Technical => Body/Appearance/Interior => Topic started by: Gary3072 on February 05, 2014, 07:20:20 PM
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: Gary3072 on February 05, 2014, 07:20:20 PM
I am trying to piece together an exhaust system from aftermarket Mustang parts and I realize the Tbird is a bit longer, so does anyone know how much longer it is from the shorty headers / h pipe to reach the lers if my lers are 19" in length (Flowmaster 42443's) ? Do the measurements change if you use long tubes with a shorty mid pipe ? I guess i'll be having to use extender pipes to reach the lers ?
Thanks very much for any help :bowdown:
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: vinnietbird on February 05, 2014, 11:32:13 PM
I would think, from personal experience, that you should install the headers and H-Pipe, then work back from there. I use BBK shorty headers, Pypes X-Pipe, and Mustang tail pipes. After I got most of it lined up and installed loosely, we built the rest. Better to measure those lengths on your car than to take somebody else's measurements. Too much can go wrong.
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: Gary3072 on February 05, 2014, 11:38:02 PM
The only reason im asking is because I don't have the privilege to access a lift to measure these things, so im trying to get it right from the start and just bring it to my local mechanic who can install it. He actually recommended long tube headers....Hedman 88360's come up as a direct fit
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on February 06, 2014, 12:31:51 AM
You'll have a hell of a time with long tubes. And I thought I told you this before, fit the headers, fit the H or X, hang the tails (which as I read recently will be proper length from Stinger), mount the Mustang mid-pipes, slip the lers onto the tails, prop them up in place with a jack stand or something and measure the gap. from the end of the mid-pipes to the inlet of the lers will be in the neighborhood of 4 inches, then you'll have to add so you've got enough to get into the ler 1 1/2 to 2 inches and over the mid pipes the same. So ballpark around 7 or 8 inches of pipe per side. That pipe will need to be bumped up to 2.5" inner diameter on the end that slips over the mid-pipes.
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: Gary3072 on February 06, 2014, 01:36:29 AM
Why are long tubes such a problem ? Is it the clearance underneath the car ?
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: Gary3072 on February 06, 2014, 01:39:00 AM
Why are long tubes such a problem ? Is it the clearance underneath the car ? Also are you saying I need a "Mid pipe" in addition to the "H PIpe" , or do I just need extenders from the H Pipe ?
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: vinnietbird on February 06, 2014, 07:58:48 AM
Long tubes can be a PITA to install. Shorties can be installed under the hood easily. Mid pipes are the pipes that fit between the lers and the h-Pipe. You will need to fit everything. As I stated before, just install the headers and H-pipe yourself, have the tail pipes ready for them, shops around here don't have them, they have to order them, then take the car to your local ler shop and let them do what they need to do. Just by going by somebody elses measurements may mess it up for you, and, on my car, the mid pipes are slightly bent to fit the car and to meet up with the ler in the proper location. Be patient and do it right. If money is an issue, then save it til you can do it right. Your mechanic should have a lift. let them do their job and that way you don't have pipes hanging too low, not fitting, and a mess of tubes under the car.
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: Gary3072 on February 06, 2014, 01:48:06 PM
The mechanic I go to did a great job with my current exhaust....very neat and clean work. It's just not what im looking for but all I could afford to do at the time without running obnoxious open manifolds around town. It's just the stock manifolds/ypipe/extensions/lers(dumped at axle).
Would a pair of flow tubes between the h and lers work, or would I still need more length ? http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=43800SS+01
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: vinnietbird on February 06, 2014, 02:04:35 PM
My flow tubes were longer than Stang tubes.
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: vinnietbird on February 06, 2014, 02:11:27 PM
If you buy the Stang pieces and they fit, great. if not, he could lengthen them easily.
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: thunderjet302 on February 06, 2014, 03:18:56 PM
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;428460
You'll have a hell of a time with long tubes. And I thought I told you this before, fit the headers, fit the H or X, hang the tails (which as I read recently will be proper length from Stinger), mount the Mustang mid-pipes, slip the lers onto the tails, prop them up in place with a jack stand or something and measure the gap. from the end of the mid-pipes to the inlet of the lers will be in the neighborhood of 4 inches, then you'll have to add so you've got enough to get into the ler 1 1/2 to 2 inches and over the mid pipes the same. So ballpark around 7 or 8 inches of pipe per side. That pipe will need to be bumped up to 2.5" inner diameter on the end that slips over the mid-pipes.
Quote from: vinnietbird;428472
Long tubes can be a PITA to install. Shorties can be installed under the hood easily. Mid pipes are the pipes that fit between the lers and the h-Pipe. You will need to fit everything. As I stated before, just install the headers and H-pipe yourself, have the tail pipes ready for them, shops around here don't have them, they have to order them, then take the car to your local ler shop and let them do what they need to do. Just by going by somebody elses measurements may mess it up for you, and, on my car, the mid pipes are slightly bent to fit the car and to meet up with the ler in the proper location. Be patient and do it right. If money is an issue, then save it til you can do it right. Your mechanic should have a lift. let them do their job and that way you don't have pipes hanging too low, not fitting, and a mess of tubes under the car.
+1 Just get all the stuff together and a 4 foot length of straight exhaust pipe the same size as the rest of the exhaust pipes you're using. Any exhaust shop can use the extra pipe to fill the space.
Your car has a column shifter correct? If so there is no way in hell long tube headers are going to fit.
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: vinnietbird on February 06, 2014, 03:27:43 PM
True. With a column shifter, no way. Maybe too tight even with a floor shifter with the AOD. I can't say for sure about that. I know with an AOD my first aftermarket H-Pipe was pretty tight. Now with the 5 speed, anything is good. My car was a floor shifted car from the factory, so it really helped with the swapping of headers, X-Pipe, and transmission. 100: bolt on....until AFTER the X-Pipe. LOL.
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on February 06, 2014, 03:49:18 PM
Quote from: Gary3072;428488
The mechanic I go to did a great job with my current exhaust....very neat and clean work. It's just not what im looking for but all I could afford to do at the time without running obnoxious open manifolds around town. It's just the stock manifolds/ypipe/extensions/lers(dumped at axle).
Would a pair of flow tubes between the h and lers work, or would I still need more length ? http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=43800SS+01
:facepalm: :shoothead THESE ARE THE MID-PIPES AND YOU NEED THEM, BUT MUSTANG PIPES AREN'T LONG ENOUGH, YOU HAVE TO EXTEND THEM SEVERAL INCHES! If I yell like this do you better understand? I feel like we went through this whole thing with you already, except that you've made me go Renzo much faster this time.
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: vinnietbird on February 06, 2014, 03:56:08 PM
Correct. The pipes behind the axle need to be extended if you use Stang pipes. The pipes after the H-Pipe must be extended. Our cars are longer in the middle and the rear. Do it right. take it to the shop, say..."Make the pipes functional, look good and go to the rear bumper.". After you say that, walk away until they call you.
Title: Body length measurements of the 88 thunderbird sport coupe ?
Post by: Gary3072 on February 10, 2014, 06:22:03 PM
Yes my car has the floor shifter with AOD....id probably go with shorties anyways