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Topic: X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion (Read 1990 times) previous topic - next topic

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Im going to be changing my 1988 Cougar's single exhaust to a dual, whenever I get atround to it, and i want to know if parts from a fox mustang (header, ler, pipes) will work on mine, cause no stores carry cougar parts.  If i could id just go buy hedman headers and flowmaster lers fit for a mustang and use mustang dual pipes the rest of the way.  If not i guess id have to bend my own.  Also i keep readin about these X and H pipes...whats the difference between them, and why does having both pipes joined improve horsepower?
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 3.8 V6 - Rescue
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 5.0 V8 - Survivor

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #1 –
You can use a Mustang exhaust system somewhat easily....but with minor mods that any decent ler shop can handle.Lengthen the mid pipes a little,and the tail pipes a little.Headman,BBK,FRPP headers....they all will work well,and even better if you have a floor shifter.Around the tranny linkage on an AOD car,some minor clearancing may be necessary,but it doesn't take much.

As far as "H" vs. "X".I think it's personal choice.On car like these,with little to no mods,I honestly don't think you'd notice a power difference at all,and the sound is said to be a tiny bit raspier with an X-Pipe.I think if someone installed an "H" or "X" under your car and didn't tell you which one they installed and had you guess,it would be just that,a guess.I doubt you could tell the difference.lers for a Stang are fine as well.

There are great priced used headers and exhaust pieces on Ebay,the Corral forum,and other places.If you have the cash to buy all new parts,then of course,that's fine as well.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #2 –
thanks man...i was able to find hedman headers for a cougar but nothing else, so ill use mustang parts.  and i think ill sue an x pipe both because of the better sound and because logically it makes more sense having two pipes that come together nicely at 45 degree angles, then just 2 pipes with one welded straight across
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 3.8 V6 - Rescue
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 5.0 V8 - Survivor

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #3 –
Do you have a floor shifter?If so,about any Mustang shorty header will work great.Some use long tubes,but for a daily driver,and ease of removal,I like the unequal length shortys.You will probably have to slightly grind off some metal on the dip stick tube where it fastens to the header bolt.You'll know what I mean when you get to that point.It's pretty self explanatory.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #4 –
no i got a column shift, and yeah i was gonna go with shorty headers...equal length ones are more for making your own custom exhaust im thinking...and ill probably get all my parts for a mustang cause the engine i put in will most likely be from a mustang.  the last thing i got to ask is about the length...im looking at this flowmaster ler tailpipe kit, with polished slant tips, and im thinkign that since the mustang was shorter i dont want to buy a kit with these nice tips and have them come out like a foot from the back of the car, and have to eithier leave them hidden or weld in an ugly extention
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 3.8 V6 - Rescue
1988 Cougar LS - Cinnabar/Rose Quartz Metallic two tone - 5.0 V8 - Survivor

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #5 –
With an auto, I would stay away with a X pipe.You must be seeing kits from jegs or summit. There are a few issues you should search for here, before you ask what will fit. Oxy sensors ? would come to mind.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #6 –
Why would you not use and x-pipe on a automatic car?
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #7 –
Mine is a Pype's off road X-Pipe.I love it.It's a two piece design and has never given me any issues.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #8 –
Mine is a two piece also. I drove a 04 cobra the other day with a catted x pipe. Does have a different sound with an x pipe then a H pipe. hard to describe the sound. More race car then Muscle car.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #9 –
I really didn't care if I bought an "H" or an "X" pipe when I got the "X",.It just so happened I got a wicked awesome deal on a brand new one and couldn't pas it up.I've had it for some time now.Still looks great,no rust,and has fit excellent between two cars,and two sets of headers. Still has the dent where it saved my life (no joke.....literally).....but that's another story.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #10 –
Do tell this story.
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #11 –
It would require a new thread as to not take away from this one. It was a very dramatic experience that lasted all of a few seconds.Lessons learned.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #12 –
The equal length shorties will take up more room between the cylinder head and the inner fender of the car.  This is due to the way the tubes bend and turn around each other to create the equal lengths.  The unequal length shorties are more forgiving and in all honesty you do not loose much hp or torque between two on a motor that is 300 hp or less.

I found this summary on Ebay (I know, shoot me later) which gave a pretty good summary on what X-pipes do.

[COLOR="Blue"]X-Pipes are a leap forward in technology, over the H-Pipe.  Due to the firing order, engines pulsate.  X-Pipes smooth out this "pulsation" to allow for a smooth balance between cylinder banks.  Translation:  Less back pressure, less heat build up, and better exhaust scavenging (scavenging is the ability to allow burnt exhaust gasses to exit the combustion chamber faster and more thoroughly).  The result is a significant increase in power and torque, as well as noise cancellation.  What more could you ask for?
 
Your X-Pipes should be mandrel bent (keeps its shape throughout the bends with no flow reduction-no kinks), 16 gauge aluminized steel or stainless steel, with or without catalytic converters, and off or on-road use, depending on your requirements.  X-Pipes with catalytic converters should be high flow.[/COLOR]

I had to add about 8" to the length in the cat back on my 83.  I had a buddy that owned an exhaust shop do the work and then I had them HPC coated.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #13 –
I kind of hid my x-pipe install but here's the link.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=25361
It does require welding and cutting to get it right.

Before this system I purchased a h-pipe kit from summit and was very happy with it.  You have to make the pipes before the ler a bit longer but this is not a big deal.  Also one of the tail pipeshiznit the tank a bit and I had to trim the plastic under the tank to make it work out.  the plastic under the tank was soon removed to save some weight and I'm not too sure what it is for anyway.

TED

X pipes vs H pipes, what to use for a dual exhaust conversion

Reply #14 –
I plan on installing cutouts eventually.I used to have them on my '76 Grand Prix back in high school.The car had a built 455 and would haul....for such a heavy car.I would probably wouldn't use them hardly ever,but they'd be there when I want to.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..