2008 GT Exhaust question

Blacksunshine24 · Jul 28, 2008

I just bought a 2008 Mustang GT, Vista Blue. I'm loving it. I am wanting to put an off road h pipe on it and flowmaster axleback setup. I live in Kansas, and I am having trouble finding people that will do this job. Mainly because of the off road setup and it's legality issues, even thought I "assured" them it would be for off road purposes. Some are also concerned about the code that would be thrown and the car wouldn't run right.

So my question is what does someone have to do, to get an off road h-pipe and flowmaster axleback setup installed and setup? Is there special verbage to use or something special to ask? I am dying to get this setup, I could do the labor myself I just dont' have the equipment to flash an ECU or whatever it takes to get that engine code off and the engine light off as well. Thanks.

ct07gt · Jul 28, 2008

Do the work yourself and get a canned tune from someone like bamachips or brenspeed, while you are at it, you could get an intake and 93 octane tune to go with it, probably pick up roughly 30 hp from those modifications.

UrbanRedneck · Jul 28, 2008

And having the code that will be thrown from that will not hurt performance whatsoever. It will just have a code for catalyst effieciency, meaning the computer thinks the cats are bad. It won't affect anything else, other than having the annoying light on.

But as far as having a shop install the parts, you have to find a mom and pops place, usually with older people, that don't care anymore. A chain like midas or something won't touch it with a ten foot pole.

Blacksunshine24 · Jul 28, 2008

Thanks for the reply. I looked on up BamaChips, that is some serious money. Does anybody know any other simple way I could put on an Off Road H pipe and slap up my flowmaster axle backs, and buy some MIL eliminators from somewhere for an 08'? Thanks again, but an extra 300 bucks is out of the plan for this guy.

Blacksunshine24 · Jul 28, 2008

UrbanRedneck said:
And having the code that will be thrown from that will not hurt performance whatsoever. It will just have a code for catalyst effieciency, meaning the computer thinks the cats are bad. It won't affect anything else, other than having the annoying light on.

But as far as having a shop install the parts, you have to find a mom and pops place, usually with older people, that don't care anymore. A chain like midas or something won't touch it with a ten foot pole.

Ahh cool. Yeah that is what I figured. So basically there is nothing you can do about the light being on without spending hundreds of dollars on a tune?

I will have to scout around for mom and pop places.

Is there any trick to installing these off-road h pipes on 08's? Or is it just basically a remove and replace?

BudgetPlan1 · Jul 29, 2008

Does no cats really make that much of a difference on these cars? When we did headers/cats on the LS1 the difference between cats/no-cats was negligible and not worth the hassle of no cats.

blbrchnk · Jul 29, 2008

The O/R H-pipe adds around 8HP and 10 TQ, not that much but not the only reason I did it either. I did it mainly for the sound, and it sounds GREAT!

Like others have said, you either have to have a tune to turn the cat error off, or just deal with the light being on. Only problem with that is, if you get another error, you won't really know it as the light was already on.

The install is fairly straight forward for the off road pipes. Jack the car up and get cranking. They will come with instructions to install. Some tips if you choose to do it yourself, make sure you have a 10" socket extension, and a swivel extension. Also penetrating oil helps A LOT to get the old bolts off. I struggled for two hours to get those things off before I got tired and read on here to get the penetrating oil. I put that on, and they came right off. Oh and it helps to take the battery out to get to the one O2 sensor.

Good luck!

NastyStang113 · Jul 29, 2008

Losing the cats only gains about 2-4 rwhp and about the same rwtq ... Manufactures claims are inflated ...

Personally, I think that's going to sound like crap. If you've never heard Flowmasters on the S197 do not spend your money on them. If you have and like them than that's your personal preference. If you're thinking they will sound like old body styles, think again, they won't. They do not sound good. If you want to get something with a O/R X or H pipe, get JBAs or Magnaflow Magnapacks. Just buy the Magnapacks from Summit Racing or Jegs and have your exhaust shop weld them up as a mid muffler system, it'll sound great !!

kooldawg6 · Jul 30, 2008

I had the O/R H & Flows combo and liked it a lot! However, I did swap out the Flows for a set of MACs and that made it a little deeper sounding at idle and light throttle, but nearly the same as the Flows around half throttle to WOT. As stated before, it will not give you the previous generations Stang sound! It is more like the '60s-'70s muscle car sound. It's kind of raspy(I have yet to hear in person, an O/R mid pipe S197 that wasn't) and definitely a loud/somewhat obnoxious setup!

blackgt460 · Jul 30, 2008

It seems that most s197 owners will go through about 4 different exhaust set ups before we find something we like. I'm on my 3rd and my next and hopefully final set up will be when I add longtubes when I can afford them. Start with an axle back that you like and if you find something you like better down the road someone is usually looking for what you have so you will most likely be able to sell it or sometimes trade. Also if your not sure check out people selling used parts which can save a few bucks.

blbrchnk · Jul 30, 2008

ThumperMX113 said:
Losing the cats only gains about 2-4 rwhp and about the same rwtq ... Manufactures claims are inflated ...

Personally, I think that's going to sound like crap. If you've never heard Flowmasters on the S197 do not spend your money on them. If you have and like them than that's your personal preference. If you're thinking they will sound like old body styles, think again, they won't. They do not sound good. If you want to get something with a O/R X or H pipe, get JBAs or Magnaflow Magnapacks. Just buy the Magnapacks from Summit Racing or Jegs and have your exhaust shop weld them up as a mid muffler system, it'll sound great !!

The 8HP and 10TQ weren't manufacturer's claims, they were what Brenspeed got with the Pypes O/R H-Pipe through their own independent tests.

-Edit- Oh and I love my GTA / O/R H-Pipe combo. Like Kooldawg said, it sounds more like a 60's/70's muscle car, which is what i wanted.

metroplex · Jul 30, 2008

The retail price for each cat is about $1200. Keep it stock.

blbrchnk · Jul 30, 2008

metroplex said:
The retail price for each cat is about $1200. Keep it stock.

?!?! what does that have to do with it? And seriously $2400 for two cats?

metroplex · Jul 30, 2008

blbrchnk said:
?!?! what does that have to do with it? And seriously $2400 for two cats?

It's just to remind you how much it would cost to replace those items. People are tossing away their OEM exhaust systems like yesterday's trash without realizing how much they would cost to replace. There's value associated with some of these parts.

blbrchnk · Jul 30, 2008

metroplex said:
It's just to remind you how much it would cost to replace those items. People are tossing away their OEM exhaust systems like yesterday's trash without realizing how much they would cost to replace. There's value associated with some of these parts.

I still have mine in my garage, but wow those are expensive. You could always go after market for much much cheaper.

Blacksunshine24 · Jul 30, 2008

Thanks a lot for the responses. I think after looking at a million and a half youtube videos I am really leaning toward the SLP Loudmouth Axleback. I love a really loud exhaust and a little drone is OK. I think it would be a good balance keeping the stock cats and everything. Does anybody have this setup on here? If so, how is it? Is there tons of drone. What about cruising at 75 in 5th? Thanks again.

BudgetPlan1 · Jul 31, 2008

When I was looking I always thought the Bassani's in this vid sounded nice...and not too boy-racer obnoxious. It is w/ their catted x-pipe though.

YouTube - 2005 Mustang GT with Bassani exhaust system

kooldawg6 · Jul 31, 2008

The Bassani catted X did sound nice

2008 GT Exhaust question

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