which Magnaflow to get?

[Gonzo]

I went to the Magnaflow site, and I'm not sure which one would be best. I have a '98 sohc sport. Magnaflow has: universal fit oval and round
xl turbo oval and round
What is the difference in sound/performance in the round or oval shape?
Then there is the question of what size to get. Is the size going to affect the sound that much?

 

[Alec]

My suggestion is to go to your local certified Magnaflow installer and tell them the sound you want. Usually they go with a medium sized oval muffler for our trucks.

 

[Gonzo]

Ok, I went to the Magnaflow dealer, and he quoted me $120 for a cat-back system. He showed me the muffler, and it didn't have any chambers. It just went straight through with some perforated tubing on the inside. He said that all Magnaflows are like that. Is this right? I don't want it to be super loud (not louder than the Flowmaster 40 series). Also, I have the sohc and the stock muffler is dual in, single out. Would it hurt anything to have them use a Y-pipe to make a single-in, single-out work?

 

[Nate1]

I got magnaflow muffler number 12280 on my '99 SOHC sport. Its a dual in single out muffler, 2" in 2.5" out. Its really 2.5" in / dual 2" out, but all magnaflows are reversable. If you do get a magnaflow on an SOHC, I HIGHLY reccomend you get a resonator at the same time. Magnaflows are very free flowing, so they resonate quite a bit on the SOHCs. With a resonator and a single 2.5" pipe mine sounds very peachy
A KKM true rev kit would make it sound even better.
Good luck!
-----Nate

 

[Alec]

What Nate said

 

[Gonzo]

Thanks for the input guys. I will probably be getting it tomorrow. The only thing is, I don't think they have the dual in, single out. If all they have is the single in, single out, would it hurt anything to use a y-pipe to make it work? Also, nweibley's is 18" long. would a 14" be louder/resonate more?

 

[Hokie]

I second what Nate said... I finally got a resonator on my Magnaflow and it is much better... deep and powerful but not resonant and earsplitting

 

[Gonzo]

Ok, so I guess I shouldn't try and make the single-in/out work. HokieBert, did you use the shortest magnaflow resonator you could find?

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by Gonzo
Ok, so I guess I shouldn't try and make the single-in/out work. HokieBert, did you use the shortest magnaflow resonator you could find?

I used the only resonator that a shop could order and could get in there... it took me about 10 different shops before I found one that could do it for me... They jerry rigged a resonator probably 12" long right after the muffler.

 

[Nate1]

Yeah, I got the standard 12" resonator from my shop too. It's no name. Just a silver cylinder. I'm pretty sure almost all resonators are created nearly equal. Personally, I would have them order a dual in muffler, it just seems right to do, since it came that way from the factory, BUT if you dont wanna wait the few days it would take, I dont see much harm in a Y pipe.
Good Luck!
-----Nate

 

[Gonzo]

Thanks everyone for all your help. Hopefully I can get it in tomorrow. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[Gonzo]

Ok, I just got it put on. I don't really like the chrome tip (I didn't know they were going to put it on). I went ahead and had them make a y-connector and used the single-in/out muffler with 2.5" pipe. I really wanted to see for myself what it sounded like with no resonator, so I skipped that part. I will probably end up getting one put on. There is definitely some resonance, and it even sounds a little ricey. Will the resonator get rid of the rice?

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by Gonzo
Will the resonator get rid of the rice?

I think letting the muffler break in will get rid of the rice. It'll take about a week I do believe. My resonator really just got rid of the earsplitting/headache causing drone/resonance at 2700-3000 rpm. I lost a little volume and a little 'throatiness' (which actually I kinda miss) but now its deep and powerfully mellow (if thats possible).. i'm trying to find different ways to describe it and haven't been able to.

Everyone who has ridden in my truck pre/post resonator say it sounds much better now so thats always a plus.

 

[Gonzo]

Thanks for all the replies. Y'all've been real helpful. I hope I didn't ask too many questions. I've done a ton of searching, but your info has helped more than anything. I guess I'll wait a while till I put on the resonator.

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by Gonzo
I hope I didn't ask too many questions.

Haha.. no worries, I think Alec got tired of answering me and nate's questions... So i try to help out where i can.

Man, I just drove my buddy's '01 Sport with the SOHC and factory exhaust... it sounded (well, lack thereof) wussy... Man did it make me realize how much I like my exhaust!

 

[Gonzo]

Ok, I got the resonator put on. It definitely got rid of most of the resonance, but there is still some at about 2500 rpm. It also cut the exhaust sound way down. I liked it better when it was louder, but the drone drove me nuts on the highway. I guess you can't have the best of both worlds. But if anyone out there knows how to keep it loud without too much resonance PLEASE let me know!

 

[Nate1]

Well you can run 2.25" piping and slash cut the end of the pipe without a tip, and that will decrease resonace naturally... however with the nature of the magnaflow mufflers, they are so free flowing that it is hard to get a 'flowmaster' type sound. Then again, keep in mind, this is a V6 truck.
-----Nate

 

[Hokie]

Feedback from Magnaflow...

Hey guys, here's an email I sent Magnaflow...

Subject: Resonator Availability?


I have a Magnaflow Truck XL 2.5" in/out muffler installed on my '99 Ford
Explorer Sport. I talked to the shop that did the installation and they
told me to go with Magnaflow versus other brands (Flowmaster) because I
would get good performance and less interior resonance. I am very unhappy
with my set up. The interior drone at 2700-3000 rpm's is all but unbearable
and I am further dis-statisfied by the shop that did the installation
(Radford Muffler ~ Radford, Va) due to their unwillingness to get my system
right. I am looking for a resonator that I can put on past the muffler.
Approximate dimensions are 10" long with a 2.5" inlet/outlet (but I will
settle for a 2.25" inlet/outlet). Does Magnaflow make something like this?
I was told by Radford Muffler that I would be able to get a resonator put on
my system, but they have never been willing to do it for me and no other
shops around can get a resonator for me. If I am unable to get a resonator,
I will cut out this horribly loud muffler and have a better one installed.
I thought I was getting a quality product from your reviews (and
endorsements), but I now think that your website is misleading, and I am
very dis-statisfied about the whole ordeal. I'm sorry for the nasty email,
but I've been fighting this problem for 5 weeks now and cannot find a
solution. Please tell me that I will be able to keep your product on my
truck and that I can find a solution that satisfy's me using my Magnaflow
muffler.

Brett Wilson
Blacksburg, Va

 

[Hokie]

And here's their response...

(this was received after I found a resonator for it)

Brett,
I am sorry to hear of your unfortunate experience with our mufflers.
However, we here at Magnaflow rarely suggest the XL Turbo series line of
mufflers due to the design, and resonance associated with its design. We
suggest only our straight through mufflers. I believe replacing the current
muffler with one of our straight through designs will make you much happier.
However, if you would liek to keep that muffler that you have on there then
you can add a resonator to help quiet the system down. The shortest
resonator I will have is a 14" body length. However, I don't believe the
resonator will provide as much dampening as I believe you are looking for.
As previously suggested I would suggest a straight through muffler such as a
5x11x22" muffler, or a 5x8x24" muffler. Please contact me if you have any
more concerns as I will be glad to help you out in any way I can. Thanks
for your interest in Magnaflow Performance. -Ellis


Ellis Lloyd
CarSound Exhaust Systems Inc.
Magnaflow Performance Exhaust
www.Car-Sound.com www.Magnaflow.com
(949) 858-5900 ext. 1143
Elloyd@Magnaflow.com

 

[Gonzo]

ARGH!

Sorry to bring this up again, but I just went on a short highway trip, and the Magnaflow drone is really annoying, even with the resonator on there. It's the most annoying at 2500 rpm, which just happens to be where it runs on the highway. I'm not sure what to do now, but I am seriously thinking about getting rid of it. I'm trying to decide whether I should go back to something that sounds like stock, or give flowmaster a try. I want to get the deepest sound I can. The Magnaflow has a buzz like a ricer. Can anyone help me?