Bassani vs Flowmaster

[Gearbanger 101]

Resonates and drones like a sonofabitch.... I think the droning is from my headers though because my Flows droned EXACTLY the same as the Spintechs, at EXACTLY the same rpms. It's a HORRIFIC sound...I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. Sounds like.....an animal growling. If the animal was being shaken, and was made entirely of tin.

More often than not, the drone is just something most have to live with when buying an aftermarket exhaust system. If you’ll notice, the mufflers on the stock set up are actually two different sizes. Ford designed them this way in order to allow one muffler to produce a slightly different resonance than the other, which in turn cancelled most of the droning resonance out. Doing so was great for sound control, but these mufflers don’t flow all that well, and because of their different sizes, flow with uneven characteristics.

Aftermarket systems have two identical mufflers that product the same resonance, in which case while equalizing flow characteristics, actually amplifies the dreaded exhaust drone. Some have had success using 3-chamber Flowmasters or similar such designs, and the drone can often be lessened with the use on an X-pipe and/or Cats, but it unfortunately never seems to disappear completely.

 

[OrLackThereof]

Lol yes....well I've got the X pipe and I've heard a LOT of foxes...but I haven't heard one locally that drones quite as bad as mine. It's to the point that, at that rpm, you can no longer hear the exhaust note. AT ALL. No more exhaust, no more engine tone, just NOTHING but drone and reverb for about 300 rpms. It's DEAFENING.

Lol I'm just convinced that it's these POS headers....I hear equal-length shorties have a problem with droning...I want to get L/T's to correct that. I hope. If not....I think I might just go insane..

 

[Gearbanger 101]

I really doubt that swapping to long tube headers is going to cure your drone, but it’s still a good swap compared to any shorty header power wise and it won't hurt. I've got 1 5/8 Unequals, custom Bassani O/R X-pipe and 2 1/2 Mac Flowpath Catback and at 1800-2100rpm, it drones like all the rest. A catted X-pipe may help to tone it down a little, but it would still be there. Pretty much the only cure is going to be a quieter set of mufflers, but I wish you luck regardless.

 

[Stang8URMPRT]

Weird... I have Mac shorty unequals... a custom made x-pipe.. and 2 chambers... I've have tail pipes on, then dumps.. then tailpipes again, then now I'm back to dumps... lol. My drone always comes at low RPM, abour 1200-1400. But I do know what you all are talkin' about with th 2000 RPM drone. I like it. Makes you remember you're driving a bad ass Mustang.

Nick

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Weird... I have Mac shorty unequals... a custom made x-pipe.. and 2 chambers... I've have tail pipes on, then dumps.. then tailpipes again, then now I'm back to dumps... lol. My drone always comes at low RPM, abour 1200-1400. But I do know what you all are talkin' about with th 2000 RPM drone. I like it. Makes you remember you're driving a bad ass Mustang.

Nick

What have you got for gears in the rear end? I've got 3.55's in mine, which my account for the drone coming on at a different RPM.

 

[OL' WHITEY]

I've got a '93 GT. I had 2 chamber flows and a factory H-pipe behind MAC shortys until a couple of months ago. I liked it, but due to rusty pipes, I had to change it all out. I decided to go with the aluminized Bassani catted X and Bassani cat back systems. I absoulutely LOVE the new sound. It's deeper and throatier and you just gotta' love that popping, burbling sound when you let off the throttle! The Bassani stuff fits right up. No leaks. Good quality clamps. It is more than the others, even getting the aluminized and not the stainless, but it's worth it. I wouldn't suggest mixing Bassani X and Flowmaster mufflers. Chambered mufflers sound best with an H pipe. Straight through mufflers sound better with an X. I'll tell you what DOES sound good is the Bassani X and Magnaflow Magnapacks. My buddy has that setup on his '98 Cobra and it is wicked. The Packs are definitely louder than the Bassani mufflers. If you've got to have loud, go with Magnaflow Magnapacks, not the regular Magnaflow mufflers. Otherwise, I'd stick to Bassani from the headers back. Oh, by the way, the buddy I spoke of had to dump his Delta flows shortly after he put on the Bassani X. The combination of X and chambered mufflers caused an annoying buzz or hum at certain RPMs that he couldn't stand! It wasn't a drone. He had that too, but this was a nasty sound! That's why he went with Magnapacks.

 

[OrLackThereof]

I really doubt that swapping to long tube headers is going to cure your drone, but it’s still a good swap compared to any shorty header power wise and it won't hurt. I've got 1 5/8 Unequals, custom Bassani O/R X-pipe and 2 1/2 Mac Flowpath Catback and at 1800-2100rpm, it drones like all the rest. A catted X-pipe may help to tone it down a little, but it would still be there. Pretty much the only cure is going to be a quieter set of mufflers, but I wish you luck regardless.

I'm almost positive I've got a leak, but I cannot find it for the life of me. Not only do I have the 1800-2200 rpm drone...but on the interstate, it drones, chatters, rattles, and reverbs all the way between 1800 rpms and 3000 rpms!! Thats over 1000 rpms of HORRIFIC NOISE!! All the Mustang guys ask me "you running open H pipe?" and I say "no, I've got an X and mufflers, why?" They go "Oh, it sounds like it's open".

 

[slytherin]

Bassani no cat xpipe with the macs sound great,IMO nice crackle. my buddy with the same xpipe and flows is thinking on changing his over to the macs.

 

[NoSloCoupes]

The x pipe gives off a lot more drone than an h..especially coupled with some shorty headers. I ran shorty's with an offroad x and 2 ch. flows and it was just down right unbearable in the car. The longtubes and h pipe will quiet down the drone.

As far as mufflers(for sound), i prefer the bassani over everything i've tried(which is just a few,lol)...absolutely no drone! The quiet thunders sound real aggressive..but the race versions are just down right MEAN!

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Not only do I have the 1800-2200 rpm drone...but on the interstate, it drones, chatters, rattles, and reverbs all the way between 1800 rpms and 3000 rpms!!

I had a similar such problem and it turned out to be the exhaust touching part of the undercarriage. Couldn't see it when it was up on jack stands, but when it was running, it would vibrate enough that it would touch. Maybe check your clearances?

 

[OrLackThereof]

My exhaust is hitting a fuel line bracket right now due to a hanger problem.

You think that one small fuel line bracket could be the cause of so much crappy noise?

 

[Michael Yount]

Actually, a lot of folks will tell you that a switch to long tubes made a huge improvement in the drone factor - regardless of muffler choice.

Sound quality/volume is a subjective thing. What one person likes, another person may think sounds like ass. So only you can decide what you like. But most folks, especially as the years go by, will tire of the drone factor. And it does set other things to vibrating because of resonance.

The design of the two mufflers in question is significantly different. Flowmaster quiets (relatively) by reflecting the sound waves back on each other and achieving some cancellation of noise. Bassani is a packed/perforated design that tries to absorb some of the noise in the packing. The Bassani will grow louder over time as the packing deteriorates. I had one (single system) on mine for about a year, and it got so loud that I had to take it off. And Bassani's warranty -- well, let's just say as a practical matter they don't have a warranty; and I won't be buying any more of their product.

I've got a single Magnaflow in front of the rear axle, feeding into a single SpinTech behind the rear axle and mine's too loud for me. After exploring the issue in great detail, the muffler designers at Arvin-Merritor have convinced me that the way to go (if you want to quiet things down a bit in the drone department) is to put high-flow cats back on. The high flow units offer virtually no flow restriction (contrary to popular belief) but because of all the surface area in the honeycomb ceramic matrix, they do a great job at cancelling out some of the noise.

Bassani or FlowMaster? Pick what you like -- nobody else can decide that for you.

 

[Daggar]

I've got the Bassani Cat-back and as mentioned before, the sound is awsome but not overtly loud. It's got a very deep "Eat Me" rumble to it that causes neighbors I've never met stop by occationally to ask what I've got under the hood. At idle or cruising at low RPM the sound is very tame. At WOT (with the inserts removed) the ricer (and often corvette) next to you will be doing his best to hide the wide eyed look he mistakenly let slip. I drive somewhat of a sleeper and prefer a docile presence until the gas is mashed. It's also a daily driver and is often driven on road trips of 600 miles or more (kid seat in the back and all). That said, the Bassani is the exhaust I would still choose if I had to do it over again. If you're looking for a more brash screaming agressive presence that sounds like NASCAR even at idle you may want to go with your other system. It pretty much boils down to what Michael said. What do you like?

 

[Michael Yount]

daggar - you planning on sticking with the speed density system once you install the KB?

 

[Daggar]

Yes... at least for now. I've spoken with Bob Kennedy at length about that. With my mods and the boost I'm planning to run, He says it's very doable and has done it quite often. I've got an FMU and a boost a pump installed and bought a wideband O2 sensor and reader to do what tuning I can do without a dyno. My current setup doesn't really creat much of a problem with not having enough vacume for it to operate so I'm gonna stick with it for now and see how it goes. Once the 331 is complete (I've barely started) the speed density will have to go.

Edit: UNLESS... That new eec in the latest MM&FF is all it's cracked up to be.

 

[Michael Yount]

I think the bigger issue with the charger is the check valve needed to keep the MAP sensor from seeing boost...

 

[90pony302]

i know this is bassani vs. flows but what do you guys think of magnaflow i know one person mentioned them???

 

[BlueThunder1988]

Bassani catbacks have been noted to reduce drone due to the resonators in the tailpipes. Drone is no fun if you drive any highway miles at all. My previous stang had Dronemax--I mean Dynomax--Super Turbos and they rattled my fillings on the highway!

My current combo (MAC unequal shorties, Pacesetter off-road x-pipe and Bassani Street Thunder catback) has no drone, a nice mellow rumble at idle, screams at WOT but cruises quietly--I love it!

 

[Daggar]

I think the bigger issue with the charger is the check valve needed to keep the MAP sensor from seeing boost...

That's included with the kit.

 

[Soon2beBlown]

I'm running bassani L/T's ,their 3" X-pipe w/ 40 series flows and it sounds pissed at WOT(in a good way) I've hardly noticed any drone from the mufflers, maybe its because of my stock gearing??