• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech

stock GT H-pipe on a V6?

  • Thread starter Thread starter vikingsouthpaw
  • Start date Start date Apr 7, 2005
V

vikingsouthpaw

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
14
0
0
Apr 7, 2005
#1
  • Apr 7, 2005
  • #1
Hey, my friend has a 2000 GT which he put a bassani X-pipe on, and he still has the stock H-pipe, he offered it to me for 50 bucks. I have a 2002 V6 and was wondering if it would hook up to my stock exhaust headers. I have been wanting to upgrade my exhaust for a while now, and I would obviously have to get a cat back system along with this h-pipe, but before I do that I just wanted to know if this H-pipe would work, otherwise I am going to have to get a new H-pipe along with the cat back. Thanks for any input you have.
 
K

kstang69

New Member
Aug 14, 2003
153
0
0
atlanta, georgia
Apr 13, 2005
#2
  • Apr 13, 2005
  • #2
if the cat back you bought is for a v6, the gt h-pipe will not connect to the catback without modification due to the y-pipe. and the h might not fit to the headers(prob not) but not 100% positive. the gt h-pipe is no better than yours, you just have a y-pipe, so cut that off and modify the catback to fit or if the catback is for a v8 there is a true dual converter kit for v6 mustangs that you can get. i think steeda makes one so maybe check it out.
 

Skymarshal

Member
Nov 5, 2004
572
0
16
Dallas
Apr 14, 2005
#3
  • Apr 14, 2005
  • #3
You do not need an H-pipe.

A V8 uses an H-pipe for exhaust scavenging between banks of cylinders, which makes power by improving the cylinder's ability to get rid of the exhaust and fill with air/fuel mixture. The V6 has an even firing order, which means there is no need for an H-pipe. You won't harm anything by adding one, but I wouldn't go to the trouble.

I'd be careful adding too much exhaust to your six. The 3.8 needs some back pressure to make torque, so whatever exhaust mods you add, keep the Y-pipe to maintain the backpressure you need.
You should never add true duals to a V6 unless you are running forced induction.
 
T

Tru_Blue_104

New Member
Nov 13, 2003
218
0
0
MN
Apr 14, 2005
#4
  • Apr 14, 2005
  • #4
Skymarshal said:
You should never add true duals to a V6 unless you are running forced induction.
Click to expand...
Finally, someone actually realizes this. I had an 89 4-banger for the longest time and I always read about people putting dual 3" exhaust on them and then they asked "why does my car have no balls?" Geeze! This is true though, our cars need backpressure to have torque. I think a kickin exhaust would be a custom system off the headers with two high flow cats, then branch off to dual mufflers of your choice. Im sure many people have tried this setup and it seems to make the most sense to me out of all the setups.
 

MrStang123

New Member
Jul 6, 2004
65
0
0
NY
Apr 14, 2005
#5
  • Apr 14, 2005
  • #5
So does that mean if you have a smaller exhaust you will get more back pressure and that will give you more torque? But I suppose that would restrict some of the hp?
 

98stangv8

Active Member
Oct 3, 2003
1,036
0
36
fayetteville, nc
Apr 14, 2005
#6
  • Apr 14, 2005
  • #6
the gt H will not fit....different mounting widths off the headers..

when mine was a 6, I had the stock y pipe cut and made into a true dual...didn't lose any backpressure..I think it was 2 1/4" pipes all the way back...it sounded a lot better than stock...it will never sound like a GT with a 6, but it will sound better..
 
T

Tru_Blue_104

New Member
Nov 13, 2003
218
0
0
MN
Apr 14, 2005
#7
  • Apr 14, 2005
  • #7
MrStang123 said:
So does that mean if you have a smaller exhaust you will get more back pressure and that will give you more torque? But I suppose that would restrict some of the hp?
Click to expand...
No, if you go too small, you will restrict hp. And you may get too much back pressure, which is also bad for your car. Im not sure on that one though. I suppose going true duals would be ok too, its something that I havent heard enough about. But Im still sold on the 2-1-2 setup.
 
V

vikingsouthpaw

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
14
0
0
Apr 15, 2005
#8
  • Apr 15, 2005
  • #8
Thanks for the input fellas. I was actually reading on a website just the other day about the backpressure and how you can't let it go too low or your car will get sluggish due to the loss of torque. I will probably just go with a ypipe catback, as some of you suggested, for the dual exhaust look, one with decent mufflers on it so it makes some noise. I have been looking around a lot and the one I like a lot is the MAC, the magnaflow, bassani, and borla ones are really nice but most of them are really expensive, MAC seems like the best deal. Thanks again for the advice, I'll let you all know what I go with, when I go with it.
 

Soccer13en

New Member
Mar 13, 2004
17
0
0
St. Louis, Mo
Apr 15, 2005
#9
  • Apr 15, 2005
  • #9
I have true duals with an H pipe. I have seen no loss in power, but very little gain. The sound though is quite different. Even idle sounds deeper and meaner. If its sound you are going for, true duals can satisfy that desire (more than anything else as of yet), but if you want power gains, spend the money on a different element of the car. Lucky for me, I bought mine this way and didn't have to invest my money in it.
 

Skymarshal

Member
Nov 5, 2004
572
0
16
Dallas
Apr 15, 2005
#10
  • Apr 15, 2005
  • #10
I put the MAC cat-back dual on my car, and just made the first long distance road trip. I got 30 MPG! OMG! I thought these 3.8s got like 26 MPG on the highway. I wonder if adding the cat-back had anything to do with that?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Need MIL Eliminators?
  • crazyone64
  • May 18, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
151
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech May 21, 2026
GOvert
G
F
H-PIPE WIDTH
  • forango
  • May 28, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
294
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 28, 2025
LILCBRA
M
2001 v6 heater return pipe leak question
  • mnky99
  • Nov 11, 2025
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
249
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Nov 11, 2025
mnky99
M
Mufflers for stock 5.0
  • MrPerfect2
  • Dec 11, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
230
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Dec 12, 2025
Mustang5L5
R
bbk shorty header to mid pipe gasket
  • randyyy
  • Sep 29, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
352
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Sep 29, 2025
randyyy
R
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?