Stock Exhaust vs. Straight Pipes

[hemi_fan]

When I bought my car, it had a set of custom straight pipes on it, that came from the catalytic converters right to the back and curved down before my GT Skirt, but to certify the car, I had to spend $600 in order to have them put stock mufflers on it, so it would pass... I asked them to save the straight pipes, and now the car barely makes any noise... What should I do?

a) Leave the stock exhaust.
b) Stock exhaust but put on some Flowmasters
c) Try to throw the old straight-pipes back on there

I realize there will be a slight, but probably insignificant power difference with the different pipes, but what I'm aiming for here is sound. so what would sound better?? (Engine is stock btw).

 

[hemi_fan]

And also... what should I do with the tips? Right now, they are pretty much invisible to people because they are behind the skirts... Should I leave them like that, go under the skirt, or cut out a hole or indent into the skirt and have some nice chrome pipes?

 

[85GTlover]

So when you bought it, it had no mufflers? If no are you saying they would not certify it because of aftermarket mufflers? Or were there other problems with the exhaust? If the straight pipes makes it so the two sides are completely seperate from each other you need to have them joined,requiring a h pipe or x pipe. You need one of these if the above is true or your car is gonna suffer.

 

[25thmustang]

Buy a good catback from a reputable company, and get a cobra valance! looks the best!

 

[slow88stang]

Dont cut holes in your GT bumper. If you have the money but a catback from flowmaster, mac, or whatever you want. And I say get the cobra rear. Looks very nice with tips out back.

 

[85GTlover]

I was going to add the same as above do not mutilate your bumper if you like that style (through it) get a new one and save the stock. You could get dumps (no tailpipes down tube off mufflers. You said you like loud.

 

[Mustang5L5]

To me, straight pipes on a Mustang never sounded that good.

I like the tone of a good performance muffler

 

[Sf2fan]

I would definitely put in a flowmaster or mac kit with dumps, if you just want something louder.

 

[redterror302]

I agree with the fact that no mufflers doesn't sound very good. I have heard a stang with the stock h-pipe and no mufflers. It was loud for sure, but it didn't have a good sound at all. I would look into getting a good catback exhaust, or just getting some mufflers to weld into your stock pipes.

 

[hemi_fan]

Right now, they pipes do not cross over or connect to eachother... so I should get an X-pipe with some perf. mufflers? How much would that kind of setup cost (CDN $$ conversion), and would it be possible to get some used anywhere do you think? I am in a very tight cash situation... I dont really know about exhausts, im assuming I'd want an X-pipe... if I do go for a whole new setup, should I also replace the cats with some high-flow ones? or just remove them? thanks for input!

 

[84blkstang]

you can do a search on h-pipes which comes stock on all 86-present mustangs. you can get one O/R H pipe for about $130 shipped from Summit or Jegs, the h pipe gives a nice low rumble where as a X-pipe gives it a higher pitches exhaust note. kinda like a indy car vs nascar. Now to the cat back you can pick a comapany of your choice, i like spintech flowmaster Mac for the money if you can somhow afford it you can go borla or magnaflow you can go to www.summitracing.com and look at the catback systems for mustangs hope this helps somehow

 

[hemi_fan]

I'll check that site out... I hope this doesnt make me sound like too much of an idiot, but whats the difference between X-pipe, H-pipe, (other than shape) and whats the difference between Offroad pipes and regular pipes?? thanks for all the input so far!

 

[25thmustang]

X pipe the crossover (where they meet in the center) meets with an X, meaning the pipes seem to cross. The H pipe just has an H pattern, meaning they seem to run next to each other and have a pipe between them. Off road means it has no catelytic converters, and high flow means two high flow cats. Typically the exhaust you want is 2.5" which is larger than the 2.25" stock and most people run off road (no cats). If you are worried about smog or emissions and dont want to swap mid pipes, buy a high flow H or X. They make good power!

 

[hemi_fan]

That is very helpful information! With this, I will probably start looking for an off-road H-pipe (according to 84blkstang I think the lower rumble would be more to my liking), it would be much better without the cats... And I could just store my stock pipes in my basement with the cats for next year when the emissions tests roll around again. Now I have my first mod in sight Here it goes... someone on this forum told me when I first posted "Welcome to hell, now your car will never be fast enough", and I think the bug is already kicking in ... lol... thanks guys!

 

[RacinChris]

That is very helpful information! With this, I will probably start looking for an off-road H-pipe (according to 84blkstang I think the lower rumble would be more to my liking), it would be much better without the cats... And I could just store my stock pipes in my basement with the cats for next year when the emissions tests roll around again. Now I have my first mod in sight Here it goes... someone on this forum told me when I first posted "Welcome to hell, now your car will never be fast enough", and I think the bug is already kicking in ... lol... thanks guys!

Most x-pipes sound higher pitched and more exotic... but the Dr. Gas x-pipe is like a combination of both. Low and deep at the lower RPMs, then screams at high RPMs. All the NASCAR cars use Dr. Gas X style crossovers because of the performance advantage over H-pipes, explained here.

 

[25thmustang]

Im a fan of the prochamber, but I have only run that and a catted H...

 

[Rains]

dang, when i had my 88gt, it passed smog with straight pipes.....
i guess there is a difference between california smog check and canadian cert's? I really have no idea....

but anyway, get a MAC (109.00) o/r H pipe and have an awesome muffler shop bend you up a killer cat back

otherwise id get just get some DynoMax or whatever Warlocks even..... all per. mufflers are within a horse or two, so its up to sound pref. My FM's are ok sounding

also,...... straight pipes are too Truckish i's throw them in the nearest trash bin, and the backpressure pop is