catalytic converter on 96-98 GT's

Twista

Active Member
May 7, 2004
510
2
29
@ the z00 in chicago
How many catalytic converters are on theses cars? Is it 4 or 6? I looked under my car and i got the 4 normal looking ones than i have two that stand up and connect to the headers. Now why the heck are the early 4.6 quieter than the late 99+ 4.6's?? Does thoses 2 extra things (some called them a resonator and some say there cats) actually quiet down the 96-98 even more than the newer 4.6 GT's???

Exactly how it looks? The 2 things standing up LOOKs like another set of catalytic converter. Midpipe from a 96-98 gt
View attachment 443480
View attachment 443482

and so people doesnt think im crazy.. HERES A STOCK MIDPIPE FROM A 01 STANG GT!
View attachment 443484

this is why i think the 99+ gt's are way louder with a aftermarket catback than a 96-98 gt with a aftermarket catback.

and for the hell of it:
a stock hpipe from a 87-93 GT
View attachment 443486


WHY DID FORD PUNISH US EARLY 4.6 OWNERS WITH A NONPI INTAKE AND CRAPPY QUIET HPIPE!


Now if one was to get a catted midpipe they would only have 2 cats and no resonators.

If one was to remove (GULT if possbile) the resonators (EXTRA 2 cats) how would that effect the sound of the car? Im wondering if removed two cats and replaced them with piping would my GT sound closer to a 99+ gt with the same catback. Because right now my GT is quiet as hell compared to my friends with the same exhaust but 99+.
 
CobraRed_96_GT said:
mines got the same thing going on (96) im pretty sure its a resonator being that it should only have 4 cats. Kinda wondered too myself tho


well, it may be that, but why does the older midpipe and the newer 01 midpipe NOT have thoses 2 things. I can clearly count 4 things on the old and newer midpipe, but on the middle year midpipe 96-98 i can count 6 things
:shrug: wish i knew.
Soon as i get some money i can stop wondering and have fun with my catted x ;]
 
96-98 4.6's have a 6-cat H-pipe.

With the 99-04 Mustang, Ford got it to run cleaner and used better quality cats so it only needed 4. Some early 99 GT's did come with leftover 6-cat pipes though.

The sound difference is due to many other things, including different mufflers, different heads, different cam profiles and more HP
 
6 cats on the 96-98 GTs and yes that makes it quieter. An old friend of mine had a 98 gt and he just took off the whole cat back system and it was still tollerable. I did that in my driveway with my 2000 and it was way too loud.
 
Mustang5L5 said:
96-98 4.6's have a 6-cat H-pipe.

With the 99-04 Mustang, Ford got it to run cleaner and used better quality cats so it only needed 4. Some early 99 GT's did come with leftover 6-cat pipes though.

The sound difference is due to many other things, including different mufflers, different heads, different cam profiles and more HP

+1