Slipping into Exhaust Options Overload

[jayman33]

I assumed my question had been addressed - specifically, what exhaust system improves the sound of the 302 while maintaining a civilized sound environment during normal daily driving? After reading all the comments I'm still unclear. Is it the Flowmaster American Thunder Axle Back? The Magnaflow Street Catback? Ford Racing Sport or Roush Axlebacks? My objective is simply improve the current sound without having to listen to my wife complain about abusive noise (droning). I'm hoping there may be a few other senior citizen gearheads out there that might have the right advice so I don't make a $1200 mistake..
As always thanks for the direction.

I've had the luck of testing them all. In that test I put my daughter and wife in the car as well to give me their feedback. My wife is not a car nut and still doesnt understand the "modding" bug.

With that being said, there are a few systems she found to be bearable. ARH catback (no drone, deep and slightly on the quieter side), Corsa sports (deeper, a little louder, absolutely zero drone), Corsa Extreme (pretty loud but still very minimal cabin noise) FRPP/ Borla Sports and Touring, Roush Axle backs and Magnaflow Street catback.

These are what she found bearable. Corsa is the most aggressive out of them all however, you hear them the least in the cabin.

Hope that helps, depending on where you're located we have plenty of cars here for you to try

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[gsxr1300]

Borla Touring is perfect!

 

[BBB]

I love my magnaflow competition... It's pretty loud though. if you want less noise but that deep muscle car sound... get the magnaflow street

 

[MikeD1]

I listened to a lot of them as I wanted something that sounded good but with no drone & I didn't want it to sound like a NASCAR car. Ended up with the Roush axle backs - loud when you get on it, civilized for normal cruising, more of an old school muscle car sound. If I decide later I want "more", cheap & easy to cut out the resonator, add Lethal's H pipe & kick it up a notch.

For now, very pleased with my Roush AB's.

 

[kinchy]

You summarized my expectation relevant to "improving the sound" perfectly, thanks.
I'm way past that station in life where I want this 302 sounding like a Lambo decelerating.
I've received the feedback I need to start evaluating the high probability systems and will do so. No disrespect meant to those that prefer more sound versus less. And as always-thanks

 

[Zodiac]

I forgot I mentioned the Solo mach XV but also look into the American Racing Headers catback. It's got a deep tone and no drone, but very quiet.

 

[73MachI]

You summarized my expectation relevant to "improving the sound" perfectly, thanks.
I'm way past that station in life where I want this 302 sounding like a Lambo decelerating.
I've received the feedback I need to start evaluating the high probability systems and will do so. No disrespect meant to those that prefer more sound versus less. And as always-thanks

I like the factory exhaust, but would like something next summer with a bit more emphasis on the low frequency rumble, the throaty burble of 60s and early 70s muscle cars. Sounds like I'm leaning towards what you are looking for.

Not such a fan of the higher frequency rasping exhausts.

Please keep up updated on your candidates and final solution.

 

[RMA]

I am digging SW setup especially when they were on sale for $900.

 

[GT Pony]

I assumed my question had been addressed - specifically, what exhaust system improves the sound of the 302 while maintaining a civilized sound environment during normal daily driving?

The question is, just how much louder are you looking for? Aftermarket exhaust systems range all over the place for loudness and tone.

If you only want a bit louder under some good throttle, but don't want any louder when cruising down the highway, then just get an H-pipe or X-pipe resonator delete. Stainless ones are around $200~$250 depending on what brand. That's the route I'm going down, as I just want a little more throaty sound and a bit more volume when getting on it.

 

[Cascadia_302]

My Corsa Touring AB are now installed , too late to fire it off and go for a residue burn-off spin. This car is a pain to jack/support without some rails so these are on my Christmas gift card short list.

 

[derieuz]

What I recommend is pretty unique but I think it'll do you wonders. I'm a younger guy but I have an eye and ear for detail, I had a very loud system but could not stand the drone or excessive noise (odd for a 20 year old). What I recommend doing is getting the Steeda Axle back system followed by removing one of the foam pieces from the engine bay sound tube.



You'll get a little more engine noise from removing the sound tube and a little bit more exhaust noise while the windows are up. Zero drone and under calm driving you hear that the car wants to go but it still sounds tame. Roll the windows down and the exhaust will sound jusf as loud as any other aftermarket exhaust, what I found is that after a certain decibel point, all exhausts sound similarly loud with the windows down, but the main difference is interior noise while the windows are up. I'd go with removing the foam piece in the sound tube and a nice axle back system. Keeping the stock resonator will deepen the sound and get rid of a majority of the unwanted noise. The steeda and solo-performance have the deepest, most muscular sounding axle backs while the roush, ford racing, and borla have more of a racer sound to them. Corsa is a mix between both.

 

[kinchy]

I like the factory exhaust, but would like something next summer with a bit more emphasis on the low frequency rumble, the throaty burble of 60s and early 70s muscle cars. Sounds like I'm leaning towards what you are looking for.

Not such a fan of the higher frequency rasping exhausts.

Please keep up updated on your candidates and final solution.

Here's what I've concluded and remember preferences here are driven by my criteria. Off my list: Ford Racing Sport Exhaust, Roush Axle back, MBRP, Solo Mach XV, Corsa Sport and all Borla Products. Not implying they don't sound cool simply to much noise for me as a DD. Two systems may work, Flowmaster American Thunder Axle-Back Exhaust and the Magnaflow Street Cat-back. The Magnaflow at this point seems to be the one meeting my criteria. That said, more homework to be done regarding some of the other suggestions re: an H-pipe or X-pipe resonator delete?
More to come

 

[derieuz]

Here's what I've concluded and remember preferences here are driven by my criteria. Off my list: Ford Racing Sport Exhaust, Roush Axle back, MBRP, Solo Mach XV, Corsa Sport and all Borla Products. Not implying they don't sound cool simply to much noise for me as a DD. Two systems may work, Flowmaster American Thunder Axle-Back Exhaust and the Magnaflow Street Cat-back. The Magnaflow at this point seems to be the one meeting my criteria. That said, more homework to be done regarding some of the other suggestions re: an H-pipe or X-pipe resonator delete?
More to come

Check out the steeda axel back mentioned in my post above, also do not add a resonator delete to the axle back system, I'm not saying for all of them, but some of the louder axel backs paired with a resonator delete will result in drone

 

[kinchy]

Agree on the resonator delete option. To loud for me. Will check out the steeda

 

[Clump]

I'm very much like the OP. I'm old (55) and am looking for the classic muscle car sound with no drone. It seems like most of the sound clips are pretty worthless - the conditions and equipment vary too much from clip to clip. What I think is useful is the stock then modded clips, they give something to compare. The exception is the Borla video. They do a great job comparing all of their systems - [ame="[MEDIA=youtube]4kVdhHKwJiA[/MEDIA]"]

I ordered the Steeda axle back. It seems like the best choice for what I'm after. We'll see soon...

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