40 series or 50 series

Arsenik111 · #1 01-05-2005, 06:20 PM

On all of the muffler ads i read, the 40 series is the loudest and best sounding flowmaster muffler in its production line and the 50 series is milder, but my american thunder system came with a 50 series, so im assuming it is the 50 series is the loudest and best sounding for my particular 6.0 litre engine. but i want to know from other people who have flowmaster mufflers/exhaust, which is louder and better sounding?

Silverado Brethern · #2 01-05-2005, 07:09 PM

Origional 40 series is louder and deeper than the 50 series. I think with the "flowmaster systems" you can sometimes get the option of a 2 or 3 chamber muffler, the less restriction (chambers) the louder it will be. As far as i know the 40 is a 2 chamber and the 50 is a 3 chamber.

airjam18 · #3 01-05-2005, 08:12 PM

I have a flowmaster 40 series on my 2000 5.3 with two 4" tips out the side, it is simply beautiful when it comes to sound. My buddy has a '99 with a 5.3 and a 50 series flowmaster with the same tips out the side and mine is definitely louder. his 50 series has a nice growl to it when you punch it but is is still a milder sound compared to my 40 series. the 40's are a little deeper and they resonate more. I just went yesterday and had a cutout installed on my pipes. It makes a nice difference too. I would definitely reccomend that if you want the loudest sound possible. I can't say for sure what the truck would sound like with only a cutout on it, b/c i still have some of the exhaust gases coming from my 40 series but some of the gases are bypassed through the cutout. it sounds like those 69 camaro's running straight pipes.

Silverado Brethern · #4 01-05-2005, 08:54 PM

...just what exactly is a cut-out and how does it work?

airjam18 · #5 01-05-2005, 11:11 PM

A cutout is a quick and easy way to run open headers when you want and still go back to a normal muffler when you need the less aggressive sound. Its basically like a "V" that is cut into the exhaust pipe between the cat and the muffler and it has a cover on one end that you unscrew to run straight pipes. The exhaust then bypasses the muffler and comes straight out. Supposedly there's a loss of power on the low end but a gain in the high rpm band. I did in fact notice this, especially tonight. I was really surprised when i went for a quick ride and got on the highway. I entered at about 40 mph and punched it. boy did this truck jump, from about 3700 RPM i just went flying. it definitely had a noticeable kick in acceleration. when it's open the truck is a bit more sluggish right off the line but the sound is really worth it!!! There are companies that make electric controls for the cutouts so you can open/close them when you drive but from many friends' bad experiences with burned motors i stuck with a normal one. Here are some pics:
Http://www.quicktimeperformance.com/QTEC/

Silverado Brethern · #6 01-05-2005, 11:17 PM

hmm...im interested. so it would be put between the cat and muffler, why not before the cat?

airjam18 · #7 01-05-2005, 11:27 PM

Actually, I don't know. I'm sure you can put it before the cat, most do it after. I put it after the cat so I wouldn't have to redo my whole exhaust. Just fit better that way. The cats on our trucks are way up in the front under the cab. I also didn;t want to worry about getting exhaust fumes up into the cab. I looked around to buy a cutout they're anywhere from like $30-$75. You can find online for about 30 bucks which is worth it. then go to an exhaust shop willing to do it and they'll weld it for about $30. I just custom fabricated it by cutting a hole on the bottom of the exhaust pipe and welding in a 4" pipe cut and bent to fit the hole. then i welded a triangular sleeve around the pipe end with a matching steel plate that screws in and out for easy open/close. Took about 20 mins. If you're in the Dallas area there's a custom place that'll do the same thing. It came out to be the exact same thibng that they sell. When I go for inspection I'll just cap it up and no one will ever know!!!

airjam18 · #8 01-06-2005, 03:51 PM

Rob is definitely right about the resonance in the cab. Flowmasters are notorious for their drone at around 2000 rpm's on most v8's. Mine is pretty loud in the cab at 1800-2200 rpm's and with the cutout its even louder(way louder). For me it works alright, but when i do have others in the back seat it can get a little annoying. Definitely consider interior resonance. B/w the 40's and 50's the interior sound isn't that much different as they are both pretty loud inside.

Silverado Brethern · #9 01-06-2005, 06:28 PM

Yeh honestly the inside cab noise doesnt bother me at all now, and i doubt it will open either. The only thing i thought about was if you put them before the cats it might throw a few faulty codes that can be annoying to get rid of. the only reason i want them is cuz its somethin to do that cheap and easy, $60+sawzaw+welder=much loudness!

silveradoman · #10 01-06-2005, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverado Brethern

hmm...im interested. so it would be put between the cat and muffler, why not before the cat?

The cats usually give you a mor pleasing sound than if you put them before the cats, they help to take care of some unpleasant frecuencies believe me, when I bought the truck it had a Cherry Bomb (yeah I know I know) but it honestly didn´t sound that bad, but when the cats got plugged up i just took them off. Well I cannot describe with words the actuall crappiness of the sound coming out of it after the cats were off, I didn´t have much cash at the time so I took the bomb off and welded a stock muffler on it until I can buy the whole catback system.

Arsenik111 · #11 01-07-2005, 12:41 PM

but isnt the interior noise of the 40 series really annoying?

Silverado Brethern · #12 01-07-2005, 05:13 PM

i dont find it to be...turn the radio up about half way and i cant even tell the truck is running. but i am gonna get some cut-outs as soon as i figure out what size my pipes are.

airjam18 · #13 01-07-2005, 07:54 PM

When I first installed my 40 series, the interior noise was pretty loud but not the point of annoyance. When I installed the lift I moved the muffler further back and now it resonates a bit less. It still sounds fine. You can have a conversation in the truck on the highway so its ok.

Slowprocess · #14 01-08-2005, 12:23 AM

I have 2- 3" QTP electric cutouts right out of my header. I love these things!!!! Definately fun to play with at gas stations, especially with the huge loping cam!!!!!

I'll run them open until I see a cop, then hit the little button and close them up. It confuses the hell out of them!!!! I really need to get you guys a sound clip of the truck with the cutouts open. It really does sound unbelievable!!!

airjam18 · #15 01-08-2005, 09:32 AM

Slowprocess, Have the QTP's worked well for you? I've been looking for an electric cutout and I haven't heard the best things about the QTEC. I was looking at the DMHPerformance cutouts. I definitely need to get an elctric cover for my cutouts because they can get really loud. Whenever there's a cop I gotta let off the throttle and slowly ease across traffic and turn away.

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