Revving Up The Engine Sound Of My Ride With This Powerful Exhaust Mod
As an avid auto enthusiast, I’m always looking for ways to enhance the performance of my vehicle. For me, one of the most exciting upgrades is installing an aftermarket exhaust system that really makes the engine roar. So when I heard about the Flowmaster Delta 50 muffler, I knew I had to give it a try.
The Flowmaster Delta 50 is an aggressive and powerful muffler designed to give your engine some serious muscle. Flowmaster is one of the most trusted names in aftermarket exhausts, known for their bold, deep tone. Their Delta series offers different sound levels to suit your preference, with the Delta 50 being one of the loudest options. I chose it because I really wanted to wake up my engine and let it sing!
In this blog, I’ll share my experience installing and testing out the Flowmaster Delta 50 on my vehicle. I’ll cover how it affected power, sound, fuel efficiency, and more. You’ll also get an inside look at the installation process and hear audio clips comparing it to my stock system. Let’s get right into it!
Unpacking The Beastly Delta 50 System
I ordered a complete cat-back exhaust system from Flowmaster to replace my stock pipes. The kit arrived in two large boxes that I could barely lift—proof that this was some heavy-duty gear! Inside was the famed Delta 50 muffler along with a metal muffler delete pipe, two mandrel bent pipes, hangers, clamps, and all the hardware needed for installation.
Right away I could tell this thing meant business. The Delta 50 muffler had an aggressive angular shape and looked almost like it belonged on a racecar. The inlet and outlet pipes were a stout 2.5” diameter made from aluminized steel. This muffler definitely looked like it could handle some serious decibels and horsepower.
The other components also looked well-made from stainless steel. I was eager to get everything installed to hear the beastly roar I knew this system would produce!
Installation – Letting The Big Dog Bellow
Installation was straightforward but time-consuming. I put the car up on jack stands to access the entire exhaust system from bottom to rear. Removing the stock equipment took some muscle and required cutting the old pipes free in a few spots with a sawzall.
Bolting up the new Flowmaster components was easy thanks to the detailed instructions included. They used a combination of clamps and welded hangers to securely mount each piece. Getting proper placement and alignment did involve some fiddling to make sure there was sufficient clearance around the body, suspension, and drivetrain.
The most challenging part was fitting the new 2.5” piping exactly right. This required trimming the lengths precisely to allow the suspension to move through its full range without binding. I also had to relocate one hanger using some rubber isolators to dial in the ideal position over the rear axle.
After a few hours of elbow grease, everything finally bolted into place. The beastly Delta 50 sat where the stock muffler once lived, menacingly larger with its fierce exhaust note ready to be unleashed. The final step was reconnecting the exhaust tips in the rear bumper. Then the moment of truth came. It was time to fire this bad boy up!
The Moment Of Truth – Cranking Up The Volume
After triple checking everything was secure, I started up the engine, immediately hearing the rumbling idle of the Delta 50. At first, there were some metallic tones as the components settled into place. I let it warm up gently to cure any remaining rattles.
Taking the car down the street, I cautiously rolled into the throttle. The sound that erupted gave me goosebumps and a huge grin! The Flowmaster let out a deep, ripping roar that was music to my ears. It barked and snarled ferociously compared to the polite stock system. Each stab of the gasped unleashed a primal scream that could surely wake the dead!
Driving around the neighborhood, I saw people staring trying to figure out what kind of vicious animal was coming down the road. The sound was just awesome – loud and mean when pushing hard, but not obnoxious at cruising speeds. It had a true American V8 muscle car rumble.
I pulled back into the driveway absolutely thrilled. The beast was unleashed! Here, have a listen…
{{< audio src=”delta-50-sound-clip.mp3″ >}}
Letting The Engine Breathe – The Power Gain
Beyond just sounding fantastic, the performance numbers showed the free-flowing Delta 50 allowed some nice power gains. With the less restrictive exhaust, the engine could really breathe and make the most of its output.
Putting the car on a dyno showed rear wheel horsepower jumped by 14 hp and torque increased by 18 lb-ft compared to stock. The gains were even more apparent driving aggressively where the engine could wind up into the higher power band. Flooring it delivered a surge of speed the stock exhaust just couldn’t match.
The muffler’s straight-through 2.5″ diameter tubes minimized backpressure all the way from the headers to tailpipes. This let exhaust gases escape faster, allowing the engine to pump more air and fuel for extra oomph. It was like giving a caged lion more room to really roar and hunt!
Improved Fuel Economy – A Welcome Surprise
While I expected a power gain, one pleasant bonus was improved fuel economy after the install. By removing restrictions, the engine didn’t have to work as hard and burn extra fuel at cruising RPMs. This translated into about 12% better MPG based on my tracking.
It’s not often you see both horsepower and fuel mileage go up, but the freer breathing Delta 50 managed to achieve this. The Shelby Cobra-like rumble may consume more gas when hammering it, but easy driving was smoother and more efficient without the stock system’s choke point. Considering current fuel prices, I was happy to take any savings I could get!
Bold Look To Match The Sound
Beyond the auditory impact, the Flowmaster Delta 50 also added some nice visual sizzle under the car. The stainless steel piping has a polished shine, and the muffler’s large case shows off its performance pedigree.
People often modify the visible exhaust tips, but rarely see the actual muffler itself. I made sure to install the Delta 50
facing rearward to showcase its bold, angular design. Now it serves as a menacing work of art just waiting to sing its song.
Cleaning the pipes is also easier than wrestling an old dirty muffler covered in grime and rust. A few wipes with a polishing pad keeps the Flowmaster gleaming as a proud centerpiece of the car’s performance. The sound might grab your attention, but the sight of this muffler is just as inspiring to a car nut like me.
Testing Different Sound Levels
One great feature of Flowmaster’s Delta series is the ability to tune the sound by changing internal components. They offer “powercores” which are the chambers inside the muffler that dampen specific frequencies.
The standard Delta 50 comes with two 25 powercores which give it that aggressive muscle car tone. But Flowmaster also sells 50 and 75 powercore options that make it increasingly louder and higher pitched.
I decided to order the 75 powercore kit and test it out to hear the difference. Swapping them was easy and took about 15 minutes in the driveway. Firing up the engine, the 75s immediately sounded more intense with sharper high-end tones. It was a more racing-inspired sound that seemed ready for the drag strip.
I preferred the deeper, rumbly tone of the 50s for street driving. But the 75s would be perfect for those who really want to make a scene! It’s great that Flowmaster offers the ability to choose based on your taste and just how loud you want to go.
Unleashing The Beast At High RPMs
To fully test the Delta 50’s capabilities, I took it to the racetrack to open up the RPMs and let it wail. With each rev climb, the sound got progressively louder and more ferocious. Near redline it was absolutely screaming, but without any harsh drone or raspiness.
The deep tone stayed strong across the entire power band. This gave me confidence the Flowmaster was engineered as a performance piece, not just a noisemaker. At WOT the exhaust note was literally shaking the grandstands!
But it could also calm down and purr nicely at pit road speeds. That wide range shows the versatility of this muffler. It can unleash a furious roar during aggressive driving yet remain streetable and tolerable in normal conditions. Hats off to the engineers at Flowmaster on achieving that balance.
Easy Bolt-On Upgrade For Most V8s
One reason I went with the Flowmaster Delta 50 was its versatility across multiple applications. This is a direct bolt-on replacement for most American pushrod V8s found in muscle cars, trucks, SUVs, and even hot rods.
Anything from a Chevy Silverado to Ford Mustang GT and Dodge Charger will see big gains with a Delta 50 swap. Of course, it’s especially popular on the modern Challenger, Camaro, and retro-style pony cars. But you’ll hear it on custom builds of all types where owners value that classic Flowmaster muscle.
With a simple install and broad compatibility, it’s an easy way to liven up almost any V8. The difference versus stock is simply night and day. So if you’re driving an old 4×4 or classic street rod lacking oomph, the Delta 50 is a great choice to really wake it up.
Letting Your Engine’s Voice Be Heard
For many enthusiasts, a performance exhaust is about finding the right voice for their prized engine. Some prefer a European exotic sound, others a precision-tuned import burble. But if you appreciate big American V8s, the Flowmaster Delta 50 helps an engine’s voice be heard in all its glory.
This is not a muffler for subtlety. It’s for those who want to experience the automotive exhaust equivalent of a rock concert. The Delta’s deep, authoritative tone gives your engine the presence of a lion among sheep.
Yet despite the aggression, there’s nuance in its carefully sculpted frequencies. This prevents just seeming like random noise, and instead provides a precise, tuned note. If you truly want your V8’s voice unleashed, the Delta 50 is ready to roar. Don’t be surprised if neighbors start glancing around nervously to locate the Dyno being tested!
My New Favorite Mod
After logging some miles with the Flowmaster Delta 50 installed, I can confidently say this is my new favorite modification. The sound quality hits a perfect sweet spot – loud and mean when pushing it, but not obnoxious just cruising around. The performance gains are noticeable and put a bigger smile on my face every time I hit the gas.
I also like the ability to tweak the sound level if I ever want to go louder or quieter. And the improved fuel economy compared to stock was an unexpected bonus. The quality construction and included hangers made for an easy install compared to cheaper mufflers.
If you’re looking to add some American muscle to the sound and performance of your V8, the Delta 50 is a superb choice. The roar from mine still puts a grin on my face every time I start it up. That to me is the mark of an upgrade done right!
