Newbie exhaust questions

[gdsqdcr]

I am looking for opinions on exhaust. *Yes, I have searched bit am not finding the answers that I seek. * *

From my readings, the stock exhaust is fairly non-restricitve and is good for some decent horsepower output. *That is good to know. So I know I go down the path of sound quality. The stock exhaut, when you get on it, sounds sad. *There is no growl or roar to indicate that I am trying to unleash the beast. *When I start her, I is a very suttle purr and gives nothing away of the true potential.*

With all of that said, I want the Marauder to give a hint of it's power when you start the motor. *At idle and cruise, a quiet rumble is what I am looking for. *Wide open throttle, gloves are off, every one should know that is the Marauder. *The question now becomes, how do I do that? *

Some folks have suggested to remove the second set of cats. *I am a smog check state and nor sure how this will affect my emissions, therefore I *not excited about doing that. Others have suggested to remove the resonater. *Great, where is that in the exhaust line? *I quickly looked but did not catch it. *This weekend I will spend more time under the car to learn. *A local exhaust shop suggested a set of Flowmaster 40's but through reading, it seems that those have a drone at highway speed; wife, kids and I will not approve of that. *Then there is the X-pipe, sorry for the novice question ... How is this benefiical? *Is it? *If this is put in, what are my gains and losses? *Big or small advantage over the stock H-pipe? *

I also know that there are high flow cats out there. Is this truelly an advantage for this motor? *How much back pressure does this motor need? *

I am not new to the world of exhaust. My old toys were Taurus SHO's. *I had a Dynomax exhaust for a bit. *Sounded like I irratated beehive. *Ultimately settled for a Borla exhaust. Sound was awesome. *I could start her up, folks would turn heada but since the initial rumble was gone, they could not tell where it came from. WOT, folks new
The SHO was alive.

Thanks for the inputs!

Anthony ***********

[Hotrauder]

Unfortunately the worlds best and most "Grand Exhaust" is no longer available....then, the ultimate was the answer, now....its to late. I loved when "LIFE WAS GRAND" now...not so much. However, life will be grand for me again in Commerce, Ga. this weekend.:D:beer: Ya'll come on down.. TAF will be on the scene. :2thumbs:Dennis:burnout:

[dohc324ci]

I have a set of Flowmaster 40s and isnt bad some drone but not obnoxious. The wife and kids dont complained about them. If you could make our next GTG you could listen first hand. Sound doesnt translate well over cyberspace so I wouldnt base your impression off that. But do a youtube search you'll find plenty.

Ive thought about:
Magnaflows
FlowPros
Corsa Reds/BLK
Complete SS works header/exhaust- $$ or just exhaust with FRPP shorties (Glenn had a thread going nice gains)

I want to go 2.5" with the new motor so will consider this one of my next mods. I wouldnt neuter your cats if your worried about sound and smog.

Congrats on the SB and good luck.

[ctrlraven]

If you want some sound without doing a whole bunch get some Aero Turbine 2525 series mufflers with Meg's res-delete tips or alike tips and remove the 2nd set of cats.

I had Flowmaster 40 series mufflers before, replaced those with the Aero Turbine's and people that normal hear my car could tell the difference it was a lot louder when I was on it but yet still quiet at idle and cruising. I've always been a Flowmaster guy but after getting the Aero's I'll never buy anything else. I've even heard Aero's on imports and thought "that doesn't sound half bad actually" lol.

This is what it sounds like on a warm startup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZCQgWuSEhs
aZCQgWuSEhs

Cold startup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1sRPbYJ8_k
e1sRPbYJ8_k

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Have you heard the stock exhaust from the outside, with someone else driving, when they get on it? Our stock exhaust is LOUD under heavy throttle, for a stock exhaust. You can hear it going all the way down my long street when someone else is driving. It is deceptive because the stock exhaust is so well-tuned that it seems quieter inside the car, than it is to bystanders. This to me, is the best way to have an exhaust tuned, quiet enough not to annoy the driver, but just loud enough that bystanders can tell it has some power to it. I do not like the aftermarket exhausts I've heard on these cars, for the most part. I don't want my Marauder to sound like a dual exhaust pickup truck, there are plenty of those to hear out where I live. I would not mess with the cats. Gaining some noise and maybe a tenth in the quarter mile isn't worth ruining the federal emissions compliance of such a new, nice car.

Steve

[jonroe]

Steve,

You make a great point about the stock exhaust. When I went to Borlas the change was subtle but maintained the same basic approach of quiet rumble inside and roar outside. The volume is about the same as stock but the rumble and roar is just in a slightly lower frequency register. I hit what I wanted with the Borlas.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Thank you, thank you very much. I used to build cars to be as loud as possible when I was younger but what I learned is that, no bystander is going to care what your car sounds like. A loud car is just a huge annoyance to 99.9% of people, and a loud exhaust makes it a lot easier to get a ticket because any time you hit the gas, you are announcing that you are speeding to cops. An informed enthusiast that likes Marauders, will like them regardless of whether the exhaust is stock or not. Ok I am done!

[gdsqdcr]

All

Thank you for the intel on the exhaust.

I have listened to the exhaust with someone else driving. It does not do it for me. The Aero's ... hmmm, not sure. I would love to hear an actual Marauder with a Borla. Can not find that on Youtube.

I do not need the car as loud as possible. That is annoying, irritating and aggravating to me, oh and everyone else.

[fastblackmerc]

Here is my GRAND exhaust build, complete with sound clip.

http://www.motorcitymarauders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2138&highlight=rack

[MM_BKK]

Thank you, thank you very much. I used to build cars to be as loud as possible when I was younger but what I learned is that, no bystander is going to care what your car sounds like. A loud car is just a huge annoyance to 99.9% of people, and a loud exhaust makes it a lot easier to get a ticket because any time you hit the gas, you are announcing that you are speeding to cops. An informed enthusiast that likes Marauders, will like them regardless of whether the exhaust is stock or not. Ok I am done!


+100

I wish I can get my car to sound like a stock Crown Vic. I just want my car to be all go and no sound.

I've experimented with 3 different exhaust systems in the last 12 months. I've found that it is very easy to get the car loud. I'm still working on getting my car quieter.

[fastblackmerc]

+100

I wish I can get my car to sound like a stock Crown Vic. I just want my car to be all go and no sound.

I've experimented with 3 different exhaust systems in the last 12 months. I've found that it is very easy to get the car loud. I'm still working on getting my car quieter.

The former GRAND man said "if you want to keep you car quiet, keep the factory exhaust setup."

[Marauder386]

... try the FRPP dual-modes like I have on the RoadPigs ... quiet until you hit WOT then they drop the waste gate inside, blow straight thru and sound great.


:cool4:

[MM_BKK]

The former GRAND man said "if you want to keep you car quiet, keep the factory exhaust setup."

For me, the stock system was not quiet enough.

I want my car to be as quiet or quieter than a stock Crown Vic or Town Car.

[gdsqdcr]

So I got the sound quality I was looking for. Spent alot of time listening to sound clips here and on Youtube. I had the X-pipe installed today. The sound register is a little deeper, just a slight change. So far happy with the quality and the price was cheap!

I know it will change when other air adjustment are made, but for now it will suffice.

Thanks!
Anthony

[Glenn]

The net has been in confict for years over the exhaust system question. I am nearly the only one who supports FRPP shorty headers vs the LT road gang who normally like to beat up on the shorty header folks. (See my Sig, it says it all). But, I posted professional dyno results on both the shorty and LT headers that indicated the LTs did not produce as much HP as many stated.

In summary, I would say LTs are best for the NA guys. Moderate non-forged SC engines (400-450 HP) will benefit very well with shorties. The forged SC high power engines over 475 HP will benefit from LTs. OEM stock internal engines are maxed out at 450 HP and should not be pushed over this limit or you are in the definite "blow zone".

The shorty headers from FRPP ('03 Cobra) will install easier then LTs and the total system will cost a great deal less. Note that the shorties will need a revised EGR valve relocation, but bolt up with no real issues. The shorties will match up to the Magnaflow Cobra X-Pipe (with two hi-flow CATS) #93335. But, they also will need a 4" extension welded into them in order to reach the MM's OEM mufflers.

The Shorties and X-pipe will increase the low growl of the engine and are louder, but NO drone. The OEM mufflers are fine with the OEM tips. If you go to after market mufflers you will get drone and more noise. The choice is yours. Remember more noise is not necessary more speed or faster.

So what X-pipe did you wind up installing on your MM.

Good luck with your system.

Glenn Ford :burnout:

[gdsqdcr]

It is a magnaflow X-pipe.

Glenn
I completely agree, noise is not necessary more speed or faster. Noise is usually just noise!

Thanks!
Anthony

[MrBluGruv]

The shorty headers from FRPP ('03 Cobra) will install easier then LTs and the total system will cost a great deal less. Note that the shorties will need a revised EGR valve relocation, but bolt up with no real issues. The shorties will match up to the Magnaflow Cobra X-Pipe (with two hi-flow CATS) #93335. But, they also will need a 4" extension welded into them in order to reach the MM's OEM mufflers.


I constantly see you mention this, and I am VERY interested in taking this path for both cost and ease of install reasons, but then I see talk that there's quite a bit of pipe fabbing and other small things that cause headaches. Could you elaborate on the EGR valve relocation? Also, I know you've mentioned before that it's not possible to mount to the stock h-pipe and continue the rest of the stock exhaust back, but where is the problem that keeps it from being possible?

[Glenn]

There must be a hundred+ posts on the FRPP shorty headers. Many with details and photos. The EGR mod required a different fitting for the header install. Not difficult. The E464 headers will not fit your OEM X-pipe. You will need the Magnaflow Cobra hi flow X-pipe (two CATS) #93335 for the headers to connect up and extend the X-pipe 4 inches to reach the OEM mufflers. It's not difficult, but a good Mustang shop should have no trouble doing it for you.

Glenn Ford :burnout:

[MrBluGruv]

that's the part that confuses me honestly, the "not connecting up". How so? will they not connect in the sense that they can't be bolted on by flange? if that's the case would it theoretically be doable by fabbing up connecting piping and welding? or is there something that I'm missing and completely don't understand?

I'll definately look for more info and pictures about the EGR relocation though. And luckily I only live about 20 minutes from Murillo Motorsports here in San Antonio so I got the 'stang shop aspect covered. :D

[Hooptie]

that's the part that confuses me honestly, the "not connecting up". How so? will they not connect in the sense that they can't be bolted on by flange? if that's the case would it theoretically be doable by fabbing up connecting piping and welding? or is there something that I'm missing and completely don't understand?

I'll definately look for more info and pictures about the EGR relocation though. And luckily I only live about 20 minutes from Murillo Motorsports here in San Antonio so I got the 'stang shop aspect covered. :DThe Xpipe will bolt to the manifolds but it will be 4" short of connecting to the stock mufflers. So some fabrication and welding will be needed.

[MrBluGruv]

now I'm more confused. :(

If the 4 inch gap between the back end of the h-pipe and the rest of the exhaust is the problem with fitment, how would keeping the stock h-pipe be any different than using the magnaflow x-pipe?

Also, did a search for shorty headers and just about everything related in terminology, all I got was either a flood of threads completely unrelated to the subject, or a thread also telling me to use the search because the topic had been covered in a previous point in time even from that. Did find some interesting stuff from WAAAAY back in the day when this site was new, but still not particularly useful to my questions at hand. The only thing I've found related was a thread on MCM about it.

[Glenn]

Your need the Magnaflow Cobra X-pipe to properly mate up to the Cobra shorty headers. The Cobra shorties will not mate up to the OEM MM X-pipe. Due to the fact that the Cobra has a shorter wheelbase the Cobra X-pipe needs to be lenghten 4" to match the increased wheelbase of the MM.

Glenn

[MrBluGruv]

ahh, mmk that makes sense now. Looking at the pictures I think this may be a stupid question, but is it the short length and strange angle that make it impractical to try fabbing connecting pipe between the shorties to the stock h-pipe? (also, seriously thank you for your patience here, this thread alone has cleared up a lot of stuff for me and headers, specifically the shorties.)

[massacre]

For some reason a lot of the other N/A 4Vs seem to sound better than the MMs. Personally I think it is the tips. That's why I'm dumping after the rear axle.

[ctrlraven]

We have a longer wheelbase than Mustangs, more pipe for exhaust to go through.

[MrBluGruv]

For some reason a lot of the other N/A 4Vs seem to sound better than the MMs. Personally I think it is the tips. That's why I'm dumping after the rear axle.

I personally prefer my 4v to the Mustang. Almost every Mustang I've heard sounds the same, but to me my Marauder sounds like a much older V8, which is why I like it so much. :)

[1time]

all i did was put in flowmasters 2chambers in place of my stock mufflers and left the rest alone it sounds great!!!!!!!!

[breeze]

yea thats what i have. 40series on the stock pipe...its a tad-bit louder than stock n has that flows rumble...i like it for stock...my X-pipe is gona have the ROAR!!!

[ctrlraven]

X-pipe is good for high flow aka straight thru mufflers such as Borla, Mangaflow, Aero.

H-pipe is good for chambered mufflers, makes more low end sound.

I'm taking about sound only, not performance aspects.

[breeze]

im leaning towards areos

[babbage]

http://www.mustangandfords.com/techarticles/mdmp_0904_2003_mercury_maraude r_exhaust_install/index.html

[MrBluGruv]

That article is intense, the numbers they made from EXTREMELY minor modifications is phenomenal. I mean, they're hitting numbers not that far from 300hp to the wheels, without even using headers!