Am contemplating putting one of these on my F150 4.9L inline six. Are they any good? How loud are they? What is the internal structure, baffles, perforated tubes, both?
Flowtech Raptor Turbo Muffler--any good?
- Thread starter TallPaul
- Start date
- Status
No matter now. I bought the Raptor. Very nice sound, a bit loud though, but I have a short pipe out the side. May put OEM tailpiping back on and should quiet it a tad.
Sorry that I didn't see this thread there TP. Never heard of the muffler, but what did you end up putting it on?
It's on my '95 F150 4.9L inline six. I have it feeding into the stock tailpipe. Sounds great. A bit loud, yet can be quiet if I don't give it much pedal, but there is a drone at lower rpms. Was $25, but after buying extra pipe, clamps, and hangers, it cost me aroun $50. Flowtech apparently is owned by Holly.
My dad has one of these, and I think part of his exhaust system is loose, as it rattles to high heaven when you first step on the gas from a stop. It's his just give it what it absolutely has to have truck, so it's lucky just to get what it needs for normal maintenance.
Must say though, it would be interesting to hear a aftermarket exhaust on that engine..
Must say though, it would be interesting to hear a aftermarket exhaust on that engine..
dad2leia,
Your rattle sounds like "guts" in cat.conv. loose! (BAAAD)
Most of the "all welded,thick wall,performance" mufflers on the market are direct copies of "FLOMASTER". Luckily most are as good or better, at about 1/2 the price. Who would you expect "Flowtech" would like to be confused with? Flowmaster's original patents have expired(or so I've been told) now every exhaust manufacturer has pretty much an exact copy,but their not paying for full page adds in every auto performance magazine on the shelf.
Bob
Your rattle sounds like "guts" in cat.conv. loose! (BAAAD)
Most of the "all welded,thick wall,performance" mufflers on the market are direct copies of "FLOMASTER". Luckily most are as good or better, at about 1/2 the price. Who would you expect "Flowtech" would like to be confused with? Flowmaster's original patents have expired(or so I've been told) now every exhaust manufacturer has pretty much an exact copy,but their not paying for full page adds in every auto performance magazine on the shelf.
Bob
Initially I cut a hole in the back plate of my stock muffler and it sounded pretty mean. Basically a straight through because the hole was lined up with the inlet tube. There are three tubes that the gasses pass through normally. Anyway, I went for the Raptor and it is very similar but a more performance oriented sound. Just as loud as the modded stock exhaust. But with the Raptor I am back into the tailpipe, instead of dumping under the bed of the truck.
The Raptor is like the stock can, three tubes, but they are 2.25 inch ID, whereas the stock was 2 inch ID. The stock muffler is very restrictive. The Raptor seems to have opened it up and the seat of the pants or in the head feeling is that it winds out better. Quite a drone at certain rpms and loads, but that is probably present with most performance mufflers.
I skipped Flowmaster because of the price. Flowmaster is chambered (at least the one I was looking at, the Delta 50). The Raptor is a "turbo style" whatever that means.
No rattles in mine anyway. Fuel mileage seems to have dropped, but so has my foot.
Installed it on my 50th birthday. Figured I waited 50 years, I'm going to have a great sounding truck.
The Raptor is like the stock can, three tubes, but they are 2.25 inch ID, whereas the stock was 2 inch ID. The stock muffler is very restrictive. The Raptor seems to have opened it up and the seat of the pants or in the head feeling is that it winds out better. Quite a drone at certain rpms and loads, but that is probably present with most performance mufflers.
I skipped Flowmaster because of the price. Flowmaster is chambered (at least the one I was looking at, the Delta 50). The Raptor is a "turbo style" whatever that means.
No rattles in mine anyway. Fuel mileage seems to have dropped, but so has my foot.
Installed it on my 50th birthday. Figured I waited 50 years, I'm going to have a great sounding truck.
..Ain't it neat..ain't it nifty. Holy @#$%...TallPaul is Fifty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. I still love ya man!
P.S. I still love ya man!
No problem Dad2leia. Just starting my second childhood with this noisy muffler. Another 50 years to go.
You get what you pay for. I wouldn't expect those mufflers to last longer than 1.5 years.
The tech person at Flowtech thought I might get 2 to 3 years. No matter. Now that I have a reference point, I can get a Flowmaster next time. All I have to do is get a tech there who is familar with the Raptor's volume and have him recommend one step quieter. Glad I didn't get a FM this time because if it were too loud, I'd be stuck with it for life.
BTW, how is it the OEM muffler and piping on this '95 truck lasted 12 years and 145,000 miles and is still in great shape?
Paul,
Hate to bust your bubble, but Flowmaster probably wou't last any longer than what you have. They're still aluminized 16gauge steel. Your original system is a fairly high grade of stainless(to meet federally mandated warranty period). I won't sell Flowmaster at my shop because they're no better than generics that copy their design, usually with bretter quality.
Bob
Hate to bust your bubble, but Flowmaster probably wou't last any longer than what you have. They're still aluminized 16gauge steel. Your original system is a fairly high grade of stainless(to meet federally mandated warranty period). I won't sell Flowmaster at my shop because they're no better than generics that copy their design, usually with bretter quality.
Bob
No problem alreadygone. Rather have the bubble burst when it is just a conceptual bubble, than to wait for it to be an $80 installed bubble. As I say, the Raptor is a throw away. For the price, if it lasts 2 years I'll be happy.
The better question now is what would you recommend as a good muffler. I don't need one to last forever, but a 5+ year life would be nice. Soundwise I would like it to roar when I mat the pedal, but to be relatively quiet when light footed. The raptor drones on highway in OD but much nicer in 4th gear. I think it is a function of load on the engine produces more sound. I am not dissatisfied with the Raptor, but other than the improved sound, I would say the stock muffler with a hole in the back and a side pipe sounded just as good. Just might fix the stocker up and remount it when the Raptor bites the dust. Other than the weight of the stocker, it will be just fine and looks like it has enough life in it to last the rest of the trucks life. At that time I will mount it a bit farther forward and route a pipe out the side, in front of the wheel. Yeah I have holes in the back plate and it is cut up, but I can get a piece of steel and bolt it over that and then cut a hole for a new tailpipe. Or just run it as is. I don't care if exhaust goes out under the bed. It's been that way for 5 years with no ill effect.
So maybe Flowmaster is the Fram of the muffler industry????
The better question now is what would you recommend as a good muffler. I don't need one to last forever, but a 5+ year life would be nice. Soundwise I would like it to roar when I mat the pedal, but to be relatively quiet when light footed. The raptor drones on highway in OD but much nicer in 4th gear. I think it is a function of load on the engine produces more sound. I am not dissatisfied with the Raptor, but other than the improved sound, I would say the stock muffler with a hole in the back and a side pipe sounded just as good. Just might fix the stocker up and remount it when the Raptor bites the dust. Other than the weight of the stocker, it will be just fine and looks like it has enough life in it to last the rest of the trucks life. At that time I will mount it a bit farther forward and route a pipe out the side, in front of the wheel. Yeah I have holes in the back plate and it is cut up, but I can get a piece of steel and bolt it over that and then cut a hole for a new tailpipe. Or just run it as is. I don't care if exhaust goes out under the bed. It's been that way for 5 years with no ill effect.
So maybe Flowmaster is the Fram of the muffler industry????
Bob is right, Flowmasters is pretty thin stuff and appeals to people who want the sound, a little more free flowing, and saving weight. Other than shell design a big failure mode for mufflers is cold spots. This allows 'acidic' condensation to form and sit inside the muffler. Location of muffler in the exhaust system can play a big roll in this also. These are just things to be aware of. I probably opened up more questions than answers but now you can ask these questions when spec'ing out a muffler.
It's tough to predict how a muffler will sound.
Do you want a little noise? How about a large straight through type? It will have the least restriction to flow, and if you get as large as will fit in the space, will reduce the chance of raspyness.
Do you want a little noise? How about a large straight through type? It will have the least restriction to flow, and if you get as large as will fit in the space, will reduce the chance of raspyness.
Most don't care for the sound of a 6,either straight or V as much as good ole V8. Still think most unpleasant sound in the world though is duals on a v10!!!
For the old inline 300 my favorite muffler is a 21/4"cored glasspack approx. 22,24,or 30 inches long. Another good choice would be the new "Hooker" muffler with baffles and glass packing.
Bob
For the old inline 300 my favorite muffler is a 21/4"cored glasspack approx. 22,24,or 30 inches long. Another good choice would be the new "Hooker" muffler with baffles and glass packing.
Bob
I dont know how long an aftermarket stainless steel muffler will last but if aluminum wont cut it try the dynomax Ultraflo SS performance Muff.
http://www.dynomax.com/products/ufss.asp
T304 Polished Stainless Steel Case
409 Stainless Steel Internal
Construction
Straight Through Design for
Maximum Flow
Moderate Sound Level with a True
Performance Tone and Minimal Resonation
High Temperature Roving Fiberglass
Reversible for Versatile Installation
Lifetime Warranty
Made in USA
If anyone knows of anymore stainless steel performance mufflers on the market could you post them up please.
thanks!!!
http://www.dynomax.com/products/ufss.asp
T304 Polished Stainless Steel Case
409 Stainless Steel Internal
Construction
Straight Through Design for
Maximum Flow
Moderate Sound Level with a True
Performance Tone and Minimal Resonation
High Temperature Roving Fiberglass
Reversible for Versatile Installation
Lifetime Warranty
Made in USA
If anyone knows of anymore stainless steel performance mufflers on the market could you post them up please.
thanks!!!
I just inspected the stock muffler. Very restrictive. Inside of my 2.25" piping is 2.125", but the single tube I was running for the two days I had the back plate opened up, is only 1.875. Without the back plate opened up, the other tubes look even smaller in diameter. The Raptor is 2.25" inside it's tubes, so a tad larger than the ID of my piping.
Really seems to have more power with the Raptor. Can break loose the tires easier and it winds out freer. The thing is also sucking fuel like never below, but that's because I can't keep my foot out of it. Eventually I'll get back to my normal driving and see if fuel economy improved.
I called the tech line and the guy said the Raptor is basically the same config as their Holley Super Competition Turbo muffler, but the Holley version is much heavier construction and has to be welded to the pipe because clamps won't crush the inlet/outlet. I'm thinking that one may not drone as the drone maybe comes from the thinner case of the Raptor. Drone particularly at certain rpms and/or under load while cruising, not accelerating.
Hey, how about the Holley Aero Chamber? Unique design it seems.
Really seems to have more power with the Raptor. Can break loose the tires easier and it winds out freer. The thing is also sucking fuel like never below, but that's because I can't keep my foot out of it. Eventually I'll get back to my normal driving and see if fuel economy improved.
I called the tech line and the guy said the Raptor is basically the same config as their Holley Super Competition Turbo muffler, but the Holley version is much heavier construction and has to be welded to the pipe because clamps won't crush the inlet/outlet. I'm thinking that one may not drone as the drone maybe comes from the thinner case of the Raptor. Drone particularly at certain rpms and/or under load while cruising, not accelerating.
Hey, how about the Holley Aero Chamber? Unique design it seems.
I don't really want noise, just good sound. I have gone from a very restrictive muffler to a very free muffler and there definitely seems to be a performance improvement. The sound of the Raptor is great, just would like a little less drone, which comes in at certain engine speeds and or loads. But that may come with the territory. Some claim to reduce drone.
This inline six sounds pretty good. I think when you have 50 cid per cylinder, it's going to sound pretty powerful. That's the same as a 400 cid V8.
Glass packs are pretty loud though, eh? Maybe two shorter ones in a row for max length, say 35 inches.
Well, better K&N than Fram!
Looks good, seems pricy though. They have a cheaper version aluminized. Yeah, if I flip mufflers every 2-3 years, at least I will get to change sounds after I get tired of them.
If I had a beater it would be fun to route the pipe into the bed and connect to a 50 gallon steel drum with a tailpipe on other end. Bet that would be quiet. Or leave one end open for the ultimate ricer exhaust tip.
- Status
