Gentlemen, I need some assistance from those wiser than me. I have a 1989 Ford Mustang LX, it was originally a 2.3L auto which in my younger, poorer, impulsive, and more stubborn years I Frankenstein-ed this thing over to a 5.0L.
The vehicle has an old 1986 Thunderbird 5.0L non-HO (still has the non-HO firing order, in my youth I just re-arranged the pins to the ECM to get the injectors to fire correctly. Worked great after doing that.), CAI, 30lb injectors with calibrated MAF, off road downpipes and dumps by the rear wheels with glass pack mufflers, EGR delete kit, and a MSD ignition coil and distributor. Up until this point I had no issues with drivability, it just simply didn't have the HP because it was getting choked out with its restricted top end.
I recently made the decision to come back to the car after taking a break with it for a few years. Started it up, ran fine so I went ahead and bought Trick Flow Twisted Wedge 170cc heads with a 61cc chamber, a Trick Flow Track Heat Intake Manifold with 1" spacer, a 70mm BBK throttle body and spacer, and a set of equal length shorty headers. Put that all together started it up, ran great at idle. Took it for a drive and the very first thing I noticed was that I had a HORRIBLE exhaust noise after it warmed up. It happens at highway speeds, lower residential speeds, accelerating, coming off the gas, etc. Not so much between idle to roughly 30 mph. It was popping, gurgling, the works. Embarrassing to drive. Took it back home and I felt some exhaust pushing out around the headers. Fixed that thinking I found my problem, and no change.
Could it be that its running rich or lean with the changes made? It had no issues before and I have ensured my fuel pressure and timing is accurate. With it breathing better now could that be causing a secondary ignition in my exhaust or simply a leak further down the exhaust that I missed? Hard to believe its one of those considering I had no issues prior with the older more stock set up. Am I overlooking a vacuum leak? Could that really cause all this guff? Am I missing something else? Your help is appreciated!!!
The vehicle has an old 1986 Thunderbird 5.0L non-HO (still has the non-HO firing order, in my youth I just re-arranged the pins to the ECM to get the injectors to fire correctly. Worked great after doing that.), CAI, 30lb injectors with calibrated MAF, off road downpipes and dumps by the rear wheels with glass pack mufflers, EGR delete kit, and a MSD ignition coil and distributor. Up until this point I had no issues with drivability, it just simply didn't have the HP because it was getting choked out with its restricted top end.
I recently made the decision to come back to the car after taking a break with it for a few years. Started it up, ran fine so I went ahead and bought Trick Flow Twisted Wedge 170cc heads with a 61cc chamber, a Trick Flow Track Heat Intake Manifold with 1" spacer, a 70mm BBK throttle body and spacer, and a set of equal length shorty headers. Put that all together started it up, ran great at idle. Took it for a drive and the very first thing I noticed was that I had a HORRIBLE exhaust noise after it warmed up. It happens at highway speeds, lower residential speeds, accelerating, coming off the gas, etc. Not so much between idle to roughly 30 mph. It was popping, gurgling, the works. Embarrassing to drive. Took it back home and I felt some exhaust pushing out around the headers. Fixed that thinking I found my problem, and no change.
Could it be that its running rich or lean with the changes made? It had no issues before and I have ensured my fuel pressure and timing is accurate. With it breathing better now could that be causing a secondary ignition in my exhaust or simply a leak further down the exhaust that I missed? Hard to believe its one of those considering I had no issues prior with the older more stock set up. Am I overlooking a vacuum leak? Could that really cause all this guff? Am I missing something else? Your help is appreciated!!!