Ford Racing x-pipe

[sacrstang]

I went to the Grand Am Cup Race last weekend at Laguna Seca. Plenty of Mustangs to see. I got to talk to one of the techs on the exhaust set up of one of the FR500C racers and he referred me to the Ford Racing site and he told me about some of the parts they have now.
So I came home and did some research on the part.I went to Ford Racing web site and sure enough they have a boat load of stuff. Last time I checked they had a only a handful of supplies for the 05 stangs. So anyways I called Shelby Racing and asked about the x-pipe being as it is the one they put on the Mustangs they had for the Hertz deal the GT-H and the GT500 as well. I spoke to one of the techs about it and he said the car sounded much better than the H setup the mustangs came with.
I ordered the Ford Racing x-pipe over at the dealership so I should be getting it in about 5 days. It looks as if all the parts that are on some of these special edition cars are ready to order now. With the mods that I currently have the x-pipe should be a plus and help out just a little with performance and sound.
Here is the site if anyone else wants to see what FR is offering.

http://www.fordracingparts.com/mustang/buildyourown.asp

 

[bleedingvayneAD]

I can tell you right now that it's going to sound quite "odd" with the SLPs...

 

[Spdfreak]

I can tell you right now that it's going to sound quite "odd" with the SLPs...

What do you mean?

 

[351CJ]

"Sounded much better" is a matter of opinion.

X pipes will give more HP & TQ across the RPM range than an H pipe.

However X pipes sound very different.

My opinion is that in general X pipes sound like crap below 3000 - 3500 RPM and with the right mufflers sound great at high RPMS (3,500+). To me H pipes sound better a lower RPMS.

Drive for show = H pipe
Driver for go = X pipe.

I do have an X pipe on my old SN-95, but sometimes I wonder why as it spends 98% of the time below 3,000 RPM where the X sounds crappy.

 

[bleedingvayneAD]

I was trying to be nice by saying that it is going to sound horrible.

 

[sacrstang]

Thanks for some of the input guys. I guess I'll see for myself if I like it. If it sounds crappy to me the x-pipe will come off. Shelby Motorsports and some of these other Ford Racing Teams do have crappy sounding cars. I heard some of them first hand thats why I'm getting the part.

 

[bleedingvayneAD]

It's just going to sound incredibly raspy and tingy... I suggest the pypes O/R h-pipe with your SLPs for a REAL muscle car rumble!

 

[sacrstang]

If I am not happy with it the x pipe will come off. My next option is the SLP crossover pipe. I may do the full assembly even though I live in California. We'll see I guess.
We all learn from these small modifications. You guys are usually pretty good with your knowledge and honest opinions but I'm gonna see what Ford Racing has done with this part of the exhaust for the 05's. I'll fill you guys in next week after the part is put on and been run a few times.

 

[Rock36]

I don't know if you noticed, but the ford racing X pipe requires cutting of the factory exhaust. I don't know how that would affect your ability to install a different pipe later if you decide to do that.

It also claims a 5hp gain which isn't bad for the advertised price of $129.00, but it also says the gain is when used with the power or drag pack so who knows if it really gives 5hp anyway.

 

[sacrstang]

I don't know if you noticed, but the ford racing X pipe requires cutting of the factory exhaust. I don't know how that would affect your ability to install a different pipe later if you decide to do that.

It also claims a 5hp gain which isn't bad for the advertised price of $129.00, but it also says the gain is when used with the power or drag pack so who knows if it really gives 5hp anyway.

I saw that. The brands I have are c&l, diablo sport, and fr 4.10 gears. My own package drag pack you could say without the headers though. The tune,intake and gears. I will be very surprised to feel any gain. I tried to find someone on these boards running the the set up. The only luck I had was talking to a tech at at Shelby Motorsports.

 

[sacrstang]

The review is in

Well guys I got the x-pipe this afternoon and went and got it put on at a local muffler shop.
I was impressed with the start of the car IT GROWLS BIG TIME NOW with a firm step on the gas. The gas pedal response seems to be a tad stronger when I step on it on the expressway the sound of the engine is just awesome. I am going to try and get a video or sound clip up soon.
The mechanic that installed it said that the exhaust set up on the car is one of the best he has heard on these new mustangs it is not to raspy or no tinging of metal can be heard I was happy to hear the compliment.
I decided to keep the stock hpipe at the suggestion of the techs.

 

[bleedingvayneAD]

Hey, that's great! As long as you like it, then who cares about what other people say!!

I personally am running the SLPs with the Pypes O/R h-pipe and LOOOOOOVE it, even though others who have tried it said that it was too loud to bear for even one day. To each his own...