Gents,

I intalled a Downey exhaust system on my '89 Runner V6 back in February/March. Pretty happy with the headers, etc, but not very happy with the Downey supplied muffler. It sounds a bit too much like a lowered Honda Civic for my taste. With the top off, on the trail and in 4-Low, it is rather annoying.

I am considering a Flowmaster, 3 chamber, SUV targeted muffler. #52557 Supposedly their lowest cabin resonance model. Anyone have experience with this?

Or other opinions on what they run on their trail rigs?

Thanks,

Mike

I run a 3-chamber Flowmaster on my '85, it works well:
http://www.4crawler.com/4Runner.shtml#Engine

Thanks Roger,

I have copied so much of what you have done with your Runner, starting to feel guilty about it.

Over the weekend I put in the flex stainless pipe from the muffler to the small "bumperette", as you did with your Runner in the past. Cut a 3.5" hole in the plastic with a hole saw and stuck the exhaust tip out through the center of the hole. Took some creative rigging to get it centered, but it came out clean. Exhaust is up out of the way and ready for the trail.

Thanks for all the great ideas.

Mike

I run a Flowmaster 40 (2 chamber) on my 88 V6 with Downey headers. I love the way it sounds, and often get asked what motor I have, as bystanders assume it's a V8. It's not quiet, though, if that's what you're after.

Mark

Hate to say it but baffled/chambered mufflers aren't that good at noise suppression and flow the worst of all the muffler designs. Yes, I know that's a bold claim to make and people swear by Flowmaster and I'm probably opening a can of worms I'll wish I never had, but I do base that opinion on research.

Autospeed Giant Muffler Comparison:
The mufflers
Detailed test results
Summary of results

Granted, Flowmaster wasn't included in that test, but ALL the chambered designs flowed the worst of the lot.



If noise suppression is your ultimate goal, I'd go with a 'turbo' style muffler.

If you want a quiet muffler, i'd go for the LONGEST Magnaflow you can get. (like over 24").
Flowmaster is well, flow disaster, they do not flow very well, but they can sound almost like a v8.
i have a straight through MBRP 2.5" x 18" muffler on my truck and it's loud.... not ricey, kind of sounds like a "tuner" v6... and not a rice bucket.... my cuz has a flowmaster and it's loud as hell... and sounds terrible (i think) but other people like it....
If i didnt get hte MBRP for so cheap i would have got a magnaflow....

I second the Magnaflow. The one on my 88 w/ Downey's is about 18" and sounds great.

i have a single chamber flow master on mine and love it it sounds almost exact to a v8 stang with flows until i hit about 3000rpm but i rarly do

It was the same for me, too loud on the trail, no low end torque, but great for top end power. I went with a cheap $24 Raptor Turbo muffler from Kragen's. I have plenty of low end torque, quiet trail performance unless I am on the throttle, and I can still run to 55-60mph in 3rd w/o the engine screaming. Actually when running up 60 in 3rd I am just starting to hit the 5k on the tach. Granted the muffler is a bit flimsy in comparison to the Downey, and it wont last as long, but for the money it is well worth it.

Hmmmmmmm....

Food for thought. Flowmaster HQ is here in Santa Rosa, wonder if I could drop by and ask to talk to an engineer. Most likely not.

The cheap Kragen option is interesting, from a low cost of entry standpoint. I added the flex stainless to the back of the muffler, so, I do not have a restriction on having to fab up a new tailpipe for each muffler.

I will let you guys know what I end up with. I'm tempted to try the Turbo style muffler first, see what it does, and then make a decision on the Magnaflow or Flowmaster type. Comes down to money at some point.

I was out on the trail last weekend and was embarrassed by all the racket it is making right now. I do a bit of hunting with the rig, and can't see a squirrel, much a less a deer, staying within 5 miles of this thing right now.

Thanks for the input,

Mike