01'TRUE BLUE GT said:
That's the best thing about having more competition.
I can't speak for the quality of sound from their Loudmouth system, but the quality of the C/B itself looks much better to me than Magnaflow. Before any of you start ripping me a new one for that, I used to have the 'packs on mine.
SLP ... 304 S.S., nice clamps, unpolished mufflers (so what!), nice double-wall tips.
MAGNAFLOW ... ??? S.S., polished mufflers (who really cares besides carshow people), cheap clamps, lousy set screw (falls out) tips with that FUGLY hole in the bottom of them (for baffles).
Any of you that really know me, knows I will eventually change my exhaust again (for the 5th time

) so it looks like SLP is the way to go if/when I do it again.
Well there is still one place where I feel we can make an argument for the Magnaflow stuff---
1. 304ss would only increase our production cost by about a dollar- there is a reason we dont use it. It was never intended for exhaust use. There is a lot of problems with it work hardening, and becoming brittle.
We use several different grades of stainless, each one is different because each part of the muffler is subject to different levels of heat, and burden...
2. The set screw problem- We had a problem with one of the machines, which has been fixed
3. Internals- The bottom line is, Magnaflow muffler are A LOT more expensive to make then the SLP mufflers. They use an angel hair fiberglass, which will only become much louder over time.....as they will suffer from blow back and water absorption.
We have our rock wool, which has much higher costs then fiberglass, but will not suffer from blow back, and will not absorb water over time, the Magnaflows will sound the same 2 years down the line.
4. X pipes with converters. I see a major flaw in their X pipe with converter design. (Heck, maybe they will read this and change it, which is fine)
You CAN NOT CLAMP IN converters, and expect them to pass smog in some areas, if you have the IM240 test.
The problem is, clamps leak, and when they leak, they actually draw air from outside into the exhaust system, which is a problem if you have clamps before the converters, as it will give you high NOX readings.....
which of course is important if you live in a place where they run the IM240 smog test...
As a converter company, we give seminars across the country on proper converter installation.
Welding the converters is more expensive of course.
5. Clamps- I would not call our clamps cheap, but I see your point. Our clamps are still stainless steel though and the bottom line is they work. I have never had any problems with them on my car, and have not read about any problems here.
Now of course I think we could do a little bit better job with our tips, but I think those holes will make more sense when we finish our baffles.
6. HP- On the catbacks, there will probably not be much difference. We have all ready flow tested their mufflers, and ours did still marginally out flow their mufflers, but not enough to see much of a difference on a dyno if any.
Mandrel bend 2.5" piping is pretty much the same.
I think the entire debate is going to come down to sound between the two.
I think the hp numbers on the catback are pretty similar, and I think they both offer different distinctive sounds, and it will be up to the consumer to decide....
Sorry to go off here, but when you make parts for GM, Ford, Daimler Chrylser, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda exc exc exc based on quality, I guess you could say we can get a little defensive sometimes.....
but as always, I am going to bring this thread to my next sales meeting, so that I can show them your points, because I dont think we are perfect, and I think that the points you have brought up are good for us to see...
so please dont think in defense that I was trying to say that you were wrong, just trying to present our side of the argument is all.....
I think you presented your points in a good way, and I appreciate the feedback soming from someone who currently has Magnaflow on their car....
Hopefully no one"flames" you, because any time someone brings up stuff like you did, it gives us something to look at.....
Thank you,
Brent
and again, if anyone else would like to add any constructive comments for us, I am completely open.....
(I am working on having different tips made that you could buy seperately that would fit right onto your existing catback, with our welding based on the last thread we had like this. )