I can understand adding a catback expensive exhaust like the Borla to the3.2 because it started with a single pipe exhaust. Maybe at best you would get 10-15HP. But that would not be true with the 3.6. B&B told me about 5HP on the 3.6. It already has a great dual exhaust system. The little gain you would get from a Borla system is
high performance mufflers. That sure isn't worth any $1000!
Some my thinking is adding
only the mufflers to my stock duals. A lot of the manufacturers I've talked to don't want to sell only the mufflers. Gue$$ why?
Odysseus, I think posted a test of some low restriction high performance mufflers. I'm still not sure which muffler to use. It is a Cadillac and I don't want it to sound like a '57 Ford with Smitty glass packs. Any thoughts guys?
Here's the muffler test link:
THE GREAT MUFFLER SOUNDOFF ***NOTES***
Just a few notes to preface this bit of info.......this information was taken from an article in Super Ford magazine. The test vehicle was a 1991 Mustang 5.0 convertible with an automatic transmission. This information is not meant to be the 'gospel' on mufflers; simply a tool to aid in the comparison between some of the major brands on the market.
For reference, a 14 dB increase doubles the sound level, while 60 dBs represent normal conversation and 90 dBs are considered the threshold for pain (this is where I'm lookin' to start.... ;-) ).
The reviewers noted on the test drives that there was a noticeable improvement over the stock mufflers but not between the different aftermarket pieces (performance wise).
The installations used DynoMax Easy Seal clamps. These are the stainless steel band type clamps that form a 360 degree seal. The same bands were used throughout all 12 mufflers.
BORLA
Overall the Borlas were among the quietest we tested. Definitely a quality package. Stainless steel throughout, which accounts for the high cost.
Comments: 40ish: Very quiet. Sort of a stock-sounding growl at idle. There's some roar during acceleration, but it's mellow. Hardly any sound at all at low cruising speeds and deceleration. At full throttle, they're more like the stock mufflers. Barely audible at 65 mph. These are probably the best mufflers for the guy who likes to hear his stereo. I'm not a real fan of the Borla exhaust tips. 20ish: These are really soft on acceleration. They don't build up the roar that's so common with most of the other mufflers. You actually hear more convertible wind noise than you do the mufflers. They're real quiet on deceleration, they don't have that popping as you let off the throttle. Just enough sound that you know they're there. Dynomax Super Turbo
These mufflers have a more conventional design with three perforated tubes, flow directors, and fiberglass matting.
Comments: 40ish: Idle has a lower rumble. They roar too, but not quite as bad a some of the others. Not as ear piercing. These get louder as the rpm rises. Still fairly objectionable at 65 mph cruise. At lower speeds, you can barely hear them, almost like stock. At full throttle, more of the sound seems to be coming out of the tailpipes. It has a pretty mellow acceleration sound, I wouldn't say they were loud at all inside the car. 20ish: They aren't as loud as I expected. The roar is in a lower range, so they're not as obnoxious. They sound fine to me at cruising speed. For this car, they're probably quieter than what I would like. People usually want to make their cars louder when they are this close to stock. Dynomax Ultra Flo
Billed by Dynomax as "the ultimate muffler", the Ulta Flo mufflers are a straight-through design with a single inner tube with large perforations, for maximum sound absorption and minimum turbulence, according to Dynomax, and stainless steel mesh wrapping. The interior of the bright stainless steel casing, which make the Ultra Flo one of the better looking mufflers, is filled with fiberglass for a deep performance tone. According to Dynomax's John Brubaker, the Ultra Flo is designed for excellent flow characteristics with a quieter tone than the super Turbo.
Comments: 40ish: Seems louder but growlier at idle. A deeper tone. But they still roar, although it's deeper. Sounds as loud as the Super Turbos, although more of the sound seems to be coming from the tailpipes, not inside with you. The deceleration seems louder. I expected these to be quieter than they are. 20ish: they're pretty loud through the 2000 rpm range. They sound really good at idle. Under normal acceleration they seem quieter than the Super Turbos. To me, they sound quieter at full throttle. They're not, according to the dB meter, but they sound quieter. Dynomax Turbo Tubes
At first, we weren't sure about including these "straight pipes with crimps" in our muffler sound-off. Looking very much like the chambered exhaust for mid-'60s Camaros, the Turbo Tubes are labeled for "off-road use only", and after installing them we can see why. However, most of the sound stays outside the car, keeping the interior level somewhat tolerable. Of all the mufflers we tested, these were the most fun! Trouble is, they make you want to hit the throttle all the time just so you can listen to them. Definitely no clearance issues with these.
Comments: 40ish: More of a '60s sound to them, almost like an old glasspack. Idle outside the car is throbbing, like the car wants to go. Obviously loud, but not a lot of resonance inside the car. At low cruise, you hear the rumble but not obnoxious. Definitely louder, with more rumble on deceleration with popping. Actually, not as loud as I thought they'd be. Loud, but mellow. These make you want to drive fast. Twenty years ago I would have loved 'em. 20ish: They don't sound bad outside at idle, not what I expected. I expected them to be louder. I'm pleasantly surprised. I think they sound pretty good at full throttle. Edelbrock RPM Series
Edelbrock's RPM Series muffler uses a totally different design from the other mufflers. Inside the stainless steel casing is Edelbrock's "Tru-Flo" core, a split-channel design made from perforated stainless steel with surrounding ceramic packing. Unlike mufflers with baffles, the exhaust passes through the core with minimal turbulence.
Comments: 40ish: Idle seems louder, has a little bit of a flippity-flap to it. Roars, but the sound is coming out the back. not in the car. The roar seems to occur at a lower rpm. Loudest at around 1700 rpm. Quiet at lower cruise speeds, you can hear the rearend whine. Very quiet on deceleration. Really pretty quiet just tooling around. At full throttle, it's quiet, with all the sound coming from behind the car. Sounds real good, more like a '60s musclecar. 20ish: Dead quiet at lower speeds. They're throaty when they're loud. They're quiet, then they all of a sudden jump out at you, then go away real fast. They do sound good at full throttle. Sound like the stereotypical TV car. Overall, they have a pleasing sound. Flowmaster Two-Chamber
Now fully aluminized for durability, flowmasters come either two-chamber or three-chamber. The two-chambers are designed for race applications, so they offer less backpressure with accompanying higher sound levels.
Comments: 40ish: I like the idle. Lower, racier. The roar is still there at 2000 rpm inside the car, but it seems to go away real quick. Then you've got a real throuty sound. At low cruising speed, there's a nice rumble out back. On deceleration, there's a popping, or cackling, sound. The roar doesn't have that ear-piercing tone to it. There's a bit of a roar at 65 mph, but because the tone is lower it's not as objectionable. I can see why so many people like these because they have a real powerful sound, all the way across, not just at idle or full throttle. 20ish: Sounds like a street race about to happen. Has a racier sound at idle. The cats help a lot with the sound levels. A lot of guys run two-chambers with off-road pipe and they're pretty loud. The roar at 65 mph seems more pronounced, more powerful. The sound seems to increase, swell up until the roar, then it goes away at the shift. Flomaster Three-Chamber
Designed for stock or mildly modified vehicles, the three-chambers still have that Flowmaster sound but it's not as pronounced as with the two-chambers, thanks to the use of an additional V-shaped chamber inside the muffler casing.
Comments: 40ish: Idle is sort of a low rumble with a growl. I'd say these have the lowest tone overall. Has a real low rumble at low cruising speeds - a powerful rumble from the back of the car. Deceleration is fairly quiet but you still hear the rumble and a little cackling. Loud at 65 mph but not obnoxious. Good sound overall, not too quiet and enough of a rumble for a performance sound but not too objectionable except a little bit in that 2000 rpm range. Sound is great at full throttle. 20ish: The roar doesn't seem to be as pronounced with these. One of the quieter mufflers at 65 mph. Looks like we're not going to get away from that 2000 rpm roar with any of these mufflers. I think these are the best so far in that range. Good at idle, not very pronounced. Flowtech Terminator
Marketed as the "Bad Boy of Mufflers" the Flowtech Terminator mufflers reminded us of Flowmasters, both in sound and appearance. Definitely heavy-duty, the Terminators are fully welded thoughout and use 12 and 14 gauge aluminized steel, with the casing painted black. For sound control, the Flowtech mufflers utilize short, perforated tubing both front and back with a baffled chamber in the center.
Comments: 40ish: Throaty idle outside the car, sounds very much like a '70 Mach I. Idle inside the car is kind of throbbing. More of a deep roar at about 2000 rpm, with a deep rumble at low cruise. You can hear them, but they're fairly quiet on deceleration. A real good full throttle note, with some popping. Pretty loud at 65 mph, with lots of noise on deceleration from 65 mph. I give them pretty good marks all around except for the 65 mph cruise. 20ish: They sound like Flowmasters! They sound really good on full acceleration, but a little smoother overall than Flowmasters. Hooker Aero Chamber
Hooker's Aero Chamber mufflers use a "step" baffle design that, manages the individual exhaust pulses of each cylinder. Constructed from aluminized steel and painted black, the Aero Chambers resemble Flowmasters in appearance.
Comments: 40ish: They've got a mellow tone. My only complaint is at the 2000 rpm range where it reaches 90 dBs. Every time you accelerate, you have to go through that. You almost need one of those Corvette radios that adjust the volume. The idle is kind of throbby, but mellow. 20ish: Inside, they're pretty quiet except right there at cruise speed. They are kind of irritating there. The car sounds close to stock at idle. It has a growl but it's not obnoxious. Hooker Max Flo
Conceptually similar to Dynomax's Ultra Flo, the Hooker Max Flow mufflers use a straight-thru tube surrounded by a high-temperature packing material. Almost identical in exterior appearance to Hooker's Aero Chambers, the Max Flows are made from 16 gauge aluminum and stainless steel, with the casings painted heat-resistant black.
Comments: 40ish: Outside idle is quiet, with a metallic sound. Very quiet idle inside the car, almost like stock but with more of a rumble from the back of the car. Very quiet at low cruising speeds and deceleration, almost can't hear them. At 65 mph, there's a bit of a roar but not too obnoxious. They don't sound real powerful, almost too quiet, especially at low cruising and idle. These have a nice, unobtrusive idle and off-idle sound. I'd really like these if it wasn't for the resonance between 1800 and 2000 rpm. Almost perfect mufflers from idle to 1700 rpm, and from 2000 rpm to 5000 rpm. 20ish: Much softer than Flowmasters at low cruising speed and deceleration. They're smooth. In a hardtop, you might not be able to hear them at low cruise or idle. Would be interesting with off-road pipes. Pacesetter TFX
With 18" of case length, the Pacesetter TFX Power mufflers were 3-4" longer than the other mufflers, which made them slightly more difficult to install. We later discovered that we had received a "universal-fit" pair of mufflers. Regardless, the sound should be the same (Sean: I disagree here as a longer case length will quiet the tone). These are constructed from aluminized steel and come with a low-restriction internal design that does not require packing material for sound control.
Comments: 40ish: Nice burble at idle from outside the car, with deep tone inside the car. Roar is pretty muffled. Fairly quiet at a low cruise and hardly any sound at all on deceleration. Good, throaty tone coming out of the tailpipes on full acceleration. Bit of a roar at 65 mph. The roar between 1700 and 2000 rpm is fairly mellow, not ear piercing. Like the Borlas, these are for the guy that wants to listen to his stereo. 20ish: They sound better than I expected. They've got a real nice, deep idle to them, and they sound good under full throttle. Rhino
A relatively new player in the market. A straight-thru design, the Rhino mufflers use a trio of perforated tube baffles in the center to control sound, along with all aluminized construction.
Comments: 40ish: From inside the car, these are really quiet at idle. On normal acceleration, the roar is still there, coming on at about 1800 rpm. The roar is not as ear-piercing because it has a lower tone. Low cruise is pretty quiet. Can still hear them; there's a rumble back there, but still quiet. Sounds good at full throttle, not loud inside the car. Pretty good roar at cruising speed. These sound like louder stock mufflers. 20ish: They really resonate inside the car, like they fill up the backseat. Seem louder to me at full throttle, even louder then the two-chamber Flowmasters. Also seem a little bit louder on deceleration, especially coming down from 65 mph. These are loud, not irritating, but they don't sound as good as the Flowmasters to me. They don't have that tone to them.
[img]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Bob%20Martin/My%20Documents/Muffler%20Soundoff_files/graph1.jpg[/img]
Muffler Shootout
[img]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Bob%20Martin/My%20Documents/Muffler%20Soundoff_files/graph2.jpg[/img][img][/img]
