[KA06GT]

2006 GT Exhaust Opinions

Hey all,

So my GT currently has muffler deletes on it with the stock manifold and stock catted H-pipe. It sounds pretty nice as it is, but I'm looking for more aggressive options.

I want to keep the current axle-back muffler deletes. They were on the car when I purchased it and I love them. I have crawled around under the car multiple times, but I can't find a brand name anywhere, so I can't for sure tell you the exact brand of them.

With that being said, I'm considering two different routes to go.

1.) Pacesetter Long Tube Headers, Pacesetter shorty O/R H-Pipe, and my current muffler deletes.

2.) Stock manifold, Pypes O/R H-Pipe, and my current muffler deletes.

Now I know option 1. will net more power at the wheels with a nice new tune, and would sound amazing (who doesn't love a good set of LT headers, right?), but my concerns are it might be just TOO much. I love loud, good sounding Mustangs, but there is definitely a line between good and loud and obnoxious loud with no tone.

I know some of you might not care for the Pacesetters since they are mild steel, but cost wise they seem the most logical to me. Of course I will take to proper rust prevention steps, whether it be media blasting then header paint with the proper curing, or getting a quote on ceramic coating. I'll make a decision on that if I decided for sure to go with option 1.

Now option 2. would be a lot less work on my end, because I would be doing the header install myself (I always enjoy wrenching on my own vehicles), and would definitely be cheaper. Once again I would probably retune, but with this option I may try out the Spark Plug Non-Fouler mod first and see how well it works.

We all know how hard it is to find a good video of an exhaust set-up on YouTube, and how it never truly represents how it sounds in person. None-the-less, I looked anyways. I couldn't find any decent one's of the Pype's O/R H-pipe matched with muffler deletes and I could find any at all with LT headers, O/R H-pipe, and muffler deletes regardless of the brand.

A side note is that I really don't care for the sound of the X-pipes, and I don't have to pass any emissions tests where I live so I prefer to go the the O/R version of the H-pipe instead of a high flow catted one.

I was completely sold on the LTs and shorty O/R H-pipe until I got to hear an 05 GT in person with the stock mufflers and manifold but with a Pype's O/R H-pipe, and it sounded great! Obviously mine would be louder with the deletes, but what are everyone's opinions on these exhaust set-ups? Pros and cons would be great from anyone on the subject especially if they have first hand experience for either, but any opinions are greatly appreciated.

Sorry if this was a little long winded, just didn't want it to seem like I hadn't done any research prior to asking.

 

[jlee910]

I personally think either route would be entirely too loud and obnoxious, as I have had two trucks with stock manifolds, no cats, and no mufflers. I couldn't talk on the phone or hardly listen to the radio in either truck, and long drives were torture. When I built a carbureted 302 and put it in one of the trucks, I ran straight pipes with glass pack mufflers, and it had a great sound. I realize trucks and the 4.6 3v sound a lot different, but that's been my experience.

It will definitely get louder without cats, manifolds or headers, but I'd be cautious of Pypes and Pacesetter. I've seen a decent bit of quality issues with both, with both fitment and longevity. O2 sensor location is important to be "tune friendly" and Pacesetter isn't very good for that either.

Best bang for the buck is probably going to be JBA. They're 409 stainless, thick steel, and quality fitment. Since they're not 304 stainless like Kooks or many other more expensive sets.

Personally, if you're wanting to stay on a budget, get a little louder, and have a good sound, I'd go with JBA LTs, H-pipe (X tends to get raspy), no cats, and a set of mid mounted "mufflers" like the glass packs.

 

[KA06GT]

I personally think either route would be entirely too loud and obnoxious, as I have had two trucks with stock manifolds, no cats, and no mufflers. I couldn't talk on the phone or hardly listen to the radio in either truck, and long drives were torture. When I built a carbureted 302 and put it in one of the trucks, I ran straight pipes with glass pack mufflers, and it had a great sound. I realize trucks and the 4.6 3v sound a lot different, but that's been my experience.

It will definitely get louder without cats, manifolds or headers, but I'd be cautious of Pypes and Pacesetter. I've seen a decent bit of quality issues with both, with both fitment and longevity. O2 sensor location is important to be "tune friendly" and Pacesetter isn't very good for that either.

Best bang for the buck is probably going to be JBA. They're 409 stainless, thick steel, and quality fitment. Since they're not 304 stainless like Kooks or many other more expensive sets.

Personally, if you're wanting to stay on a budget, get a little louder, and have a good sound, I'd go with JBA LTs, H-pipe (X tends to get raspy), no cats, and a set of mid mounted "mufflers" like the glass packs.

Thanks for the reply jlee,

That is definitely one of my concerns. I have basically no drone at 2K RPM right now, and from what I've read, drone really starts to set in after you mess with the cats.

I have double-din with Bluetooth and hands-free with the microphone up near the windshield where the A-pillar and headliner meet. I use it almost daily and I would hate to have to scream at it for people to hear me..

The other GT I road in with Pypes O/R H didn't sound bad inside either really, there wasn't really much drone with the windows up. Although that was with stock mufflers, do you really think my muffler deletes would make it that much worse?

As for the quality, I can't speak for the Pacesetters, as I've never seen them in person. The Pype's on the other hand seemed to be fairly decent quality for the price and he didn't have any fitment issues. The Pacesetter reviews are just like everything else, most I've read have been between great and decent, but there have been a few horror stories that might make some reconsider.

One good thing about the Pypes are that they are 409 stainless steel so I wouldn't have to worry about rusting.

The JBA LTs are definitely nice, but with the uncoated version more than twice the price of the Pacesetters, I feel like if I did go with LTs I would just order the Pacesetters. If they eventually rust out or leak and crack after a few years I can always replace them with a better brand down the road because I'd hate to drop so much on LTs and then they end up being not what I'm looking for.

Another benefit of the Pypes O/R H would be if I bought it then in a month decided I couldn't stand it anymore at least I would only be out around $200 or less.

I would much rather say I hated a $200 part as opposed to probably over a grand if I do the LT's and then have to switch out the mufflers and didn't like it..

Although if it is going to be excessively loud, I'm really not looking for a noise ticket. So are muffler deletes aggressive enough to only be like a stand alone deal?

 

[MaDDMaNN]

I got a set of these.
MAC Mustang Chrome Long Tube Headers 30546 (05-10 GT) - Free Shipping
I am very happy with them although the mid pipe that goes with these headers, Prochamber, is a little more expensive.

 

[dakobster8]

Option 1 is definitely going to be loud...have you heard other Mustangs with LT off road mid-pipe combos?

I think option 1 would sound great and obviously the power boost is nice, but if you're concerned about noise then it's tough to say, it's pretty subjective. Unfortunately, without hearing the exact setups you're talking about in person you are never fully going to know. Maybe more just try to decide if you want to go the headers route...I'm not sure it's worth all the money, but awesome nonetheless.

 

[KA06GT]

Option 1 is definitely going to be loud...have you heard other Mustangs with LT off road mid-pipe combos?

I think option 1 would sound great and obviously the power boost is nice, but if you're concerned about noise then it's tough to say, it's pretty subjective. Unfortunately, without hearing the exact setups you're talking about in person you are never fully going to know. Maybe more just try to decide if you want to go the headers route...I'm not sure it's worth all the money, but awesome nonetheless.

I have only ever heard one Mustang that I know for a sure had BBK LT headers, but he had just purchased the car with them like that and he had no clue as too the rest of the exhaust set up.

Unfortunately, I've never been able to catch up with him again to check and see if he ever crawled around under to see what he could find out. Although, I did see some chambered mufflers in the back and if I remember correctly they were MAC.

His car sounds absolutely wicked, but that is with a quality muffler set up. Mine might just end up sounding like my 5.3L V8 truck with the LTs and O/R H, and that's definitely not what I want.

I agree about the money possibly not being worth it in the end, and the headache of tearing into my baby to put the LTs on. The Pypes O/R H seems like it would be a breeze to install compared to all the work with the headers, and would be less aggressive than the headers, so I'm starting to lean more and more towards that route, but I still haven't decided for sure yet. I'll get searching the web to see if I can find any videos that might be close to an O/R H and muffler deletes.

Hopefully I can make a decision in the next few days and order the parts to have them here by the weekend. On a side note, it's been beautiful all weekend, so I finally was able to install my matte black Lemans stripes, my GT500 spoiler, and I'm installing my MMD hood scoop after work today. So it would be a great time to change the exhaust note since I've completely changed the look outside as well! (I now realize why decal shops charge so much to install stripes. That was an all day headache!)

 

[KA06GT]

So I found this guy on another forum that I was viewing as a guest. He was last active a few years ago, or I would try to get in contact with him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvTUxLpnQco

He's running an 07 GT with Pypes muffler deletes and a Pypes O/R H pipe. So basically as close to what I want to run as I can get it seems like.

Here is a video of him at the drag strip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcX1plxcSvI

Unfortunately, it seems like he has filmed the first video with a potato that is way to close to the car. Those are the only two videos he has.

Now obviously it won't sound quite so in-your-face as the first video makes it seem, I hope, but the drag video doesn't sound bad at all! Opinions anyone?

 

[KA06GT]

Sorry for the way that last reply is laid out. Even after an edit it doesn't appear any different in the thread. Thanks in advance for any opinions on the videos!