Hooker Aerochamber muffler(s)

C

cycleguy55

Member
Location
White City, SK Canada
I'm looking at replacing the stock FX35 muffler with a Hooker Aerochamber muffler. Based upon what I've read, the Aerochambers flow very well, have a reasonable noise level, and sound good - though I realize that's subjective and very personal.

There are 2 models built for Camaro and Firebird applications with single inlets and dual outlets - one with the same 2.5" inlet diameter as the stock muffler but smaller outlets , while the other has a 3" inlet and larger outlets. I'm thinking the former may be a little quieter, while the latter may have a bit more rumble but flow better.

Here are the specs:
21721HKR: 2.5" inlet, 2 x 2.25" outlets
21729HKR: 3.0" inlet with a 3-bolt flange, 2 x 2.5" outlets

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions?
 
PMG 705 said:
Have you heard them on applications other than the camaro or firebird? If not, it will sound quite different.
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My Flowmaster 80 series is meant for a Camaro...
Anyway, half the fun of the otherwise useless muffler mod is hearing how it sounds after the install! :tongue (2):
 
im with tchuck and also have flowmaster 80 series. Always put a big smile on my face, love it!
 
Change of thought: I've found out I can get a Magnaflow stainless steel muffler that may be a better fit and, being stainless steel, likely to last longer. The muffler body is 5" x 8" oval and 18" long, as compared to the 24" long OEM muffler, the inlet is 2.5" and it has 2 x 2.5" outlets in a crossflow configuration, so this will be easier for my installer.

Anybody have any experience with Magnaflow? Any knowledge of how they sound on the FX35?
 
easy_goer said:
How do you get the Flowmaster exhaust ?. Any Website that I should go to.....
Thanks in advance.
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i got mine from amazon when it was on sale. It should be relatively cheap now too, around $100 shipped. Expect another ~150 for install. You will the flowmaster series 80 single in, dual out, 2.5"! Lmk if you have other questions :smile (2):
 
It's a pretty popular size that fits many applications with minor modifications to the hangers. Mine was in stock at a local parts store.

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easy_goer said:
So what should I get to make a set ( mid pipes , muffers , ect.......) or just the mufflers ?.
THX.
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the flowmaster is just a muffler. The shop will most likely butcher up parts from your oem exhaust (hangers, pipes, tips etc) to fabricate onto the flowmaster. If your bringing it to a shop all you need is the flowmaster muffler and they can do the rest. You can bring your own tips if you want to deviate from the stock tips also so they install that with the muffler. Most reputable muffler shops should have the necessary materials instock :tup:
 
Listened to some clips today on YouTube. The closest one to my intended system was an FX45, as both FX35 clips are full duals from the cats, one supercharged. They all sound good, though!

FWIW, I dropped the OEM muffler today to put on a trailer hitch, and discovered where my leak was coming from. Like many others have found, the tubing / flange connection was rusted right out.

While there are many FM fans out there, there also seems to be a school of thought the FMs don't flow as well as some other brands, MF included. FWIW, I prefer the Magnaflow sound. YMMV

The Magnaflow 12265 should arrive tomorrow, and get installed right after that.

No sound clip, but I fired up the FX35 w/o the muffler in place and it's not as loud as some pickups and ricers I see running around town. I guess running through 2 cats, a Y-pipe and resonator tone it down somewhat - it's not like running open headers! OTOH, all I did was rev it a couple of times, and I'm sure it will sound much different when I put it under load or accelerate hard - which I might need to do on my way to the shop to get my Magnaflow installed.
 
cycleguy55 said:
...
While there are many FM fans out there, there also seems to be a school of thought the FMs don't flow as well as some other brands, MF included. FWIW, I prefer the Magnaflow sound. YMMV
...
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I've heard the same about the Magnaflow mufflers vs Flowmaster; Better quality and higher flow ratings. Both companies offer many different types and models though so I just took it with a grain of salt. Unless you are heavily modded or FI, it's just a matter of which sound you prefer and how much money you want to spend. Given the price difference, my plan was to try the FM and then upgrade to a "real" exhaust if I wasn't satisfied. I had mine installed about a year ago and so far so good...
Be sure to post audio clips! I've never heard a MF on an FX. :tup:

cycleguy55 said:
...
No sound clip, but I fired up the FX35 w/o the muffler in place and it's not as loud as some pickups and ricers I see running around town. I guess running through 2 cats, a Y-pipe and resonator tone it down somewhat - it's not like running open headers! OTOH, all I did was rev it a couple of times, and I'm sure it will sound much different when I put it under load or accelerate hard - which I might need to do on my way to the shop to get my Magnaflow installed.
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Under load, the FX sans muffler will be BRUTALLY loud. Night and day from just revving it in your driveway. My exhaust volume triples at WOT.
 
i don't think either FM or MF makes a difference in terms of flow. If there are the difference is so minimal it shouldn't matter much if anything. Muffler are just for sounds, anybody that think that by changing out the muffler you are getting hp gain or even that it will flow alot better than stock is just lying to themselves.

When i had the plan of putting a flowmaster on my fx i look up several videos, seems like the fm combine with some other exhaust work sounds amazing. Has a unique sound, but imo putting fm or mf on any cars makes it sounds like american muscle.Cool if your into that.
 
tchuck said:
Under load, the FX sans muffler will be BRUTALLY loud. Night and day from just revving it in your driveway. My exhaust volume triples at WOT.
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I kind of expected that - I guess I'll need to be REALLY light on the throttle on my way to the shop! OTOH, if there's nobody too close on the highway in the morning I just might let it out a little bit to "test" it...
 
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