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Topic: Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ? (Read 4197 times) previous topic - next topic

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Gary3072;425507
If I knew of an off road H pipe, or one without cats, that would fit directly I would buy it, but it seems that the "Catco 4179" or the Mark VII pipe has catalytic converters, and probably not high-flow ones.

I'm telling you, with an otherwise stock 5.0, cats are not a restriction you need to worry about.  That's like saying "gee whiz, I hope this 0 gauge battery cable isn't too small for my 200 watt amp", or "I just don't know if this fire hose can handle all the flow from the tap on the side of my house".  Even with a stock Mark VII H-pipe at 2" and cats, you're still DOUBLING the exhaust flow potential through THE ENTIRE SYSTEM without drastically increasing the engine's ability to create more exhaust to flow through it.  Until you've got an HO cammed motor with better heads and a better intake, even the complete exhaust from the heads to the bumper from a Mark VII has way more capability than your engine can take advantage of.  The restriction with that exhaust would be the engine itself. 

So in summary, the Mark VII exhaust CATS AND ALL is adequate up to around 250HP, OR 100 horsepower MORE than your engine makes.  And you can get a catless 2.5" H on summitracing.com for $140.

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Dougy_Fresh;425508
any h-pipe that will fit a 5.0 fox body will fit your thunderbird, with or without headers

Have you actually bolted a Stang H pipe to a set of T-Bird exhaust manifolds???


The header outlet is far larger and if I remember correctly they are a littler longer and angled differently from the iron manifolds... Got comparison picts on a older computer, but I'd have to dig it out...

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #17 –
Well I did notice a big difference in power and sound when I gutted out my cat and was running the car without any pipes, so basically open headers. I couldn't do that for very long though because it was way too obnoxious sounding, and I work near a state police barracks.....lol. Not to mention it caused the car to run too hot, which led to me blowing a heater core hose. That may have been just coincidence since my hoses are over 25 years old. Something else I need to replace soon :rollin:

 I would prefer to find an h pipe that fits but without the cats. If  I need to extend it a little to the lers that's fine, but it needs to bolt on to the manifolds correctly. It would be kind of impossible to hollow out the cats on the Catco becase they don't look like theyre detachable without cutting. The only option would be to cut them out and weld a piece of extender pipe that would fill the gaps, and maybe offer the cats in trade credit to my mechanic since they do have value.

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #19 –
Here are three more...

The center H is what I use on the Bird, I tried the X but it's a little shorter and won't fit unless I lengthened the intermediate pipes... Also it interferes with the factory AOD floor shift linkage more so than the H, so wasn't going to happen...

The one with converters is from a '86 LSC, the H is a Hooker & X is unknown...


Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #20 –
That's the setup I want, but without the cats ....

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #21 –
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;425528
Have you actually bolted a Stang H pipe to a set of T-Bird exhaust manifolds???
The Mustang X and H pipes indeed won't bolt up to the cast iron Tbird manifolds.

Quote from: Gary3072;425561
That's the setup I want, but without the cats ....
If  you have to have it smog sniffed, I'd go with cats. Depending on your  state's laws though, it may be old enough to forgo the sniffer, or might  just be a visual check only..
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #22 –
As far as I know, and according to NY state emissions, any car 25 years or older (mine is 25 this year) is exempt from emissions. Not sure about safety checks though.

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #23 –
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;425528
Have you actually bolted a Stang H pipe to a set of T-Bird exhaust manifolds??


factory mustang h, yes. aftermarket, no. I have had stock mustang headers bolted to stock t-bird y-pipe before and contrary to popular belief it sealed just fine
Currently Birdless but never Foxless

86 Mustang GT

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #24 –
Quote from: Dougy_Fresh;425600
factory mustang h, yes. aftermarket, no. I have had stock mustang headers bolted to stock t-bird y-pipe before and contrary to popular belief it sealed just fine

But not a Stang H pipe bolted to the factory iron manifolds???(which is what we're talking about)

I can't see any chance of that working, at least without mods to the pipe......

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #25 –
Agreed. When I was transitioning from the LX to the new car, I attempted to run my Mark VII H on the Stock 5.0 manifolds, just because It need some sort of exhaust for the week I had to drive it prior to the powertrain swap, and I'll tell you, the Mark VII H goes with the stock Mark VII headers I had, but NOT the stock MANIFOLDS that were on the STOCK 5.0.  Won't fit in 10,000 years.  The cast manifolds have a 1" wider stud distance, and a 1/2" smaller outlet, not only that but the distance (spread) of the outlets from bank 1 to bank 2 is different.  No H-Pipe will fit up to the stock CAST IRON manifolds.  (if you look at the pics in my link, you can see that the Mark H was up to the cast manifolds, but does not fit, you should be able to see why)
But I'll tell you what:  5.0 Mustang guys literally throw the stock TUBULAR headers away in the trash, and you can pick them up super cheap.  They will fit up to almost ANY H-pipe (any pipe that isn't larger than their outlet flare of about 2 1/4") including, but not limited to: stock Mustang H-pipes (2 1/4), stock Mark VII H-pipes (2"), and any aftermarket H or X pipe (up to 2 1/2") with or without cats.

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #26 –
OKAY...I have a chance to buy a pair of stock Mustang headers from an 1988 5.0 / 302, and the h pipe all for $60 locally. Good deal?? I assume these will fit my 302 but any mods need to be done to the engine ? I know i'll need to lengthen the h pipe a bit too....

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #27 –
All that will bolt up just fine,and it's a good deal to boot.  I still don't think you understand though, that you DON'T LENGTHEN THE H-PIPE. You lengthen the MID-PIPES and you lengthen the TAILPIPES (only if you use larger ones from a Mustang) or run stock tailpipes and stock Mark VII mid pipes. You don't need to TOUCH the h-pipe. Just swap on the headers, put the extended O2 sensors in the h-pipe, and install the h-pipe and hook up the sensors. Done. Slip the s over the Mark VII mid pipes and put the mid pipes up to the ball s at the end of the H-pipe, install 2 bolts 4 washers and 2 nuts per , leave them loose enough for the mid pipe to move around a bit as well as twist. Slip the lers over the mid pipes,put the clamps on but leave them loose. Slip the tails over the axle (this works best with the car jacked up and the axle hanging) put on the clamps and leave them loose. Attach the stock tails to the end hangers with the 2 bolts. Now rotate the mid pipes until the lers are up high in the body and the mid pipe is as far away from the drive shaft as you can get it while keeping the ler up high. If everything looks high and tight, tighten down the bolts at the s, make your last adjustments to the ler's positions and tighten the inlet clamps. Make your last adjustments to the position of the tailpipes, and tighten the outlet clamps. Set the car down start it up, listen for leaks, and if there are none, feel awesome.

Exhaust upgrade for 1988 Tbird Sport ?

Reply #29 –
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;425627
before I turn into Tom Renzo.

No worries, there's a difference between arguing with someone, getting all pissed off, threatening to leave, and then deleting all previous posts when called out, as opposed to being factual, un-opinionated, and calm, and cool as you are. :)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)