New muffler suggestions

[Tom's 2002 Bird]

New member here to the forum, my first question has probably been asked before but not sure how to search old posts. I have a 2002 yellow bird and it has the stock exhaust system on it. I would like new mufflers that will give more sound, what do you suggest? Thanks for the help!

[George]

Tom:
First of all welcome.
Second try the search function above on mufflers and see what you come up with.

I have Borla's. Not exactly the old Flathead sound/Burble, but a fairly nice groan. We get them at substantial discount, but the '02's are no longer made.
If you are interested PM me and I'll look into it for you and see if they have a set left.

[Tom's 2002 Bird]

George, Thanks for the info on the exhaust system, sounds like the Borla unit is the best. I have owned the car since day one and lately my wife has been driving it in the summer months, has never seen our Michigan snow! She thinks it sounds just fine, but I would love to have more noise. I do have a 36 Ford with a full house flattie and it would be very cool to make the bird sound like that! Oh well thanks again, I look forward to learning more and contributing when I can. Tom

[George]

Tom:
You may want to try to slip off the resonators (some owners have done this) to see if that sounds any better or to see if she notices any difference

[Tom's 2002 Bird]

Just got back from visiting my 83 year old father in Florida, he has a 2004 black bird. The previous owner had installed the Borla system, wow! it sounds great. After driving his car I definitely want to change my system or try removing the resonaters.

[George]

Tom:
Here are some comments from others I've seen on the web:

1) "IMHO the best sound option (and the cheapest) is pulling the rear mufflers and installing glasspaks with magnaflow tips.
I currently have Borla's on my 2003 and I had the glasspak setup on my 2002. All my kids and even my wife (unsolicited or promted by me) have told me they liked the glasspak sound much better than the Borla's.
To me the Borla's sound too much like those ricer cars with those huge cherry bomb mufflers with the high pitched squeal.
I had the glasspaks intalled for about 100 bucks. "

2) "I was reading that alot of people liked magnaflows, so I went to Flowmaster and Magnaflow's websites and listened to some of their cars/muffler combos and some of the Magnaflows do sound better, and are cheaper at the store."

3) "I finally had my exhaust worked on a few weeks ago....and I LOVE it! I went to a guy the Ford dealer recomended and had him install two Magnaflow mufflers and take off the resonators, $200 for the job, most of it was labor. At low speeds the mufflers have a nice sound and at high speeds the CAI and mufflers sounds so awesome, now people don't have to ask if my Bird is a V6, they can tell V8."

[monty]

I'm new to this forum but also belong to Thunderbird Nest. I have read posts going back to the beginning on our Birds and it seems the Borla's are the choice of many. I am a child of the 50's, however, and still like the old flathead rumble (had a 51 Crestline in '55). Installed Douglas glasspacks on it and can't get over that sound. I recently put Flowmasters on my '04 and then took them off and put on glasspacks (left the resinators alone). They are still in the "breaking in" period but sound pretty good so far. I also have the K&N CAI system.

[George]

Monty:
I believe that you may have done it right.
I wanted the '50's sound and put Borla's on. Not even close to the sound I wanted.
They growl/groan as opposed to a mellow burble sound of the '50's. Too bad you're not close by, I'd like to hear them
However, most owners that have the Borla's love them....but then they must be younger than I am

[monty]

George, I'm 70 yrs old myself and have put glasspaks on every car owned since 1955 (the '51 Ford Crestline). I was reluctant to do it on the Bird as everyone said it "wasn't that kind of car". I almost ordered the Borla's but wife was griping about the price and whether I "needed" a different exhaust system at all. I also own an '05 Ford F150 and have Flowmasters on it. However, they sounded altogether different on the Bird. The truck has the 4.7 engine and I guess that was the difference. I did also remove the resinators from it as muffler was in the middle instead of the back as on the Bird and did a "catback" system. The wife drive's an '06 Ford Escape but she won't let me touch it, not even the CAI. I do use K&N filters on it. I didn't remove the resinators on the Bird as it has that crossbar which is supposed to prevent a vacuum or something like that. The whole thing I think, though, is that the cat is a muffler also and for that reason, can't really duplicate the "sound of the 50's. I have heard the Borla's, had the personal experience with the Flowmasters, and like the glasspaks better than either of those. Can't you just replace the Borla mufflers only at the back of the car and put glasspaks there?

[George]

Yes I could replace them but due to their cost, I'll just live with it. At least others, at car shows, seem to like the sound.
Thanks for your explanation above, as well. Neat!!