Muffler recommendations

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

83sierraclassic

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Posts
2
Reaction score
2
Location
Kansas
First Name
Trevor
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
Sierra classic
Engine Size
305
Hi, I have a 1983 GMC Sierra classic with 74,000 original mi on it and my cherry bomb mufflers just gave out... blew a hole out the bottom of ione side and the passenger side is cracked real bad. Anyhow I really like the sound and the performance of the Cherry bomb exhaust but was considering going with magflow or something that would be similar to what I had. It has a 305 motor with headers, Edelbrock RPM performer carburetor ,shift kit ...other than that it's pretty much stock just looking for something solid with a little bit of rumble thanks in advance for advice
 

SquareRoot

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2017
Posts
4,185
Reaction score
7,996
Location
Arizona
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Oh boy....here we go.
 

Attachments

  • Here we go....JPG
    Here we go....JPG
    34.9 KB · Views: 20

Scott91370

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2018
Posts
993
Reaction score
1,014
Location
Burleson, Tx
First Name
Scott
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra1500
Engine Size
350
It might depend on what il you use. :p
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,396
Reaction score
28,178
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Oh boy....here we go.

Maybe not. They want something that sounds the same as before. Not asking for opinions on what sounds "best".

Ah, who am I kidding. Yeah, this is still going to be a rabbit hole lol.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,396
Reaction score
28,178
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Which kind of Cherry Bomb mufflers are currently installed? They offer a few models. Or are they not actual "Cherry Bomb" brand, and just some random, red painted glass pack mufflers?
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,611
Reaction score
11,567
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
Youtube is your friend. Sound is so subjective, we can recommend all day but you need to figure out what you like. Just keep in mind, glass packs all typically sound similar and chambered mufflers resonate/drone.
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
6,931
Reaction score
12,147
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
If you like the sound/performance why not just get the same?
As said above, it’s totally subjective. Not a single option is going to improve or reduce performance enough to be part of the equation. And yootoob is great but also subjective for sound, as is how your exhaust is setup, where it exits, x or h pipe, etc.
The discussion is a rabbit hole, agreed. Only rivaled by what is the best oil or tires…lol.
 
Last edited:

Catbox

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2018
Posts
4,443
Reaction score
16,632
Location
Just Outside of Portland Oregon
First Name
Peter
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
461
Do you have full tailpipe exhaust?
What size?
As that will also affect the sound.

On my truck, the 454 is incredibly quiet while breathing through the Jones Flow Pack single chamber mufflers.
I suspect that is due to the low compression of the stock-ish engine.
Mine ends just before the axle and sounds beefy at idle and around town not on the gas.
But when you jump on the gas it does bark with a bit of bite.
That would be mellower if I had full tailpipes.

I am sure that when I put an engine in place that has more compression, it will be louder than I appreciate.
Then the Flowmaster 40 series will be put in place.
 

carfanatic63

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2014
Posts
55
Reaction score
143
Location
Houston
First Name
Austin
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
C15 SWB
Engine Size
454
I've been running dual magnaflow 10416 mufflers behind my 454 for years and I'm happy with them.

Small rumble at idle and cruising around town. Minimal drone, loud when you stand on it.
 

SlickGTP

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Posts
785
Reaction score
112
Location
Houston, TX
First Name
John
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
454
I like my Magnaflows for similar reasons of carfanatic63... Every once in awhile, I think of getting slightly longer ones to tamp it down a bit more, but then I think it's more about insulating the cab and getting that settled. :)

Here's a video of mine from awhile back:

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Confused

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2024
Posts
27
Reaction score
94
Location
Angier NC
First Name
George
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
454
I realize I am in the minority here but I wanted mine quiet. I have magnaflow before the axle and dynomax super turbo under the bed just before the bumper. It helps I had two sets of mufflers I wasn't using so there you have it.
454 with long tube headers and 2.5 pipes.
 

3 Ton

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2024
Posts
19
Reaction score
53
Location
Pacific Northwet
First Name
Fred
Truck Year
1978-79 78 body, 79 gearing
Truck Model
K-15 Suburban
Engine Size
350
I did a Magnaflow 2:1 for the low end in four wheel drive.
Sounds gnarly after a few years.
 

LJ69

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2024
Posts
12
Reaction score
40
Location
NY
First Name
Mark
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
383 stroker
Hi, I have a 1983 GMC Sierra classic with 74,000 original mi on it and my cherry bomb mufflers just gave out... blew a hole out the bottom of ione side and the passenger side is cracked real bad. Anyhow I really like the sound and the performance of the Cherry bomb exhaust but was considering going with magflow or something that would be similar to what I had. It has a 305 motor with headers, Edelbrock RPM performer carburetor ,shift kit ...other than that it's pretty much stock just looking for something solid with a little bit of rumble thanks in advance for advice
I like Flowmaster mufflers. They aren't as loud as chery bombs but have a nice sound and are stainless steel with all welded joints. I had them on a daily driver that was driven regularly in salty winter conditions for 7 years and still looked great and perfectly solid (unlike the rest of the truck) when I got rid of the truck.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,396
Reaction score
28,178
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
I like Flowmaster mufflers. They aren't as loud as chery bombs but have a nice sound and are stainless steel with all welded joints. I had them on a daily driver that was driven regularly in salty winter conditions for 7 years and still looked great and perfectly solid (unlike the rest of the truck) when I got rid of the truck.

Which Flowmasters?

There's 10 or 15 variations (or more maybe... I didn't go count) of Flowmaster mufflers with different tones, volumes and also different materials of construction.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,068
Posts
948,743
Members
36,136
Latest member
j20owner
Top