[TheJack]

Anyone have any reviews on Ford Racing's cat back for Cobras? It's a 3" system, I can't say whether the mufflers are straight or turbo (I'd hope straight!) and I also can't say with it's SS or mild steel. It can be had for reasonable cost and it's one of the few 3" systems I've found. I know I don't *need* 3" with no other mods (yet, yeah my signature, I know, I know!) but I can't see it hurting 4.6L that redline at 6500. It's not an option if it's not SS. It has to be able to deal with winter, ice, road salt, loose hot asphalt, etc. Mild steel (even aluminized) won't cut it around here!

[QIKPNY]

Haven't heard about the FR 3" exhaust. Do you have a link for it?

[TheJack]

Originally posted by QIKPNY
Haven't heard about the FR 3" exhaust. Do you have a link for it?

You can go to StangSuspension.com or FordRacingParts.com/. At StangSuspension it's under "Engine/Power" / "Cat Backs" / "Ford Racing". At FordRacing go through the index to exhaust, it's the part number ending in M55. It looks just like the 2.5" unit, but is a 3". The tips are still 3".
After all this I ordered a Magnaflow anyway as I've heard of fitament issues and Magnaflow uses the higher quality 304 stainless steel over the 409 (which is still better than straight mild or alum. steel!). Also the Ford 3" is supposedly quite loud and I have neighbors; also has a large amount of drone.

[snakepit]

If you have not purchased your exhaust yet, I would recommend the SLP loudmouth. This is what I recently purchased for my 01 Cobra. At first it was extremely loud It almost sounded like running open headers. After a few days of driving, it became seasoned and more quiet to the point I where I could actually listen to the radio. It does not use mufflers but resonators. Lower mass than those oval mufflers. The ID of the intermediaries is 2.5 inches which mates up nicely with the H pipe connectors. It is constructed with 409 stainless steel with 3.5inch polished 304 stainless steel double walled tips. As for the neighbors, they will hear you comming but playing the throttle a bit, it is not hard to keep it quiet. Once you punch the gas, and if you like that hot car sound, you will get it. To begin with the Cobra does not sound like the typical V8 (due to the 4V) which has that V10 or V12 sound. I have been getting alot of compliments on how nice my car sounds, including one from a camero owner who told me that "boards suck" that took a while to figure out what he meant by that. Then again, the SLP may not be what you are after if quiet is what you are looking for. At least the magnaflow is better quality than the MAC. I read some nasty comments about that product. How does it sound? I picked SLP since it was the resonators I was after, it was a cost alternative to the aero-turbine muffler.

[TheJack]

I'm always split about the whole thing: loud and aggressive, but not when I don't want it to be (when I want it to be quiet) and no highway drone since we do a good amount of highway driving. I think the SLP would sound nasty, but not in a negative way. The MAC 3" sounds great I know, but alum. steel ain't gonna cut it with NY winters. I wanted a good compromise in sound and the Magnaflow really fit the bill. Smooth, but with some grumble and a nice "light" scream at WOT as the revs climb. Definitely more aggressive than stock, IMO it's what Mustangs should have on them from the factory and then if you want MORE sound you go for Loudmouth or the like. On the other hand, come off the throttle while cruising and it sounds like it did before. No drone at all. So while I'd love some American Graffati bubble, pop and scream that's not going be something I'll want to drive in every day. I'd like to keep my license clean too and I know from experience that having a loud exhaust does not help keep cops away