LIL SS

iTrader: (9)

I'm looking for a weld in mufler (Not a complete catback) that isn't too loud. I was thinking a Flowmaster or a Hooker.. Does either one flow better than the other? And is one that much louder than the other? Thanks in advance for the answer to a lame question.

Damian

iTrader: (89)

There is no question that the Hooker aerochamber muffler puts the Slowmaster muffler to shame. The Hooker design flows EXTREMELY well. Jason99T/A on the board only lost ~3 hp through the muffler, compared to a cutout.

Flowmaster mufflers are made for sound, not power. I personally saw a guy gain 11 rwhp switching his Flowmaster for a Random Tech system.


Josh

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Flowmaster flows just fine. I’ve had both track and dyno gains on many cars with Flowmasters. People just like to bash it because it’s cheap and common.

2000LS1Z28

If you want a little more power, go with the Hooker.

If you want a louder and better sound, go with the Flowmaster.

You can't go wrong either way.

Mike

2000SS

hooker will work fine and its not too loud!!!

Damian

iTrader: (89)

[quote]Originally posted by RPM WS6:
<strong>Flowmaster flows just fine. I’ve had both track and dyno gains on many cars with Flowmasters. People just like to bash it because it’s cheap and common.</strong><hr></blockquote>


I didn't say "ALL" Flowmasters flow like crap, but the chambered design for the f-bodies aren't worth spitting on. I have several friends who do back to back dyno's with that exhaust, and gain power by switching everytime. Their mufflers are like loud corks. No pun intended, glad to hear they're working for you!


Josh

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

[quote]Originally posted by Damian:
<strong>


I didn't say "ALL" Flowmasters flow like crap, but the chambered design for the f-bodies aren't worth spitting on. I have several friends who do back to back dyno's with that exhaust, and gain power by switching everytime. Their mufflers are like loud corks. No pun intended, glad to hear they're working for you!


Josh</strong><hr></blockquote>

I haven’t done any dyno testing on an LS1, but on my friends ’91 Formula 350 which uses the same crossflow 80 series design, he picked up 11 RWHP over stock with a Flowmaster muffler only, and when he switched to a Magnaflow (which is supposed to be one of the best) he only picked up 3 more RWHP at peak, and nothing really measurable under the curve. For the better sound of the FM, I’ll give up the 3rwhp. I have a friend that had an 80 series FM muffler on his ’00 Z28 and he lost .5mph of trap speed when he took it off and put a loudmouth catback on, so I don’t think they flow as bad as some seem to say. Granted, that wasn’t on the same day at the track, but the weather was actually worse for the FM run, so who knows <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0">

IMHO, all the mufflers perform about the same. Just get what you like the sound and price of the best.

LS1powerN20

[quote]Originally posted by 2000LS1Z28:
<strong>If you want a little more power, go with the Hooker.

If you want a louder and better sound, go with the Flowmaster.

You can't go wrong either way.

Mike</strong><hr></blockquote>

what 2000LS1Z28 said

Larry

iTrader: (4)

I had a Flowmaster and A Hooker in my hands when I decided on the Hooker. The Flowmaster for our LS1's is necked down internally whereas the Hooker is the same ID as the inlet tubing. Both are the same size so with the Flowmaster necked down it just can't flow as good as the Aerochamber. When I run a pass through my Hooker muffler and then compare et to having my cutout open, I get very little et improvement with the cutout. This tells me the Hooker is flowing pretty good. I don't know what the other guys are basing thier comparisions on but I have very closed measureed ID's and of both. Go with the Hooker for best flow.

msce2b-dustin

I did several back to back runs one night at the local 1/8 mile track and the flowmaster was costing me .15+ every run as compared to running a cutout. This is a big difference in the 1/8 mile. I would make a run, stop only to cap or uncap and then line up and run and just like clock worth my car would slow down. mph was always down 2 also. This was back when I was still bolt on so it wasn't like I was flowing a ton. I'm running hooker now.

Jason99T/A

iTrader: (21)

As Josh said, I really like the Hooker catback. It is cheap, fits great, and sounds awesome! One of my favorite LS1 catbacks.

Jason

LIL SS

iTrader: (9)

[quote]Originally posted by msce2b-dustin:
<strong>I did several back to back runs one night at the local 1/8 mile track and the flowmaster was costing me .15+ every run as compared to running a cutout. This is a big difference in the 1/8 mile. I would make a run, stop only to cap or uncap and then line up and run and just like clock worth my car would slow down. mph was always down 2 also. This was back when I was still bolt on so it wasn't like I was flowing a ton. I'm running hooker now.</strong><hr></blockquote>

What is the difference with the hooker and uncapping?

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

I had a 3" single in/out flowmaster welded in place of my stock muffler with only a 3" driver outlet. Car went from 13.45 to 13.36 with no other changes. Draw your own conclusions. BTW, it's an auto car and since I see a lot of highway driving, I didn't want the damned drone at 2300 rpms. The flowmaster is nice, just a few notes above stock at speed, most of the noise is at idle, like I wanted it <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[Burnout]" />

Derek

Chris G

[quote]Originally posted by RPM WS6:
<strong>

Yeah, I know that some of you have already formed an opinion about this that is unbreakable. A company as big as Flowmaster is bound to have enemies and supporters, so that’s fine. I just don’t see the proof in my personal testing. My opinion is as strong as yours, only with the opposite conclusion.</strong><hr></blockquote>

That's cool man. It would be a very boring world if everyone had the same opinions and setups on their cars. I personally saw no gains with the Flowmaster muffler compared to the stock one. I also gained quite a bit by bypassing the Flowmaster with the cutout. You certainly can't overlook Flowmaster's past success, but I also don't think that their 80 series crossflow muffler is the hot ticket for a strong running LS1, IMO.

Chris G

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

[quote]Originally posted by Chris G:
<strong>

It would be a very boring world if everyone had the same opinions and setups on their cars. </strong><hr></blockquote>

I couldn’t agree more about this one!!! <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

BIGBOS

Yea same here.. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

Damian

iTrader: (89)

Group hug!

Chris G

My Flowmaster 80 series muffler was good for nothing other than a boat anchor. I gained over .2 and 2mph at the track when I uncapped the cutout. I ditched that whole setup and bought a SLP resonator and now run just as fast through the catback as I used to with the cutout wide open.

That Blowmaster muffler didn't even sound very good and it didn't flow any better than stock. It was a true POS and I will never buy another one.

Chris G

Damian

iTrader: (89)

[quote]That Blowmaster muffler didn't even sound very good and it didn't flow any better than stock. It was a true POS and I will never buy another one.<hr></blockquote>


AMEN Brotha!!! <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

[quote]Originally posted by Chris G:
<strong>My Flowmaster 80 series muffler was good for nothing other than a boat anchor. I gained over .2 and 2mph at the track when I uncapped the cutout. I ditched that whole setup and bought a SLP resonator and now run just as fast through the catback as I used to with the cutout wide open.

That Blowmaster muffler didn't even sound very good and it didn't flow any better than stock. It was a true POS and I will never buy another one.

Chris G</strong><hr></blockquote>

Maybe that’s what your tests show, but mine have been very different. Besides, you really can’t compare an 80 series muffler only to a full catback with a mandrel bend over the axle and a 3” I pipe. Of course there will be gains when you add all of that up.

They certainly flow better than stock in every test that I've ever done or witnessed. I'm sure that some other mufflers might flow 3-5 hp better, but that's within a dynos margin of error so it's hard to really tell.

Sound is subjective. Many people like how it sounds.

I still stand behind my statement. They all flow about the same, give or take a few hp.