User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 12/10/2014 11:59:03 PM EDT
[#1]
Flowmaster is cheap crap. I know, I've owned them.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 12:03:14 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Flowmaster is cheap crap. I know, I've owned them. What makes you say that? |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 12:07:24 AM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted: What makes you say that? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Flowmaster is cheap crap. I know, I've owned them. What makes you say that? Raw materials for any sort of good exhaust are going to cost more than $300. Maybe you can get the welding done for $300. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 12:12:08 AM EDT
[#4]
Flowmaster was cheap for me too
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 12:15:06 AM EDT
[#5]
I was asking why y'all found flowmasters "cheap" poor craftsmanship/ welds? Materials?
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 12:22:05 AM EDT
[#6]
I currently own 4 sets of Flowmasters. I didn't know there were exhaust elitists around, but this thread sure proves.
I build cars and attend many events. I see that a very large portion of the specialty car industry uses Flowmasters. They must be wrong. Maybe Magpul has a better plastic version. I don't recall that any of mine are stamped or embossed, and the early ones had 'inlet' as a stick on label. They were originally painted steel, but most are either aluminized or fully stainless these days. As far as them being crap, I abused a set in a severe duty towing application for several years. I had to tow over a mountain every weekend. They ruled. If you are driving a pussy-ass Ford 2-seater or some other little bitch ride, Flowmasters will rattle your teeth loose. In that case, make sure you have the proper paint matching skirt, Coach purse, and some vagina mufflers like Borla or some other shit you see in Cosmopolitan magazine.  I have heard some of the cheap, ebay chinese flowmaster copies. I don't know how they are for longevity, but they actually sound pretty good. I intend to buy a couple single chambered ones for the NASCAR engine I will be firing up very soon. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 12:25:52 AM EDT
[#7]
The knockoff flowmasters are built just the same as the real thing in my experience, I would only be upset if he charged you $80 for it instead of $30.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 12:28:55 AM EDT
[#8]
http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/?page_id=11060
It does look like they are embossed these days. I don't think the older ones were, and your guy may have had old stock. If they sound good, just run them. I have bought a couple used Flowmasters and have no issues with them. I don't think you can wear them out, but I don't live in the rust belt.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 12:35:44 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I currently own 4 sets of Flowmasters. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 12:38:25 AM EDT
[#10]
Flowmasters sound awesome!
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 1:03:15 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Flowmaster is cheap crap. I know, I've owned them. I'll second this. There are better mufflers; though it's just the same as ford vs chevy, remington vs savage. Like wildearp posted, older were not stamped. I've had cheaper shit, I have more expensive shit. If its sound good, run it. If you call out your mechanic, gonna need a new one. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 1:21:53 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'll second this. There are better mufflers; though it's just the same as ford vs chevy, remington vs savage. Like wildearp posted, older were not stamped. I've had cheaper shit, I have more expensive shit. If its sound good, run it. If you call out your mechanic, gonna need a new one . Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Flowmaster is cheap crap. I know, I've owned them. I'll second this. There are better mufflers; though it's just the same as ford vs chevy, remington vs savage. Like wildearp posted, older were not stamped. I've had cheaper shit, I have more expensive shit. If its sound good, run it. If you call out your mechanic, gonna need a new one . Yeah that's what I'm thinking now. No need to stir the shit with the mechanic that passes my inspection without hassle 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 1:29:14 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yeah that's what I'm thinking now. No need to stir the shit with the mechanic that passes my inspection without hassle Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Flowmaster is cheap crap. I know, I've owned them. I'll second this. There are better mufflers; though it's just the same as ford vs chevy, remington vs savage. Like wildearp posted, older were not stamped. I've had cheaper shit, I have more expensive shit. If its sound good, run it. If you call out your mechanic, gonna need a new one . Yeah that's what I'm thinking now. No need to stir the shit with the mechanic that passes my inspection without hassle Probably the best way to handle it. Unless he was giving you a screamin' deal, you probably did end up with a knock off. My mechanic just quoted me 400.00 for a 3" cat back using a fake Flowmaster. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 1:37:53 AM EDT
[#14]
Well at least I didn't get ripped off price wise. 300$ for the muffler and welding with tips not too bad
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 8:04:32 AM EDT
[#15]
Did you tell him you wanted the real thing? That along will be close to $100 by itself.
No way he did the job for $300 using the real one. Most people just want the sound anyway. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 10:12:57 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Flowmasters sound awesome! Yes they do but they won't last long. Maybe if you buy stainless but then the price is so ridiculously high you might as well buy something that sounds even better. I switched from FM to Borla on my Vette and I couldn't be happier. The Borlas have already lasted over twice as long as the FMs and they sound even better. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 10:21:19 AM EDT
[#17]
I bought a Flowmonster once, and it was every bit the same as a Flowmaster except for the stampings. The good thing was it was only $40.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 10:37:51 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I was asking why y'all found flowmasters "cheap" poor craftsmanship/ welds? Materials? Junk. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 11:57:48 AM EDT
[#19]
I told him I wanted flowmasters. He didn't ask if I wanted the real thing or not. Oh well. It sounds good
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 1:11:33 PM EDT
[#20]
Go Borla,,wont be any mistake on what you have.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 2:36:07 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yes they do but they won't last long. Maybe if you buy stainless but then the price is so ridiculously high you might as well buy something that sounds even better. I switched from FM to Borla on my Vette and I couldn't be happier. The Borlas have already lasted over twice as long as the FMs and they sound even better. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Flowmasters sound awesome! Yes they do but they won't last long. Maybe if you buy stainless but then the price is so ridiculously high you might as well buy something that sounds even better. I switched from FM to Borla on my Vette and I couldn't be happier. The Borlas have already lasted over twice as long as the FMs and they sound even better. The stainless Flowmasters seem to hold up pretty well. I prefer Vibrant in that price category, though. Borla is too rich for my blood. But then again, I am usually lookimg to fix busted up exhaust systems, not replace them with something high end. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 3:00:17 PM EDT
[#22]
My crappy 10 year old flowmasters, which are still working and looking great btw, have the following markings embossed on them:
On the endcap : Inlet On the body, but only on the side with the seam: Flowmaster emblem and the US and other patent numbers. One of my mufflers was installed with the seam up, and these marking cannot be seen from underneath without a mirror. Make sure you look at the side with the seam. My markings were still clearly visible, even though the mufflers are ten years old and obviously crappy. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 3:54:56 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I told him I wanted flowmasters. He didn't ask if I wanted the real thing or not. Oh well. It sounds good Sounds like you got ripped off, but then again......."Flowmasters" has become a generic term for cheap hi flow mufflers, in the same way "Cherry Bombs" became the generic term for glass pack bullet type mufflers. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 4:00:25 PM EDT
[#24]
I only use custom palladium coated Ti mufflers on my rides and look down my nose at you lowly Flowbastards.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 7:56:59 PM EDT
[#25]
Blowmasters?
Why would you purposely put those on a vehicle? |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/11/2014 8:15:41 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Go Borla,,wont be any mistake on what you have. I have had Borla before but the one thing I did not like was the welded on exhaust tip. Living in salt country the tips start to rust pretty fast. Now I just put on a stainless steel Banks cat back and I really like it a lot. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/12/2014 1:30:32 AM EDT
[#27]
Thanks all for the replies. I'll upgrade eventually when I'm no longer a broke college kid. The X pipes always seem to have a nice sound on YouTube
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/12/2014 11:57:29 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thanks all for the replies. I'll upgrade eventually when I'm no longer a broke college kid. The X pipes always seem to have a nice sound on YouTube If you are a broke college kid, the why are you blowing the cost of a textbook on a fashion exhaust system? Degree then income then fashion toys 
Sound good on youtube??? WhiskyTangoFoxOver??? AANNnnd how do rifle shots sound on youtube compared to real life??? Some sounds just do not record and playback well. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/12/2014 2:29:00 PM EDT
[#29]
There's a local shop that specializes in exhaust and he has real Flowmasters and knock offs...supposedly, Flowmaster's patent expired a while back so other companies started copying them. From what he showed me, there doesn't appear to be any discernible differences in the mufflers aside from the box, but I'm not sure if the material quality is the same for longevity. FWIW, I have a Flowmaster on my Camaro that has been around since 2001; it was on my first one and when I scrapped it I took that system off for my current one. It's held up just fine.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/12/2014 4:26:41 PM EDT
[#30]
maybe the flowmaster stamp was on the other side facing the bottom of your truck so you can't see it???? I've have flows on many vehicles but never bother to look to see if it was stamped on both sides....
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/12/2014 4:53:02 PM EDT
[#31]
I'm running the knockoff flowmaster 40's on my '66 Mustang, but behind them I have 12" glass packs/resonators to quiet the bark just a little as Ford did from the factory on my GT.
Of course I was told up front they were knockoff's and were a little quieter. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/12/2014 8:18:48 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'll second this. There are better mufflers; though it's just the same as ford vs chevy, remington vs savage. Like wildearp posted, older were not stamped. I've had cheaper shit, I have more expensive shit. If its sound good, run it. If you call out your mechanic, gonna need a new one. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Flowmaster is cheap crap. I know, I've owned them. I'll second this. There are better mufflers; though it's just the same as ford vs chevy, remington vs savage. Like wildearp posted, older were not stamped. I've had cheaper shit, I have more expensive shit. If its sound good, run it. If you call out your mechanic, gonna need a new one. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/13/2014 2:10:41 AM EDT
[#33]
95 Cobra has Flowmasters.
05 GT has Borla. I like the bullet types more but the flow masters were so dirt cheap. Got a pair of axle turn down Flowmasters for my 95 at 140 shipped. That is hard to beat. When my 331 goes in the 95 I am thinking of side dumping Magnaflow/borlas/pipes. The Flowmasters have a tendancy to drone as well as sounding like a boat off throttle. It gets compliments at idle with a lumpy cam but it just doesnt good at 4k+rpm which for my 95 is a lot. With the 331 hopefully getting above 6500rpm I want something that will uncork better. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/13/2014 10:50:00 AM EDT
[#34]
I had Series 40 on my Blazer awhile back, i went true duals, no cats and series 40..It was horrible and raspy. I put Cat-co cats on and dynamax. It sounds like a normal truck now, not too loud, but loud enough that you know its not stock.
On anything really nice, im going borla. I had one on my Cherokee and it sounded great. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/14/2014 9:58:55 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If you are a broke college kid, the why are you blowing the cost of a textbook on a fashion exhaust system? Degree then income then fashion toys
Sound good on youtube??? WhiskyTangoFoxOver??? AANNnnd how do rifle shots sound on youtube compared to real life??? Some sounds just do not record and playback well. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Thanks all for the replies. I'll upgrade eventually when I'm no longer a broke college kid. The X pipes always seem to have a nice sound on YouTube If you are a broke college kid, the why are you blowing the cost of a textbook on a fashion exhaust system? Degree then income then fashion toys
Sound good on youtube??? WhiskyTangoFoxOver??? AANNnnd how do rifle shots sound on youtube compared to real life??? Some sounds just do not record and playback well. I also bought my 800$ ar15 as a broke college kid as well as a 400$ eotech sometimes being single helps finance toys
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/15/2014 1:17:13 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What makes you say that? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Flowmaster is cheap crap. I know, I've owned them. What makes you say that? Aluminized steel vs. stainless. Drone. Best system I've owned was a Corsa on my CTS-V. That car sounded like angry sex. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/17/2014 9:37:31 PM EDT
[#37]
I've been running a FlowMaster American thunder 3" cat back on my z28 for 5 years....I switched up to a series 55 muffler because the series 40 resonates bad..
To date I have had zero issues with it and I love the sound.. |
|
|
|
Posted: 12/17/2014 9:48:17 PM EDT
[#38]
I prefer Magnaflow over Flowmaster. Flowmasters tend to drone and not sound that good at highway speed.. in saying that I have a Flowmaster on my v10 because the dealer said he couldnt get magnaflows. which really meant the local muffler guys are flowmaster dealers. anyway everyone says it sounds good I think they are OK.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 12/19/2014 1:36:55 AM EDT
[#39]
I put the knock off 40 series on my 69 GMC that I got from Jegs for $25 a piece on sale. It was just a patina fake shop truck I did up to sell at Goodguys so I didn't care that they weren't real. They sounded pretty close to my 72 Cutlass that has real 40's on it.
|
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
