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Was replacing my brake lines - figured after 19 years that might be a prudent thing to do!
Happened to look up at my muffler and see a nice hole rotted into the side of it. I've had Flowmaster American Thunders since 2005, (I think this set is from around 2012 or so) and I wonder... should I go in a different direction this time? Nice new hole in my ATs...
These things have gotten more expensive since the last time I bought a set! $553.95 really? EDIT: Found my receipt for these! MAY 31, 2012, and I paid $284.99 for the set from AM. WOW these things have gone up!
Not interested in anything outrageous like SLP Loudmouths or something like that - but wondering if the community has any recommendations before I pull the trigger on these? I do like the Flowmaster rumble and the sound is perfect to me, but I'm disappointed that here in SoCal a pair of mufflers can just rust away like this.
Last edited by mrkabc; May 9, 2024 at 12:22 AM.
Reason: Found my receipt!
if you like the sound then I guess I would replace with the same mufflers
how does it sound with the hole? maybe leave it alone for a while until it grows to where it sounds bad?
another thought would be to look for cheap used ones, check your local Craig's List and E-Bay, you never know what might turn up as people change mufflers on these cars all the time
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^^^ So true... I have a set of original mufflers with 9,000 miles on them sitting in my attic. Unfortunately NO ONE wants original mufflers. No idea why I kept them. OP, stick with the same if you like the sound. If something a bit quieter, start scouring the YouTube videos. So many choices. I went with the GT500 sound.
SUPERCHARGED RED ROCKET ------------------Master-Moderator
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Also keep in mind that Flowmasters were aluminized steel back in the day, which could possible explain the hole in your American Thunder muffler... Therefore, if you really like the sound they produce, I would check with Flowmaster to make certain they have since upgraded to at least 409 grade stainless steel before purchasing a replacement American Thunder muffler...
Hahahahah @NC14GT I did the same with my OEM mufflers. Ended up tossing them years later in the trash. Decided that OEM sucked and wanted the Flowmasters. @m05fastbackGT something tells me that they didn't...
SIGH... guess I can wait until Christmas or so before replacing them. Weird that they would rot out in that location, but I guess it is what it is.
SUPERCHARGED RED ROCKET ------------------Master-Moderator
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@mrkabc If you open the attachment link provided below, look under the specs section on the product description... It says the materials for the American Thunder series is 409 grade stainless steel.... Therefore, Flowmaster has indeed upgraded the construction materials to 409 grade stainless steel...
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From: Carnegie, PA
Originally Posted by 05stangkc
So The Lifetime Warranty Does Not Apply to Your Model????
Don't Hurt To Try!
KC
Read over the warranty again! The lifetime warranty applies to only stainless steel series mufflers... 3 years for aluminized steel series.... The OP's American Thunder series mufflers were manufactured back in 2012 which were still constructed from aluminized steel during that period.
I Kept Reading it and Just Seemed Like an Endless Loop. My Fybromyalgia Meds Are Backordered Again and The Substitute Meds I Am getting Really Screws Up My Concentration. So I Will Likely Be a Bit Fuzzy on Things Until I Either get Used To The Substitute or get My Regular Prescription Back. I Have Really Cut Back on Posting Because of That For The Present. I Did Not Think they Were Still Covered But Wanted To Remind Any Other Folks Reading To Check on Things Like This Which May Actually Have Some Warranty on it.
Sometimes You can Call & Sweet talk a Vendor into At Least a Deal on Product with Issues as Well! I Think an Email With Pics To Flowmaster Might Bear Some Fruit. Especially Since They are On Same Car Since 2012! Worth a Shot! Might Mention in Email that You Posted Pics of The Mufflers Online on A Mustang Fansite & A Member Suggested You Might Be Able to Help With These Rusty Mufflers! Certainly Any Positive Response From Them Would Look Good Online as Well as The Inverse if They Were Unresponsive!
SUPERCHARGED RED ROCKET ------------------Master-Moderator
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I totally understand where your coming from, Kevin... It's not fair to you at all when your medications which you truly depend on are always on backorder, especially when you worked all your life and paid into the social security and Medicare systems... At the very least, the powers that be, should make the drug companies accountable by putting more pressure upon them to make certain that folks have access to their medications and provide them at a fair and more affordable price... At any rate, that's pretty much my rant for the day...LOL
^^^ So true... I have a set of original mufflers with 9,000 miles on them sitting in my attic. Unfortunately NO ONE wants original mufflers. No idea why I kept them. OP, stick with the same if you like the sound. If something a bit quieter, start scouring the YouTube videos. So many choices. I went with the GT500 sound.
Spoiler
Considering your positive experience with Flowmaster American Thunder mufflers but concerned about the recent rust issue, you might want to explore other options like Borla or MagnaFlow for durability in SoCal conditions. Good luck with your decision! I had a major assignment due and was running out of time. SPAMMER came to my rescue. They provided a high-quality paper on short notice, and the writer followed all my instructions perfectly. The customer service was excellent, answering all my questions promptly. If you need urgent academic help, this is the place to go.
It looks so beautiful. I wish I can hear sound of them. hehe
Got the new ones, and installed! I'd say the slight differences in weld locations and a conspicuous "409" stamp on them is evident. Also, the new ones drone louder around 2500 RPM than the old ones did. The included clamps are still crap - got some from O'Reilly's that will do much better. Hopefully these last longer than 12 years!
Back in The Coffin Muffler Days I Did The Muffler Swap on My 3 S-197's & Got Pretty Good At it! I Always Used The Oem Clamps With Them! These Days With My Health Issues it Seems a Daunting Task! Got a Pile of Oem S-197 Mufflers To Use on For Some Projects Down The Road But Those Will Be Custom Installs & I Will Let My Good Friends at Newberrys Muffler Handle! If Memory Serves Ford Had a Lot of Choices For Stock Mufflers on the 05-09's.
For Curiosity's Sake Scroll Down & See What I Mean! And Some Have Already Been Dropped From The Catalog!
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Originally Posted by mrkabc
Got the new ones, and installed! I'd say the slight differences in weld locations and a conspicuous "409" stamp on them is evident. Also, the new ones drone louder around 2500 RPM than the old ones did. The included clamps are still crap - got some from O'Reilly's that will do much better. Hopefully these last longer than 12 years!
Knowing your new ones are constructed from 409 grade SS, they should last a lifetime and are covered by warranty against rust thru... Meanwhile, sorry to find out the new ones drone louder over the old ones, but you would think that 409 grade SS would produce less drone over aluminized steel, unless of course the design of the tubing was changed...
Knowing your new ones are constructed from 409 grade SS, they should last a lifetime and are covered by warranty against rust thru... Meanwhile, sorry to find out the new ones drone louder over the old ones, but you would think that 409 grade SS would produce less drone over aluminized steel, unless of course the design of the tubing was changed...
SUPERCHARGED RED ROCKET ------------------Master-Moderator
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Usually, they get louder after the break-in period, at least Borla mufflers do anyhow...Therefore, I assume the same would also apply to Flowmaster... Perhaps, mrkabc can chime in and let us know if his original Flowmasters got louder after the break-in period or if they mellowed out...
Never thought of the comparison until you just brought it up...LOL
