A Q on Hearders/Mufflers .. Again :)

[Ghazi67]

Hi Guys ..

I am working on a 350 engine for my stepside. I am not really sure what R my limits .. I know i need a powerful engine with stock intake & valvetrain parts, but not sure what exhaust system should I keep.

The SB has couple of street mufflers w/stock exhaust manifold. My questions are :
should I stick to the stock manifold w/aftermarket mufflers ?
or
should I go for the headers/mufflers combo ? and what type of mufflers should I go for nice deep sound ..
is it the Purple Hornies


or should I go for the Camaro Chambered ones


Thanks for being patient ..

[SUX2BU99]

Well headers are always an improvement to these trucks so my opinion is to go with headers especially if you are planning upgrades.

Those chambered mufflers are going to be quite loud and probably not too deep. It's virtually like running a straight pipe. I've heard one of these trucks with basically a stock 305 and Walker Turbo Tubes, which are the same thing as those and while extremely lound and 'rappy' sounding, it wasn't very deep. The purple hornies will be a deeper sound but you might want a Magnaflow or similar for a deep tone. That muffler you showed is a more useful in something like Jeep where the pipe exits right off from the muffler for short-wheelbase vehicles. That isn't the header it's showing, but rather the outlet pipe from the muffler. The muffler though is showing a flange which bolts directly to the header.

[eventhorizon66]

Magnaflow, Dynomax Ultraflow, Pypes Raceflow

Those are some of the best flowing mufflers on the market.

Headers are much better than manifolds in terms of performance.  Use full-length headers if ground clearance isn't an issue or mid-lengths for a lower truck.  Look for 3/8" thick flanges, use quality gaskets, use high-temp anti-seize on the header bolt threads, and retorque them a few times during the first few hundred miles after installation.  Also I recommend ceramic coated headers if the budget allows; they look much better and help with heat.

[Ghazi67]

SUX2BU99 .. Eventhorizon66

Thanks guys for the advice .. I have dug out a pair of galvanized Headman headers, from my store along w/a single Dynomax Ultra-Flo muffler.

Should I go with this set ( adding another muffler ) ? The headers are  full-length w/ 2" wide collector !!

Thanks again

[eventhorizon66]

2" collector?  Are you sure?  Most SBC headers have a 2.5" or 3" collector.  I would think 2" would pose a sizable restriction.  A good system would be a dual with a pair of 2.5" Dynomax ultraflo mufflers and some sort of crossover (H-pipe or X-pipe).  You could dump it under the truck near the axle, but this will be considerably louder (expecially inside the truck) than tailpipes.

[Ghazi67]

eventhorizon66 ..

My fault .. its 2.5"
I am not going for the H or X pipe . Do U think its gonna be louder w/o it ??!! .. do U suggest quiter mufflers ?

Thanks

[Captkaos]

For a deep sound I would look at Dynomax or Magnaflow.  They are mellow at idle but have a deep rumble when you romp on it.
An X or H will hush it down some.

[bigkountry]

I have the Edelbrock SDT mufflers on my 01 Silverado and they are mellow at idle (but still have a nice thump), but they will talk when you stab the go pedal.

The best thing is they are Ti-tech coated to resist corrosion. I've had mine on for over a year and they still look new.

[Uno99]

Dont go with the Camero chambered straight through design.  I had some called sweet thunders. They are way to poppy on decelleration.

Go this route Stock mani's or Headers, h-pipe, super 44 mufflers.  YOU BE the judge VID BELOW.

[joesgarage71]

 First I would think about my neighbors and the cops (laws) and how much money I want to spend on tickets, and drawing attention to your truck. Even if you do replace the loud system the law dogs will remember you.
 I'd go for a H pipe off your headers into a set of 40 flowmasters out through tail pipes. Keeping the pipe size to at least a 2.5 min. That way you can still enjoy the loud sound when you find a good place to GOUGE on it, and still be sort of quite when come home at 2AM.

[frogman68]

First I would think about my neighbors and the cops (laws) and how much money I want to spend on tickets, and drawing attention to your truck. Even if you do replace the loud system the law dogs will remember you.
 I'd go for a H pipe off your headers into a set of 40 flowmasters out through tail pipes. Keeping the pipe size to at least a 2.5 min. That way you can still enjoy the loud sound when you find a good place to GOUGE on it, and still be sort of quite when come home at 2AM.

But Joe if your neighbors 1/4 mile away and half deaf I think it would be ok

[joesgarage71]

 I just noticed where you live, go for the purple hornies

Frogie I guess you never heard 40 flows before.Huh?

[enaberif]

I'm 90% sure my truck has at least 40 flows on it and they didn't bother to put pipes onto the mufflers.

Lets just say driving around was actually annoying as the resonance in the cab was brutal. So I went to a auto parts store grabbed some 2" extension tubes with a 30 degree down angle and bolted them.. truck is MUCH nicer to drive.

[Ghazi67]

Thanks Capt. for your input ..
Yeah I am looking for somethin' That sounds great @ 2000 RPM and above.

Bigkountry ..
Thanks for the suggestion .. I am sure they sound great on your truck .. but aren't cheap

Uno99 ..
Thanks Man for the Vid and the advice ... I definitely enjoyed this Orchestra

Thanks guys for stopping by & appreciate yr input

[Ghazi67]

joesgarage71

Keeping the pipe size to at least a 2.5 min. That way you can still enjoy the loud sound when you find a good place to GOUGE on it, and still be sort of quite when come home at 2AM.

Actually I am thinking about a 3" tubes... would that hush it more than a 2.5" ?

 I just noticed where you live, go for the purple hornies

Well I got neighborers & cops here too .. Its not like I live in the middle of nowhere !

Thanks Joe for your input