Muffler/Exhaust question

[JFB]

I need some advice. I have a trilogy car with stock exhaust. I'm looking to get a louder, more throaty sound (not too loud) from the exhaust. Two options I am considering are, resonator-delete tips, or Magna flow's. Any suggestions? TIA

[mmmmmmarauder]

I installed the cobra exhaust
not the kooks
and might be sorry I didn't choose the
alternative

I hear Kooks headers sound better
and give a bit more power...

I still have the stock tips and mufflers
and am afraid that I experience no power gain
because my pipes are restricted to 2" (instead of 2.5")
where the cobra exhaust stops

(I still think we need a larger engine...but that is another thread)

OK...now the sound is VERY tame and not aggressive or distracting
with no hum or drone at any speed except wide open throttle

think ultra luxury car trying to hide its performance roots sound

Now I am willing to do something ANYTHING to get more power
and not waste money on mods that did NOTHING

I would consider ading the 18" stainless flow through magnaflows
and the delete tips (one at a time) to see if I can add a little
bass to the sound at WOT and not have a cabin drone that
will mess with the cheap sound of the factory "audiophile"
Alpine that is in there now (my next mod)...

anyone with experience in this
please chime in


and PLEASE don't say it is a matter of opinion
I can't switch once I do a mod...

tell us what you REALLY think
we respect your opinion and are willing to do
what you, through real world experience and hard work
and hard earned dollars have taught you

(yes I am talking to YOU Sergeant Mac and Musclecar BillyGman)


greekchicago@hotmail.com

Peter

[BillyGman]

It's very difficult for anyone to really give you an accurate idea of what their exhaust sounds like w/out you hearing it for yourself in person. Even the audio files on the net of exhaust sounds don't do the mufflers in question any justice since some sound (especially some bass sound) will always get lossed through the net, and through speakers. And there's too many variables. It even depends on what kind of speakers you have to listen to the audio files with.


I remember when Logan posted an audio file of his Magnaflow mufflers, and it just left something to be desired. That wasn't Logan's fault, and I commend Logan for going through the extra effort to do that for us, and that was real cool for him to do that. But just like the audio files that some muffler manufactures' websites have, it just doesn't do the product any justice. Another thing too is what you might think sounds great, might sound like garbage to other people. So I can tell you that I think that you should go with the 18" Magnaflow mufflers and Kooks headers for the best sound, but that's merely my opinion. Some people have stated that this exhaust is too loud for them, while others (like myself) think that it's just right. You can watch my burnout video that I've just posted a link to in order to hear my exhaust, but it isn't like being there live, and it's all a matter of opinion as to what you think sounds good.

[Smokie]

Kooks with 18" Magnaflows, sound DEEP and FANTASTIC, but are too loud for my personal preference, SVO FORD Shorties and 18' Magnaflows sound deep and strong at WOT but are quieter for everyday crusing, they are my personal preference. You have to hear in person to choose.

[mmmmmmarauder]

the 18" flow through Magnaflows?

Where is a good vendor to buy two of these from?

Is there any expected increase in power or is it just sound?
(either or both are OK)

now...next question

If I did this...should I install the aftermarket
resonator delete Meg tips?

and what would that do...?


BillyGMan...after I bought the cobra exhaust
because of some other advice here
and since I keep seeing your 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds
(I know you have Kooks and recommended them...)

I decided to do whatever mods you do...
from now on...


noone here has ever switched their cobra exhaust
for a kooks have they? that would be crazy wouldn't it?

I would be willing to...
would be nice publicity for Kooks perhaps

I would be happy to pay for the new Kooks setup
AND labor but I would have to get something
for the cobra exhaust which is only three months
old and has less than 500 miles on it...


Peter
greekchicago@hotmail.com

[BillyGman]

the 18" flow through Magnaflows?Yes, they're refered to on the Magnaflow website as the "Wide Open" ones. They have no baffles. See the link below. you want the 4"x9" oval stainless steel ones. (offset one one end, and center on the other).


Is there any expected increase in power or is it just sound?
(either or both are OK) If you're only going to buy the mufflers, then I wouldn't expect much of a power increase. Just good sound. maybe Kooks (on this board) will sell you just the mufflers. if not then go to a place that deals with magnaflow and give them the part #'s off of the website(link below) for the 18" ones.

If I did this...should I install the aftermarket
resonator delete Meg tips? A matter of preference. That's up to you. I haven't, although many others have.

BillyGMan...after I bought the cobra exhaust
because of some other advice here
and since I keep seeing your 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds
(I know you have Kooks and recommended them...)

I decided to do whatever mods you do...
from now on... LOL......uhmm, then you better get out the big $$$$


Peter
greekchicago@hotmail.comPete, checkout the link below......BTW the only Marauder that will do 0-60MPH in 4.5 seconds and faster are the Supercharged ones (don't know about the NOS ones cuz there isn't too many of them, but definately NOT the N/A ones)....... http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/shopdisplaycategories.asp?zone =main&id=350

[mmmmmmarauder]

that right before the supercharger
and with the 4.56 gears I should have gone with...
(I went with 4.30 and didn't get enough get-up-n-go)


you were posted some serious numbers like
maybe 0-60 in 5.25 seconds
(I'd be VERY happy with that)


I am asking the exhaust questions because...one by one
I have to undo the mess I made with $6000 worth of
modification with a vendor here (not mentioning any names)
that don't even get me respectfully off the stoplight
and never even squeaked a tire...


you never commented on a swap (if I could arrange one)
between the cobra exhaust and the Kooks headers
(all I would need for my piece of mind is SOMETHING for
the old system...maybe someone here wants to do the labor
and keep my cobra system and I will buy the Kooks system)


and the resonator delete MEG tips...your opinion?

should I go for them or not?

Sergeant Mac has them extended back a bit more than others I think
either for sound quality or to see the MEGS signature :)


let me know




Peter

greekchicago@hotmail.com


847 310 5200

[BillyGman]

I feel your pain......I originally spent $4,000 in mods BEFORE the supercharger(and that's w/out labor charges since I did most of the installations myself) and I was never satisfied. Everything I did made minor differences in acceleration as far as a seat of the pants effect on the street. It's only after I got the Trilogy Supercharger that I then was satisfied, and after putting 13,000 miles on the car AFTER the Trilogy Supercharger installation, I'm still very satisfied with how the car moves, and I'm not wanting to do anything more for extrra power.


This is why I've said ever since then, if I had it to do allover agin, i would've just spent the $6K for the S/Cer in the first place. there are atleast two other members who have taken my advice on that, and they're very happy with the results. They both post in the Trilogy forum all the time. For the street you don't need 4.56's in the rear IF you supercharge it with a roots blower. This is what I've learned in my experience.

[Smokie]

I am asking the exhaust questions because...one by one
I have to undo the mess I made with $6000 worth of
modification with a vendor here (not mentioning any names)
that don't even get me respectfully off the stoplight
and never even squeaked a tire...Peter
If you want fast, Billy knows fast. I can't help but read the above statement and wonder how can $6000 in mods not produce even a squeak, if you say those are the facts, I accept your word.

[Tallboy]

This is why I've said ever since then, if I had it to do allover agin, i would've just spent the $6K for the S/Cer in the first place. there are atleast two other members who have taken my advice on that, and they're very happy with the results. They both post in the Trilogy forum all the time....And i'm one of 'em. I did one mod, one time. I cannot tell you how happy I am with my car. I remember reading Billy's post saying "If you're only going to do one mod, make it a Trilogy." Yes, it's a big check to write. But, the first time you drop the hammer, it's suddenly a bargain. Trust me. :burnout: :burnout:

[BillyGman]

...And i'm one of 'em. I did one mod, one time. I cannot tell you how happy I am with my car. I remember reading Billy's post saying "If you're only going to do one mod, make it a Trilogy." Yes, it's a big check to write. But, the first time you drop the hammer, it's suddenly a bargain. Trust me. :burnout: :burnout:Chuck, the thing that I always remember is that I thought that I was only going to just do one mod to the car also. So I did one, and I was NOT satisfied, and so then I thought, "okay, just this one more"....and then after that I still wasn't pleased with the results....and before I knew it, I was getting nickle and dimed to death with a lot of lesser mods. Collectively, they made a considerable difference, but not much at all in the low-end torque and mid-range torque department where this big heavy car with it's very small V8 egnine is lacking the most.

So that's why I say that although it's difficult sometimes for us not to learn things the hard way, or through experience, if at all possible, learn from what I did, and consider how much more you really want out of this car. If low-end, off-the-line acceleration is really what you're striving for, realize that taller gears, different exhaust, aftermarket driveshafts, U/D pullies will not give you a whole lot more of that than the little bit that the car already has from the factory. They're relatively cheap mods, and are very affordable, but you only get what you pay for in the HP game. You definately don't get something for nothing. These things are fine for the low cost that they have attached to them, but don't expect them to transform the car, or to actually widen the somewhat narrow power band that a small V8 engine provides, UNLESS you go with some type of forced induction (Supercharging being the most popular and common amongst Marauders).

If you know in your heart that you will not be satisfied until your Marauder moves off the line like it has a big block engine under the hood, and you know that you won't be satisfied unless you actually have a broader band of power throughout the RPM range instead of merely moving what power there is further up the RPM scale, then you need to slap a S/Cer on it such as the Trilogy blower. That way you won't find yourself $4,000 later and still not very impressed with the acceleration increase that you've obtained. Been there, done that.......

[maraudernkc]

JoeB, check these Ford Motorsports mufflers. I have the Cobra manifolds and X pipe and that is what I am going to use for mufflers.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=13688


I need some advice. I have a trilogy car with stock exhaust. I'm looking to get a louder, more throaty sound (not too loud) from the exhaust. Two options I am considering are, resonator-delete tips, or Magna flow's. Any suggestions? TIA

[tmac1337]

It's raining again lsod sos fo

[AzMarauder]

I'd like to join in here........

Would someone please point me to the part numbers... or the site... etc. for these Cobra Manifolds and X pipe?

When we say Cobra manifolds do we mean the OEM manifolds that came off the 03/04 Cobras? Are they that much better than the stock MM's?

Or...
Are we talking about Cobra Headers... shortie type from Ford?


I haven't dragged my old Cobra H pipe off my former '03 Cobra under the Marauder yet. (that will happen tomorrow as I have the MM up on jack stands in the garage) However, just eye balling it, it doesn't look compatible.

The Cobra also bolted up differently to the cats... the driver's side was a ball and socket fitting and the passenger side was a PITA metal gasket and fitting thing.

So my assumption is... if we are talking REAL Cobra anything... then it won't work with the MM's factory cat setup and something has to be changed.

Finally... I noticed the MM has 4 O2 sensors. How sensitive are they? On my '01 Cobra.. a Bassani catted X pipe would cause a check engine light to come on. I had to go to a Mil Eliminator to shut down the back two O2 sensors.

The '03 Cobra's back two O2s were shut down by the chip.

Does the same problem exist with the MM?

JoeB... not to hijack your thread.... sorry.........

The one mod I worry about the most on the MM IS the exhaust. I would like a little more note than it has now... but I do NOT want it loud. That was one trail I got down with my Cobra... (and Cobras by image need loud anyway) that I do not want to go down here. Sadly, once you buy it, install it, you own it. If you don't like it, you have to pay more money to change it.

Joe.. do you live near any other MM owners that modified exhausts? You could get a ride in one of theirs and see. The sound from outside isn't as critical (IMHO) as the sound inside. That takes a ride at different speeds to get a feel for.

[tmac1337]

They are talking about the kit DR sells.

[tmac1337]

do do dod odo dodod o

[tmac1337]

Jimmy Crack Corn..................

[tmac1337]

obi won conobi dod dod dod

[AzMarauder]

They are talking about the kit DR sells.
Tmac... if you have that kit do you have any pictures of it?

Where I am going with this is... I have a friend who has take off 03 Cobra OEM Manifolds. If these are the same as DR is using then I could save myself some coinage.

[HwyCruiser]

FWIW, there's a bunch of pics of the cobra exhaust kit in the gallery.

A link to a short video of DR's cobra exhaust and Magnaflows:

click here (http://www.crownvic.us/~hwycruiser/marauder/videos/Exhaust tone short.wmv)

What Billy said about sound quality is true, but it's not too far off when I play it - maybe it will give you a ballpark feel.

[BillyGman]

[QUOTE=tmac1337]I respect you guys and all, but this is getting tiresome. If you have a personal experience with a vendor, NAME THE VENDOR, no hearsay nonsense, but personal experience. We all have a right to know if you have first hand information. QUOTE]

Even if somebody cared to do that, it isn't allowed here. So I think you should know that before instructing people about this. And BTW, I hope that you're not refering to anything that I've stated here in this thread, because I wasn't refering to any particular vendor in this thread whatsoever. I was refering to some mods as compared to others based on MY own experience with my own Marauder."This whole thread is suspect" you say? Sounds like for some reason you're taking this kinda personal, no? I don't know why that would be.

I for one was NOT aiming anything at any vendor here in this thread. I was simply talking about little this and that mods as compared to forced induction. That's all. And I also happened to list what my recommendation was based on my choice. I never stated that it was the only choice of forced induction either. So maybe you should take your own advice about "hearsay" or about calling people by name, and list what members that you were talking about and accusing. Because if that list includes me, then your accusations are false.

I was speaking of an assessment being needed of peoples' expectations of performance for thier Marauders, and suggesting that they keep their expectations realistic about the smaller and less expensive modifications. Otherwise, they're expectations might not ever be met by spending $$ on bazillion smaller mods as opposed to a big mod such as forced induction. So my comments were all about the mistakes I feel that I MYSELF have made in the past concerning modifications strategies and choices, and about what I would do had I to do it all over again.

[BillyGman]

Talk to him on the phone for 5 minutes and you can tell he is an honest business man. He neve shoveled a bunch of nonsense at me about how much he spent on R&D so he could line his pockets. What you see is what you get!

TMAC, here above^ is a quote from your post in another thread. You instruct people on this thread to stop beating around the bush and say what vendor they were refering to, and that "people have a right to know" ....but yet you haven't stated in your above quote exactly what vendor that you were talking about in that other thread concerning his statements about "research and development, and about "lining their pockets". A bit of a contradiction, no? Why didn't you state who it was that you yourself were talking about in that other thread? Perhaps it's time to retract your provoking statements and suggestions to an other member here in this thread, uh?

[Bradley G]

With almonds?:D

Bradley G


Oh, and by the way, the Procharger kit car that Maraudernkc is using has the cobra exhaust, and I'll bet a Hershey Bar it will blow away a Trilogy Car!

[bugsys03]

I need some advice. I have a trilogy car with stock exhaust. I'm looking to get a louder, more throaty sound (not too loud) from the exhaust. Two options I am considering are, resonator-delete tips, or Magna flow's. Any suggestions? TIA


Joe-I have the DR cobra exhaust with stock mufflers and love the sound which changes probably more than you would think, a totally different tone with the x-pipe. Not too loud,just a nice rumble. I think aftermarket mufflers are too loud but that is my personal preference. Just thought I would actually answer the question that started the thread. In my opinion you will need to retune your car after this mod as it will definitely change your power band.

My advice to mmmmmmmmmmmmmrauder, if you cant chirp the tires from a dead stop with the mods you have get rid of it, its a dog. :bigcry:

[JFB]

Bugsy03,

Thanks for answering my question. Jeez.....Talk about hi-jacking someones thread !!!!

[RoyLPita]

Joe, I like the sound of the mufflers on Ghost03's MM. PM him for details.

[mpearce]

I need some advice. I have a trilogy car with stock exhaust. I'm looking to get a louder, more throaty sound (not too loud) from the exhaust. Two options I am considering are, resonator-delete tips, or Magna flow's. Any suggestions? TIA
JoeB,

If it were me trying to get that sound you described, I'd get the Kooks Headers, and leave eveything else behind it stock. That way you kill 2 birds with one stone...you pick up some HP, and you pick up a good sound. But thats just me.

-Mat

[mpearce]

(I went with 4.30 and didn't get enough get-up-n-go)
Are you serious about this?

Did you get a chip and a tune for those gears?

I got a superchip tune and 4:10's, I can break them loose every single time.

I'd immagine with 4:30's and a tune it would be even better....no?

-Mat

[BillyGman]

I wasn't able to break the tires loose with my marauder from a dead punch on a consistent basis in the summer time, until I put the 4.56 gears in the car. Even with the 4.10's in there and a chip the car wouldn't do that, unless the temperatures were below 50 degrees outside (the tire rubber doesn't grab the asphalt as well in the cold). Ofcourse the car always broke the tires loose if I used the brake pedal too, but all Marauders can do that right from the factory.

[Smokie]

I wasn't able to break the tires loose with my marauder from a dead punch on a consistent basis in the summer time, until I put the 4.56 gears in the car. Even with the 4.10's in there and a chip the car wouldn't do that, unless the temperatures were below 50 degrees outside (the tire rubber doesn't grab the asphalt as well in the cold). Ofcourse the car always broke the tires loose if I used the brake pedal too, but all Marauders can do that right from the factory.Billy is difficult to understand why there is such a wide range of variations on the tire burning issue, Temperatures below 50 are very rare where I live especially in the daytime hours. My car did not burn rubber when I bought it...period. After it was flashed by Dennis it started burning rubber under all conditions and temperatures...I do not mean using the brake to hold the car in place...just punching it did it.

The reason I just bought new larger tires than OEM is because I could not launch the car above idle at the track without loosing traction, I am not saying these things to be boastful, but because I don't understand why there are such major differences. One of reasons I have never considered changing gears or converter is because my car can roast the tires, that is why my focus has been limited to increasing the power output of the engine and now buying bigger stickier tires to keep from spinning on takeoff.:)

[BillyGman]

Smokie, I know you aren't boasting. I wouldn't ever think that about you. I know that you're simply sharing information like I am. I dunno why these things are either. What about your 60' times when your car was stock? With the stock gears I was floundering in 2.0 second 60' times at the track and 0-60MPH times on the street of 7.0 seconds in the warm weather measuring with the G-meter on the street.

I didn't get into the 1.9 range with the 60' times at the dragstrip until I had the 4.56's gears, and ofcourse I'm in the 1.6's consistently now, but that's because of the S/Cer.

[mpearce]

In case anyone was wondering, or questioning anything about my pervious statement...

"Break loose" to ME means exactly that. From a dead punch, a few squealey rotations as I move forward. It happens every single time.

"Roasting" from a dead punch - no. My car does not just sit there and spin from a dead punch.

Thats for S/C cars.

So back to the muffler/exhaust question...

-Mat

[Amsoil_Dealer]

In case anyone was wondering, or questioning anything about my pervious statement...

From a dead punch, a few squealey rotations as I move forward. It happens every single time.

So back to the muffler/exhaust question...

-Mat

Like Mat says, I agree this is of topic. But "a few squealey rotations as I move forward" is exactly what you want for a perfect launch.

Don