2.9L & 3.0L V6 Tech General discussion of 2.9L and 3.0L V6 Ford Ranger engines.

Muffler Preferences?!?!

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Old 08-06-2004
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Muffler Preferences?!?!

What brand and type of mufflers do you all prefer on your trux? I want to make a unique sound on mine... and I'm sick of EVERYONE having the typical flowmaster sound. I want something that will sound a constant LOW tone and get loud but not sound like a ricer... I want it to sound more like a well tuned PERFORMANCE vehicle than an offroading truck or a honda. I want it to sound smooth, similar to a bit louder version of a 350Z.

I also posted this in the 4 banger section because I don't know what motor size my new truck will be yet.

Thanx.

-Dave
 
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Old 08-06-2004
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Well I guess I won't mention how happy I am w/ the sound of my Flowmaster 40 series w/ dual rear-exit exhaust...
 
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Old 08-07-2004
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Nah man... go 4 it... I'm juss tryin to find a different sound... that's all... Your truck is exactly that... yours, and you should enjoy it however you wish.
 
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Old 08-07-2004
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Magnaflow...
 
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Old 08-07-2004
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What kind of sound does the magnaflow give? What muffler did you use?
 
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Old 08-07-2004
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Originally Posted by 2.3RangerT
What kind of sound does the magnaflow give? What muffler did you use?
The Magnaflow is a pretty low, mellow sound. Not much louder than stock, really. MRC put a magnaflow on his truck and gave me his flowmaster, because he needed a stock exit location exhaust to put a trailer hitch on, and he was kinda pissed because the flowmaster sounded so much better.
 
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Old 08-07-2004
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borla is very good too, not too loud, has a performance tone and does not sound ricey
 
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Old 08-07-2004
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but borla only comes at a price....a high price..last time i checked it was like 500 or something for the cat back system....look at dynomax i know a lot of people are happy with the mellow tone they offer....I personally have Flow 40's and love them...this is my second one seeing as how i ripped my old on off while offroading....and the second install job was done a lot better and you would be surprised at how different installations can change the sound of the muffler so dont cheap out on the installation, just make sure its done right..

I had what are called southern hangers its a metal bracket with a rubber grommett inside with just a 1/4 piece of what looks like rebar that welds on to the side of the muffler pipe...it allowed for a lot of vibration and gave a sort of tin can sound...

i know have a standard hanger that is a metal arm with a 1 inch rubber piece before it bolts/welds on to the pipe by use of a U bolt or weld...sounds much better very little vibration noise...
 
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Old 08-07-2004
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Originally Posted by Wowak
Originally Posted by 2.3RangerT
What kind of sound does the magnaflow give? What muffler did you use?
The Magnaflow is a pretty low, mellow sound. Not much louder than stock, really. MRC put a magnaflow on his truck and gave me his flowmaster, because he needed a stock exit location exhaust to put a trailer hitch on, and he was kinda pissed because the flowmaster sounded so much better.
I must have a different muffler than you heard/saw... Mine is way louder than stock...
 
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Old 08-08-2004
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trustt me when i say go with the flowmaster 40....out of all the rangers in town my flowmaster sounds the best....in my town there are magnaflow, true duals with magnaflow, and some knock off one
 
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Old 08-08-2004
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flowmaster original 40 series...
 
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Old 08-08-2004
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flowmaster....is the way to go
 
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Old 08-08-2004
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hey everybody, lets jump on the bandwagon, because of some commercials and old guys set in their ways
 
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Old 08-08-2004
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Everyone has alot of good things to say about the flowies...

I hear that the TIPS you put on your system have a good ammount to do with the sound... true?... or not?

Thanx,

-Dave
 
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Old 08-08-2004
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Originally Posted by 2.3RangerT
Everyone has alot of good things to say about the flowies...

I hear that the TIPS you put on your system have a good ammount to do with the sound... true?... or not?

Thanx,

-Dave
thats what I hear.. I have 12" long 3" stainless tips with rolled lips, and MRC said it made the exhaust sound lower and less raspy.
 
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Old 08-08-2004
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Originally Posted by Edge245ci
hey everybody, lets jump on the bandwagon, because of some commercials and old guys set in their ways
i sure hope that remark isnt about everyone liking their flows. i love the sound of my exhaust and the price was just as great. i say go 40 series if you want agressive, but if you want the performance sound but more mellow, try the 50 series
 
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Old 08-09-2004
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i am a little diff. then everybody when it comes the the whole exhasut thing. i don't like the loud exhaust sound like the flows., i am not saying anything bad about them but that just isn't my style. i am more into a slight diff. in sound that gives me better performance. in reality flows. vs. some other brands flows. loose some performance for the sound they generate so if you want the better performance then other mufflers would be better. that being said the diff. in performance would be VERY small and i doubt that you could really notice it
 
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Old 08-09-2004
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I have the Flowmaster Original 40s

I wanted more performance than sound, but I still wanted a nice sound. I asked the guy at the shop what he would recommend performance wise, and he said Flowmaster. So who knows which is the best?
Everyone has their preference.
As for the sound, I wish mine was still a little deeper and louder (Alon and Greg think its cute?!) but as far as performance goes, I love mine...although I want to get some bigger tips and relocate it...either way I still love mine and am very happy with it.
 
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Old 08-13-2004
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What is best Location for some great LOW and LOUD sound? If you are saying you wan to relocate it...
 
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Old 08-14-2004
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Well the flows I have on my truck are very nice... I wanted 40's but I have no clue what the guy at the shop put on but I know they arent 40's. Possibly 50's? I dont know but they are not loud at all, its more mellow and lower than stock, and when I get around 3000 and up you can start to hear it, its slightly louder than my airbox so that will give you an idea, and it sounds best when its comming down from high rpm's...you will just have to go around and try and find someone with exhaust in your area... sound clips do no justice... trust me.
 
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Old 08-14-2004
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If I'm thinkin' correctly,... the size of the piping after the muffler matters as well, along with the tips you put on at the end. I know that we have 2.25 piping goin' into the muffler, but what about after? Can I varry the size of the piping coming out of the muffler to deepen the tone?

Lets juss say in an extreme case for example that someone wants to run a rice muffler but not at the end of the exhaust, but rather under the chassis like a flowie or a gibson would sit. 2.25" inlet; 4" out. Could they then extend the humongoid 4" tip in the way that the regular "after piping" would be on a flowie, to get a really low tone? Since you'd have HUGE piping :D would that make for a low tone? I've heard alot of people that piping diameter makes a huge difference in sound. Juss curious.

Thx,

-Dave
 
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Old 08-25-2004
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Anybody have any sound clips?
 
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Old 08-26-2004
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Nice video on how to post

You have to watch out with Flowmaster's and what not on 2.3 liters because they can sound "tinny" or "blatty" -- there just isn't as much thunder in the smaller engine.

If you look at the latest edition of 4 Wheel/Offroad magazine, they have a piece about Dynomax "SuperTurbo" cat-backs. They aren't as "sexy" a name as some others, but they have a quiet low rumble even on smaller engines and have as much or more flow as larger units.

They are derived from the original high-flow mufflers that were intended for turbocharged vehicles that needed low restriction. Their performance is great.

They are pretty quiet though. Nowhere near as loud as a Flow' -- but much deeper and more rumble than stock. If PERFORMANCE and COST are factors, a Dynomax cat-back can't be beat. The performance for the price is great. Mine has been on my truck for 2 years and it still sounds great and hasn't died even being beat up off-road.

But, if you NEED to have a loud exhaust, just remember that the small 4 cylinders won't sound like a bigger 6 or 8 cylinder (especially like an 8 cylinder, lol).

Sound clips are nice but not real informative. They do give an idea of sound "quality" if properly recorded -- but they don't give you any idea of how loud the system is because there's no reference point.

You can get to their website via http://www.gorancho.com (Rancho and Dynomax are both part of the Tenneco Automotive group).
 
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Old 08-26-2004
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Originally Posted by n3elz
You have to watch out with Flowmaster's and what not on 2.3 liters because they can sound "tinny" or "blatty" -- there just isn't as much thunder in the smaller engine.
I just installed a flowmaster on my 2.3L about 2 weeks ago, It sounds very low and rumbly not anything like a 4cyl, not ricer at all.
Go here this is just about what my truck sounds like I thing mine sounds better, I need to get a clip up myself, this clip is of a 2.3L with a flow on it.
 


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