Your Welcome Colonel, and Prince, you didn?t offend me, (well maybe a little, lol) I was just a little taken back by the comment since everyone seems so nice and helpful here. My shops are in Oregon and I don?t sell mail order, so you can see I don?t have any self-serving interests here. I read some of your other posts, and figured out that you seem to be a pretty nice and helpful guy.
Also (ChevyThunder) I?m not a dyed in the wool Flowmaster fan, it?s just that on certain applications, they are far superior. We sell more Gibson and Magnaflow cat-backs than any other brand (and 90% of MY customers do not prefer, or ask for Flowmaster when asking for a performance system!). We have never seen better customer satisfaction though, than with Flowmaster, when the proper series is applied to the proper vehicle. Additionally, the CORSA sound IS the Dynomax sound, the Flo-Pro sound, and very similar to Gibson and others. To each his own though, and I?m glad you enjoy your CORSA system, and I respect your comments. ChevyThunder, what wires did you install. I was just given a set of JBA?s new performance wires to try and I was wondering if anyone else has tried them yet.
Let me try to clear some questions up about Flowmaster. Yes, certain ?series? are known for causing ?drone? or ?groan? on both acceleration, and cruising speeds of 50mph ? 65mph in the passenger compartment.
However, the 70 series (big-block series) cures both of these problems on the AV 5.3L (as well as many other SUV?s and PU?s). The part number I used on my AV was #530722 (dual out). This series muffler still produces a nice Flowmaster sound out the tailpipes without the interior noise and drone caused by the 2-chamber 40 series, or the 40 and 50 series Delta-flows.
Additionally, the only two mufflers that flowbench out better than the Flowmaster (and remember, top flowbench numbers do not always equate to rear wheel horsepower increases) are Xlerator, and Magnaflow. Coincidently, they both utilize the same ?lazy S? single internal design.
Another positive aspect to building a system rather than buying a kit is fit. 95% of all kits we install have ?issues?. Most are clearance and fit. I?m sure most of you have looked at the clearances in crossing over to the driver?s side with the second tailpipe on your AV. It?s tight, and the position of the rear brake flex hose makes it even tighter. I have yet to see a kit pipe for the drivers side fit adequately and still allows proper clearance when the rear suspension is compressed (when towing loads, trailers, etc.)
Another benefit of free bending the tailpipes is the ability to use a variety of different tips by choosing the outlet position and height of the tailpipe locations. This lends to more unique and original systems, instead of the cookie cutter concept. Not to mention you can keep the tailpipe outlet point higher, so if you 4-wheel drive your not banging a ?stock height? tailpipe.
I remember the first pre-bent dual exhaust kit that came out in the 70?s; it was made by Cyclone, and was dubbed the ?big tube? kit. The kits were hideous, and really show how far manufactures have come in building and designing the quality kits that are available today. However, as clearances tighten (just look under your 75 Chevy PU, compared to your AV) fit and safety will always be a problem with the kits, especially the dual tailpipe kits.
The CORSA kits we have installed also utilized ?Y? connector dual outlet design on instead of having a true dual outlet muffler. This ?Y? connector just creates additional backpressure (and yet another two joints that can potentially leak, unless you happen to have a wire feed welder in your garage
). This concept doesn?t lend well to future changes that the owner may want to make if he/she is unhappy with the sound of the CORSA (which is an instance we had). Replacing parts of the mandrel bent tailpipes are necessary when adapting them to a performance muffler with level or side-side outlets. Use a true dual outlet muffler.
Additionally, I wasn?t too impressed when I saw the pricing on the CORSA systems, and the tips, such as the Escalade Ext clone tip. CORSA wants about $249.00 for those (I assume that?s a pair). That same stainless tip manufactured by a company called DT-Sports costs me about $30.00 (in 304 polished stainless) and retails for $69.95ea. So I?m not impressed with the price.
It?s no mystery to me why GM approved the CORSA system. Manufacturers typically will have agreements with aftermarket manufacturers to sell their products as ?add-ons? where the OEM manufacturer does not produce that particular accessory part.
HeavyD, the Magnaflow systems are great on catalyst vehicles for people that don?t want a lot of sound. If you have the 5 x 11 oval which is 22 inches long, that might be why you aren?t getting much sound (that is the muffler that comes with the Magnaflow cat-back system). Remember, Magnaflow is packed with sound deadening material in the case, and around the baffle. If you have the single in, single out 3 inch Magnaflow, install the Flowmaster 70 series part #53070. If you want more sound, and don?t mind the occasional ?drone?, use the 50 series SUV #53055 (I?m assuming your Magnaflow is 3 inch center in, 3 inch center out). Magnaflow is great thought, they advertise 10.5 increase in horsepower, and 17.9 ft-lb increase in torque.
As far as I have been told by Tenneco (Walker), Carsound (Magnaflow), Flowmaster, and a myriad of other performance exhaust companies, their products do not void factory warranties (and this includes JBA headers).
Just my two bits, love this forum.
