Our Community is 940,000 Strong. Join Us.


Which exhaust for a 3.8 v6?


GirlInAHotRod
09-16-2004, 10:46 PM
I am wanting to know which exhaust will sound deep and rumbley on a firebird 3.8 v6? Can I get a good sound out of a v6? Right now it has stock exhaust I think with some sort of crome tips..I like the back pressure sound but I don't want it to emd up sounding like a toyota or some crap. Anyone know what to get as far as flowmaster etc??

JoeJoe231455
09-16-2004, 11:01 PM
Flowmaster, Borla, or Magnaflow are probably your best bet. Those are the more popular choices for the Gp 3.8 guys. They are all deep as long as you keep the cat on.

GirlInAHotRod
09-16-2004, 11:43 PM
Which series of flowmaster would be good? I see some people on here say 80 makes the car sound like its farting at higher rpms..What would a 40 series do? I put flowmasters on a dual exhaust grand prix v6 and didnt like the sound. Would it be the same with a firebird v6?

JoeJoe231455
09-17-2004, 11:14 AM
Which series of flowmaster would be good? I see some people on here say 80 makes the car sound like its farting at higher rpms..What would a 40 series do? I put flowmasters on a dual exhaust grand prix v6 and didnt like the sound. Would it be the same with a firebird v6?

Well, one thing you have to realize with the GM V6 engines...is that you can never make it sound even remotely close to a V8 in the upper rpms. The mufflers I suggested will all give you a nice deep burble in the lower rpms that slightly resembles a V8, but no matter what mufflers you run it will be obvious it is a V6 engine in the higher rpms. If you didn't like the flowmasters on the gp you should probably avoid them on the firebird as well. I have a Borla catback on my 01 Grand Prix GTP and really like it. It has a deep burble down low, and in the upper rpms it becomes quieter with a rushing air sound out the pipes. I don't know if you would get the same result with a f-body V6, since they are not supercharged and they are moving less air out the pipe(s).

You can hear some sound clips of the 3.8 with aftermarket systems here -

http://www.exhaustsoundclips.com/gm.html

Arsenik111
09-17-2004, 06:32 PM
The 40 series is good on a v6 bird but it is not avaliable in duel outlets. I have an 80 series on my bird and it can sounds farty, but thats only really when the engines not warm. Even though it cant sound like an 8 it sounds pretty damn good for a 6

GirlInAHotRod
09-19-2004, 11:06 AM
Thanks for giving me some input. I decided I am going to go with Borla. Seems to be more expensive, but it sounds much better than a flowmaster.

Egoman04
09-20-2004, 06:37 PM
Borla is the best sounding in my opinion so I think you made a great choice. I have a 2000 v-6 firebird and a borla system. About three days ago i put in an intake from K&N. This gave the car an even deeper sound and much more acceleration. Between the filter and the exhaust note many people cant believe i dont have an eight. This is the link to my intake system... http://www.knfilterchargers.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=63-1084

cndctrdj
09-21-2004, 08:48 AM
i totally agree with borla
they are the meanest soudning exhaust out thier

corsa would be the second choice for the 6

SNKSKNNR
10-07-2004, 07:33 PM
DEFINITELY BORLA>>>> i have a flowmaster on my 8 and ... all it does is give it a raspy old musclecar sound... I had a 3.8 camaro and it sounded like crap with flowmaster... so you should either stick with borla.. .or go less expensive with the same sound...sorta...with Magnaflow

ryanL04
10-07-2004, 08:37 PM
i have a full high flow cat back flowmaster exhaust system on my v6 firebird and people alway mistake me for having a v8. most people say my v6 sounds exactly like a 305. and in some cases sounded like a 350(i think those ppl who said that are stupid, but it does sound exactly like a chevy 305) so personal opinion but id stick with flowmaster

SNKSKNNR
10-08-2004, 04:16 PM
RYANL04..... i don't mean to be rude or an A$$ or anything... but, i hardly doubt it... i have the same catback system.. and yes, at idle it did sound like a V-8... but not once you goosed. ALSO, a 305 and a 350 are the same block... (bored differently and stuff, obviously) and alot of ppl used to say that the 305 was actually the louder of the two.. but, honestly.. there's not much difference.. i've had them both, old and new... and there's not. Even had a 307 once... pice of sheet though

SNKSKNNR
10-08-2004, 04:18 PM
if you're going to spend the munny... better to do it right the first time and go with something that will last... borla or magnaflow has stainless bolt up catbacks. that's a huge advantage depending on where you live.

cndctrdj
10-08-2004, 06:06 PM
true and the borla has a million mile warranty

Add your comment to this topic!