FCIMAN

Hi, I am new to the performance car scene and just purchased a 02 z-28... Would like to upgrade the exhaust with a cat back system...Loudmouth is out--way to loud for me.. I want a deep throaty sound but nothing obnoxious... I have heard that Flowmasters do not flow any better than a stock system?? Is this true?? I have considered Random Tech and the Hooker cat back system...Any input would be appreciated...

black2002ss

I have actually heard that the Flowmaster can hurt your performance instead of helping it. Also Random Tech makes a very good exhaust system, several of my friends are running it and are very hyappy with their results. As for the Hookers I have no idea. Hope this kind of helps you.
Travis

psychocabbage

I have not seen where anyone has tested the Flowmaster 30 series. If you find it, please post it.
Most common flowmaster is the "American Thunder" and that is the 80 series. On the box, it clearly states that it is just a "performance" muffler. The 30 series is what is used in the "Force II" setup. That box is labeled with "High Performance". I will out flow the 80 series and is a bit more mellow. I personally am a fan of single tips. For this car I am getting the mufflex when that day comes around. I will have the Mufflex with the hidden tip and it will be a 3.5" or 4" setup. Just cause its dayum mean. It uses the Flowmaster race muffler or a Spintech.


If you ask me, the 80 series is giving the flowmaster name a bad rap.

Case in point, my LT1 car without heads and roller rockers really only had CAI, Elec water pump, Y pipe, Force II catback and pulley for its "power mods". I was putting down 270 to the rear wheels with an Auto and 96 or so intake temp.

Now that isnt the greatest but it really wasnt bad at all for what I had in the car. It just took to mods well..
Most notably.. before the catback, the LS1 cars I would race would be 4 lengths behind me until about 80mph.. by 85 they were next to me and at 100 they were 2-3 ahead..
Got catback so I could flow... Raced the same coworkers (one in a C5-vette and the other in a 99 Z28) and at 80 had maintained my lead that I would get off the line.. and by 105 was just then starting to have them next to me.. by 110 they were walking me..

my point.. it flowed a bit better than the stock Intermediate pipe and the 80 series flowmaster that was on it..


thats my ¢.02



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Psycho Cabbage
2002 Camaro Z28
(6 sp) Bone stock
Webmaster for RaceHer.com
Check out the current polls and vote!
by the prìcking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes

-Traded in- 1995 Camaro Z28 (A4 (#6 I might add!),ES tranny mount and torque arm bushing,SLP CAI,ASP 34% Underdrive,Strange 3.73's (shredded Auburn),1LE alum driveshaft & intake elbow,Yokohamas AVS Intermediates,160-stat,MAF screen removed, HPP+(for shift points only),Borla Y-pipe, Flowmaster Force-II catback, Gutted Cat, Airlift Airbag, !TB Bypass, J&M LCA's, Bosch Platinums, Moroso BlueMax Wires, Free RamAir, Meziere Electric H2O pump, MAC 3point STB, BMR Panhard, SCR SFC's
Just installed:Nu-tek Heads (mild port) and Comp Cams 1.6RR's! New track and dyno #'s to follow!
best 13.44 @103.26
0-60ft 1.96
270 RWHP/296 RWTQ
0-60MPH 4.8sec
1987 Porsche 944S (waiting on LT1 mod)

bossman

I have the American Thunder on my car right now and i love it. The sound is perfect, not to loud, but still very deep.

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00 Z28 - 6 speed
www.extinctls1.com

[This message has been edited by bossman (edited September 06, 2002).]

95TealLT1

I have the Flowmaster Exhaust and I am pleased. Check out this web site that shows Popular Hot Rodding Magazine doing a before and after dyno on a 99 Trans Am (w/A4) 288hp before and 300hp after. For the money, they sound and perform pretty good.

Web site: http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0B...LS1+Flowmaster




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2001 Z28 Camaro w/A4
Navy blue, chrome wheels, t-tops, leather seats, CD changer, 3.23 performance rear end, etc…
Mods: Suncoast SS Hood, Ram Air Box, K & N Filter, Flowmaster Exhaust, SLP Y-Pipe, Hypertech Programmer and Nitto Drag Radials.
Best Timew/Whisper lid & Flowmaster Exhaust Only)
1/4 mile – 13.26
MPH – 104.64
60 ft – 1.975
Pictures of car: http://community.webshots.com/user/kraft109

Ray66

I read the article..... I own a 01' SS and I have an 80-series Flowmaster muffler on my Camaro SS. Sounds great but every dude and his brother tells me "Flowmasters suck". Why? Why do Flowmaster mufflers suck? They sell em' don't they? They been selling them for 20 years? So what's the problem? It's obvious the flow plates(gutes) are not ideal for straight thru smoke but are they that bad? I will say it does not look great under the rear of my SS. It's brand new and it's turning a ****-brown color on the right side of the muffler. Called Flowmaster and they said, "that's normal". I'm confused.......I think I'll just bite the bullet and order a GMMG!

** Called every muffler shop in my city and asked them what they would charge to install a GMMG exhaust cat-back. Their response was, "GMM... what??? oh you mean a GM exhaust.... call your chevy dealer".

smallwood

Ray66, to order a GMMG exhaust go to www.gmmginc.net. No exhaust shop will know what you are talking about. I've heard Flows are lousy on LS1's, but no one seems to have empirical evidence to back it up (now awaiting the inevitable "here's the evidence jackass" posts). I loved it on my third gen and would have done it again on the Formula if not for the combined factors of bad reviews on Flowmaster and the GMMG sounds so evil. GMMG is outrageously expensive, but if you have the dough, it will be worth every penny.

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Little red light on the highway; big green light on the speedway, hey,hey, hey!

2002 Formula, GMMG cat back /1983 Z28-sold

psychocabbage

So far, the mufflex is the meanest thing I have heard..

94 Z28 - A4

Don't do it. There are a plethora of better flowing mufflers out there.

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2002 Z28 M6 - Hooker Catback - Direct-flo lid, FRA, SFC's
333RWHP 346RWTQ
2.28 - 13.3 - 108.6 MPH

(Sold) 94Z28 Auto - 14.1 @ 99.4 mph

'01BlackZ

If your looking for a good catback, i'd go with CORSA personally, or borla. I like the sound of both systems, but i prefer the looks of corsa.

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**Onyx Black 2001 Z-28 w/ GFX**
"I hate rattles"
Performance Mods:G2 air lid, MAF, skip shift eliminator, Hypertech 160 Powerstat, FRA,k&n, SLP Hi flow Bellows, SLP Air Temp Module, Lou's Short stick, Corsa Premier catback, Mobil 1.
Chassis/Suspension Mods: G2 springs, G2 SFC's, G2 3pt STB, G2 LCA's, G2 Adj. Panhard Rod.
Appearance Mods: RK sport carbon fiber letters/Z28 overlays & Nose Badge, Red Calipers W/ Black Brackets, 18x9.5 z06.
Drivetrain Mods:TA Girdle w/ stud kit, redline fliuds.
My Z-28

MissedShift

Borla - The $600 Cutout.

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1998 Z/28
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1994 Z/28 14.06@100 - Totalled, 8-25-02.

FCIMAN

Thanks everyone, I think I will go with the Hooker setup.. The reasonable price and performance gains seem to be pretty good. Once installed I will have car dyno'ed again to check performance gains and report back the HP gains......

blackbird007

Right now I have the flowmaster american thunder on my 93 and it worked great. But my advice to you is to go the sleeper route. Leave your stock muffler on but put an electric cutout on. I have this on my car. When someone wants to go just flip the switch and you are ready. They will freak out.

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1993 formula firebird- Hooker Longtube headers w/custom y-pipe and hi-flow cat,flowmaster catback, Lingenfelter cold air induction, march under-drive pulleys, low temp thermostat, jet stage II chip, and other mods I cant remember.

KamaroL98

I hate my flowmaster amercan thunder kit.... Im just running an open cutout all the time now..... Its not loud enough at all... it sounds nice, but its wayyyyyy to mellow.. If i were you id shy away from flowmaster and go random tech, slp, borla, or gmhp

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Arctic White 1998 Z28 Camaro LS1 A4

3.42 gears, Whisper Lid, Exhaust Cutout w/ 3in flowmaster exhaust, BMR STB, MSD 8.5 Wires & NGK TR6 Plugs, Free Mods
NOS Dry Shot

-5% Tint, SLP BowTie Grille, Black Outs.