--->Need Opinions on Exhaust<---

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Well I spent pretty much all day yesterday tearing down the exhaust on my Cougar. Ive been having this issue with a nasty rattle coming from one of the cats, figured they were falling apart inside, so I was going to tear it down and gut them.

It wasnt too bad getting the exhaust down after I picked up a nice wobble extension for one of the top bolts on the header flange. So, I get the front of the exhaust down, and cut the bolts that clamp the front half to the back half. Come to find out the rattle I was hearing was the just a loose rear O2 sensor.

But by that time it was too late so I figured what the hell, might as well make a project out of it. Long story short, I gutted the cats, left the resonator and third cat after the y-pipe together, re-bolted up the back half, and welded in a set of straight pipes and tips //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

It sounds **** good for what it is, but its a tid bit loud for my tastes. I basically had the same thing done to my thunderbird aside from the gutted cats, and it was about perfect.

So....Ive been thinking of a couple different options.

Option 1- Leave it, but add a set of glass packs or dynomax race mufflers at the end before the tips, exiting out the rear. Like my bird was....

Or, Option 2- Cut the exhaust down, y-pipe mid-body, to a set of race mufflers, and tips exiting infront of the rear tires //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

This is actually what I was going to do when I first started thinking about it, but wasnt sure if I woud like it.

So what do you guys think? Option 1 or 2, or any other ideas...

Heres a pic of the car btw, I didnt get one last night after I finished up, but I will later on today.

After I finish up doing the exhaust, Im gonna undercoat it with Por 15, paint the exhaust black, and bolt it back in. Then its time to paint the outside of the car, and then probably a ***** at that point.

Click to read more...

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

BTW sorry for the essay Im bored as hell at work and cant stop thinking about this lol

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Just got back from a drive to pick up lunch at work, and it definately sounds good. I dont think Im really gonna change anything now. Probably add a nicer set of stainless steel tips that are a little longer to hide the exhaust piping behind them, and I gotta lay another bead on one of the cats cuz I have a small leak.

 

[bones22 5,000+ posts]

get 18" glasspacks but put them closer to the Y pipe not all the way at the rear

 

[mil81 10+ year member]

I know those Ford motors can sound great with nothing but the cats, but for a gas motor you can't beat a tuned sound. I would leave the cats gutted, and run a set of Magnaflow mufflers. Magnaflow gives a nice deep sound cause they are a packed muffler.

But I'm not sure why you got rid of the Bird for that Cougar. That is one of the ugliest cars Ford has ran.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

get 18" glasspacks but put them closer to the Y pipe not all the way at the rear

Where should I make the pipes exit? Just turn downs? Or infront of the rear tires?

I know those Ford motors can sound great with nothing but the cats, but for a gas motor you can't beat a tuned sound. I would leave the cats gutted, and run a set of Magnaflow mufflers. Magnaflow gives a nice deep sound cause they are a packed muffler.
But I'm not sure why you got rid of the Bird for that Cougar. That is one of the ugliest cars Ford has ran.

Yeah a mid-mounted Magnaflow di/do in a true dual setup is about the best sound you can get out of them. Thats my plan for the future, but not until I get a set of short headers.

But I didnt get rid of the bird for the cougar. The cougar was actually given to me, and the bird is for sale. I dont think its ugly though, done up right they can look very nice imo.

BTW they are the exact same car...more or less.....MN12 Chassis....the only differences are the badgings, and rear window line.

 

[andrewmoore13 10+ year member]

I know those Ford motors can sound great with nothing but the cats, but for a gas motor you can't beat a tuned sound. I would leave the cats gutted, and run a set of Magnaflow mufflers. Magnaflow gives a nice deep sound cause they are a packed muffler.
But I'm not sure why you got rid of the Bird for that Cougar. That is one of the ugliest cars Ford has ran.

Agreed on both counts.

Ever heard a 302 with no exhaust manifolds? Now that shit is LOUD.

I just put dual magnaflows on my TrailBlazer and I think it sounds great.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Agreed on both counts.
Ever heard a 302 with no exhaust manifolds? Now that shit is LOUD.

I just put dual magnaflows on my TrailBlazer and I think it sounds great.

Yeah, when I ripped the exhaust down for the first time I fired it up for a second with just the manifolds //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif That probably pissed some of my neighbors off, then I did it again after I got the front half and y-pipe back on. It was still loud as fock, the backhalf is really the choke off point in the exhaust. Kinda why I wanted to run them out the side after the y-pipe.

True duals will go on someday, but not until I have an extra 500-600 bucks layin around to pick up a muffler and some tips and a set of shorties and have a shop run it.

Mandrel Tubing Bender > ME

 

[andrewmoore13 10+ year member]

Yeah, when I ripped the exhaust down for the first time I fired it up for a second with just the manifolds //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif That probably pissed some of my neighbors off, then I did it again after I got the front half and y-pipe back on. It was still loud as fock, the backhalf is really the choke off point in the exhaust. Kinda why I wanted to run them out the side after the y-pipe.
True duals will go on someday, but not until I have an extra 500-600 bucks layin around to pick up a muffler and some tips and a set of shorties and have a shop run it.

Mandrel Tubing Bender > ME

I'm sure there has to be a Lou's Custom Exhaust or something of the sort that could do that for you for less than that?

Some kid at my college had Crown-Vic with true duals that sounded gnarly. (Gnarly is a good word, felt the urge to use it lol) Said it cost him $300ish all said and done.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

I'm sure there has to be a Lou's Custom Exhaust or something of the sort that could do that for you for less than that?
Some kid at my college had Crown-Vic with true duals that sounded gnarly. (Gnarly is a good word, felt the urge to use it lol) Said it cost him $300ish all said and done.

Well yeah, for running the exhaust it would only be a couple hundred bucks for a shop to do it. But then I want to buy a set of headers, and then the cost for a stainless steel muffler and tips.

BTW if anyone knows of a good shop in the metro-detroit area lemme know. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Im more than capable of running the entire exhaust myself I just dont have the access to any mandrel bent tubing. Unless anyone knows an easy way to get a hold of a box random bends and such //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[mil81 10+ year member]

Well yeah, for running the exhaust it would only be a couple hundred bucks for a shop to do it. But then I want to buy a set of headers, and then the cost for a stainless steel muffler and tips.
BTW if anyone knows of a good shop in the metro-detroit area lemme know. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Im more than capable of running the entire exhaust myself I just dont have the access to any mandrel bent tubing. Unless anyone knows an easy way to get a hold of a box random bends and such //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

A buddy of mine built a 4" exhaust for his diesel like that. They weren't mandrel bends, but I just assume you could get them. He just ordered all the lengths of pipe, and the specific bends he wanted from our version of Lordco. Check it out. You can always add the shorties later. And some Generic Magnaflows wouldn't be all that expensive.

I would exit either in front, or behind the tires of that car.

And no offense on hacking your car. It's just my opinion. Those T-Birds were descent looking cars. I just can't stand the lines of the rear window on the Coug's.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

A buddy of mine built a 4" exhaust for his diesel like that. They weren't mandrel bends, but I just assume you could get them. He just ordered all the lengths of pipe, and the specific bends he wanted from our version of Lordco. Check it out. You can always add the shorties later. And some Generic Magnaflows wouldn't be all that expensive.
I would exit either in front, or behind the tires of that car.

And no offense on hacking your car. It's just my opinion. Those T-Birds were descent looking cars. I just can't stand the lines of the rear window on the Coug's.

Whats this Lordco you speak of?

Yeah I loved my T-Bird, still do, actually I miss that car a lot. I always thought that it was one of the cooler looking cars on the road. But, good things must come to an end and I need good reliable car to drive everyday.

 

[bones22 5,000+ posts]

Where should I make the pipes exit? Just turn downs? Or infront of the rear tires?
turn downs in front of the rear end. unless you want the flash of chrome tips

Yeah a mid-mounted Magnaflow di/do in a true dual setup is about the best sound you can get out of them. Thats my plan for the future, but not until I get a set of short headers.

But I didnt get rid of the bird for the cougar. The cougar was actually given to me, and the bird is for sale. I dont think its ugly though, done up right they can look very nice imo.

BTW they are the exact same car...more or less.....MN12 Chassis....the only differences are the badgings, and rear window line.

magnaflow is nice and all but you arent going to gain much from that car

save the $ and get glasspacks. 18" shouldnt be more than $15 each

 

[bones22 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, when I ripped the exhaust down for the first time I fired it up for a second with just the manifolds //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif That probably pissed some of my neighbors off, then I did it again after I got the front half and y-pipe back on. It was still loud as fock, the backhalf is really the choke off point in the exhaust. Kinda why I wanted to run them out the side after the y-pipe.
True duals will go on someday, but not until I have an extra 500-600 bucks layin around to pick up a muffler and some tips and a set of shorties and have a shop run it.

Mandrel Tubing Bender > ME

true duals shouldnt cost near that.

you wont gain a whole lot with headers so you could go without them and use stock

2 18"glasspacks $30-40

dump it under the car before the rear end (save on tips and get a better sound)

about 10ft of pipe

should get you in around 150-175 installed

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

magnaflow is nice and all but you arent going to gain much from that car save the $ and get glasspacks. 18" shouldnt be more than $15 each

I would gain a bit with a true dual setup, but that wont be for a while.

true duals shouldnt cost near that.
you wont gain a whole lot with headers so you could go without them and use stock

2 18"glasspacks $30-40

dump it under the car before the rear end (save on tips and get a better sound)

about 10ft of pipe

should get you in around 150-175 installed

That was with the cost of shortie headers.

But, for now Im gonna re-weld the leaking cat, get another set of tips, and probably try a set of glass packs on the back and see how that sounds for now.