Getting More Growl and Performance From My Exhaust
I’ve been driving my trusty 2008 Dodge Charger for a few years now, and while I still love the power and handling, I felt like it was time to spice things up a bit under the hood. The stock exhaust was starting to sound tired, with more drone and rasp than rumble. I wanted to liven up the note while also getting some performance gains. After doing a lot of research online, I decided the Flowmaster Delta 40 was the perfect muffler to give my Charger the upgrade I was looking for!
The Flowmaster brand is synonymous with that aggressive muscular exhaust tone that really makes a V8 come alive. I loved the sound clips I heard of the Delta 40 on Chargers, Mustangs, Camaros and trucks alike. It had just the right balance of deep tone without being obnoxiously loud. The 40 series offers a deeper and more resonant sound than Flowmaster’s 50 series mufflers, which are more on the raspy side. The ‘Delta’ part of the name comes from the internal delta-shaped chambers that tune the sound.
Beyond the sound, I was equally interested in the performance benefits of the Delta 40. Flowmaster claims it reduces backpressure versus stock mufflers, helping to unleash more horsepower and torque from the engine. The Delta 40 is designed as a direct bolt-on replacement, making installation straightforward. It’s fully TIG welded and available in either aluminized or stainless steel. The aluminized version I chose is perfect for street use, while stainless works better for off-road applications.
The Delta 40 fits a wide range of muscle cars, trucks, SUVs, and imports, though I’d recommend double checking your specific make and model. The 3″ body seemed ideal for my 5.7L Hemi V8. Flowmaster also offers the Delta 40 in a 2.25″ body for smaller 4 and 6-cylinder applications. I was pumped to get this aggressive muffler on my Charger and really wake up the exhaust note and performance.
Shopping the Flowmaster Delta 40
With my mind set on the Flowmaster Delta 40, it was time to find the best deal. Prices ranged from about $80 to $120 at various online retailers. I scoured eBay and Amazon before finding the lowest price at AutoAnything – just $89.99 with free shipping. Atomic Auto also had good deals, but their shipping costs were higher.
Many local exhaust and muffler shops also carry Flowmaster products. I called around to get quotes and while some shops had competitive pricing, most were marking up the Delta 40 significantly. Given the ease of self-install, I decided buying online and doing it myself made the most sense.
One thing to note is there are no fake or knock-off Flowmaster Delta 40 mufflers out there. I saw some generic mufflers using the ‘Delta 40’ name, but nothing purporting to be a genuine Flowmaster product. It’s always smart to buy from authorized retailers to ensure you’re getting the real deal. The last thing I wanted was some inferior counterfeit muffler that would sound and perform worse!
Unboxing and First Impressions
My shiny new Flowmaster Delta 40 arrived in a plain brown box a few days after ordering. Opening it up revealed the serious-looking muffler wrapped in protective plastic. My first thought was “Dang, this thing looks beefy and well-made!”
Weighing in at 11 lbs, you can tell this is quality construction. The fully aluminized case is nice and thick to resist corrosion. The inlet and outlet are a standard 3″ diameter, with nice clean welds around both. Two stamped hangers make mounting simple, and the hangers can flip around 180 degrees for flexibility.
I did note some minor differences from stock: the inlet pipe on my factory muffler is 2.5″ vs 3″ on the Delta 40, and the outlet is centered rather than offset. But these minor variations shouldn’t affect fitment or performance. Overall, the Flowmaster Delta 40 oozes quality with its hefty build. I couldn’t wait to get this thing on the car!
Installation Day: Let the Fun Begin!
With my factory muffler removed, it was time for surgery with the Flowmaster Delta 40. After securing my car on jack stands, I used a reciprocating saw to cut the stock muffler out, just behind the intermediate pipe. A little WD-40 helped the stock bolts come loose. I cleaned the newly exposed pipe ends in preparation for the new muffler.
Lining up the Delta 40 revealed the bolt holes aligned perfectly to the intermediate pipe flange. The 3″ inlet mated with no issue to the factory 2.5″ pipe thanks to a reducer sleeve included with the muffler. I secured the inlet flange with the original bolts and made sure the muffler was level.
Next came mounting the hangers. I was able to use my factory rubber hangers as the Delta 40’s hangers aligned almost perfectly. I did need to make small adjustments to the hanger positions for ideal alignment. A few zip ties secured the muffler nicely in place. The single offset outlet fit the factory exhaust piping like a glove.
In about an hour, I had the Delta 40 fully installed and ready to roar. The quality and fitment were top notch. The minor inlet and outlet differences from stock did not affect installation at all. I made sure to use high temp RTV silicone on all flanges to seal things up. No leaks detected – time to fire this beast up!
Firing it Up for the First Time
This was the moment I had been waiting for – starting up my Charger for the first time with the Flowmaster Delta 40 unleashed. I turned the key and hit the push start button, anxiously waiting to hear how the new muffler sounded. When the Hemi rumbled to life, I broke out in a huge grin!
The sound was music to my ears. Just a bit louder than stock at idle, but with way more character. That Flowmaster rumble was deeper and fuller than the raspy stock system. Blipping the throttle made the exhaust pop and snarl aggressively. At high RPM the Delta 40 opened up into a beautiful baritone snarl that says American muscle.
Driving the car revealed a more refined cruiser sound than expected. The drone and rasp that plagued the stock muffler were replaced with a pleasant low frequency purr. Accelerating hard produces a roaring crescendo that never gets raspy or annoying. The Delta 40 adds just the right amount of volume and personality in all driving conditions. I’m thrilled this muffler lives up to the Flowmaster reputation!
Improved Performance
Beyond the killer sound, the Flowmaster Delta 40 has also improved the performance of my Charger as expected. The engine feels more responsive with the less restricted exhaust flow. The Hemi pulls harder through the RPM band, giving better acceleration whether from a stoplight or passing on the highway. Fuel economy has even improved 1-2 MPG based on my calculations.
Installing headers, intake and a tune could unlock even more gains, but the Delta 40 was a cost-effective way to get noticeable improvements from my stock engine. I may add more mods later, but for now I’m extremely satisfied with how this muffler woke up my V8 performance-wise. It’s right at the sweet spot between stock and straight pipes in terms of sound and flow.
Driving Impressions
Taking my Charger out to some curvy backroads revealed just how well the Delta 40 performs under spirited driving. The bold exhaust note provides an audible thrill without droning at cruising speeds. I can really hear the Hemi’s V8 soundtrack, making blasting through sweepers even more fun.
The muffler has just a mild resonance inside the cabin at certain RPMs, but it’s not bad or annoying. Much less drone than expected – Flowmaster really tuned this thing right. Outside the car, the Delta 40 strikes a great balance – it’s got a bold tone when you stand on it, but isn’t crazy loud or attention-seeking. I don’t feel guilty starting it up early or late.
This muffler absolutely transformed the driving experience for me. The Charger feels quicker, snarlier and more aggressive. I find myself taking the long way home just to run through the gears and listen to that Flowmaster rumble. The Delta 40 breathed new life into my ride, just as I hoped it would. Couldn’t be happier!
Is the Delta 40 Right For You?
Overall, I couldn’t be more impressed with this muffler upgrade. The Flowmaster Delta 40 lived up to the hype in terms of sound quality, performance gains, build quality and value. It’s a direct OEM replacement that made a world of difference without breaking the bank. I’d absolutely recommend the Delta 40 to others looking to add some growl to their exhaust note.
The key is making sure this is the right muffler for YOUR vehicle. It’s ideal for a street-driven V8 or V6 car or truck. The 3″ case suits 5.7L engines or smaller. For huge V8s or trucks over 5.7L, look at Flowmaster’s Super 40 or Super 44 models. Also consider the Super 10 for maximum sound on a smaller 4 cylinder car.
Be realistic about your expectations for sound volume too. The Delta 40 strikes a nice balance, but it’s still fairly tame for true aftermarket exhaust. It’s perfect as a first upgrade, but may not be aggressive enough if you’re seeking that straight-pipe decibel level. There are louder options out there, but the Delta 40 hits a great sweet spot.
For those looking to add some rumble without setting off car alarms, the Flowmaster Delta 40 is ideal. The bang-for-your-buck performance value is off the charts. Just bolt it on and instantly have more smiles per mile. This simple muffler swap let me rediscover why I bought the Charger in the first place – the JOY of driving!
