Yet another reason, I HATE FLOWMASTERS!!!!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

NSANE68!!! · 01-02-2003, 02:52 PM

I still have one of these $hit mufflers on my 95 Tahoe, I have'nt got around to changing it yet.

OK! Here's why I am *****ing. My Tahoe suddenly stopped making horsepower. I feared the worst, started checking plugs ect. Everything looked great. Come to find out the Flowmaster was bad.
I had noticed that it sounded a little more pingy than usual, so I had my buddy rev the motor while I was under the truck. Sure enough from the muffler was PING PA PING PA PING.
The baffles insed the muffler had broken off and would rattle their way back to block the exhaust passage, cutting horsepower. Kinda like a bad CAT.
I could'nt figure this one out for a while, cause it would run good one day then like crap the next.
I am attaching a pic of the inside of the mufflers, so you all will understand a little easier.

The reason I posted this is ALOT of people on here run them and I wanted to give a heads up to everyone using them. Just incase their truck quits performing. Then you won't be chasing your tail for 2 wk's like I was. I HATE FLOWMASTERS!!!

The Tahoe will be equiped with a Magnaflow this weekend, just like my 68.

I didn't post to offend. Just posting bad experience to share with all my Brother's and sister's. That's what this board is for.

**BIG ORANGE** · 01-02-2003, 03:02 PM

How old was it? Is there a warranty on them? Just wondering.

JoetheMobster · 01-02-2003, 03:07 PM

Or you can be like me, and run NO muffler!!!

Well, in my case it's next to no muffler! Half of it has rusted out, so in theory I have half a muffler, lol.

Haven't gotten stopped by the police yet, and my truck can be loud as hell.

JHickson6 · 01-02-2003, 03:18 PM

I'd have to agree with Joe, no mufflers are good, just throw a pipe in the back incase the cops pul you over. I said more than once to them, "Officer the pipe just broke off and I have an appointment with the muffler shop next week!" Most of them are too lazy to get down on the ground to notice the lack of mufflers under the car at all, plus the roads are all covered in slush. And my imaginary appointment with the muffler shop should have been like over a year ago, no tickets from the cops yet!!

Big69C20 Toy · 01-02-2003, 05:46 PM

sorry to hear that nsane. i've got a flowmaster under my blazer but i fear my cat is what's going out. no reason a 95 motor should barely pass 85 smog rules..

Mudder · 01-02-2003, 05:55 PM

As many Flowmasters that are out there theres gonna be problems with them from someone at some time. If they arent that old I'd call them or write them and let them know what happened. I would bet they take care of it if they arent that old.

Hooter · 01-02-2003, 10:19 PM

My chevelle ran off the Y-pipe for over a year. I can't remember where the exhaust system fell off, nor did I care

I think I am going with Dynamax on my Monte or what would be really nice, a chambered exhaust system, but I don't know where to find that system?

Ratpowerd67 · 01-02-2003, 11:32 PM

MAGNAFLOW RULES!. there the loudest muffler ive had yet! i love it.....

CoryM · 01-03-2003, 12:10 AM

I blew the guts out of my nice 50 series in my camaro through a few MASSIVE backfires. I am very impressed that the muffler case didnt split open, any thinner of a muffler would have. So as I go to efi (and stop backfiring) I will be buying another pair. I do think the 80 series are lower quality though if thats what ya had.
CoryM

>X< · 01-03-2003, 12:20 AM

i have the 40 series and thought they wee pretty indestructible. thanks for the tip man, one ore thing to check next time somehing breaks

72 CustomCamper · 01-03-2003, 12:35 AM

There's always the trusty old Glass Pack.

Chuck

**jerry moss** · 01-03-2003, 01:24 AM

i've been doing exhaust since the early 80s, flowmasters are a love/hate thing. you either love em or hate em, i hate em personally but they do sell. i also remove a lot of them and put them in the scrap bin.
if you look at a cut-away of one you'll see they are not as free flowing as advertised. they also hold heat really bad, i've redone 2 vehicles that were burned by flows and one was a 72 gmc longhorn---wood bed. thank god i didn't do either job the first time, i just redid them with different mufflers.
for free flowing mufflers magnaflows are tough to beat.

spinning wheels · 01-03-2003, 01:33 AM

I've been running my Flowmaster 40s for a while. Its loud, she sets off alarms all the time

Hooter, as for chambered exhaust, check out the new Summit catolog. I believe they are selling them in there.

Slammed67 · 01-03-2003, 01:56 AM

The guy at the exhaust shop I went to refered to them as "BLOWMasters"....... or in NSANE's case, "FlowBLOCKERS"!

Dynomax all the way!

Hooter · 01-03-2003, 03:00 AM

Sweeeet!
Now that will sound cool behind the 383 on the Monte!

nate68 · 01-03-2003, 02:03 PM

i've also heard that they get really hot. when i was in high school this kid caught his bed on fire with flowmasters

sakohntr · 01-05-2003, 11:53 AM

Dont forget about those retro "purple hornies"

72'BBGMCSGCC · 01-05-2003, 12:16 PM

Where can I buy the magnaflows and which ones do I use for my 402BB? Thank you

Low69CST · 01-05-2003, 12:28 PM

I would think you just got a bad muffler, never heard of that happening before, but i'll watch out with my 40 series.

nate68 · 01-06-2003, 02:10 PM

has anyone had problems with other brands of chambered style mufflers? i have flowtech terminators which are chambered but i havent had any problems. ive had them for 3 years

Hotrod70C10 · 01-07-2003, 03:01 PM

I had a set of 40 series on my 95 mustang gt. I had them for over two years with no problem.

NSANE68!!! · 01-07-2003, 03:29 PM

Well I got around to replacing the FLOWblocker

, with a new MAGNAFLOW. She runs like a CHAMP. When I cut out the flowmaster you could here it rattle when you shook it.

The MAGNAFLOW is a straight through 3" diameter (in most mufflers) no more chambers to worry about blocking flow. Plus the Magna's claim to out flow a chamberd muffler by OVER 100%. I guess it is only common sense though restrictions(chambered) no restrictions(MAGNAFLOW)

NSANE68!!! · 01-07-2003, 03:31 PM

72'BBGMCSGCC, go to www.magnaflow.com and click on the dealer locator.

Mudder · 01-07-2003, 03:32 PM

How do the magnaflows sound compared to the flowmasters?

NSANE68!!! · 01-07-2003, 03:34 PM

They sound GREAT! Nice low rumble, no in cab RESONANCE, and when you hit the fun pedal they ROAR. Someone posted a sound bite a week ago.

01-02-2003, 02:52 PM	#1
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	Yet another reason, I HATE FLOWMASTERS!!!!! I still have one of these $hit mufflers on my 95 Tahoe, I have'nt got around to changing it yet. OK! Here's why I am *****ing. My Tahoe suddenly stopped making horsepower. I feared the worst, started checking plugs ect. Everything looked great. Come to find out the Flowmaster was bad. I had noticed that it sounded a little more pingy than usual, so I had my buddy rev the motor while I was under the truck. Sure enough from the muffler was PING PA PING PA PING. The baffles insed the muffler had broken off and would rattle their way back to block the exhaust passage, cutting horsepower. Kinda like a bad CAT. I could'nt figure this one out for a while, cause it would run good one day then like crap the next. I am attaching a pic of the inside of the mufflers, so you all will understand a little easier. The reason I posted this is ALOT of people on here run them and I wanted to give a heads up to everyone using them. Just incase their truck quits performing. Then you won't be chasing your tail for 2 wk's like I was. I HATE FLOWMASTERS!!! The Tahoe will be equiped with a Magnaflow this weekend, just like my 68. I didn't post to offend. Just posting bad experience to share with all my Brother's and sister's. That's what this board is for. Attached Images __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

01-02-2003, 03:02 PM	#2
BIG ORANGE Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lancaster S.C. Posts: 4,764	How old was it? Is there a warranty on them? Just wondering. __________________ Things happen for a reason!

01-02-2003, 03:07 PM	#3
JoetheMobster Listening since '86 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 1,799	Or you can be like me, and run NO muffler!!! Well, in my case it's next to no muffler! Half of it has rusted out, so in theory I have half a muffler, lol. Haven't gotten stopped by the police yet, and my truck can be loud as hell. __________________ 2007 Saturn Aura - hey it WAS a GM product

01-02-2003, 03:18 PM	#4
JHickson6 I Love This Stuff! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 739	I'd have to agree with Joe, no mufflers are good, just throw a pipe in the back incase the cops pul you over. I said more than once to them, "Officer the pipe just broke off and I have an appointment with the muffler shop next week!" Most of them are too lazy to get down on the ground to notice the lack of mufflers under the car at all, plus the roads are all covered in slush. And my imaginary appointment with the muffler shop should have been like over a year ago, no tickets from the cops yet!! __________________ My Rides 1967 C10 In Pieces for now 1985 Ford B700 SourPuss Bus - BIG BLUE 2003 Silverado CITY WORKER YELLOW!!

01-02-2003, 05:46 PM	#5
Big69C20 Toy Livin' it up. Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Richland, MI Posts: 2,212	sorry to hear that nsane. i've got a flowmaster under my blazer but i fear my cat is what's going out. no reason a 95 motor should barely pass 85 smog rules.. __________________ -Greg; Sold the 69 C20. It's off to a better home with more love! Now onto the 86 CUCV M1009; K5 blazer with 6.2L diesel, corp 10 bolt axles, Detroit locker in the rear, trutrac front, 3.73 gears, 35" tires.

01-02-2003, 05:55 PM	#6
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	As many Flowmasters that are out there theres gonna be problems with them from someone at some time. If they arent that old I'd call them or write them and let them know what happened. I would bet they take care of it if they arent that old.

01-02-2003, 10:19 PM	#7
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	My chevelle ran off the Y-pipe for over a year. I can't remember where the exhaust system fell off, nor did I care I think I am going with Dynamax on my Monte or what would be really nice, a chambered exhaust system, but I don't know where to find that system? __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life

01-02-2003, 11:32 PM	#8
Ratpowerd67 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Trenton ,Texas Posts: 328	MAGNAFLOW RULES!. there the loudest muffler ive had yet! i love it.....

01-03-2003, 12:10 AM	#9
CoryM Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Surrey, B.C. , Canada Posts: 874	I blew the guts out of my nice 50 series in my camaro through a few MASSIVE backfires. I am very impressed that the muffler case didnt split open, any thinner of a muffler would have. So as I go to efi (and stop backfiring) I will be buying another pair. I do think the 80 series are lower quality though if thats what ya had. CoryM __________________ 1970 heavy duty C-10 fleetside sport truck. Vancouver B.C. Canada http://www.geocities.com/chevroletc1070 "Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high." Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, Canadian Army

01-03-2003, 12:20 AM	#10
>X< registered IWATA user Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 4,481	i have the 40 series and thought they wee pretty indestructible. thanks for the tip man, one ore thing to check next time somehing breaks __________________ -'63 Ford Fairlane 500 coupe, v8, auto, faded and rusty. awaiting built roller 302 and some flat black -'99 Honda Prelude. vtech/5spd. no pipe, no intake, bone stock. awaiting new top end. -01 GMC Yukon SLT 5.3 dented and scratched with a noisy tranny. Take off that Von Dutch hat before i stab you with a 000 Mack.

01-03-2003, 12:35 AM	#11
72 CustomCamper huh ??? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fredericksburg,Va. Posts: 3,368	There's always the trusty old Glass Pack. Chuck __________________ 90 Blazer Silverado 350w/ 700R4 and 32" Kelly's "I am a bomb technician. If you see me running try to keep up!"

01-03-2003, 01:24 AM	#12
jerry moss Born Psycho Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: brentwood,cal,usa Posts: 4,936	i've been doing exhaust since the early 80s, flowmasters are a love/hate thing. you either love em or hate em, i hate em personally but they do sell. i also remove a lot of them and put them in the scrap bin. if you look at a cut-away of one you'll see they are not as free flowing as advertised. they also hold heat really bad, i've redone 2 vehicles that were burned by flows and one was a 72 gmc longhorn---wood bed. thank god i didn't do either job the first time, i just redid them with different mufflers. for free flowing mufflers magnaflows are tough to beat. __________________ jerry moss 72 cheyenne super K20- tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,tow hooks,bumper guards,toolbox,aux. fuel tank,posi front and rear,plus other goodies!!! SOLD 69 suburban K20-tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,4 inch all spring lift,4 speed, 14 bolt full floater, dana 44 HD,warn winch,posi front and rear,tow hooks,plus other goodies. 73/80 chevy/gmc K20 SB400,turbo 400,205,tilt,a-c,gas hog. 77 K/5 cheyenne blazer-daily driver/beater. SON HAS IT NOW BRENTWOOD,CALIFORNIA

01-03-2003, 01:33 AM	#13
spinning wheels Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Hacienda Heights, California USA Posts: 474	I've been running my Flowmaster 40s for a while. Its loud, she sets off alarms all the time Hooter, as for chambered exhaust, check out the new Summit catolog. I believe they are selling them in there. __________________ '72 GMC custom camper 350/350

01-03-2003, 01:56 AM	#14
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	The guy at the exhaust shop I went to refered to them as "BLOWMasters"....... or in NSANE's case, "FlowBLOCKERS"! Dynomax all the way! __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

01-03-2003, 03:00 AM	#15
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	Sweeeet! Now that will sound cool behind the 383 on the Monte! __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life



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01-03-2003, 02:03 PM	#16
nate68 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: ca Posts: 1,110	i've also heard that they get really hot. when i was in high school this kid caught his bed on fire with flowmasters __________________ 68 short step, 406/700r4, 9" w/discs.

01-05-2003, 11:53 AM	#17
sakohntr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Floodwood Minnesota Posts: 1,057	alternative Dont forget about those retro "purple hornies" __________________ 1967 K30 Napco 292/SM420 original paint 30k miles 1968 K60 Napco 396/5spd. dbl frame 52" michelins 1969 K10 SWB GMC 454/4spd 6" 35's posi,hooks 1972 C30 longhorn,BB/AT,A/C,Tilt,Toolbox,lokr 1987 K20 Chevrolet Suburban. 6" lift. 5.7L/TH400 1979 K60 GMC Coleman 4x4, 427/Allison.

01-05-2003, 12:16 PM	#18
72'BBGMCSGCC Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fletcher,N.C U.S.A Posts: 162	Where can I buy the magnaflows and which ones do I use for my 402BB? Thank you

01-05-2003, 12:28 PM	#19
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	I would think you just got a bad muffler, never heard of that happening before, but i'll watch out with my 40 series. __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

01-06-2003, 02:10 PM	#20
nate68 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: ca Posts: 1,110	has anyone had problems with other brands of chambered style mufflers? i have flowtech terminators which are chambered but i havent had any problems. ive had them for 3 years __________________ 68 short step, 406/700r4, 9" w/discs.

01-07-2003, 03:01 PM	#21
Hotrod70C10 Low & Slow Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,047	I had a set of 40 series on my 95 mustang gt. I had them for over two years with no problem. __________________ 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside 4.5/6 drop

01-07-2003, 03:29 PM	#22
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	Well I got around to replacing the FLOWblocker , with a new MAGNAFLOW. She runs like a CHAMP. When I cut out the flowmaster you could here it rattle when you shook it. The MAGNAFLOW is a straight through 3" diameter (in most mufflers) no more chambers to worry about blocking flow. Plus the Magna's claim to out flow a chamberd muffler by OVER 100%. I guess it is only common sense though restrictions(chambered) no restrictions(MAGNAFLOW) Attached Images __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

01-07-2003, 03:31 PM	#23
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	72'BBGMCSGCC, go to www.magnaflow.com and click on the dealer locator. __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

01-07-2003, 03:32 PM	#24
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	How do the magnaflows sound compared to the flowmasters?

01-07-2003, 03:34 PM	#25
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	They sound GREAT! Nice low rumble, no in cab RESONANCE, and when you hit the fun pedal they ROAR. Someone posted a sound bite a week ago. __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

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