After the recent rebuild and mild tweaking of the original 289 in the '58 sedan, I decided to try some reasonably priced stainless "performance" mufflers. These are simply some subjective observations on the sound quality of the Magnaflows, not an essay on all-out performance exhaust systems.
These particular items are 5" x 8" oval case straight-through mufflers, overall length 24". ID and OD are 2", core 2.5". Because of the case width, they were installed in slightly rotated position. The offset inlet/center outlet produces a slightly angled course of the core.
At idle and pulling away from a stop, the Magnaflows are quieter overall than the "medium" Silvertones on my '55 and the 56J. The classic staccato V8 "bark" is markedly dampened. Under load at typical surface street speeds, droning becomes mildly intrusive. The drone is similar to what I experienced with some of the turbo mufflers that were so popular in the '80's. All is quiet at quicker freeway conditions. There's no popping or other untoward behavior on deceleration.
For me, these are acceptable, reasonably priced mufflers with decent performance credentials. They sell locally for a lot less than the $136.13 MSRP. If I were doing it over, I would probably disregard the current state of my 401k and go with the Silvertones on this car, too. I love the sound (clearly a personal, highly subjective thing) on the '55 and especially the Packard 352, the fit and appearance can't be beat. The Silvertones are also straight-through design, I believe Don when he claims very respectable exhaust flow on 'em.
Third day of rain here, would much rather be driving the Studebakers today than sitting at the computer writing about it!
Gil Zimmerman
Riverside, CA
1955 Speedster
1956 Golden Hawk
1958 Packard Hawk
1958 President
These particular items are 5" x 8" oval case straight-through mufflers, overall length 24". ID and OD are 2", core 2.5". Because of the case width, they were installed in slightly rotated position. The offset inlet/center outlet produces a slightly angled course of the core.
At idle and pulling away from a stop, the Magnaflows are quieter overall than the "medium" Silvertones on my '55 and the 56J. The classic staccato V8 "bark" is markedly dampened. Under load at typical surface street speeds, droning becomes mildly intrusive. The drone is similar to what I experienced with some of the turbo mufflers that were so popular in the '80's. All is quiet at quicker freeway conditions. There's no popping or other untoward behavior on deceleration.
For me, these are acceptable, reasonably priced mufflers with decent performance credentials. They sell locally for a lot less than the $136.13 MSRP. If I were doing it over, I would probably disregard the current state of my 401k and go with the Silvertones on this car, too. I love the sound (clearly a personal, highly subjective thing) on the '55 and especially the Packard 352, the fit and appearance can't be beat. The Silvertones are also straight-through design, I believe Don when he claims very respectable exhaust flow on 'em.
Third day of rain here, would much rather be driving the Studebakers today than sitting at the computer writing about it!
Gil Zimmerman
Riverside, CA
1955 Speedster
1956 Golden Hawk
1958 Packard Hawk
1958 President
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