Mufflers

[Joetown Parrothead]

I have a 1980 Big 10 Scottsdale I am redoing. What would be a great sounding muffler?

Thanks
BR

[kipps]

There's a recent discussion on mufflers in the LS-swap page. Look under "Engine & Drivetrain," and you'll find the LS swap section.

Your question is too vague for any easy answers. Mufflers are always a trade off between several criteria. Loud, quiet, deep tone, raspy, drone, de-accel cackle, etc.

If your goal is something cheap that meets legal requirements, take the truck to an exhaust shop, and have them weld in a single glasspack muffler. It will cackle a bit on de-acceleration, but the glasspacks sound nice otherwise. With single exhaust, it won't be blatantly too loud either.

[Joetown Parrothead]

Thank you... nothing cheap, something deep & raspy... I look for the other thread, I appreciate it.

[Loco83]

Flows on my 83.

[Nick_R_23]

Stay away from chamber style mufflers, such as Flowmasters. Perforated core, flow through style mufflers, such as a full body Magnaflow, will have great sound, no drone, and no loss in power.

[kipps]

Originally Posted by Nick_R_23

Stay away from chamber style mufflers, such as Flowmasters. Perforated core, flow through style mufflers, such as a full body Magnaflow, will have great sound, no drone, and no loss in power.

I've been looking at muffler options for the truck in my signature. I intend to run single exhaust, and was thinking the Flowmaster 50 or Flowmaster 70 would fit my needs the best. Would you recommend an alternative that flows better, but is still similarly quiet? Can the magnaflow function as a nearly-stock muffler, or are they always going to be loud and noticeable?

[Nick_R_23]

Just about anything will outflow a Flowmaster, to be honest.

I would personally recommend the Magnaflow SS (street series) muffler. They’re stainless bodied, perforated core, flow through design, and usually run a little over $100. They also come in multiple sizes, but the most popular being 14” and 18”, with the obvious difference being physical size and sound level. I’ve ran both, the 14” tends to have a decent rumble at all times - not loud, but you know you definitely have an exhaust, and can be a little much on long trips. For a quieter daily driver, I would probably go with 18”.

I know this is like a dirty word in the hot ridding world, but a catalytic converter can also tone down an exhaust system if you need to take a little bit more edge off of an otherwise nice sounding muffler. Magnaflow makes some very nice high flow units.

[kipps]

Originally Posted by Nick_R_23

I know this is like a dirty word in the hot ridding world, but a catalytic converter can also tone down an exhaust system if you need to take a little bit more edge off of an otherwise nice sounding muffler.

I am actually planning to install cats on this truck. I picked up a set of low-mile cats from a 2010 Camaro. The driver's side fits nearly perfect. The passenger side will need to be rearranged to clear the driveshaft. If those fail at some point, I may look into a single high-flow cat, but for now I'll stick with these stock units.

On a related note, what do you know about resonators? The donor Tahoe had a resonator just before the end of the tail pipe. I've heard of putting them in front of the muffler as well. What purpose do they serve, and why would I want or not want one?

[Nick_R_23]

Those are really personal preference. They will affect the sound slightly, but they’re more there to attempt to eliminate any droning in your exhaust system. There’s a lot of theory that builds on exhaust drone, but for the most part, modern firing orders/cylinder pulsing, quality exhaust systems, retaining catalytic converters and mufflers, and mostly equal length pipes mean that it’s likely not a worry you’ll have to face.

If you want to leave yourself open to the option, you could always ensure that your exhaust has a small straight section that would make it easy to add one down the road if you decide you want to.

[MJN]

I have Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers on my '74 and really like them. Nice low rumble at idle, get a little louder accelerating but quiet cruising. They don't rap or cackle. My neighbor told me he knows when I get on it but its not annoying or loud.

[old Rusty C10]

there was a muffler on jegs that was about $48 which is a magnaflow knockoff had em on my 76 and it sounded great

[Rich84]

I put Flowmaster 40's on my truck. I could not stand the drone or the sound. It drove me crazy. Added resonators in front of them and it made a world of difference. Nice idle, good tone on acceleration and no drone.

[kwmech]

Single 3'' pipe out the back through a magnaflow

[Loco83]

Same here 3'' single exhaust, 3" Magnaflow cat and Flowmaster 40 series dumped in front of axle.

[fordguy40]

2.25" dual exhaust w/h-pipe, stock 350 manifolds, no cats, and Thrush Hush mufflers. Quiet, but also a bit raspy when getting on it (kind of reminds me of a UPS truck).

[kwmech]

Is a catalytic convertor required on a 1980 in MO?

[4u2nv]

I have a 350 in mine with headers and duels with flowmaster Raptors , nice and quit and gets a nice bark when you slam it .

[Joetown Parrothead]

Originally Posted by MJN

I have Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers on my '74 and really like them. Nice low rumble at idle, get a little louder accelerating but quiet cruising. They don't rap or cackle. My neighbor told me he knows when I get on it but its not annoying or loud.

Thanks