I am thinking about replacing my 2" stock exhaust system on my 74 with 2 1/2" FlowMasters. The question is what sounds better 40 or 50 series.
I wonder if the fiberglass would pick up the drone from the 40 series

 

Sound, that is the question. I put the SS409 all stainless with a free flow cat.fromLou's Custom Exhaust.The front ss pipe was in great shape to I didn't change them for true dual exhaust. It has a nice deep tone thats not overbearing. car runs 10-20 degrees cooler as well. I can still have a conversation with whoever is riding shotgun. I didn't want to be drowned by the loudness. But everyone is different with the sound they want to here, you could really flip a coin to decide

 

Schoon, One of the two things on my 'Vette that aren't stock are 2 of the brake calipers and the exhaust system. About a year and a half ago, one of the mufflers started to rot and dropped alittle. I located a really good muffler guy, small shop, only the owner did the systems. Since he had done many 'Vettes over the past 35 years, I let him do what he wanted, however I had bought 2 series 40s before hand and brought them along. The head pipes are stainless so he left them in place. The cut out in the frame for pipes is only on one side (on my '81) unlike the old ones so the guy went from the original head pipes, turned the driver side pipe over to the passenger side pipe just at the front of the driver side door, ran the 2 pipes together back to where they split to the mufflers and out the rear. A super clean job, gas welded. I got rid of the converter (one thing that I wanted to do for sure)and the pipes sound really nice. With the spare tire cover off, the system looks great from the rear. I have to say that when I got in it to back it out of the shop, it being louder than what it was before (stock) I didn't know if I liked it. I have since gotten used to it. The 40s sound really good and it feels like maybe it's alittle stronger for a second after 4,000 rpm, for a second, for a second , for a second LOL. You know how weak the stock engine is in the '81. I do have to crank the music pretty loud at 70 plus mph..

 

I have 40's on my 69 Camaro and they sound real nasty. This is probably due to the 450hp pushing through them. My concern with the Vet is the fiber glass will pick up the drone. Sounds like you are happy with yours. I am wondering how much of a difference in sound there is between 40's and 50's

 

I read last night in the "Chevy Talk.com" under '55 thru '57 Chevys that the "50" doesn't have the resonation(sp?) that the "40" has. These guys have spent mucho dollars on their exhaust systems, brand name kits. One guy said that the 40s had nuts backing off bolts over time and the 50s sound great and perform well, said to be a better choice overall. I'm not up on the performance difference between the two, but now I feel alittle bummed that I didn't get 50s instead. Maybe I'm over-reacting. And maybe I'll swap the "40s" out. I doknow from experience what vibration can do over time and it's not a good thing.

 

Good info!
Thanks!

 

i like the 40`s on my chevelle

 

I like the 40's on my Camaro but I just don't know about 40's on my Vet.

 

I agree with you guys. I started my 'Vette this morning and backed it out for my wife. (she looks damn good in it. LOL) I stood there in the dark and listened to it for a minute thinking about this topic, 40s or 50s, and couldn't help but to hear a really good powerful and strong duet between the 2 tail pipes. I don't know how else to put it. Those 40s sound awful good. In my prior post, I stated, like I said, what was on the "Chevy Talk" site. I do know that the only way tofind outfirst hand is to have a set of the 50sand replace the 40s. What the heck, I don't think it would be a waste. As a motorhead, I'd end up using the ones I don't have on the 'Vette sooner or later. Most likely sooner.

 

Let us know what you decide to do.