Help me decide..Flowmasters or Glasspacks?

Iris29 · Aug 8, 2009

Hey everyone, Im stuck trying to decide whether to get glasspacks or flowmasters 50's on my 56. I've been reading a lot on what some of you have said previously about flowmasters but have not read much on glasspacks.

Also, im new at all this...and i have read that many of you add like a crossover-balance pipe. What exactly does that do as opposed to just running them straight out?:anim_44:

the4x4pig · Aug 8, 2009

I have 3" glasspacks with a crossover (H) pipe. Crossovers (H) will mellow the sound down and help flow a little. Crossover (X) pipe will do the same but will help power a little more. Glasspacks will be louder than most of the flowmasters. I am not a huge fan of flowmasters. I do not think they flow all that well. Sound good though. Just depends on what you looking for. Glasspacks will flow better but be louder, flowmasters will flow less but have that flowmaster sound and possibly quieter. I am going to magnaflow mufflers next.

chevender · Aug 8, 2009

I've never been a fan of that chirpy birpy sound that flowmasters seem to have, and I have never liked glass packs. The only muffler I ever liked was the hush thrush and sadly their not made anymore. I hear the hooker aero chamber sounds good though.
Rick

belairdave · Aug 8, 2009

GLASSPACKS/FLOWMASTER

I have Flowmaster 50's on my 62 Belair.... I had 40's on it but changed to 50's to quiet it down a bit... It is a big block (rat motor) car and the Flowmasters seem like the right thing to do for that car.... My 56 Belair is running glasspacks... It is a small block (327) motor with a mild cam and tripower.... You can get glasspacks in several lengths and diameters and mine have been on so long I forget just what size they are... Any good muffler store can build you what you want.... I like to be able to have my tunes turned down low for background music and be able to visit with the wife without SHOUTING at each other and my glasspack 56 with exhaust tips extending past the rear bumper is much more quiet than my 62 with Flowmaster 50's and exhaust exiting just behind the rear wheel.... Check out the picture in my Avatar... Notice the exhaust dumps just behind the front wheel... That was a popular modification back in the late 50's and 60's and went by different names like "Sneaker Pipes" "Sneaker Plugs" "Laker Plugs" and some others I can't remember... If I'm in a noisy mood I remove the 2 bolts that hold the cap on and away we go.... Have fun with your project

Later, Dave

r66ss · Aug 8, 2009

Iris29 said:
Hey everyone, Im stuck trying to decide whether to get glasspacks or flowmasters 50's on my 56. I've been reading a lot on what some of you have said previously about flowmasters but have not read much on glasspacks.

Also, im new at all this...and i have read that many of you add like a crossover-balance pipe. What exactly does that do as opposed to just running them straight out?:anim_44:

Picking out exhausts< MUFFLERS> is really a big deal, At least I think so, to bad a person couldnt put on every muffler they wanted to try and hear what it sounds like , then buy that one he or she really likes, but :confused0006: Its not that easy
So :anim_25: In picking a muffler you like, and keep us posted

chevman57 · Aug 8, 2009

Picking the muffler is going to be another one of those personal taste choices that only you can make. They did a piece on "Gearz" tv a few weeks back and they are making "cherry bombs" again. According to that the cherry bombs flowed better than a competitors muffler ,which looked like a flowmaster, even though they had it "disguised". Just another one to throw into the choices.
Terry

55mike · Aug 8, 2009

I've posted on this subject several times... I guess it's because I've used several different combos on my car over the years. To answer your direct question, the crossover (H or X) pipe will take some of the ratt tatt tatt out of the exhaust note. Research suggest additional HP / torque as well... but, I don't think this advantage would be something you can actually feel or measure on a normal street car. As far as the actual muffler choice goes, that is purely a matter of taste. I might suggest you listen to the links below of my car with Flowmaster Delta 50's on it. At the end of the day, I've found them to be the right balance of volume, and tone that works for me. BTW, if you want very quiet, but a nice tone, consider Walker Super Turbo mufflers.

keith · Aug 8, 2009

I have the Flowtech's 2.5" straight flow with H pipe on the 56, not to loud and not so quiet, just right.

Glasspacks sound pretty snappy on a short stroke small block, but sound horrible on a big block,just my 2¢.

Keith.

rlm62 · Aug 8, 2009

I've always been a fan of glasspacks but, have never tried flowmasters.

Rich Rogers · Aug 8, 2009

What about Smithy's? A bud of mine has them behind a 350 with no tailpipes. Fairly deep tone at a good volume. I threw on a pair of Carquest turbos on my 55 without tailpipes. 2 1/4 in. alittle bit quiet but good deep tone that rattles the house windows

ProjX57 · Aug 8, 2009

Muffler's are one of those thing's that you really have to decide on your self. What may sound great to one person, sound's awful to you, or another. I am running Flowmaster 40's, but that is what I like............... :anim_25:

cruzn57 · Aug 8, 2009

I have hooker aero chambers

on my 57, (383 sbc)
2.5 all the way back from the headers,out to rear bumper, no cross over.
its not bad, noise wise, but I will add a cross over to mellow it a bit.
sounds good under power, and idle will let folks know theres something lurking under the hood,
my favorite choice? walker Dynomax, quiet, but throaty under acceleration.

jeffs55 · Aug 8, 2009

I bought some Thrush Welded mufflers for my car.
I don't have them on yet, but they are supposed to sound like the old Hush Thrush.
We'll see.

carls 56 · Aug 8, 2009

have flowmasters on my 55 & 56. straight pipes too. i like the way they sound. with all the choices, its not going to be easy. :confused0006: maybe go to some shows and get some ideas from listening to cars there :anim_25:

Iris29 · Aug 8, 2009

r66ss said:
Picking out exhausts< MUFFLERS> is really a big deal, At least I think so, to bad a person couldnt put on every muffler they wanted to try and hear what it sounds like , then buy that one he or she really likes, but :confused0006: Its not that easy
So :anim_25: In picking a muffler you like, and keep us posted

LOl....yeaaa i was just thinking that. It make this much easier!

Iris29 · Aug 8, 2009

Thanks everyone who posted a reply! :beer:
This is so tough for me to decide on. I want a good rumble but not too loud where you cant hear the other person talking inside the car. lol Maybe in some occassions that wouldnt be such a bad thing lol. jk.

I'll be heading out to pomona car swap meet next sunday. Ill pay attention to the different exhausts out there. Anyone else going?

badchevy · Aug 8, 2009

I have a 406sbc and have run both glasspack and Flowmaster. I did not like the glasspack. There was a lot of noise, but no tone! I have Flowmaster 30 series on now with no crossover, 3" pipes. It is hard to talk to the passanger (once in a blue moon there is one) in the car with the 30 series. I believe the 50 series would be more mellow. I also find Magnaflow has a very nice sound.

Bad Dog 56 · Aug 8, 2009

55mike said:
I've posted on this subject several times... I guess it's because I've used several different combos on my car over the years. To answer your direct question, the crossover (H or X) pipe will take some of the ratt tatt tatt out of the exhaust note. Research suggest additional HP / torque as well... but, I don't think this advantage would be something you can actually feel or measure on a normal street car. As far as the actual muffler choice goes, that is purely a matter of taste. I might suggest you listen to the links below of my car with Flowmaster Delta 50's on it. At the end of the day, I've found them to be the right balance of volume, and tone that works for me. BTW, if you want very quiet, but a nice tone, consider Walker Super Turbo mufflers.

Hey Mike (55mike). I watched your video again! I never get tired of hearing your car!

It looks good and sounds good.

I have the Flowmaster 40's and H pipe on my 56. They're ok to a little noisy. (old age?) I would have like to have tried glasspacks because of the old days, but was concerned they may be too loud for a stout 383 as opposed to a 292-301-327 back in the day. Back then, we ran 11.5 to 13 to 1 compression on the street. Of course, we were a lot younger, so maybe they were louder than we youngsters thought. Who knows? I still may give the glasspacks a try one more time.

MightyMouse57 · Aug 8, 2009

chevender said:
I've never been a fan of that chirpy birpy sound that flowmasters seem to have, and I have never liked glass packs. The only muffler I ever liked was the hush thrush and sadly their not made anymore. I hear the hooker aero chamber sounds good though.
Rick

Rick, I just opened an e-mail from Jegs and they have the Hush Thrush mufflers for 37.99. I don't know if they are the exact ones you like but maybe worth checking on.

chevender · Aug 9, 2009

MightyMouse57 said:
Rick, I just opened an e-mail from Jegs and they have the Hush Thrush mufflers for 37.99. I don't know if they are the exact ones you like but maybe worth checking on.

I was just looking at those. If they sound like the old ones I'll be in heaven.

Right now I'm using Borla turbo mufflers. They're a little pricey but they sound great, and you can still hear yourself think.
Rick

Help me decide..Flowmasters or Glasspacks?

Iris29

the4x4pig

chevender

belairdave

r66ss

chevman57

55mike

keith

rlm62

Rich Rogers

ProjX57

cruzn57

jeffs55

carls 56

Iris29

Iris29

badchevy

Bad Dog 56

MightyMouse57

chevender

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