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How bad is Flowmaster?

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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 11:54 AM
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Default How bad is Flowmaster?

So I found a flowmaster cat back for sale in my area for 100 bucks. Seems to be in great condition. I read a lot about how Flowmaster is very restrictive and all that. Is it that big of a difference compared to other systems? Is it worth it or should I save my money until I can afford something better?
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 11:59 AM
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save til better...... I would
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 12:07 PM
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I would scoop it up for $100 its definitely worth it. I think they sound great, old muscle car tone. But thats personal preference. They don't flow as well as other catbacks, but are better than the stock catback. Put a cut-out in if you're concerned about losing performance.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 12:25 PM
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Get a tsp rumbler. Close to the same sound without the restriction.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 12:30 PM
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Flowmaster in general is not bad; their catback has been proven to be, but they have plenty of great flowing and sounding mufflers. The 10 series is one of the best sounding mufflers out there, period.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Adam L
Get a tsp rumbler. Close to the same sound without the restriction.
Hows the volume with those? I really don't want be waking up the neighbors when I come home late and stuff. I was originally planning to go with magnaflow when I got the money but I found this deal on the flowmaster and figured why not get some opinions on it.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 01:41 PM
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Don't do it if you like performance and definitely not if you intend to keep modding more down the road.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 01:57 PM
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If it's in great condition buy it, then throw out the 80series muffler and order a Dynomax Ultra Flo #17536 to replace it, which is about $117. This will give you the sound and flow very similiar to the Magnaflow cat-back.

Last edited by 99Bluz28; Jul 27, 2012 at 02:04 PM.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 02:06 PM
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Buy it and put you a electric cutout after the y. Open it up at the track.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 03:15 PM
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The main reason I'm so tempted to buy it is the price. I would rather not spend additional money on changing the muffler and stuff like that. For that I would rather just buy a better cat back for the same price.

Also, it has an ory attached to it in the picture. Not sure if it comes with it. Don't know what brand or how good it is.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 03:45 PM
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i'd say get it if it comes with the ory
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 04:06 PM
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Flowmaster makes some really nice AMERICAN sounding mufflers. I have run them on every corvette and camaro i have ever owned. I don't know why some people in the LS community hate on them so much. sorry OP no experience with there cat-back systems
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 3rdCoastPowerSports
I don't know why some people in the LS community hate on them so much. sorry OP no experience with there cat-back systems
From the results seen in the dyno section it is marginally less restrictive than stock (if at all) and on higher HP (mid-high 400 rwhp) builds can rob 25+rwhp.

If you say "get a cutout" why even bother modding the car with anything but nitrous if you only care about having the performance at the track?
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by 3rdCoastPowerSports
Flowmaster makes some really nice AMERICAN sounding mufflers. I have run them on every corvette and camaro i have ever owned. I don't know why some people in the LS community hate on them so much. sorry OP no experience with there cat-back systems
They hate on them because they don't put out the same power as other cat backs. So they've gotten a bad rap. Of course, they're being compared to straight through type mufflers, so they're not going to do as well being that they're chambered. I think they sound really good. If I could get a pair to fit on my true duals on my 02 Camaro I would have them on there.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by badformulaLS1
So I found a flowmaster cat back for sale in my area for 100 bucks. Seems to be in great condition. I read a lot about how Flowmaster is very restrictive and all that. Is it that big of a difference compared to other systems? Is it worth it or should I save my money until I can afford something better?
For curiosity that catback is in WPB area ? If is that one it worth the price the it a true 3" catback and the condition is very good.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by badformulaLS1
Hows the volume with those? I really don't want be waking up the neighbors when I come home late and stuff. I was originally planning to go with magnaflow when I got the money but I found this deal on the flowmaster and figured why not get some opinions on it.
My dad has a 67 Camaro with a flow master on it and my car with the rumbler is just slightly louder, than it.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 07:40 PM
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if you plan on making serious power aka 500-1000rwhp. then no.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by I8UR4RD
if you plan on making serious power aka 500-1000rwhp. then no.
I do plan on making 500rwhp but not for several years. (right now I'm a broke teenager about to start college haha planning to have full bolt ons by the time I finish college then decide further plans from there)

Originally Posted by fastsspr
For curiosity that catback is in WPB area ? If is that one it worth the price the it a true 3" catback and the condition is very good.
Yep thats the one. Still torn on whether or not I should buy it.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 08:10 PM
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I had a flowmaster catback (80series)on mine when I first bought the car, I liked it for about a month.... Until I kept hearing every V8 truck with flowmaster. I didn't want to admit it but it sounded just them. Then loudmouth (much better) now duals. The sound with my old LM setup and my duals give it that race/nascar scream that flowmaster just cannot acheive. Throw headers on it and it sounds like F-150 with straight pipes..trash. Only flowmasters worth running are the super 10s.
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 08:13 PM
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Run a cutout if your worried about restriction. I love the sound of flowmaster
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