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just got my first stang, couple q's

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chuckman
  • Start date Start date Oct 21, 2005

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard
15 Year Member
Oct 21, 2005
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st. louis, mo
Oct 21, 2005
#1
  • Oct 21, 2005
  • #1
hey all, i just bought my first mustang, an 89 lx 5.0 5speed, still learning how to shift the thing (its my first stick, too), but already its fun just getting it around the neighborhood. it does have a couple problems though, one is major, a few just really nitpicky/would be nice (ill get to those later as they start to annoy me).

i bought it from a guy in illinois, and as they dont have emissions testing over there, he took of the stock h-pipe in favor of a plain-jane mac off-road h. not that its based in stl, that just simply wont do, the smog nazis around here wont let it register without cats. so question is, what is a good catted h-pipe in terms of best fit? ive been looking on summit, the two that have piqued my intrest are the catco stock replacement (cheapie) and the bbk ones. does anybody have experience with either of these? should i look for something else? hope to order in the next couple days so i can get it on next weekend, so i can actually drive the thing.
 

_jb_

New Member
Mar 4, 2004
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Michigan, Berrien County
Oct 22, 2005
#2
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #2
I had BBks long tube headers, and they were nice. So I would purchace from BBK again.

Or, you could buy the cheap h-pipe, go in for testing, then swap back to the o/r after testing.
 

Shakerhood

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 28, 2004
3,356
208
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Ohio
Oct 22, 2005
#3
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #3
I have a Bassani Cat X Pipe, it is a Very nice piece!
 

will1992

Member
Aug 25, 2005
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0
16
Oct 22, 2005
#4
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #4
hey chuckman welcome to the mustang world, i hope you have a good expierience with your mustang.
from what i understand you just need cats to register. if that is the case you should just buy the cheap h pipe, put it on for the registration process and take it off after. even if the cheapie doesnt fit like stock, it is only for temporary use right.
good luck with your stang.
 
I

IntenseBlue

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Jul 10, 2005
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Oct 22, 2005
#5
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #5
I'd get a MAC catted ProChamber.
 

cjman15

Banned
Apr 15, 2004
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0
Fairfield, PA
Oct 22, 2005
#6
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #6
If your looking for permant best fit, Bassani is the way to go. BBK catted pipes are pretty good also. But if you're putting it on just to pass emissions, just go to a junkyard and grab one off a wrecked Stang or somethin' and put it on for the test. Then put your O/R back on.
 

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard
15 Year Member
Oct 21, 2005
1,604
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st. louis, mo
Oct 22, 2005
#7
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #7
thanks guys, it is going to be permanant as i dont want to be crawling around under the car this time every two years for the same thing, i have a tendancy to forget where i put things too looks like ill go with the bbk's then, thanks for the help.
 

CarFreakGT

20+ Year Stangneter
May 26, 2003
395
11
29
Louisville, KY
Oct 22, 2005
#8
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #8
Another vote for the BBK catted pipe. I've had one one my 89 GT for about a year and I really like it. It's a decent price and a nice fit, quality. I've heard that the Bassani are nice, I just couldn't afford it at the time.
 

FoxBodyGT

New Member
Dec 18, 2002
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0
Austintown, Ohio 44515
Oct 22, 2005
#9
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #9
I had a catco on one of my cars when I bought it--wasn't bad. I'm sure the bassani and maybe the BBk would flow better, though.
 

Autobodypro_1

New Member
Sep 30, 2005
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0
Florida
Oct 22, 2005
#10
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #10
Cats

I would go with the Bassani's or one from MAC or BBK. Hiflow cats will make about 98% of the power of o/r pipes on a stock or moderately modified street car. Just make sure the car is FULLY up to operating temps before you test.
 
W

WhiteHeat306

Member
Nov 28, 2004
283
1
16
Philadelphia Suburbs
Oct 22, 2005
#11
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #11
No trouble at all from my O/R BBK X-pipe.
 

jackchan

New Member
Oct 17, 2004
507
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0
Mobile Alabama
Oct 22, 2005
#12
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #12
I'm a big MAC fan, but BBK's or Bassani's are both good as well.
Jack
 

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard
15 Year Member
Oct 21, 2005
1,604
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173
st. louis, mo
Oct 22, 2005
#13
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #13
aight, cool, looks like im going bbk then, good price/availbility.

another question, how hard is it to replace the bulbs in the dash, behind the tach/speedo? havent had a whole lot of time to look at it, but they were both burned out tonight when i took it out for a quick "training mission" (first stick-shift, remember), last night only the tach light was gone, and it kinda helps to know some kinda speed when youre first learning shift points.
 

jackchan

New Member
Oct 17, 2004
507
0
0
Mobile Alabama
Oct 22, 2005
#14
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #14
its not all that bad. You will have to remove the gauge cluster though. The speedo cable will be your biggest problem, then the bulbs just have a little twist out, and then replace em. No biggie!
Jack
 

Lyncher

New Member
Jun 14, 2005
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0
Oct 22, 2005
#15
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #15
_jb_ said:
I had BBks long tube headers, and they were nice. So I would purchace from BBK again.

Or, you could buy the cheap h-pipe, go in for testing, then swap back to the o/r after testing.
Click to expand...

exactly what I was gonna say
 

Paul Perreca

New Member
Mar 30, 2005
1,085
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0
Oct 22, 2005
#16
  • Oct 22, 2005
  • #16
if you like the way it sounds now w/ the offroad (i'm sure you do) H, than your gonna be pissed when you have to put on these cats, it's gonna quiet down alot - get a performance one w/ 2 cats if your gonna keep it on there, cuz than it's still kinda loud, but not nearly as awesome as an offroad H - good luck, and your in for alot of fun, and money blowing- if you don't know why, your about to find out - totally worth it, i will probably have my mustang till the day i die - i'll just keep putting new motors, and bigger motors in it- i'll end up just using it as a strip car - w/o driving on the street - welcome and enjoy
 

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard
15 Year Member
Oct 21, 2005
1,604
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173
st. louis, mo
Oct 23, 2005
#17
  • Oct 23, 2005
  • #17
Paul Perreca said:
if you like the way it sounds now w/ the offroad (i'm sure you do) H, than your gonna be pissed when you have to put on these cats, it's gonna quiet down alot - get a performance one w/ 2 cats if your gonna keep it on there, cuz than it's still kinda loud, but not nearly as awesome as an offroad H - good luck, and your in for alot of fun, and money blowing- if you don't know why, your about to find out - totally worth it, i will probably have my mustang till the day i die - i'll just keep putting new motors, and bigger motors in it- i'll end up just using it as a strip car - w/o driving on the street - welcome and enjoy
Click to expand...

thats one of the best welcomes ive ever gotten anywhere, even including my old favorite the fsp forums (good group of guys over there btw for anyone with an i-6), and waaaay better than anything over at fte had to say (i thought it was the chevy guys who were rude, but i guess theres always a few bad apples) anyway, must stop this :OT: stuff

the car has i *think* either flowmaster 50's or deltaflow 40's (the p.o. said they were longer than the flow 40's but didnt know for sure what they were, ill find out when i bolt up the h), either way its pretty quiet already, which im fine with, its still louder than the truck but not so much so that itll wake up the neigbors at night.
 
W

WhiteHeat306

Member
Nov 28, 2004
283
1
16
Philadelphia Suburbs
Oct 23, 2005
#18
  • Oct 23, 2005
  • #18
Chuckman said:
either way its pretty quiet already, which im fine with, its still louder than the truck but not so much so that itll wake up the neigbors at night.
Click to expand...
What fun is that?? You gotta let 'em know you're comin!!
 
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