Stingers -> Magnapaks

rattle_snake

Smoke 'em if you got 'em
Established Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2011
Messages
417
Location
Chandler, AZ
Disclaimer: This is my experience and opinion. yours may vary.

A little while ago switched from Flowmasters to a stinger CB and although different, the rasp of the stingers was too much and they had to go quick. I run a O/R Prochamber, and the stingers sounded horrible under load at mid RPM. I guess this is what is referred to as 'raspy'. Once the motor makes boost in the 2000-4000 RPM range there isn't enough muffler to attenuate the high velocity pulses. Unfortunately, this condition is common leaving a stop light aggressively.

Not surprisingly, the Magnapaks sound similar to the stingers, as they are basically the same type of muffler. They still have some rasp under boost, but it is less and limited to a much narrower RPM range (3000-3500). The magnapak idle tone has a lower fundamental frequency and additional harmonics that give it a slightly deeper, and more robust sound. At WOT they are basically the same. Overall, Magnapaks are slightly louder than Stingers. I would say the Magnapak's more complex note leads to a meaner, nastier sound than the stingers.

Summary (w/ stock manifolds, Off road Prochamber w/ resonators):
Muffler______Idle____Mid/high load____WOT
Flowmaster__burbly___no rasp______loud
Stinger_____ clean ___raspy________loud
Magnapak___mean____some rasp____loud


Although similar, I do like the magnaflow mufflers better than the stingers. I guess I should have gone with a little more muffler to get rid of the rest of the rasp. I've had the Magnapaks on for a few hundred miles now, some claim they will 'break-in' (burn-out is maybe more accurate).

The stinger tubing is not ideal for adding a longer (14" case) mufflers as there are bends immediately exiting the s-type mufflers. I do like the adjustability and slip joints of the Bolra tubes. Also, they come with 4" tips, which are 12" long (common size) that can be replaced easily unlike the magnaflow IRS catback's longer non-standard length ones.

The other option for Stingers would be to run a catted midpipe. I didn't go that route as they are expensive. I TIG'd the new mufflers in myself and sold the stinger for what I paid for the magnapaks so it didn't cost me anything but time.
 

b_dike

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2011
Messages
1,615
Location
Kansas City, MO
Well thats quite a comprehensive review of the systems. Well done... though i dont share your opinions, I do like the way you reviewed the two.

For me the stingers take the cake. I for one actually like the raspy racy sound, kind of a more exotic tone. Magnaflows sound great too, with less rasp, but I dont think theyre louder.
 

svtaddict

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2009
Messages
1,600
Location
Utah
magnapacks are way quieter than stingers. they both sound good but are two totally different sounds. i would be torn between the two if magnaflow would just use a decent grade of stainless like borla and actually make a magnapack catback for an irs. i really dont like the idea of having a hacked together catback on my car.
 

stangfreak

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2003
Messages
8,313
Location
new york
I had no raspy sound at all when I had the stingers and off road prochamber. Best sounding exhaust I had on my car
 

Mach828

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
1,417
Location
Albuquerque
Thats the nature of the small straight through mufflers. Sounds like you might have been happier running the larger case borla or magnaflow mufflers.
 

rattle_snake

Smoke 'em if you got 'em
Established Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2011
Messages
417
Location
Chandler, AZ
After 5 years I swapped out the magnapaks for a Mangaflow oval muffler, 14x9x4. The main reasons were the low rpm/high load rasp and drone at cruise. The bigger oval mufflers solved these issues as expected.
FPOVtmp8G60mzJc9R7jwJh-3VeI9I6bQlthffgdWzVo1Ec2_SRa4KP4rrBPJmGhvedJTjbLymkHso9B4jp=w1218-h913-no.jpg


ixInFn7Q7ePsp6lc1xbEb0R4H18I8ybn2MDgYDVvWbaheg7xYRE01euTEu5P2JK1_4SRt44CL1OR_DeCee=w1218-h913-no.jpg
 

Wings65288

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Party Liquor Posse
Joined
Dec 7, 2004
Messages
5,115
Location
Fortuna, CA
Borla Touring or the "oval muffler" may be exactly what you're looking for. I had Stingers and switched to the Touring. Much quieter and sounds great
 

TerminatoRS

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Premium Member
Party Liquor Posse
Joined
Jul 29, 2019
Messages
2,378
Location
Wisconsin
Stingers with a catted x-pipe here and absolutely love it. Switched to Borla from Magnaflow because I wanted more sound - especially at idle - and I felt the Magnaflow slash tips didn't look as clean as the rolled Borla's. I'm told it's fairly loud, but I'm never behind myself. However, I believe it since the opinion comes from a guy with a full exhaust/cam/bolt-on ZR1. As far as rasp, I'd admit to maybe a touch of it at low RPM under some load, but boy does she sound sweet at two grand just cruising. I'd say the O/R Prochamber is what accentuated the rasp in the OP's experience. Had one on a GT with Magnapacks and that was a snarly combo for sure.
Side note...I haven't been sniffing around the forum for a few years so pardon my knowledge gap, but I thought the general rule used to be that x-pipes were more popular on 4-valve cars and h-pipes for 2/3-valve...?
 

03yllwguy

Daily driven since 2003
Established Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2003
Messages
3,551
Location
SD, Ca
Interesting review. I find that reviews and even YouTube videos are so subjective that you can chalk it up to taste for each combo.

I ran a Magnapack o/r P/C setup on my 98. Best setup I have ever loved but the NASCAR demon tone was not going to fit the 03, so I went Borla Stinger/stock pipe. That was too mellow so I changed out the mid for the O/R P/C. The loss of low end torque and horrible tone moved me to the Bassani catted X. I find this combo is a compromise between NASCAR loud and stock.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top