Exhaust -- X Vs. H Pipes Vs. Offroad Vs. Cat'd

[Brodach]

Okay,
So I have a '03 GT 5-speed and I'm gettin' ready to drop about 3 - 4 grand into it, starting with an exhaust. As of right now I'm completely unsure what headers I'm gettin', and I'm decidin' between either Borla or Bassani for my exhaust. Those options aside I'm now trying to decide what kinda mid-pipe I want to run. I was originally going to go w/ a Offroad X, but after reading now I'm unsure for a few reasons. A) I hear that H-pipes produce a deeper more muscle car sounding tone, whereas an X-pipe creates a more high pitch exotic tone, right? I listened to some exhausts sounds and I'm just not sure if an X-pipe would be loud enough, it might have been the quality and the distance from the exhaust on the sound clips, but it made it sound like H-pipes were whimpy compared to the X. Nextly we have B) Offroad or Cat'd -- once againt the sound clips made cat'd sound whimpy compared to offroad, which is probably true -- my biggest beef is the popping and cracking sound that is produced with a offroad X or H pipe -- I mean the car sounds tight winding up and getting to wide open throttle -- but then I just have a problem with the popping and cracking as the engine winds down -- Is there any high flow performance exhaust that does not do this? Or is it just what you have to do to get those few extra horse outta you're 'stang? If anyone could gimme some insight here I'd be greatful.

Brodach
- '03 Dark Shadow Grey Metallic GT
- 5-speed
- No mods yet -- workin' on that

 

[Ryan02Stang]

I have a UPR offroad X and 2 chamber flowmasters. I rarely ever get a popping noise when winding down. My car is insanely loud and draws a TON of attention. I will be honest though...my friend has an offroad H pipe with flows and it sounds better than mine. X pipes will usually give a little more horsepower though.

 

[Dallasgt01]

My .02

OK here is what i think is almost the perfect set up:

BBK LT's with a Dr. Gas O/R X and a set of 1 Chamber Flows

That set up would be LOUD as $H!T even without the LT's...

H pipes are more louder because there is more back pressure which means Less Horsepower...

X pipes are quiter because of the X creates less backpressure and less turbulance which means more horsepower

The cats....Are just a bunch of dont ever buy a set with "High Flow" cats on there...

The MAIN mufflers out there for NOISE (Loudness) are pretty much the flowmaster 2 chamber and 1 chamber and the Packs (MagnaPacks) i have the magnaflow set up of the cobra and love it...Quite at idle but when u get on it i mean DAAAAMMMMNNNN

Just go with the Dr. Gas O/R X and 1 chamber flows or magnapacks that should be loud enough for anyone...and if not loud enough buy a SET of cut outs from summit and have those welded in so when u want eally loud you can just open them up....

 

[CottonBurnerz]

I have BBK LT, BBK catted X and magnapack and I never get popping sound.. just puh puh puh but very rarely. I've also heard the same setup with BBK o/r X-pipe and it sounded the same.

P.S. Get a new shifter while you're trying to decide which exhaust setup to go with.. you won't regret it

 

[StangJonGT]

First, you need to figure out your local emissions laws and decide if you really have a choice. Smog checks can be frequent and changing pipes back and forth would be expensive and/or tiresome.

Second, you need to figure out the focus of your car. Do you eventually want to get Long Tube headers? If so, you will need to purchase those first, and buy a mid pipe that fits with LTs.

Third, listen, listen, and listen some more. Eventually you will learn what a Mustang sounds like with Chambered mufflers compared to a straight-through (glasspack). Straight-through offers more HP, but chambered offers more sound control (not volume control, just sound control). I think you will find that exhaust is mainly just personal preference. If you want something a *little* bit quieter and emissions compliant, a high-flow X or H is not a bad decision--both will sound exponentially better than the stock setup while maintaining emissions compliance. As for muffler--you are on your own. Just make sure you can identify the type of sound you want before choosing--a Magnaflow (straight-through) will sound much different than a Flowmaster (chambered). The two should not be compared as viable muffler options if you prefer a certain sound.


Jon

 

[01Black_46]

Just posted on the results of magnaflow exhaust. Got a 102 trap at 13.9 with 2.3 60'. I think the magnaflow will give you a few extra points. Oh and-go with the O/R (the only way to go if you can get away with it)

http://46mod.50megs.com/images/receipt2.jpg (101.6X slip)

Put a thread up recently

 

[MT1083]

If you don't like that "poppy" sound, I don't recommend Borla. The Borla's that I have heard are really poppy when the engine rpm's are dying down.