Borla vs Flowmaster American Thunder?
04-06-2002, 03:37 AM
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Borla vs Flowmaster American Thunder?
Which exhaust do you guys prefer? Borla is more expensive but has the interchangeable plates. Flowmaster has the sound but is much cheaper. I haven't heard the American Thunder exhaust. I was looking at the Summit Racing catalog with the 3inch dual outlet exhaust system. How does the Flowmasers sound. Right now i have the Borla Exhaust. I think the Borla is straight though mostly but the Flowmaster has the cross -flow muffler. Which do you think would be better performing Borla or Flowmaster or would they be about the same. Give me your .2cents. Later.
1991 Z28 1LE 5.7 auto.
1991 Z28 1LE 5.7 auto.
04-06-2002, 09:29 PM
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I personally like the sound of borla. the flowmaster I think is too loud and sounds like it rattles. thats just me.but for the money I don't know if it is worth it.
04-06-2002, 11:48 PM
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Car: 1993 Toyota Supra
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I think the Borla has a much deeper sound. I usually run the plate that is almost wide open. The borla is loud when you WOT but at idle, it is really deep and quite quiet for a almost straight pipe on one side. I love it, the flowmaster sounds hollow.
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04-07-2002, 02:43 PM
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Originally posted by derfrank
the flowmaster sounds hollow.
the flowmaster sounds hollow.
04-07-2002, 02:57 PM
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I don't like flows and for the price of the Borla, Arlington Motorsports Racing will do true dual exhaust with Dr. Gas X-pipe. Actually, you would have to supply mufflers on top of the cost of the dual exhaust, but it's worth it to me. Too bad I didn't find out about the steal at AMS until after I bought all of the pipes and a MIG welder (didn't want to try it with the stick welder, lol). Now I've put in just about as much money as I would have spent taking it to AMS 
. Oh well, it'll probably be fun and now I have the MIG for future uses as well.
. Oh well, it'll probably be fun and now I have the MIG for future uses as well.
04-08-2002, 05:20 PM
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been my experience that with the cars i have seen with both of those systems is this.........flowmaster: the thunder of g.o.d./roar of satan :hail: borla: bubbly like a wet fart. i would "go with the flow" every time 
04-09-2002, 12:27 PM
#14
well i have Borla and my best friend has the Flowmaster cat-back on his, and well lets just say he wants to get rid of his flows for a borla now.. to tell u the truth, i have 3 buddies that run flowmaster cat-backs, ones an IROC, ones a Formula, and the others a Stang, and mines louder than all of them and sound way better, so they say!! i'm running the 3/4-1" plate, which ever it is, its the smallest opening plate.. I LOVE IT!! u wouldn't regret it, but its basicaly all personal preference, which sound do u like?? everyeones got different tastes.. and everybody's gonna be partial to what they have ya know.. i like them both though, i just chose borla cuz everybody in my area has flows and i wanted to be different.. later man, good luck choosing.. mike
04-09-2002, 12:36 PM
#15
Which do you think would be better performing Borla or Flowmaster or would they be about the same.
That would be the only easy answer to an unsettled debate. As you mentioned, the Flowie's are a crossflow design and the Borla's are straight-thru(you can look in the inlet side and see right through to the exits and beyond). I'll leave it to you to guess which flows better and performs better.
The whole question of the sound of each is a matter of personal preference. In an all-out shouting match, the Flowmaster contingent will always win. The Flowmaster system is less expensive and easier to install, so it's natural there'd be more Flowmaster fans here.
If you want an opinion from someone who has both(Flowmaster on one IROC, Borla on the other), I'd have to agree that the Flowmaster muffler sounds hollow and tinny. You'd have to hear each side-by-side to understand this. But in fairness to the Flowies, the sound is still an improvement over the factory muffler. It's just that the Borla has a much deeper, more rumbly resonance that(to me and others) is reminiscent of the sound big-blocks used to make.
As for the comment about Borla's having a sound like a "bubbly, wet fart": I'll assume the author has no experience with Borla's but probably is an authority on bubbly, wet farts.
That would be the only easy answer to an unsettled debate. As you mentioned, the Flowie's are a crossflow design and the Borla's are straight-thru(you can look in the inlet side and see right through to the exits and beyond). I'll leave it to you to guess which flows better and performs better.
The whole question of the sound of each is a matter of personal preference. In an all-out shouting match, the Flowmaster contingent will always win. The Flowmaster system is less expensive and easier to install, so it's natural there'd be more Flowmaster fans here.
If you want an opinion from someone who has both(Flowmaster on one IROC, Borla on the other), I'd have to agree that the Flowmaster muffler sounds hollow and tinny. You'd have to hear each side-by-side to understand this. But in fairness to the Flowies, the sound is still an improvement over the factory muffler. It's just that the Borla has a much deeper, more rumbly resonance that(to me and others) is reminiscent of the sound big-blocks used to make.
As for the comment about Borla's having a sound like a "bubbly, wet fart": I'll assume the author has no experience with Borla's but probably is an authority on bubbly, wet farts.
04-09-2002, 04:45 PM
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As for the comment about Borla's having a sound like a "bubbly, wet fart": I'll assume the author has no experience with Borla's but probably is an authority on bubbly, wet farts. [/B][/QUOTE]
oh there are lots of people around hear who have borla exhaust on their cars. i dunno if their putting the wide open plates in them or what but they sound like total @$$. but then again i don't have the flowmaster cross flow anymore, but dual 40 series. but still i like the sound of the crossflow 80 series more than the borla.its all just personal prefference. but i have yet to hear in person or in a sound file, a borla system i liked.
[/B][/QUOTE]oh there are lots of people around hear who have borla exhaust on their cars. i dunno if their putting the wide open plates in them or what but they sound like total @$$. but then again i don't have the flowmaster cross flow anymore, but dual 40 series. but still i like the sound of the crossflow 80 series more than the borla.its all just personal prefference. but i have yet to hear in person or in a sound file, a borla system i liked.
04-09-2002, 07:21 PM
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flowmaster has always sounded hollow to me I like the deeper rumble tone. I have a pit bull exhaust from ATR http://atrperformance.com/. Nice deep rumble. Borla sounds good also.
04-09-2002, 09:14 PM
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Car: 99 Formula
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Transmission: T56
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I don't like the Borla either, I'd take the flow.
Did I just say that.
course I'll take a hooker over a flow anyday.
Did I just say that.course I'll take a hooker over a flow anyday.
04-09-2002, 09:25 PM
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The Flowmaster crossflow sounds hollow and tinny on 305's and stock 350's. If you have a strong motor with higher than stock compression (9.5:1 - 9.75:1), and a decent cam with headers and a high flow cat it sounds very deep and aggressive. If you hear my car you'll change your mind.
04-09-2002, 09:59 PM
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Car: 1993 Toyota Supra
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I need to be more exposed to some good sounding flowmaster exhausts. A friend of mine has a 91 z28 with a 305, and it doesn't sound very good. He has headers and a force II flowmaster with 3" in/3" out, single. I'm wasn't very impressed by it. He paid about $260 for it shipped. I paided about $350 for my borla used. My original 305 got nothing but compliments from the borla exhaust. The only complaint I have on the Borla is that I think they should of included those cool intercooled tips like on the 4th gen systems. I don't really like the round angle cut quad tips that much. The SLP headers that I got also add a nice deep tone to my 383 along with the borla exhaust.
04-09-2002, 10:39 PM
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
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As long as flowmaster uses those baffles (aka "Delta Flow Technology") instead of sound dampening material, theyll always have that tinny sound to them. Flowmasters arn't bad mufflers but that hollow, tinny sound doesnt help.
04-09-2002, 10:51 PM
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See, I don't have that hollow tinny sound. The problem is everybody puts them on 305's and stock motors. I've heard Flows that sound like complete **** and there are some like mine with a deep, aggressive sound.
04-09-2002, 11:07 PM
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
with a good engine combo... they sound nice, but without any dampening material, they can't compensate for any unwanted tones that are heard with the stock or milder setups... Hence, i probably wont use one.
04-10-2002, 07:51 AM
#29
i'm with derfrank, ever since i got my Borla on i've had nothign but compliments on it, not one person hasn't LOVED it.. but again i say its all personal preference, everybody is partial to what they own and they think its the best.. i've heard every exhaust out there it think.. and it is true that if u don't have headers, and cam on a 350, ur flows sound "tinny" or "raspy", but if u do own a 350 or greater, and run a nice lopey cam with headers u will be pleased with the outcome.. however the Borla exhaust as said before has that big block tone to it which i love and sounds very tough.. as u can see by my sig i am only running a 305, one night i was crusin' and a 00' WS6 pulled up to me and he was hanging back a bit listening to my exhaust, we hit a ligth and i was expecting him to want a piece of me, if it was an LT1 i woulda smoked him but with out the I.V. (little blue bottle) hooked up to my engine i dont stand a chance against an LS1, however, he pulled up beside me and said "holy sh*t, that thing sounds like its built hardcore, do u have alot done to it?" and i replied saying "ya i gotta few things done" and just gave him that sarcastic smile like i actually did.. well we cruised side by side for about a 3 miles and he didn't wanna play at all, he backed down, i even, through him about 3-4 revs trying to get him to play but he wouldn't.. y u ask? cuz of that wonderful built "big block" sound.. hehe but i'm partial to what i have also lol..
04-10-2002, 11:30 PM
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I never liked mufflers with dampening material. The first think I thought when I saw a Borla was why pay $500 for what's basically a straight pipe and a glass pack. I know it's made out of stainless but still, my aluminized pipe is holding up well.
04-11-2002, 12:09 AM
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Car: 88 GTA + Dakota on N20
Engine: 383 4 bolt
Transmission: 700r4
I Love my american thunder setup everybody seems to want their car to sound like mine. Slp headers + gutted cat + American Thunder = Very Deep Sweet sounding tones. I like to drive around parking lots and set off car alarms from 50' FT HEHE Hollow or tinny? I think not
Hollow or tinny? I think not
04-14-2002, 02:23 AM
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In conclusion to this Borla/Flowmaster debate. I think it really depends on what setup you have. I think i will just stick with my Borla exhaust for now. I think i'll try and just get some headers see if that will change the tone to make it sound more deeper with more melodic tones 
. Thanks everyone. Rock-ON!
. Thanks everyone. Rock-ON! 
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