP 3.5" tips for multiple years threw multiple mud holes and never got discolored or rusty. My buddy still has one of them on his truck today.

For sound only any chambered muffler should work.

For all out performance a straight through is the king.

It's all in what one likes. I had a Flomaster 40 original on my 2005 and loved it. Just the right sound for me and not too much drone for my wife. Yes, you lose a little low end torque with the flow master but that did not concern me. The Magnaflo is just too quiet for me unless you get the 14". If I did not go with a Flomaster, I would go with a Borla.

Flowmaster sounds alright if your into the tone it gives. Youtube some videos and see for yourself. The in-person sound is only that much better.

As for Magnaflows being quiet,all depends with what model you buy. My Magnaflow equipped truck is far from quiet.

Potato/Tomato.

They both utilize resonance and CFD with CAD to ensure no drone, so you're going to be happy with either.

I will say Magnaflows have been a personal preference.

Well, I fear that a few of their designers fell asleep at their workstations, as the forum is rife with drone complaints from both.

They ensured nothing - except profits.

MGD

I have used both brand mufflers on my '07 4.6L, which will sound much different than a new 5.0L truck. The Flowmaster will rust out internally, after two or three years. So, I would recommend using a SS Flowmaster if you go that brand. The Magnaflow mufflers are made well and have a great tone. Every Maggie that I have used, has droned at Highway speeds. I would leave the resonator installed for a while, to ensure you are happy with the exhaust tone. The Magnaflow will take a few months to break in, so be aware of that. I believe the 5 x 11 x 22" Magnaflow is the quietest muffler they make.

I plan on removing the resonator on my 5.0L, but haven't taken the time to do so, as it currently isn't a top priority for me. I would love to install a Borla Pro XS, but no longer want to chop up an exhaust system to install a muffler, where weld beads will corrode after a few years of driving.

Good luck!

Go with Solo Performance for the 5.0. It's the best I've heard so far. I am somewhat biased, however.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ex...iew-video.html

It's all preference. I think stainless is best if you are in an area that gets salt on the roads. Welds seem to rust quicker whether you are talking tips or elsewhere on the system so I would go clamp.

Taking out the resonator would be a cheap first step and you can decide if there's enough sound for you. Putting on a larger diameter and longer tip will give a little more sound too.

The guy is trying to sell you his crap if he doesn't like Magnaflows or certain types of tips. Unfortunately, this seems extremely common with exhaust shops. Personally, I'd swing for a Borla muffler and 304 stainless Magnaflow tips. If you don't get nice, fully stainless tips the first go round, you'll be replacing them soon. Good 304 SS never tarnishes (you can just used steel wool and/or polish on it and it looks brand new), but others will look old and nasty quickly. You can get a square tip if you can find one in 304 SS. The Borla muffler costs more but sounds better IMO and the Maggie tips are a little more budget friendly than the Borla tips.

I had a brand new FM catback with the SUV 50 series muffler installed on my '07 and it was rattling internally by mid '09. When the Flowmaster was removed, it was full of rust, and the directional plates were loose inside.

I live in central AR, and the truck saw zero salt/chemical mixtures on the road. If going with a Flowmaster, I recommend a SS muffler and not the standard aluminized metal.

So I ended up calling another shop in town that was listed as a Magnaflow dealer. I told him I don't know much about muffler, so I won't pretend to be an expert, but I'd been doing alot of research. He asked what truck I had, and then he recommended the Flowmasters (odd from a Magnaflow dealer) because he'd just done 3 trucks last week just like mine and they sounded great.

I explained that I'd read alot about how Flowmasters and the new F150s aren't as great and told him I was thinking about the Magnaflows. So he quoted me a price on the muffler and pipes, and said he'd taking out the resonator.

I told him I was worried about taking it out and it being too loud, so he told me he'd leave it in and if I wanted it out later, he'd take it out no charge.

I asked alot of questions about tips and such because I don't particularly want the standard straight out the back set up, and he told me what to look for if I want to order some. And said that if I found some later that I wanted, he'd put em on for relatively small fee.

Bottom line is, I went with the Magnaflow SIDO (5x8x14), straight out the back with stainless tips from a shop that I just got a real good vibe from (unlike the previous shop I'd talked to). And for now, I am completely happy with the way it looks and sounds, even though I'm not fan of the standard straight out the back type setup (ya know, everyone's doing it so I have to be different).

Finally pulled the trigger on something I've been itching to do for more than a year now but was too paranoid and over-analytical about. Thus far, I'm real happy.

The straight through style mufflers sound better on these newer trucks in my opinion. Leave the Flomaster for the muscle car guys.