[TB97Mustang]

I drove a 1997 mustang and wanted to get a dual exhaust system for my car. I was wondering if anyone knew of one that sounded good and would not coast me a crazy amount. Also if they knew wat the best place to look for one would be.


Thanks
TB

[A7X1031]

my suggetion would be to go on youtube and listen to a couple sound clips. There are tons out there.

[Stanger98]

Originally Posted by TB97Mustang

I drove a 1997 mustang and wanted to get a dual exhaust system for my car. I was wondering if anyone knew of one that sounded good and would not coast me a crazy amount. Also if they knew wat the best place to look for one would be.


Thanks
TB

Depends on what you're looking for. There are many different varieties of a "Dual Exhaust System"

The stock configuration on the v6 mustang is headers, 4 cats, y-pipe, single exhaust piping, muffler, and tip.

The cheapest way to get a dual exhaust, is the True Dual Exhaust System setup. What this means is that the exhaust configuration is as follows: Headers, 4 cats, straight piping, muffler, and tip. There is no crossover involved (y-pipe on the stock config.). What's done in a True Dual exhaust setup is cut the y-piping in half so the pipes do not cross over any longer, remove the muffler on the left side exhaust. Put new muffler on left side piping. Fabricate new piping for right side exhaust. Install new piping. After install of piping, muffler installation occurs. After this, the over axle piping is fabricated and muffler tips are welded on to the piping completing the procedure. "True Duals" as they are called are the cheapest and most effective way to get a dual exhaust on a v6. They also increase the sound the most

The next way to do the dual exhaust is to have a crossover pipe. The y-pipe, x-pipe, or h-pipe. Y-pipe is the stock configuration and really can't be converted to a dual exhaust unless its cut in half. The X and H pipe are exactly like they sound, no pun intended. While on the topic of sound, h-pipes will give you a more mellow sound compared to the x-pipe which is between the sound of the h and running true duals. Depending on local laws, if you decide to go with the crossover setup, you must check to make sure if you need all 4 cats on. There are two types of crossover pipes. Off-road and Catted. Off-road pipes don't have cats and are not exactly worth it on a mild to stock v6. The loss in backpressure from not having cats will hurt your low-end power. Catted pipes are more expensive but they have cats so your car will lose minimal to no power and could possibly gain a few. Just make sure to follow local laws, wouldn't want a fellow stanger to be pulled over!

The diameter of the piping is the next important subject. If you get a true dual exhaust setup, I recommend the stock diameter size, just for the matter of it being cheaper to get one pipe made rather than both sides. If you plan on and are almost 100% that you're getting a supercharger though, you must go bigger. For the crossover setup, stock size piping is good as well, but you can go a little bigger if wanting to.

Here's the sizes that are best for their applications:

1.) Power Adder: 2.5" Piping
2.) True Dual: 2" Piping
3.) Crossover: 2"-2.25" Piping

Next and final subject is mufflers. Mufflers are very subjective to say the least. There isn't a specific muffler that's going to get you more power than the other, they are more based upon sound. There's plenty of opinions about exhaust out there, you just got to find one that suits you. I'll try to sell you on my exhaust of course but that's because I'd like to see more people run it because it sounds so good (to me).

I have a true dual exhaust with Pypes Violator Mufflers. I love the sound, the clip that I'm attaching is when my car was basically bone stock. Garages > Schumi23's 1998 Ford Mustang - FQuick.com

I bought my mufflers off of Brenspeed's ebay account for $50, I believe they're selling for $110 now though.

If you're looking for some other opinions go to youtube and type in v6 mustang exhaust (or certain brand of muffler name) and see how it sounds. Here's a thread over at another site I frequent that has some exhaust notes in it. Exhaust Opinions - 3.8 Mustang Message Board

All said and done, you should not be paying more than $500 total for an exhaust system, if you are you're getting ripped off. Which brings me to my next point, if a shop doesn't know what True Duals are or say that it's not legal, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES go to that shop, they have no idea what they're talking about.

I do believe this thread should be stickied that way I don't have to keep repeating myself. *HINT HINT*

If you have any more questions, please ask.

[jgt58]

I do believe this thread should be stickied that way I don't have to keep repeating myself. *HINT HINT*

If you have any more questions, please ask.

I agree! We need a sticky for exhaust....

[ESG-642T]

Just to add to this:

• An exhaust system with a crossover is still considered to be true duals, when it doesn't have a crossover its divorced duals.
• Straight through mufflers have a slight performance advantage over chambered mufflers
• The low end loss from no cats is minimal
• 2.25" pipe is the smallest you should go
• h pipes are usually deeper / x pipes are usually raspier
• their is one ther mid pipe besides x,y,h, its the mac prochamber
• This is one common comparison: magnaflow v flowmaster

• Video of Supercharged 6's - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

• both cars have long tubes, the magnaflow car has cats, and an h pipe, my car has no cats and a prochamber

[Stanger98]

Originally Posted by 232Stang

Just to add to this:

• An exhaust system with a crossover is still considered to be true duals, when it doesn't have a crossover its divorced duals.
• Straight through mufflers have a slight performance advantage over chambered mufflers
• The low end loss from no cats is minimal
• 2.25" pipe is the smallest you should go
• h pipes are usually deeper / x pipes are usually raspier
• their is one ther mid pipe besides x,y,h, its the mac prochamber
• This is one common comparison: magnaflow v flowmaster
• both cars have long tubes, the magnaflow car has cats, and an h pipe, my car has no cats and a prochamber

hmm, I guess it depends where your from. Around my area everyone knows as true duals running straight back from the headers/cats and just duals are crossover.

straight through's do have a slight advantage, but not enough to really feel it.

If you're stock, running no cats will hurt you down low. The horsepower will increase up top, but our mustangs are built for making a lot of torque not horsepower and we use the torque much more...

2.25" is larger than stock. 2" is the stock exhaust size. It saves money and keeps or increases low end power rather than a loss. 2.25 and 2 are basically the same, it'll just cost extra to get TWO new exhaust pipes rather than just getting one fabricated.

Thank you for following through, though, I did leave a couple of things out!

[ESG-642T]

Originally Posted by Stanger98

hmm, I guess it depends where your from. Around my area everyone knows as true duals running straight back from the headers/cats and just duals are crossover.

straight through's do have a slight advantage, but not enough to really feel it.

If you're stock, running no cats will hurt you down low. The horsepower will increase up top, but our mustangs are built for making a lot of torque not horsepower and we use the torque much more...

2.25" is larger than stock. 2" is the stock exhaust size. It saves money and keeps or increases low end power rather than a loss. 2.25 and 2 are basically the same, it'll just cost extra to get TWO new exhaust pipes rather than just getting one fabricated.

Thank you for following through, though, I did leave a couple of things out!

If your doing exhaust for performance you might as well do 2.25" pipe, and actually allow the engine to breath some... If its just for sound then it really doesn't matter either way.

[shinerstang]

Originally Posted by TB97Mustang

I drove a 1997 mustang and wanted to get a dual exhaust system for my car. I was wondering if anyone knew of one that sounded good and would not coast me a crazy amount. Also if they knew wat the best place to look for one would be.


Thanks
TB

See if you can get a GT takeoff exhaust from a junk yard. Then you would only need the adapter to install it. That would be the cheapest way.......

[Stanger98]

Originally Posted by 232Stang

If your doing exhaust for performance you might as well do 2.25" pipe, and actually allow the engine to breath some... If its just for sound then it really doesn't matter either way.

either way it's breathing twice as good as it did before. 2 pipes > 1

[TB97Mustang]

Thanks alot of all your replies...ill def look into everything that u guys suggested...Thanks again for everything...

[Gridleak]

I just dualed out my 98 v6 two days ago. I went to a Mitis (sp) shop, and paid 375 for dualed out exhaust, I don't think I would go over 400. What I got was;

Two Flowmaster 40's,
They fabed up a H-Pipe,
And two stainless steel tips.

I talked to the 'exhaust' guy. And he told me, out of the flowmaster mufflers, 40's give the best tone for the 6's. When I walked in there I had my heart set on the Super 44's, but we talked for a bit, and he told me if I didn't like the sound he would undo everything and put the 44's on for free. Long story short. My babys sitting outside with 40's. =]

It sounds great, i'm really proud. So far in two days i've had 3 people complament me on the sound, two of them were GT owners. Once I get a good video, i'll upload it.

Grid

[ESG-642T]

Originally Posted by Stanger98

either way it's breathing twice as good as it did before. 2 pipes > 1

Not always my friend!

[Stanger98]

Originally Posted by 232Stang

Not always my friend!

when we're talking v6 mustang + not wanting one 3" exhaust pipe yes

[ESG-642T]

Originally Posted by Stanger98

when we're talking v6 mustang + not wanting one 3" exhaust pipe yes

Hey theirs a v6 mustang running 1 3" exhaust pipe..
turbocharged

[Stanger98]

Originally Posted by 232Stang

Hey theirs a v6 mustang running 1 3" exhaust pipe..
turbocharged

yes, but it's just that, TURBOCHARGED. And obviously the owner liked running a single exhaust system rather than duals...