When it comes to manufacturing great-sounding mufflers, Flowmaster has been well in the game ever since its inception in 1983.
However, a lot of interested buyers have been itching for a comparison specifically between the Flowmaster Super 40 and Flowmaster Super 44, both of which are already great options.
Thus, if you’re planning to buy any of these two mufflers but don’t know how they compare against each other, you’re in the right place.
Different factors such as sound, performance, installation, price, and many more will be compared between the two mufflers, so make sure to read until the end!
Main Differences Between Flowmaster Super 40 and Super 44
The Flowmaster Super 40 is a classic chambered muffler that offers a deep, powerful, but subdued sound, whereas the Super 44 is the newer version of the original Super 40 that gives a more aggressive and rich sound.
Both the Super 40 and Super 44 are equipped with Flowmaster’s Delta Flow technology, but the latter is designed to give a more aggressive and rich tone than the former does.
Though do take note that despite the Delta Flow feature, both of these mufflers are still prone to produce some drone or internal noise.
There is also a difference that can be found in the type of material used to build the two. While the Super 40 is made from 16-gauge aluminized steel, the Super 44 is made from 16-gauge stainless steel instead.
This difference in construction material makes the Super 40 more prone to rust compared to the Super 44.
Flowmaster Super 40 vs. Super 44 Features
In this part, we’ll be going into more detail about the various features of the Flowmaster Super 40 and Super 44.
By doing so, we’ll be able to highlight the differences between the two further to help you decide which one is better suited to your preference.
Sound
The sound that an aftermarket muffler makes is one of its main selling points, and this can’t be any more applicable to both the Flowmaster Super 40 and Super 44.
The Super 40 has been around for years and is one of the reasons why Flowmaster is known for its classic sound when put on a muscle car.
The muffler is known for its deep tone, especially when compared to the older 40 series it replaced.
However, the Super 40 is still on the more subdued side of things, so it offers just the right amount of added volume and aggressiveness over a stock muffler.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more powerful and rich sound, then the Super 44 is the way to go.
The Super 44 is the direct successor to the Super 40 and is the most aggressive 4-inch street muffler that Flowmaster has built. Needless to say, it’s definitely the livelier option compared to the Super 40.
Of course, a discussion about muffler sounds would not be complete without a video to demonstrate what they sound like. The Super 40 can be heard at the 34-second mark, while the Super 44 can be heard at the 1:06-minute mark.
Do keep in mind that the video shows the two mufflers installed on a highly modified Chevy Silverado, so the actual difference in sound may be less noticeable depending on the vehicle and how many mods it has.
Also, whichever of the two you end up choosing, expect a noticeable amount of internal resonance as you’re driving along.
Performance
When it comes to performance, both the Super 40 and Super 44 can potentially increase the top-end power of your vehicle, but only by a minimal amount.
The downside to just changing mufflers without getting a custom tune is that you can even lose power at the low end, and this is also true for the Super 40 and Super 44, which are primarily focused on sound instead of performance.
Thus, in order to get the best out of these two mufflers performance-wise, you also need to pair them up with the rest of Flowmaster’s exhaust system lineup while also getting your engine tuned to accommodate the new parts.
This is pretty much true for any sort of aftermarket muffler out there. While they are designed to help your car sound and even breathe better, they will not make that big of an improvement in performance by themselves.
Installation Procedure
One important consideration before buying a muffler or any kind of component is the difficulty of its installation procedure.
But based on our research, you shouldn’t have that much trouble at all when it comes to installing either the Super 40 or Super 44, given that you’ve got some basic experience with exhaust work.
Since aftermarket mufflers such as the Super 40 and Super 44 are direct bolt-ons anyway, you wouldn’t be needing any expensive tools to install them.
A typical vehicle toolbox and the muffler package itself will have all the tools you need for the installation.
Otherwise, we still recommend taking either muffler to a trusted mechanic for proper installation if you’re inexperienced with doing exhaust installations of any kind.
Delta Flow Technology
Whether you decide to go for the Flowmaster Super 40 or the Super 44, you’ll be getting the exhaust manufacturer’s renowned Delta Flow® technology either way.
If you’re curious what Delta Flow technology exactly is, it’s basically Flowmaster’s own way to reduce the muffler’s resonance or droning noise that you hear inside the cabin of the vehicle.
This kind of technology incorporates a two-chamber design and multiple deflectors on both the Super 40 and Super 44 to mitigate the interior noise.
However, we did mention earlier in the “Sound” section that there is still a bit of noticeable resonance to be expected when installing either the Super 40 or the Super 44, as they are both loud enough at most RPMs to cause the internal resonance.
Now, whether that is a good or bad thing will depend on each owner’s individual preference. But from what we’ve noticed, you can still enjoy playing songs on the radio without being bothered too much by the resonance.
This means that Flowmaster’s Delta Flow technology still does a decent job on both the Super 40 and Super 44 while still maintaining the external sound that people buy the mufflers for.
Vehicle Compatibility
When it comes to how many vehicles the two Flowmaster mufflers are compatible with, the newer Super 44 can be fitted under a lot more cars, trucks, SUVs, and the like than the older Super 40.
One of the main reasons for this is because of the Super 44’s thinner case design, which allows it to be installed in a lot more vehicle models without running into issues with space.
The Super 40 has a thicker case that a lot of people still seem to prefer because of the deep and echoey sound that it makes. However, you tend to run out of room a lot easier because of its size.
While both the Super 40 and Super 44 are advertised to be compatible with street and drag strip setups, trucks, SUVs, street rods, and 4 or 6-cylinder vehicles, you will find that the Super 44 will fit in many more specific vehicle models due to its compact size.
However, do keep in mind that both of these mufflers are not designed for diesel trucks specifically. The best Flowmaster mufflers for diesel truck applications would be the 50 Series Heavy Duty and the Pro Series instead.
Features Unique to the Flowmaster Super 40
The Flowmaster Super 40 is manufactured from aluminized steel, features a thicker profile than the Super 44, and creates a deeper and more subdued sound.
The Flowmaster Super 40 belongs to the older generation of mufflers made by Flowmaster, so it belonged to a time before manufacturers made the transition to the use of mostly stainless steel material.
Thus, if you’re going to buy a Super 40 muffler, keep in mind that it is made from aluminized steel rather than stainless steel, which means that it’s more prone to rust in the long run.
Also, the Super 40 has a thicker casing diameter, which helps it create that iconic deep tone that it has been known to make when installed in classic muscle cars.
Customers often go for the Super 40 because its sound is very similar to that of the original Flowmaster 40 series, except that it has improved in almost every aspect of the 40 series’ sound quality.
Features Unique to the Flowmaster Super 40
The Flowmaster Super 44 is manufactured from stainless steel, features a thinner profile that allows for more vehicle compatibility, and creates a more aggressive and rich sound compared to the Super 40.
The Flowmaster Super 44 was made to be an improvement over the Super 40, even though the latter is still currently being sold to this day because of its popularity.
In making the Super 44, Flowmaster made the shift to using stainless steel instead, which means that it has higher durability and is less likely to rust after being exposed to the elements.
The Super 44 also features a thinner case profile, making it a very versatile muffler in terms of the number of vehicles that you can install it on.
Is Flowmaster Super 40 louder than Super 44?
The Flowmaster Super 40 is quieter than the Super 44 because of its deep yet subdued sound.
The Flowmaster Super 44, with its more aggressive and rich sound, makes it louder than the Super 40.
Although whether a muffler sounds better or not is all down to personal preference, the Super 44 was made to be an upgrade over the Super 40 in terms of sound volume and aggression.
While the older Super 40 obviously still adds aggression over a stock muffler, it’s more known for its deep tone than anything else.
This is why if you’re going for the louder muffler among the two we’re presenting, then the Super 44 is undoubtedly the better choice for you.
Flowmaster Super 40 vs Super 44 Price Comparison
Both the Super 40 and Super 44 are very similar in terms of price. However, the Super 40’s price may be slightly higher depending on the shop because of popularity and demand.
According to Holley.com, the Super 40 is currently listed at a suggested retail price of $142, while the Super 44 costs $118.
While the Super 44 is the newer version of the Super 40, it’s actually listed a little bit cheaper in the muffler market compared to its older counterpart.
This is because the Super 40 has been around for a lot longer than the Super 44, and it has already garnered a solid following among loyal Flowmaster customers, driving its price up in the process.
So as far as these two mufflers are concerned, popularity seems to dictate how much they’re going to cost.
Pros and Cons of Flowmaster Super 40
Pros of the Super 40 include an enhanced and deeper sound compared to the stock (OEM) muffler, a slight boost in top-end power, fairly easy installation, and reasonable pricing.
Cons of the Super 40 are its limited warranty, loss of low-end power, prone to rust, and noticeable interior noise.
Pros and Cons of Flowmaster Super 44
Super 44 pros include a louder and more aggressive sound, a slight boost in top-end power, high durability, easy installation, a lifetime warranty, and a compact design.
Super 44 cons are its noticeable interior noise, loss of low-end power, and not being as loud as other mufflers like the Super 10.
Summary of Flowmaster Super 40 vs Super 44 Features (Comparison Table)
To summarize all that we’ve discussed regarding the two mufflers above, we’ve created a comparison table below with all of the necessary details in a shortened format.
Loudest to Quietest Flowmaster Mufflers
Based on the table above, the loudest muffler in the Flowmaster lineup is the Super 10, while the quietest muffler is the 50 series Big Block.
But despite the Super 10 being classified as a “street muffler”, a lot of shops and reviewers don’t recommend using it for the street.
The Super 10 only has a single-chamber design, making it loud and aggressive enough to render it unsuitable for daily driving and suited for the racetrack instead.
On the other end of the spectrum, the 50 Series Big Block only adds a little bit of sound to both the exterior and interior of the vehicle, making it close to sounding like an OEM muffler.
Flowmaster designed the 50 Series Big Block only for trucks and SUVs with big block engines, making it suitable if you just want to get a little bit of sound out of your towing vehicle.
Which is better: Flowmaster 44 or 40?
The Flowmaster Super 44 is better if you want to go for a louder, richer, and more aggressive-sounding muffler.
However, the Super 40 is better if you prefer a sound that’s deeper and slightly more aggressive than the OEM muffler.
Does Flowmaster make a diesel muffler?
Flowmaster also makes mufflers for diesel applications such as the Flowmaster 50 Series Heavy Duty and the Flowmaster Pro Series.
