budget exhaust

micah_jones

Registered User
I need parts for a budget exhaust as soon as possible. I am buying online so links would be greatly appreciated. I dont need new pipes I dont think, just the resonator, mufflers, and maybe cats, whatever you guys recommend. They need to be as cheap as possible, but still decent quality. I dont want it to be super loud but I want it to add power and still sound nice. I definitely dont wanna be heard from really far away though.
 
replace your resonator with a dual in/single out unit. cheap, and effective. get a magnaflow or something like that, they are a tube core with fiberglass around it. flows smoother than say a flowmaster with baffles. your stock rear mufflers really dont present much of a restriction, but for sound, you can put wahtever yu want on there. if you go with another fiberglass core, the sound will be very quiet, and if you go with a baffled, you'll get a more tuned, louder note.

my advice, stay away from turbo style mufflers. they are a cheap rolled case design and tend to sound like a donkeys arse.

a good fiberglass muffler is flowtech raptors. get em at oreilly auto. cheap, and have a very good sound to them.
 
if you can weld....
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/tlmtube04/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=
Looks like he's out of 3".

I have no resonator, 2.5" modified stock cats and a 3" mid-pipe out to stock mufflers.
I don't know what the big deal is about having no resonator, it sounds fine at all cruise speeds little louder, but nothing ear bending. Wot is loud, but not ricey.
I probably got another 40-50 hp with my whole setup, stock tune still, its running better now, has about 50 miles on it.

paul
 
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Arent the stock pipes good for now? I read the resonator is the main thing that is restricting. I want it to be a little louder but not ricey so what mufflers and resonators are good? Also what cats?
 
I probably got another 40-50 hp with my whole setup....

That sounds awfully optimistic to me :rolleyes:

Here's a link for a decent price resonator.

http://supercoupeperformance.com/partBrowser.aspx?partId=151

Or for duals...

http://supercoupeperformance.com/partBrowser.aspx?partId=155

Cats...not cheap but it's what I'm running on mine....

http://supercoupeperformance.com/partBrowser.aspx?partId=142

As far as mufflers go buy some cheap muffler from your local autoparts store like sinhumane was saying, it should do ya just fine.

Goodluck! :D
 
That sounds awfully optimistic to me :rolleyes:

Here's a link for a decent price resonator.

http://supercoupeperformance.com/partBrowser.aspx?partId=151

Or for duals...

http://supercoupeperformance.com/partBrowser.aspx?partId=155

Cats...not cheap but it's what I'm running on mine....

http://supercoupeperformance.com/partBrowser.aspx?partId=142

As far as mufflers go buy some cheap muffler from your local autoparts store like sinhumane was saying, it should do ya just fine.

Goodluck! :D

Those cats are way too much unfortunately. Can i get away with stock cats or are they restricting too? I just wanna free it up and get some more power and also allow for an OD SC pulley in the future.
 
personally, i used a welded case style resonator, baffled inside. its a flowmaster knockoff. dual 2.25 in, single 2.5 out, used stock pipe, left the cats alone, and put flowtech raptor mufflers on the end with turndowns in the stock location. looks stock, slightly more audible and gave the car a little more responsiveness.

if i had it to do again, i would delete the kitties with straight downpipes... but a future project may change that. ;)
 
personally, i used a welded case style resonator, baffled inside. its a flowmaster knockoff. dual 2.25 in, single 2.5 out, used stock pipe, left the cats alone, and put flowtech raptor mufflers on the end with turndowns in the stock location. looks stock, slightly more audible and gave the car a little more responsiveness.

if i had it to do again, i would delete the kitties with straight downpipes... but a future project may change that. ;)

Links to where all this stuff can be purchased?
 
I would leave the stock mufflers alone. They will flow enough as Ford actually put thought into them. If you are going budget that will save you some bucks. Put your money in 21/4" down tubes, cats or no cats, your choice. Install a dual 21/4" in and single outlet resonator to match your existing pipe. Will be a fairly quite system and remove the two biggest restrictions. The resonator and the stock down tubes with horrible cats. I usually dont give out advice on exhaust because no two people seem to agree on it:rolleyes:

Ken
 
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http://www.mandrelexhaustsystems.com/servlet/the-251/89-dsh-95-THUNDERBIRD-EXHAUST-TUBING/Detail


No need for tank upgrade. It will come with the diff to muffler pipes its just not pictured.


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I would leave the stock mufflers alone. They will flow enough as Ford actually put thought into them. If you are going budget that will save you some bucks. Put your money in 21/4" down tubes, cats or no cats, your choice. Install a dual 21/4" in and single outlet resonator to match your existing pipe. Will be a fairly quite system and remove the two biggest restrictions. The resonator and the stock down tubes with horrible cats. I usually dont give out advice on exhaust because no two people seem to agree on it:rolleyes:

Ken

This is what I wanted to do, And would advise people on a budget to just toss the stock cats and put some high flow cats in there. And get a dual in single out resonator and be done with it. Leave the stock system past the stock resonator, the stock mufflers can support stock to mild power.

To the original author type SUMMITRACING.COM on the address bar and look for a Magnaflow dual in 2.25", Single 2.50", Then look for the cheapest high flow cats there. Magnaflow cats will probably come up 2.25" if possible.
Those are the choke point on the system, leave the stock muffers unless they are rotted out.
 
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Would these cats work? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MPE-53005/



EDIT: Also, is a resonator essentially just a muffler? Or is there something different about it. I cant seem to find any dual 2.25 in and 2.5 out resonators anywhere. :(

Yep those cats will do. I had them on my car and will now use them on my other car.

Yeah its a muffler.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MPE-12258/
MagnaFlow 12258 - MagnaFlow Performance Mufflers
Muffler, 2.50 in. Inlet/Dual 2.25 in. Outlet, Stainless Steel, Natural, Each

It is reversable so dont worry about the in out confusion.
 
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So I am just looking for a dual 2.25 into single 2.5 muffler basically?

EDIT: one more question, since they are more common could I buy a single 2.5 in, dual 2.25 out and put it in backwards?


They are reversible but get one as long as its a dual on one side and single on the other, and you are good.

Ideally you want the 2.25x2 and the single to be 2.5" to match to the stock system.

I changed the link so review and make sure you are getting the right one.
 
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They are reversible but get one as long as its a dual on one side and single on the other, and you are good.

Ideally you want the 2.25x2 and the single to be 2.5" to match to the stock system.

I changed the link so review and make sure you are getting the right one.

I understand what sizes I need, but I didnt know if they could be reversed. So this one would be a nice fit, right? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLO-9425422/

Also, are new downpipes needed or can I just replace the cats? My budget for parts is only about 250 so I am worried I wont be able to get everything I need.
 
I understand what sizes I need, but I didnt know if they could be reversed. So this one would be a nice fit, right? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLO-9425422/

Also, are new downpipes needed or can I just replace the cats? My budget for parts is only about 250 so I am worried I wont be able to get everything I need.

I would stay with magnaflow for the resonator, I gave you a link up top. They are a straight thru design. and are reversable. The Flowmasters are not. Look at the description of the item. The magnaflow will say reversable for custom application.

You have to bring those items to an exhaust shop (Resonator and two cats) unless you know how to weld. They will custom bend the pipes, assuming the shop will cut off your cats which is somewhat illegal in some states. You are better of cutting the cats and resonator off yourself at your house and drive or tow the car to the shop and have them put the new stuff, that way they are not breaking any laws. The car will be loud and cops will come after you if you are not careful.
SCP, SuperCoupePerformance.com Sells down pipes too if you want to bring that with you to the shop. $250 will not be enough to get the job done IMO unless you are fabricating the stuff yourself.
 
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