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View Full Version : Wow.....rant



MaDMerc
01-30-2015, 04:46 PM
So I just got my engine back in the Marauder a few weeks ago. When pulling it I noticed that it only had one cat on each side. The cat opening seemed to be larger than the rest of the exhaust so I thought they might have been high flow aftermarket cats. Which bugged me because of the size difference, but I just thought the previous owner didn't know what they were doing. So when putting the engine back in, and hooking the exhaust back up I noticed I lost one of the mid-pipe gaskets. I just said screw it and put it back together so I could drive it until I got time to get the gasket. So fast forward 2 weeks, I went to the store got the gasket for the marauder, got home, and low and behold it didn't even come close to fitting. It was the oval gasket and my flanges were round. So I measured the ID of the one original gasket I still had and it was 2.050" on the mic!! Which turns out that is the gasket for a crown vic!! I'm so pissed. Who ever had the car before me must have had nice exhaust, pulled it off, and put on some *****y 2" crown vic exhaust with the some larger cats, and larger mufflers.

So now I think I have 2.25" manifold opening going to a 2" pipe to a 2.25" cat, then back to a 2" pipe, then back to a 2.25" muffler then out the factory 2.25" tail pipes. How beautifully ghetto.

Luckily I got a good deal on the car because it had a knock and from the looks of it it had nitrous ran though it due to the MAF wires stripped of their insulation, multiple ground leads in the trunk, misc. holes in the interior plastics which looked to be mounting holes for switches. The the car was also missing 2 bellhousing bolts, and there was lots of RTV on the coolant valley tube, and on the front cover. If you have ever built a mod motor before you know that the front cover only requires RTV in certain locations, and none on the coolant tubes. Which means whoever owned this car last didn't have any clue or look at any sort of manual when messing with the engine.

RF Overlord
01-30-2015, 05:20 PM
Glad to hear you're restoring her to her former glory... :up:

MaDMerc
02-01-2015, 04:23 PM
Some pics. Can't believe this crap. I wanted gears next, but now it looks like i'll be getting exhaust.

Comin' in Hot
02-01-2015, 05:45 PM
It wasn't the owner before you, it's that the gasket is always listed wrong. The gasket from a crown vic is the oem gasket for the mid pipe.

Zack
02-01-2015, 05:48 PM
What is pictured will work fine and not affect performance.

justbob
02-01-2015, 06:56 PM
That is the lousy stock exhaust minus two cats and new muffs.

Comin' in Hot is correct. Most auto part stores list a $12.00 gasket (each) and it's wrong. Just order the $3.00 CV one.

Get used to the wrong parts crap, even Ford doesn't know what they built sometimes..


Builder Of Badassery

MaDMerc
02-02-2015, 03:21 PM
So the stock marauder exhaust had the 2" pipe? I thought it was 2.25" for the marauder and 2" for the GM and CV.

justbob
02-02-2015, 04:27 PM
It has been a long time since I've seen stock exhaust. I can tell you the H-pipe on there is OEM. And yes, all the piping goes up and down in sizing, I believe all the way to 1 7/8" on parts of the tail pipe I thought.


Builder Of Badassery

chief455
02-02-2015, 05:06 PM
Mine was purchased equally ghetto. rear cats cut out and oddball mufflers welded in.
As stated, it woks and I doubt I'll have seat feeling power gains when I finally put full new exhaust on. It even sounds great!
I'd fix any leaks and still install gears.

MaDMerc
02-02-2015, 05:16 PM
Mine was purchased equally ghetto. rear cats cut out and oddball mufflers welded in.
As stated, it woks and I doubt I'll have seat feeling power gains when I finally put full new exhaust on. It even sounds great!
I'd fix any leaks and still install gears.

Mine actually sounds really nice, minus the leak. I got the gaskets I need to fix the leak so I might keep it for a while

I just found out it's 2" from the header to the muffler and 2.25 from the muffler back from the factory. Thats dumb. I have a friend who has his own custom shop and is handy with a welder. I might just find some used cobra manifolds/ midpipe to hack up and make it 2.5 from the header back with some magnaflow cats. Seems cheaper than going the $1500 SW route. I paid less for forged pistons, rods and machine work combined.

chief455
02-02-2015, 05:24 PM
Mine actually sounds really nice, minus the leak. I got the gaskets I need to fix the leak so I might keep it for a while


And still do the gear swap = instant joy :banana:

MaDMerc
02-02-2015, 07:45 PM
And still do the gear swap = instant joy :banana:

Right on. I have owned lots of mustangs from fox bodies, sn95 5.0 and 4.6, based, and new edge 2v and 4v cars, some with nitrous or blowers, and gears are one of the first things I do to any car I get if it hasn't been done already.

I actually think I have some 4.10's sitting in the garage that I took out of my 95 cobra before I traded it in for the Marauder. They whined a little bit so I kind of want a new set to be sure they don't whine.

fastblackmerc
02-03-2015, 05:39 AM
The stock MM exhaust is a mix of 2", 2.25" and 2.5" pipe.