Exhaust

jgill1314 · Jun 11, 2009

I'm new to Mustangs. I used to have a 95 Trans Am with Borla exhaust and I loved it. Sorry, I'm sure this has been asked before but here it goes. Is this still the exhaust to get or is there something better?

I had the catback before...but I see that a lot of you are running just axle backs. Is there any benefit to running a catback?

I'm looking for:
Sound...I like really aggressive
Looks
Addition HP if any

Quality is #1

Thanks for any suggestions!

Jeremy
'07 Mustang GT
Stock w/appearance mods

AutoXRacer · Jun 11, 2009

I've noticed the same thing...

Coming from the 4cyl (turbo and NA) world; exhaust was really important and yielded power. It was always the top priority to replace the whole exhaust, from manifold, turbo, and/or headers.

Seems like most Mustang owners change out the H/X pipe and mufflers.

I guess the question would be, whats the layout of the exhaust?

Headers/manifolds -->Cats --> H/X Pipe --> Mufflers

Is that right?

05blues · Jun 11, 2009

headers-->h-pipe&cats-->mufflers.

I have Borla Catback exhaust on my 05. I listened to nearly every sound clip posted on the internet and Borla's have the cleanest sound, IMO. It still has a good deep growl (not noisy in the car, but you can hear it.) ouside the car, but not super loud. I have a friend with a Camaro with SLP's, and it's ridiculous how loud it is, and it doesn't sound clean it sounds cheap. Anyways, if you want my opinion, Borla is definately the way to go. I did go with the catback, they are shaped differently than the stock pipes, but they are the same size, so I'm not sure if you really get any extra performance/sound out of them or not. I have heard the catback Borla and the Axelback Borla on sound clips and the catback sounds a little better imo.

AutoXRacer · Jun 11, 2009

Borla huh...? Hmm... Might have to look into that...

So there is no benefit in going with larger pipes? Stock is 2.5" right? Is there any benefit in going with 2.75" or 3"

GreyDiesel · Jun 11, 2009

From what I understand. (not an expert) You'll loose backpressure and thus torque by going with a larger pipe. I think there are two main reasons exhaust is not the first mod most mustang owners go with. 1) the mustang exhaust is already pretty free flowing from the factory, so there are not huge gains to be had, in terms of HP, on the pipes. That is why, most mustang owners just get an axleback to tune the sound to their liking, and then call it a day. 2) Cost. You have to buy twice as many headers, and twice as many mufflers, a mid pipe, (that you would not need with a 4 cylinder). So, cost/hp gain is just not as appealing as it might be for a 4 cyl. A whole exhaust system is going to run about a grand, probably 2 grand for a nice one with longtube headers.

For the OP, I have boomtubes and I love them. You should look into them. They will not add any HP, but sound great.

YouTube - Boom Tubes on S197 Mustang GT

Steel Horse · Jun 12, 2009

The exhaust system on these cars are actually very good. You have to spend quite a bit of money to get very small gains out of them . Unless you are building an all out race car I'd say save the money for more worth while mods and put an axle back on that sounds good to you. If you still don't have the sound you want then start looking at a different X or H pipe. I was shocked when I started looking at exhaust components for the S197s.

kc chief · Jun 12, 2009

I have a 93 TA with the Borla and just installed and SLP Loud Mouth on my 07 GT, so I think I'm positioned well to answer your question by comparing the 2. I researched the hell out of this, searching this board 3,000 times over. I would highly recommend the SLP Loud Mouth. It's essentially a muffler eliminator. The stock system on the stang is really really good, and I couldn't justify spending a ton for a marginal improvement, so the SLP axle back is perfect for me. As for sound, even eliminating the mufflers, it's still not as loud as my LT1 TA. I think the consensus on here is that the SLP system is loud, maybe too loud, but with the stock cats in place, I think it's perfect, and like I said, it's still quieter than my TA, especially at idle. It's sounds angry when you stomp it, but it's pleasantly quiet going down the highway. You can rev it and scare people around town, or you can baby it and keep the cops away. My lady drove it on a 500 mile trip this week after getting the exhaust on, and she's loving it too. Good luck. So, to answer your question, it sounds tough but not obnoxious, the tips are beautiful, but don't expect huge HP gains unless you spend some money on the intake side. Oh, and by the way, in comparing the install between the TA and the Mustang, the Mustang was much easier, I completed the install in 1 hour in my garage.

05blues · Jun 12, 2009

Well, I don't know how much different the SLP's could sound on the new mustang vs. a 2000 camaro... but SLP's sound REALLY terrible on my friend's camaro. WAY louder and obnoxious than my borla system. (maybe it's just that on those TA's and camaros the SLP's sound louder/worse, I don't know.) and by eliminating the mufflers like with those SLP's, you usually get a nasty pop pop pop when you let off the gas, which I hate.

kc chief · Jun 12, 2009

The LT1 and the LS1 are both louder than the Mustang's 4.6, the valve trains are completely different, the setup of the motors is completely different, so much so that to make that comparison is meaningless. In the week I've had the SLP on the Mustang, the only time it pops is revving it while it's in neutral. It doesn't pop while engine braking.

walter · Jun 12, 2009

Changing out the exhaust on the Mustang is really not necessary unless you're planning on running some strong cams or going forced induction because Ford engineers did a really good job with the stock setup.

That said you will get the most power if you switch out your headers to a pair of long tubes. This piece is what will give you the most power out of all of them. Mufflers and midpipes give you a couple of horses at the wheel but that's about it. The longtubes will give you a 10-20HP and the ability to grow if you bolt on a supercharger. Midpipes and mufflers only give you the tone that you want.

05blues · Jun 13, 2009

well, if you're looking for something cheap, then that's what you're going to get with SLP's. Just like everyone else has said, you need the mufflers on our cars. You get what you pay for, usually.

kc chief · Jun 14, 2009

"cheap" at $350 for axle backs, I wouldn't call that cheap considering you can get Magnaflow for about the same price. "you get what you pay for" agreed, for $350 you get T304 stainless mandrel bent pipes with hand polished tips, stainless welds and stainless hangers. They are a show quality piece. If you don't like the sound, that's opinion, but quality is outstanding, and I'd have to see a dyno sheet that says these actually hurt performance, and I don't think that's going to happen.

wveil3v · Jun 14, 2009

Axelback Exhaust

I just happen to have a nice set of IMCO PROs I am selling with only 800 miles on them. They sound the best of any system I've heard and you can get a soundclip of them at IMCO Performance Exhaust

I am selling them for 160.00 to put towards headers and midpipe, I paid 325.00 for them and did the same extensive research as you and these sounded best at all levels, idle, midspeed and full-throttle. They have 3 1/2" bevelcut Polished tips

View attachment 254476

They also installed without any problems and linedup perfect 1st time.

Pics of them installed on my car

TestMe · Jun 15, 2009

I changed out my factory mufflers with Borla and it sounds like a whole different car. there is no comparison and trust me people with notice you when you pull up next to them and get on it. the look is also nice, you cant ever go wrong with Borla.

Wind-Farmer · Jun 15, 2009

The borla Stingers sounds good at low RPM, they are very smooth and once you get into 3000+ it sounds stock...

inside the car is very quiet, little louder than stock. I am happy with them, but wish they had a little more noise.

jasonh328 · Jun 22, 2009

My SLPs don't "pop" and I don't have any cats either. I added resonators to eliminate the popping and drone. I also haven't experienced any noticable loss of power.

jasonh328 · Jun 22, 2009

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