Suggestions on a quiet muffler

[KDML]

So, I just finished up my frame off this month and I am already tired of the loud muffler I selected (apparently I am getting old). I was looking for something with a nice quiet rumble that would allow me to hear myself think on the highway. I also wanted something small enough so I could mount it high up, close to the body/frame. I selected the smallest round case muffler magnaflow sold, but it is too loud. My engine is a stock rebuilt 1974 302. My current exhaust setup consists of stock exhaust manifolds, running to a stock 2" Y-pipe (until I have time to fabricate something nicer), stepping up to the maganaflow muffler part #10416 which has a 2.5" single inlet and 2.5" single outlet. The tailpipe is 2.5" pipe turning down right past the rear end. Here is the link for the muffler

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MPE-10416&N=700+115&autoview=sku

Any thoughts on how to quiet this down? I would like to stick with the round case muffler since it is already positioned way up to the body and over to the frame. Would a larger round case magnaflow quiet things down? If I need to move to an oval case I will need something which has an offset inlet and outlet so I won't have to redo all of the pipe.

Thanks

 

[fordguy]

go look at summit turbos, i am pretty sure they have a round case. they are quiet and cheap. magnaflows cost too much to buy and then find out they are way to loud

 

[Madgyver]

I have been looking for quiet mufflers also and I have learned that there is no such thing. I too am interest what this thread turns up.

 

[jedblake]

My dad had a similar problem w/ a Flowmaster when he did his exhaust set-up on a 289. He switched to a Magnaflow and made world of difference. Nice and quite with a mild throaty sound when you get on it. You can't beat the workmanship, quality of material, etc. The Magnaflows I've seen are more rectangular oval in shape but the overall length looks the same as a round case.

 

[Mikey]

I will weigh in here since I have so many Fords...may or may not apply to Broncos but may help. I only put duals on my 302s/5.0Ls...

On my Bronco 2-1/4" duals with crossover rear exit, iron manifolds: Full Boars (kinda a FlowMaster knock off)....too loud but sound great...may change when I put on headers to quieter turbos.

On my 68 Cougar, 2 -1/4" duals no crossover, side exit, Hooker Comp headers: very long glass packs with 2-1/4" inlet/outlet....too loud but is my hot rod so love it...good classic hot rod sound.

On my 89 Mustang GT, stock 2-1/4" until after cats then 2-1/2": Not sure what brand of turbos with 2-1/4" inlet/outlet....these are absolutely perfect sound for a daily driver, not too loud, not too quiet. Nice rumble when I get on it and very minor drone at cruise. Perfect!

On my 86 Capri, stone stock 2-1/4": Mindas Gold lifetime turbos....a bit too quiet except during acceleration then you can hear a nice rumble...no drone at cruise...a step down in aggressive sounding from my 89.

Bottom line is for the nice rumble but not too loud, turbos are the way to go. There is a muffler I've seen that has a vacuum actuated switch that is supposed to allow you to switch loud and quiet...it's a form a turbo.

Good luck as exhaust noise is very subjective and different from vehicle to vehicle. One thing seems fairly constant, though, the older one gets the less noise you like.......man, never thought I'd be one of those guys!!!

My feel is Broncos are to get out there in nature and I wish mine was quieter. The 68 and 89 are my hot rods so need to be louder....86 is more of a cruiser so should be a notch quieter but not too quiet. My 95 Acura GSR is a ricer daily cummuter, fast and good mpg but I want zero noise from it....I HATE ricer noise!!! HATE it! Fart cannons should be outlawed! Ugh!!!

 

[Mikey]

Additionally, friend has an 89 GT...he started with the 2 chamber Flowmasters...both he and I hated it....the drone was awful! He changed to the 3-chamer and he's somewhat happy but I still think the drone is awful.

 

[Master Chief]

Additionally, friend has an 89 GT...he started with the 2 chamber Flowmasters...both he and I hated it....the drone was awful! He changed to the 3-chamer and he's somewhat happy but I still think the drone is awful.

I'll 2nd this one! Dual Flowmaster 50's tucked up high around the drive shaft sitting behind a set of L&L long tube heaers are great.

I removed a set of dual chamber mufflers installed by the PO because they reasonated so bad inside the rig I would get a headache.

With the Flowmasters on it, the sound inside is very comfortable and outside is a nice rumble...unless the skinny pedal is on the carpet.

Hope this helps.

 

[thumping]

Anyone try the flow master hush power?

http://www.hushpower.com/

 

[surfer-b]

KDML, the set-up I have on my 76 is the same as yours except the exit on the muffler is 2.25". I put a regular turbo on (I don't recall the brand name I picked it up at a local muffler shop) its almost as quiet as the stock system. The only problem, you may have to re-fab the system that connects and exits the muffler.

 

[moneypit77]

I have flowmaster 40 series delta flows on my mustang 289 and it is pretty quiet nice low rumble with out any interior drone (except the guy driving it) it 2 1/4 in and 2 in out. I have seen the hush powers in action my dad had them on his falcon and they sounded great not really a drone at all but when he swaped the stock 302 for a smedding 347 stroker it was the worst drone I had ever heard... ever you could not even hear yourself think I believe they were 2 1/2 in, the muffler shop guy said that he had never heard them sound like that and he has them on all of his cars, but none of his cars had 400horse either. dad then swaped the hushpoweres for the 40 series delta flows (the same ones I have on the mustang) and it eliminated most of the drone but not all. I think what it boils down to is you never know what you will end up with it all depends on the car, motor, size of pipe, and mufflers. I will probly go with the hush powers to replace my glasspacks, soon I hope I cant stand glasspacks anymore. hope this helps KC

 

[t.lay]

spintech - dual 2 1/2" in, single 3" out - exits to the rear. It's a good size box though - nice rumble, not annoying - but amps up when you stand on it. It's on the spendy end of the scale, but only had to buy it once.

 

[Ohio Bronco 21]

I think Summit Turbos with stock exhaust manifolds would work nice.

 

[tejayandtina]

I second the summit turbos. I bought this kit for my 99 150:

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2D684555&N=700+115&autoview=sku
The fittment was a little off but I am VERY happy with the sound. A little above quiet, but not too aggressive. I'd expect any of their turbos would sound similar. Price is right too.

 

[blubuckaroo]

I've herd that running a crossover will quiet a set of duals. Is that true?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I didn't get wrapped up in brand names. I went to a moofla shop that has an excellent reputation , told the guy I wanted a little rumble , but not much , but it still needs to flow well.
He suggested a RV type muffler and thats what I went with.
Exhaust is 2.25" to the Y then 2.5" thereafter. Bc's headers.

The sound and volume are perfect , a little throat that sounds great at idle and a very low rumble at hi-way speeds.
It is a kinda big muffler , but fits fine. It won't tuck away like those little loud bastards though. I haven't had any offroad issues with it though.

 

[phred]

I have a the magna flow BC sells and I find it a bit loud. Just finished running a 3" pipe put the rear just past the spring hanger and it helped some but it is still loud inside the truck. If I did it over and I will soon on my other truck I'll still use 2.5" into a "Y" to a 3" thrush fully welded turbo. I've had those on several trucks and they are not very loud at highway speeds.

 

[blackbeauty]

I swapped from a 3'' Full Boar to a 3'' Summit turbo muffler and now I can hear myself think while driving.;D I will never run another Full Boar/Flowmaster on a street vehicle again. They seem to be so much louder (annoying) at idle-2500rpm than the turbos, and I think the turbos have about the same sound at the higher rpms, where you want it.
FWIW, The only reasons I could see running the FB/FM, would be to drowned out the wife talking,;D and they should be tougher and last longer.

 

[fordguy]

i have run dual summit turbos on a 5.0 two things happen gains hp and it is really civil sound and at 17.95 each they are hard to beat.

 

[bigmuddy]

I just got a new exhaust put on my bronco. It's shorty headers, drivers side under the tranny and then both pipes down the pass side (2.25') then into a magnaflow muffler with a single 2.5 out to the spring hanger with a turn down. Really sound good around town without a lot of noise, on the highway its really not loud much until you get on it and even then it's just a nice throat exhaust sound.

Ben

 

[Trey Taylor]

Check out the Magnaflow XL series they claim you get the perf. without the sound I guess its their version of a turbo muffler. I friend of mine has them on his F-250 gas. You cant hear it until you stand on it and then just a sight rumble.