Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Exhaust upgrade? (Read 8606 times) previous topic - next topic

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #75 –
Can't argue with Tom's logic. Glad he finally admitted that 25yo cats are bad news. Old lers can be just as bad. Flowmasters have the best sound of all lers in my opinion. I must warn you though, sometimes they will cause a terrible drone sound at highway speed. I have suggested in the past to use a good set of turbo lers. They have no drone sound and are cheaper than anything else other than glasspacks. I have caught hell in the past for such a suggestion, but I do believe they do well in flow and have a little performance sound without being obnoxious. As for the manifolds, they don't have leak problems like some of the headers do, or clearance problems either. Yes, they are a restriction, but they are trouble free. I honestly don't think the restriction from them cause a hole lot of problem if the system behind them is free flowing enough.

OK guys, I am ready for my post to be bashed. Let me have it.

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #76 –
Quote from: Chrome;411930
Can't argue with Tom's logic. Glad he finally admitted that 25yo cats are bad news. Old lers can be just as bad. Flowmasters have the best sound of all lers in my opinion. I must warn you though, sometimes they will cause a terrible drone sound at highway speed. I have suggested in the past to use a good set of turbo lers. They have no drone sound and are cheaper than anything else other than glasspacks. I have caught hell in the past for such a suggestion, but I do believe they do well in flow and have a little performance sound without being obnoxious. As for the manifolds, they don't have leak problems like some of the headers do, or clearance problems either. Yes, they are a restriction, but they are trouble free. I honestly don't think the restriction from them cause a hole lot of problem if the system behind them is free flowing enough.

OK guys, I am ready for my post to be bashed. Let me have it.

I won't bash you, I'll agree with you, but I have to point out that trouble free as manifolds may be, they do outlet at 2" and do have too narrow of a  to fit anything except their original y-pipe.  I'm running Dynomax super turbo's myself, and at his level the same setup wouldn't hurt him, although my next step will be Dynomax VT. Straight through, but with a spring loaded valve to cut out drone.  I hear good things about them.

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #77 –
I'm gonna have to agree with Chrome too but like Foe said the manifolds have to go.  At a minimum stock shorty headers should be installed to take advantage of the better exhaust.  I have seen many sets of used unequal length shorties online for $100 or less but I would stay away from the MAC's (personal preference).  I have a thread on cleaning up the aftermarket shorty headers on a motor I built for my Coupe on here if you want to check out what I did, go to page 3, post #22.  I only bring this up as the outlets on most shorty headers are not 2.5" with the exception of the JBA's which are the closest.

http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?34313-Porting-the-Edelbrocks...Heads-and-Lower-Intake/page3

Darren

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #78 –
I missed out on the aftermarket exhaust, I just couldn't get there in time with the snow storms we've had on my days off. It seems almost impossible to find everything off a stock mustang in one purchase which is what I've tried to do. I think I'm going to look into finding what I need in multiple purchases which may cost just a little more. I came across a stock H pipe from an 89 mustang GT. It has the cats on it, does anyone know if these would be high flow or too restrictive for what I want to achieve?
Thanks: Charlie

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #79 –
You can bet that they ARE a restriction, but with your setup you're still going to gain over your cast manifolds and Y-Pipe.  The engine is an air pump, but yours can't pump enough air for it to matter.  You're on the right track, so keep going.

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #80 –
If you do not have emissions testing then just hollow them out with a long screw driver or pry bar.  This used to be the trick back in the day when not much else was available.  This is of course for "off road" purposes only...

Darren

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #81 –
Quote from: Aerocoupe;413951
If you do not have emissions testing then just hollow them out with a long screw driver or pry bar.  This used to be the trick back in the day when not much else was available.  This is of course for "off road" purposes only...

Darren

I thought about doing something like that but I'm afraid the exhaust shop would refuse to install it. I don't have emissions test but there are no exhaust shops here so I'd have to go to Denver to have anything done where they do require test.

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #82 –
then install it yourself?
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #83 –
Quote from: Haystack;414104
then install it yourself?
I agree.  It's exhaust, not an engine overhaul, and certainly NOT brain surgery. Get a ratchet, some extensions and a hack saw. Drive the car up on ramps, but the back up on jack stands, undo the y-pipe at the front and the single ball  at the back, drop it out, cut the tail pipes from the lers, undo the rear tail pipe mount,  undo the rear ler mount, and get it all out of there.  Remove the exhaust manifolds (careful with the bolts), and then start putting the new stuff in.  Headers, h-pipe, tails, put the mid pipes in the lers and the put the lers in last. get everything hanging like you want it, the tighten down the 4 s on the H, then install your 4 ler clamps. Drop the jack stands, roll off the ramps, impress yourself with your awesome new exhaust sound, then go drink beer.

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #84 –
It may come down to me doing it myself but I really don't want to. I've rebuilt engines in my youth and I think I'd rather change the heads and intake then deal with the exhaust.

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #85 –
Basically from the headers back to the lers it will just bolt in the car.  You will need one of the ler hanger brackets for the rear and obviously this would be the side that the car currently does not have a ler on or if it already has factory duals (did any of the Birds?) then you are good to go.  From there take it to an exhaust shop and have them hang the tail pipes and put some nice chrome tips on the ends to extend them to the correct length.  You can use the Mustang GT tail pipes and have them lengthened with a same diameter piece of pipe and reuse the turn downs at the rear bumper.  This should keep the exhaust pretty much concealed like the Turbo Coupes.

Darren

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #86 –
then just hang the h-pipe and get tails made up.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #87 –
I thought I'd put the update here since everyone has been so helpful on this. I was ready to pick up headers from 1 source and the h pipe from another when I guy called about the ad I've had running for several weeks as wtb.
He has 21 old mustangs and parts for anything I'd think you could want and he's starting to clear some things out. I'm buying his 2 1/2" BBK X pipe, shorty headers and a flowmaster cat back a week from today. He agreed to put everything on for me within what I want to spend and I'm picking up a 5 speed transmission for a friend with a Mustang while I'm there. I feel pretty good about this direction and it should give me room to grow if I go in that direction.
I'll be eliminating the Cats, should I have any concerns with sensors or do we have any on these?
Thanks again to all for the advice.
 

Exhaust upgrade?

Reply #88 –
We have two O2 sensors just like the Fox Stang. The H or X-pipe will have the holes for them. The O2 sensor harness will need to be lengthened a few inches for the O2 sensors to reach their resting place. They need to remain on the car and functional.

With the cats gone, you'll be fine, your sensors will be fine.
'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..