opinions on an aftermarket muffler without interior drone

[timothy47130]

Let me start off by saying I did a bit of searching and know this isn't the first time this topic has come up. I did however find out there are many pages of responses about a v6 never sounding like a v8. I know the 4.3 in my 98 Astro will never sound even close to the 69 corvette L46 spec 350 /350hp built engine that I have in my 1983 chevy c-10. It has long tube headers with only 3ft of pipe on them also. So, yeah my Astro 4.3 will never sound like that. Anyways moving on now that we got that outta the way so it doesn't come up in this discussion.

What mufflers do most of you all that still have the 4.3 run?
It seems gibson, magnaflow and flowmaster are the top picks. Has anyone tired one of the flowmaster knock off from Jegs or summit racing? I think they are a knock off of the 40 series flowmaster. The reason I ask all this is i got a set of 2" dual tailpipes off a 1998 s-10 at the salvage yard the other day for $12. I tried them under a van at the salvage yard and they cleared the spare tire and fit pretty well. I just need to extend them with 8" stainless tips and all will be well. Posting videos of how your exhaust sounds is HUGE plus. I dont care if its a video of your s-10,blazer or fullsize truck as long as its a 4.3


thanks

[WoodButcher]

I know exactly the sound...
7-8 years ago I tried the Flowmaster and the Thrush both on my '97 w/ the stock cat and y-pipe. Both were too loud and had the annoying drone that comes with a six. I ended up with a Walker Sound FX that is still on there today. Nice and deep outside and not a drone in the cabin. Cargocrawler has a Gibson SS as do a couple members here, CC had done several vids, some driving inside the van, with luck he'll stop by and post a link.

My '93 has a Borla, dual in dual out w/ a crossover inside after Flowmaster cats but I'm pretty sure that would have the drone on a six as well, Can't say for sure as I have a 350 in her.

[timothy47130]

Thanks for the suggestion. I never even considered a walker sound fx muffler. I have heard of them but I have never known anyone that has used one. I checked out a few videos on you tube and they sound better to me on a 4.3 than the flowmaster 40 . Not to mention the price sure is right. I take it they are kind of turbo muffler? Or is it more of a cross between a turbo muffler and a chambered muffler ?

[WoodButcher]

Your welcome, I don't remember how they are made. Did you find on youtube on a 4.3?

[timothy47130]

Yes, There are a few videos on you tube 1 of a Blazer, a Sonoma and 1 of a Silverado. I have yet to find a cut away pic of how the walker is constructed. Walker states that they have 2 tubes and 2 partitions inside.So I'm guessing it is a perforated tube design kinda like an oem muffler. The only thing I don't like about them is their construction being that of a thin metal crimped seam oem muffler. I like the thick metal welded body construction of a flowmaster or a cherry bomb pro better. But for me to run the flowmaster and it sound how I want it i would have to run a resonator before the muffler. And a 3" resonator is fairly expensive. The walker muffler is about $32 shipped online. So I think I will give it a try.

Tim

[chevymaher]

I have a walker FX on the durango. It is as close to stock sounding as you can get. Hasn't been a bad muffler. It is rusting but it gets driven primarily in snow so that is expected. For the price it is a good deal.

Just for WIW. The pipe leading into the muffler greatly effects the drone. My last exhaust had a decent drone with the thrush at 40 pulling steady on a hill.
I replaced the Y Pipe with a custom one I made. It is practically silent holding steady speeds and the drone is gone. I am told outside the van it is still fairly loud. Inside it isn't