Thrush mufflers

[Garagedude]

So I went down to advanced auto today with the intention to buy a set of flow master super 40, So one of the guys came over and I told him what offset I want for the flow masters. So were talking and he says watch this and opens a Flow master super 40 and then opens a Thrush welded muffler and they look identical. Even the inside. He said that Thrush bought Flow master about 3 months ago, I have seen old Thrush mufflers and they don't look like super 40s, apparently when the bought Flow master their design changed. Hopefully the sound good.

[MonteSS454]

I haven't been able to find anything on the web about dynomax purchasing flowmaster, it may be the other way around or he was yanking your chain.

I work at O'Reilly's and I haven't heard anything about it.

[QKENUF4U]

http://www.thrushexhaust.com/action.asp

ICK !!

[special-K]

I never cared for Thrush quality.They`ve been bought and sold alot since the last time I checked them out.Their first non-glasspack was the Thrush Hush,a knock-off turbo muffler that lasted about a year,like their glasspacks.Back then it was the Walker Redline Z that I preferred or GM Corvair Turbos,the mother of all quite performance mufflers.
I don`t think Thrush is it`s own company to be buying any other companies.They are owned by Tenneco which would be Dynomax.I don`t know about who owns Flowmaster.

[MonteSS454]

I think Flowmaster is still family owned.

Flowtech, the makers of Raptors are owned by Holley

I know raptors sound good for the price, my dad has a set on his 40 Olds suicide door sedan that he dropped and it sounds mean (350/700R4 swap).

We all know what flows sound like, I would recommend them or the raptors from personal experience.

[PICKMUP]

Sometimes it seems like we don't like anything new on the market. The Thrush are a nice looking muffler: heavy gauge, nice welds, cool embossed logo & good price. Yes, I have some, so I have checked them out. I like them.

[dirtyd_nd]

I have had a set on an '89 for about 18 months now without a single problem. Most think they are Flowmasters until I tell them. Plus two Thrush cost a little more than one 40 series Flowmaster. As far as them buying Flowmaster. . . I doubt it. They are made in China so they probably just copied the 40 series. Who knows. . . I just like saving the money and still getting what I want.
Dale

[eseaton]

thrus are ok but I prefer flows, I work at Autozone and have heard nothing about a buyout.

[special-K]

Just to clarify,I was speaking in past tense about my dislioke and bad experience with Thrush.When I (and most everybody) was using them,I just didn`t get their popularity when there were better options.But,those didn`t come with a cool woodpecker sticker.Yeah,I even had an attitude about them...back in the early`70s.I also gave a slight/partial overview of the muffler scene,all from "my" perspective.
I have had no recent experience with Thrush.It`s just a name.I don`t have a like or dislike for them.When I look for mufflers I look for quality of construction because,"I hate doing exhaust work!" I`d look them over the next time around.I`ve seen them in catalogs and noticed Thrush offered a simular design/construction to ones that are known to be quality.We all know when you have bad experiences with a company it leaves a bad taste for a long time.It`s not even the same company.The name survives for nostalgia,I believe,and I`m sure that`s the only thing that remains from back in the`70s.
I`d never tell someone what to buy.Just give what knowledge I know.This site is divided between great info and plain old garage talk.You need to read between the lines and make your own decision.Some see it as unneccessay clutter.I see it as good broad information.

[Mudder]

I had a set back in the day. I just know they were loud and burnt out fast. No pipes behing them. That's why I am looking for a different frame.

[Slik69]

Originally Posted by MonteSS454

I haven't been able to find anything on the web about dynomax purchasing flowmaster, it may be the other way around or he was yanking your chain.

I work at O'Reilly's and I haven't heard anything about it.

I did hear from an employee at Kragen that they were just recently bought by O'Reilly's. I live in an area where there are none.. I am just hoping they will show up here on the westcoast soon. Seems like a nice parts store for all our older cars. They are growing.. fast!

[Slik69]

I too will be going down this road soon in terms of replacing mufflers. I want to add a set of headers, but need some recommendations on mufflers. Right now everyhing underneath (as far as exhaust goes) is rusted out. Also should I go 2 1/2 or 2/1/4, This is a stock motor either a 350 or 327. I want a nice cool truck sound, but I do not want the loudness of flowmasters. I willread up on the 40's though.

[Garagedude]

Slik69
Re: Thrush mufflers
I too will be going down this road soon in terms of replacing mufflers. I want to add a set of headers, but need some recommendations on mufflers. Right now everyhing underneath (as far as exhaust goes) is rusted out. Also should I go 2 1/2 or 2/1/4, This is a stock motor either a 350 or 327. I want a nice cool truck sound, but I do not want the loudness of flowmasters. I willread up on the 40's though.

I went with 2 and 1/2 inch, 3inch is way to much for me, It sounds like you would probably be fine with 2 and 1/2 you want to have some back pressure. I am going to finish my exhaust this weekend hopefully the Thrush sound good, because if the don't then, I am going to put the Flow master super 40s like my original idea. The Thrush mufflers were only 80 bucks for the set so if they don't sound good isn't that big of a deal.

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

No, Flowmaster is still owned by Flowmaster. Thrush is owned by Tenneco, just a cheap copy of Flowmaster!!

[MonteSS454]

I know that O'Reilly's just "merged" with CSK and now we'll have stores on the west coast, we don't have any in the North east yet.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Slik69

I too will be going down this road soon in terms of replacing mufflers. I want to add a set of headers, but need some recommendations on mufflers. Right now everyhing underneath (as far as exhaust goes) is rusted out. Also should I go 2 1/2 or 2/1/4, This is a stock motor either a 350 or 327. I want a nice cool truck sound, but I do not want the loudness of flowmasters. I willread up on the 40's though.

I`d recommend 2 1/4" duals with a stock SBC.
We don`t have O`Rielly`s either.

[Garagedude]

well I finish putting the exhaust together today and it actually sounds really good I wasn't sure what it would sound like I have oways ran it open header.

[Slik69]

Not to high jack, but what headers work for a 6 9c/10 v8 Please provide brand and part numbers.

[Garagedude]

I am running a cheap set of summit headers. Some of the other guys probably can tell you about better headers. There not a bad set though just not the best.