Turbo mufflers - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

JAKES 68GMC · 08-26-2007, 10:13 AM

How good do turbo mufflers sound? Do they have any noise or throat to them, or are they just essentially a quiet replacement muffler? I know they flow pretty good but I was curious as to how they sounded. Thanks for the help.

stepside454 · 08-26-2007, 10:39 AM

well, as you probably know, how well they sound is a matter of opinion. I personally like them better than chambered mufflers, such as Flowmasters. They dont have that tinny sound..Chambered mufflers actually sound great behind a real healthy motor...but if its a mild low compression engine, I dont like the sound at all.
Turbo mufflers have a deep mellow sound at idle, & low engine speed, when you stick your foot in it they get loud...loud sorta like a glasspack, without the cackle. Ive got a pair of 2.5" Dynomax turbos behind my 454, I really like em, everyone else seems to like em to. Hope that helps. John

BigSky71 · 08-26-2007, 10:46 AM

Stepside, do you have much cab drone with those Dynomaxs? My current 40 series Flowmasters are annoying.

ChevLoRay · 08-26-2007, 11:02 AM

When they first came out, they were the thing to have to give a performance edge without running glasspacks....the only alternative we had. Corvair turbo mufflers had the edge over stock mufflers. They were a little bit deeper-toned, but they flowed better and that was the ticket. Cops were not very tolerant of glasspacks and that was the way it was.

cdowns · 08-26-2007, 11:14 AM

sound is the result of cubic dollars spent on horsepower /if you want the sound build power and it will come if you just want noise go blowmasters

ChevLoRay · 08-26-2007, 11:17 AM

Yeah, what is it we used to say...."If you can't make it run, make it LOUD!"

**Stocker** · 08-26-2007, 11:23 AM

Never had 'em, but I read many years ago that factory Mopar mufflers for hemi-powered cars were fairly quiet and flowed better than just about anything else available (at that time).

Longhorn Man · 08-26-2007, 11:34 AM

turbo mufflers are great for there price, and they are in many ways better than glasspacks. A very mellow runble, without the annoying sound of flowmasters (IMO) and if you keep your foot outta it in the neighborhood, they don't p!ss off the neighbors too much.

Walts_restoration · 08-26-2007, 11:39 AM

haha, ive got cherry bomb super turbos on my camaro, i love the sound, mentioning i have a ready to blow stock 305 with 150k on the clock, not as loud as my friends dumps, or my buddys glasspacks, but for a stock motor it gives me the ability to tell idiots ive got a 572 bigblock shoe-horned into that ltitle girl

lukecp · 08-26-2007, 11:41 AM

My truck had a pair of Dynomax Super Turbos on it when I first bought it. They had a very mellow rumble, around town you could hear it, but it was silent on the highway. I had a set of glasspacks put on, and then eventually Flowmasters (hey, I was 16 at the time). I'd recommend them if you want a V8 rumble that isn't going to get annoying, and isn't going to get you in any trouble.

JAKES 68GMC · 08-26-2007, 02:30 PM

Ok, good enough then. They sound like what I'll want. I've got glasspacks now, I dont know how loud they'll be behind the 350 with headers, but I'm sure I'll probably need to get some turbo's or some-sort of mufflers on it. Cops around here have no sense of humor, whatsoever.

Thanks for the help guys.

stepside454 · 08-26-2007, 03:30 PM

I think you'll like em, mount them under the bed, as with any muffler, itll help keep the noise out of the cab. they to have a little bit of a droon at hiway speed, nothing intolerable like flowmasters.
Actually, to be fair, not all Flowmasters sound the same, or have a drown either.

AlienYouth · 08-26-2007, 04:31 PM

i've got dual thrush turbos (only 20 bucks a piece : ) ) coming out in front of my rear wheels, and i think they sound great

BB72CHEVKT · 08-26-2007, 06:14 PM

I just did flowmastesr on 2.25 for the second time. It has stock manifolds and is very quite at idle and souds great otherwise.

corn · 08-26-2007, 06:18 PM

Summit, Thrush, Raptor, Corvair style turbos have about the best sound but I went with flows this time around. The 2 reasons I went with the flows were...

1- Ive never had a set & wanted to try them
&
2- I get a little tired of replacing rusted out & busted baffled wrapped style mufflers. I guess for the money they probably average out. I may go back to wrapped turbo's again next time...

**Stocker** · 08-26-2007, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corn

I get a little tired of replacing rusted out & busted baffled wrapped style mufflers.

And that's why I have glasspacks. Short trips = cold exhaust = water in the system, always... = rust

I've had the 30" blanks on for many years and one is virtually gutted... but the cases are still intact.

mtndewmaniac66 · 08-26-2007, 08:02 PM

Thrush turbos in use here, yeah I get that cab droning, but sound great when the throttle is opened up.

mplex2000 · 08-26-2007, 08:37 PM

Turbos differ by manufacturer. To me they are normally pretty quiet (I had some Dynomax turbos on a 460 powered Ford and was quite dissappointed. They also are some of the worst performing, probably a toss up between turbos and louvered glasspacks on poor performance.

Flowmasters sound awesome IMO, but again, not a great performer. The ones to get are the Magnaflows. They come in round or oval, you get get them in stainless and they last forever, plus they're perforated instead of louvered - great sound, best possible power with mufflers that I have seen. I think I'm going to wind up with a pair of the rounds on my truck.

Texasdeere · 08-26-2007, 10:43 PM

I have the 3 chamber 50 series flows on my 78 454 C10 and they are pretty quiet. (probably comparable to turbos in sound volume) At idle and light throttle the sound volume is good. At highway speeds I don't even hear them anymore. I would not hesitate to use turbo mufflers either, I have had them before and was always happy with the sound. I'm just not a big fan of the glasspack sound. I plan on replacing my super 40s with 50s or turbos.

ofnaman · 08-26-2007, 11:31 PM

I have used just about every kind of muffler out there at one time or another. I personally prefer flowmasters, but some people hate the sound, Magnaflows, and dynomax's are also good. I believe performance's in those three brands are all about the same, at least they were according to my quarter mile times. Just a warning, if you buy cheap mufflers, like cherry bomb turbo's the baffles tend to come loose, and the inlet diameter may state 2.5 inches but if you look down the pipe they neck down to about 1.5 inches, better quality mufflers do not neck down like that.

bryanw1968 · 08-27-2007, 12:47 PM

I like the way turbos sound. But if you're going to buy a set make sure you get a decent pair like Dynomax and they'll last a long time. They'll flow much better also.

I like Flowmasters behind some power for sure. Otherwise, they sound like every other truck/car out there. I gave Dynomax race mufflers a chance and I like them a lot but they're pretty darn loud.

08-26-2007, 10:13 AM	#1
JAKES 68GMC Aluminum slot wheels rule... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 6,212	Turbo mufflers How good do turbo mufflers sound? Do they have any noise or throat to them, or are they just essentially a quiet replacement muffler? I know they flow pretty good but I was curious as to how they sounded. Thanks for the help.

08-26-2007, 10:39 AM	#2
stepside454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: st. louis area Posts: 1,551	Re: Turbo mufflers well, as you probably know, how well they sound is a matter of opinion. I personally like them better than chambered mufflers, such as Flowmasters. They dont have that tinny sound..Chambered mufflers actually sound great behind a real healthy motor...but if its a mild low compression engine, I dont like the sound at all. Turbo mufflers have a deep mellow sound at idle, & low engine speed, when you stick your foot in it they get loud...loud sorta like a glasspack, without the cackle. Ive got a pair of 2.5" Dynomax turbos behind my 454, I really like em, everyone else seems to like em to. Hope that helps. John __________________ 75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered

08-26-2007, 10:46 AM	#3
BigSky71 LAIDOUT Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NW Montana Posts: 928	Re: Turbo mufflers Stepside, do you have much cab drone with those Dynomaxs? My current 40 series Flowmasters are annoying. __________________ 67 2wd Shorty Build Pictures

08-26-2007, 11:02 AM	#4
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Turbo mufflers When they first came out, they were the thing to have to give a performance edge without running glasspacks....the only alternative we had. Corvair turbo mufflers had the edge over stock mufflers. They were a little bit deeper-toned, but they flowed better and that was the ticket. Cops were not very tolerant of glasspacks and that was the way it was. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

08-26-2007, 11:14 AM	#5
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Turbo mufflers sound is the result of cubic dollars spent on horsepower /if you want the sound build power and it will come if you just want noise go blowmasters __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

08-26-2007, 11:17 AM	#6
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Turbo mufflers Yeah, what is it we used to say...."If you can't make it run, make it LOUD!" __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

08-26-2007, 11:23 AM	#7
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,533	Re: Turbo mufflers Never had 'em, but I read many years ago that factory Mopar mufflers for hemi-powered cars were fairly quiet and flowed better than just about anything else available (at that time). __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

08-26-2007, 11:34 AM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Turbo mufflers turbo mufflers are great for there price, and they are in many ways better than glasspacks. A very mellow runble, without the annoying sound of flowmasters (IMO) and if you keep your foot outta it in the neighborhood, they don't p!ss off the neighbors too much.

08-26-2007, 11:39 AM	#9
Walts_restoration Real Projects never die Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lawrence, kansas Posts: 1,508	Re: Turbo mufflers haha, ive got cherry bomb super turbos on my camaro, i love the sound, mentioning i have a ready to blow stock 305 with 150k on the clock, not as loud as my friends dumps, or my buddys glasspacks, but for a stock motor it gives me the ability to tell idiots ive got a 572 bigblock shoe-horned into that ltitle girl __________________ Ill put it this way, ive got a few lawn ornaments My name tag says Ryan KansasTwister On other forums

08-26-2007, 11:41 AM	#10
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Re: Turbo mufflers My truck had a pair of Dynomax Super Turbos on it when I first bought it. They had a very mellow rumble, around town you could hear it, but it was silent on the highway. I had a set of glasspacks put on, and then eventually Flowmasters (hey, I was 16 at the time). I'd recommend them if you want a V8 rumble that isn't going to get annoying, and isn't going to get you in any trouble. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

08-26-2007, 02:30 PM	#11
JAKES 68GMC Aluminum slot wheels rule... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 6,212	Re: Turbo mufflers Ok, good enough then. They sound like what I'll want. I've got glasspacks now, I dont know how loud they'll be behind the 350 with headers, but I'm sure I'll probably need to get some turbo's or some-sort of mufflers on it. Cops around here have no sense of humor, whatsoever. Thanks for the help guys.

08-26-2007, 03:30 PM	#12
stepside454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: st. louis area Posts: 1,551	Re: Turbo mufflers I think you'll like em, mount them under the bed, as with any muffler, itll help keep the noise out of the cab. they to have a little bit of a droon at hiway speed, nothing intolerable like flowmasters. Actually, to be fair, not all Flowmasters sound the same, or have a drown either. __________________ 75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered Last edited by stepside454; 08-26-2007 at 03:32 PM.

08-26-2007, 04:31 PM	#13
AlienYouth Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Westminster, Maryland Posts: 411	Re: Turbo mufflers i've got dual thrush turbos (only 20 bucks a piece : ) ) coming out in front of my rear wheels, and i think they sound great __________________ Picturesss 71 C10 383/TH400 13.65 @ 99... 2.06 60' spinnin :/

08-26-2007, 06:14 PM	#14
BB72CHEVKT Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hideaway, TX Posts: 4,948	Re: Turbo mufflers I just did flowmastesr on 2.25 for the second time. It has stock manifolds and is very quite at idle and souds great otherwise. __________________ 71 Suburban 350/700R4 Project Trixie 72 CHEVY,Highlander,SWB,396,T400

08-26-2007, 06:18 PM	#15
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	Re: Turbo mufflers Summit, Thrush, Raptor, Corvair style turbos have about the best sound but I went with flows this time around. The 2 reasons I went with the flows were... 1- Ive never had a set & wanted to try them & 2- I get a little tired of replacing rusted out & busted baffled wrapped style mufflers. I guess for the money they probably average out. I may go back to wrapped turbo's again next time...



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08-26-2007, 08:02 PM	#17
mtndewmaniac66 Do the Dew! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Vernal, Utah Posts: 191	Re: Turbo mufflers Thrush turbos in use here, yeah I get that cab droning, but sound great when the throttle is opened up.

08-26-2007, 08:37 PM	#18
mplex2000 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: DFW Posts: 463	Re: Turbo mufflers Turbos differ by manufacturer. To me they are normally pretty quiet (I had some Dynomax turbos on a 460 powered Ford and was quite dissappointed. They also are some of the worst performing, probably a toss up between turbos and louvered glasspacks on poor performance. Flowmasters sound awesome IMO, but again, not a great performer. The ones to get are the Magnaflows. They come in round or oval, you get get them in stainless and they last forever, plus they're perforated instead of louvered - great sound, best possible power with mufflers that I have seen. I think I'm going to wind up with a pair of the rounds on my truck. Last edited by mplex2000; 08-26-2007 at 08:38 PM.

08-26-2007, 10:43 PM	#19
Texasdeere Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 732	Re: Turbo mufflers I have the 3 chamber 50 series flows on my 78 454 C10 and they are pretty quiet. (probably comparable to turbos in sound volume) At idle and light throttle the sound volume is good. At highway speeds I don't even hear them anymore. I would not hesitate to use turbo mufflers either, I have had them before and was always happy with the sound. I'm just not a big fan of the glasspack sound. I plan on replacing my super 40s with 50s or turbos.

08-26-2007, 11:31 PM	#20
ofnaman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: reno Posts: 397	Re: Turbo mufflers I have used just about every kind of muffler out there at one time or another. I personally prefer flowmasters, but some people hate the sound, Magnaflows, and dynomax's are also good. I believe performance's in those three brands are all about the same, at least they were according to my quarter mile times. Just a warning, if you buy cheap mufflers, like cherry bomb turbo's the baffles tend to come loose, and the inlet diameter may state 2.5 inches but if you look down the pipe they neck down to about 1.5 inches, better quality mufflers do not neck down like that.

08-27-2007, 12:47 PM	#21
bryanw1968 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leander, Texas Posts: 850	Re: Turbo mufflers I like the way turbos sound. But if you're going to buy a set make sure you get a decent pair like Dynomax and they'll last a long time. They'll flow much better also. I like Flowmasters behind some power for sure. Otherwise, they sound like every other truck/car out there. I gave Dynomax race mufflers a chance and I like them a lot but they're pretty darn loud.

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