exhaust choice

CobraVnMn

New Member
Dec 23, 2003
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would you guys say that the Mac cat back exhaust system sounds like the two chamber flow masters in a way?

currently i have the bbk long tube headers with dr.gas 3'' x-pipe and im debating on if i should go with flowmasters or with the mac cat back system.. Thanks guys, Happy NewYears !
 
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CobraVnMn said:
would you guys say that the Mac cat back exhaust system sounds like the two chamber flow masters in a way?

currently i have the bbk long tube headers with dr.gas 3'' x-pipe and im debating on if i should go with flowmasters or with the mac cat back system.. Thanks guys, Happy NewYears !

I dont have a comment on your 2 choices, but If you're intrested i have an Edelbrock RPM cat back exhaust for sale.
 
I've read a lot of posts from very happy Mac cat-back owners. I'm running factory headers, Dr. Gas X pipe, and two chamber Flows... and I love the sound. Lots of guys don't like the sound of a chambered muff with an X pipe. If you do like that sound, then you should be happy with the Flows or the Mac setup.
 
I used to have Mac's behind my long tubes and bassani x w/cats and the drone was 5.0 cool at first but got old quick. I had to crank my sound sytem up just to hear it. Keep in mind exhaust noise is amplified on a convertible. I ended up swapping the Mac's with a pair of Borla Pro XS mufflers. Much quieter yet still powerful sounding and the Borla's made more power. I'm dropping in a stroker motor in the near future and plan to upgrade my exhaust with BBK 1 3/4 LT's, BBK X w/cats, and Mangflow catback. Check out ubb.mustangexhaust.com if you haven't already.
 
ive always used two chamer flows and i LOVE the way they sound... i ran bbk shorties w/ a flowtech x pipe off road an two chambe flows.. But i heard this cobra that had a mac cat back and it sounded like flows, an i was wondering if anyone knew anything about mac cat backs... 92vert thanks for that webpage, never knew about it.. are there any other webpages to check out for sound clips?
 
I have a mac catback on my car. I still have the stock h-pipe and headers, so I can not say what it sounds like with other mid-pipes.

I will say that comparing my stang to others with flows, the Mac's sound somewhat similar to flows. They are much deeper and have a smoother sound to them. You should be happy with either one.
 
I thought I heard before that an x-pipe makes more power with a straight thru muffler like borla or dynomax, and an h-pipe makes more power with a chambered muffler like flowmaster or Mac. I could have sworn I seen this in an old 5.0 or Muscle Mustangs when the x pipes were first coming out, did anyone else ever see this? I also have another off topic question for CobraVnMn, do you have a part # on that Dr. Gas x-pipe? I seen one on ebay, but it was for Mac LTs, so I emailed the guy and he said that the only ones they had for BBK were 2.5", and that you had to modify the 3" to fit BBK. I would think the Mac and BBK headers would use the same X pipe though.
 
Check out dr.gas webpage, they list the 3'' there.. X pipes make more power the the H's.. Thats what i read and heard an seen on the dyno..but thats what ive seen an heard and read.. there are many sources out there.. its which ever you prefer i guess..
 
I had everything MAC from the engine back on my '88GT, sounded sweet at first but i'll admit it's totally typical sounding, or i guess i should say "traditional" sounding. I actually got really burned out on the flowmaster sound, but my car right now has 2 chamber flows on it with custom 3 inch exits and 3 inch dumps, and it sounds bad@ss. It does drone a bit though, but that's gonna happen with just about any louder exhaust you can get.

X vs. H rule of thumb:
Xs make more hp less tq
Hs make more tq less hp

The greatest thing i can say about MAC muffler setups is they're super easy to put on, and i mean super easy. I put my headers/H/catback on my '88 in the parkinglot of my first apartment, single handedly with basic tool, first time ever doing an exhaust swap, and didnt even jack the car up on anything, i backed it up onto the curb of the parkinglot (ghetto supreme). Hey, it got the job done. Everything needed to install came with the catback and headers, and i bought the H used. I've since completed 10+ header to tailpipe installs, and i'd rather do a MAC setup that is a full bolt-on installation than something that has to be welded.

Lastly though, when i first got my '88, it was bone stock down to the silencer, and had several exhaust leaks (header flanges were nearly rusted off). When i did the swap, it felt like a new car. Response was totally there, the sound was totally there, it was a 5 speed and running it up to near redline with that new exhaust was priceless :D
 
does the dr.gas x pipe tone it down a little, or is that just a myth? are there differnt tones like loud or silenced mac cat back, cuz i know the flowmaster offers 1-3 chamber, 1 being loudest.. I love the way 2 chamber flows sound, can i expect the same similar tone with out the drone? or is it a completely differnet sound?
 
I have a BBK equals, Dr.Gas off road x pipe, and MAC mufflers.
the drone is very loud cruising in 5th gear. If I drove the car everyday, I would have to change them. But for leisure driving, I dont mind it.
 
Stock89LX said:
I've read a lot of posts from very happy Mac cat-back owners. I'm running factory headers, Dr. Gas X pipe, and two chamber Flows... and I love the sound. Lots of guys don't like the sound of a chambered muff with an X pipe. If you do like that sound, then you should be happy with the Flows or the Mac setup.


i agree with Stock89LX,,,just about everybody has something bad to say about x-pipes w/ flowmasters,,im running them on my 95 GT,,,they sound pretty darn good to me. i get sick of people talking trash about that setup,,,everyone says get MAGNAFLOWs w/ the x-pipe,,magnaflows arent loud,,then they say get magnapacks,,those sound like glasspacks,,so go with the flows
 
hey dude,
i'll just tell you my setup. Well i live in canada where they have aircare regulations. So what i have done to make it a bit louder is i took the cats off, i put a offroad h pipe 2.5 inch and i got 2.5 inch flowmaster 40 series and it sounds really really good, i have 2.25 tailpipes which i'm going to upgrade to 2.5 soon but... it sounds good right now : )
 
I have a Mac catback with mac shorties and an o/r Mac hpipe. It is very loud and does not sound alot like Flowmaster. I am thinking of switching to an xpipe so let us know how it sounds if you go with an x-pipe and Mac!
 
my last set up was with bkk shorties flowtech x pipe and two chamber flows an that sounded damn mean on the dyno, it got pretty loud... i love the way my car used to sound but it used to rattle the chit out of my hatch.. couldnt stand that !!! so now im looking for a very similar sound to the two chambers but just a little cleaner i guess. I heard this one cobra that had the mac cat back that sounded damn near close to the flowmasters just clean.. And i heard it take off down the block, MAN.. that sounded mean.. It had a vortech s trim with an aircooler with a smaller pulley.. they didnt get a chance to dyno the car but they said it was fast.. Mines faster though :D !! HAHA