Hey guys,
I know most of you have some kind of exhaust header upgrade; I also want to do that next and get rid of the egg skillets currently coming out of the block...
But what do I have my mechanic do about the two sensors (before the on the cast iron header) after a new set of BBK or something similar are installed? What have all of you connoisseurs done with them?
The shorty headers (probably BBK's) will be bolted up to the stock y-pipe (I'm not going to go further then just headers till after college... I already have a 40 series ler put on, so I'm looking forward to the benefits of headers.
I'm looking for whatever would be the easiest and cheapest option...
I've tried digging something up on here but haven't found anything specific enough...
P.S.
Also, any one of you been able to adjust your 28 year old throttle cable so it's not so hard... I've read on CoolCats that this is a common problem with these cars...... I'll have my mechanic check that out too eventually.... maybe it won't have to be replaced...just re-adjusted? I hope..
These are all just little things I want remedied, my car is clean otherwise....
Thanks,
Chris
Aftermarket headers or stock tubular Mustang (headers) won't bolt up to the stock Y-Pipe. You should buy an H-pipe then have the rest of the exhaust finished with new mid pipes to the muflers.. Oterwise, just wait til you can afford to do it all. The two sensors are the O2 sensors. They need to be installed. When converting from the cast iron exhaust manifolds to headers, one usually installs an H or X-Pipe, which has provisions for those sensors, although you may have to have the harness lengthened a few inches. No big deal.
ok, I understand, thanks. The next thing then will be to check the framing beneath the car to see if it will allow for an h or x pipe (probably will).
It will. Most all of the members here with a 5.0 have aftermarket Fox Stang headers (of some kind or another) and the aftermarket X or H pipe. I found an H-Pipe on Ebay, brand new, three piece design, for about $140 shipped to the door, and they let you tell them how you want it.......smog tube/no smog tube, O2 sensor bungs or not.......Fit like a glove, but then, you'll still need the pipes from the H oir X to the lers. I used Stang mid pipes there, but the passenger side had to be lengthened.
Right, right. After all, the cougars are 8 inches longer in wheelbase then it's fox body counterparts (extra tubing will have to be added to any fox exhaust config). I already antited the pipe extension that was added when the shorter ler was added some time ago.
So, down the road, I'd be investing in: headers, H pipe with 02 sensor holes, needed tubing for reaching the cat back, and lastly a dual cat back.
What are the Smog tubes? And their function?
I'll probably just get one of those combo kits... and add in the headers.
Smog tube = pipe from smog pump to cats.
can the smog tube (assuming my car has one, haven't looked yet) be left unattached if I run catless? I'd like to rid of the cats obviously if I'm redoing the entire exhaust system later on...
Most catless aftermarket H & X pipes include a provision for hooking up the smog tube, even though without the cats its not really doing anything, emissions wise. If your exhaust system doesn't allow for hooking up the smog tube, I'd recommend getting a smog pump eliminator and deleting the whole system. But if you decide to leave it just dumping into the air, I don't think it would hurt anything. Haven't tried it though.
I deleted all my smog equipment, front the smog pump to th cats........all gone.If you get an H-Pipe with the tube, just crimp it or weld it shut. I had it left off of mine. As I stated, they wait for you to buy it before they build it. Cheap, too. Cheaper than most I have seen, and, the three piece design allows for perfect fitment.
Can u refer the ebay seller, vinnie? Ill take a look tomorrow..
This is the one.......It fit great, no issues at all.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Mustang-Off-Road-H-Pipe-1979-1993-USA-MADE-CNC-MANDREL-BENDS-/271923865068?hash=item3f4fece5ec&vxp=mtr
I have this H-pipe: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-640725/overview/year/1989/make/ford/model/mustang
It's been on my Thunderbird for the past 8 years. Fit like a glove and even cleared the column shift linkage fine.
Thanks for the referrals, guys. As I'm looking into what hardware will needed, would you guys suggest 02 sensor extensions and full exhaust hanging hardware? Would fresh 02 sensors be needed as well, or will my 28 year old ones be okay? Again, this thread is for my own reference for when I decide to pull the trigger on the exhaust overall (which I'm dying to do).
I'm putting together a cart on Late Model Restoration, and I'm thinking the flowmaster dump and h-pipe combo and BBK headers are most likely what I'll stick to.
Thanks
I'd get new O2 sensors and the O2 sensor extender harness. They do go bad with age so new ones can't hurt. I would do full tail pipes as well. I have 2.5 inch mandala bent Dyno max tails on mine for an 87 to 93 Mustang LX. They fit fine.
yesh, full pipes coming out of the rear would be dope too. It all sounds good quite frankly
My tail pipes are also mandrel bent 2 1/2 inch pipes (the whole exhaust is 2 1/2) with Flowmaster lers. I got my Bosch O2 sensors from Ebay super cheap.
If you order an H-Pipe, it will come with the hardware. I'm a full exhaust kind of guy. Dumps sound great, but the drone and excessive noise under the car makes a long drive a little uncomfortable, but, that is the decision of the owner. As far as the O2 harness, I extended mine a few inches, but the extenders are a simple and good idea. I lengthened mine before I knew they existed years ago.
Thanks a bunch guys
For a visual reference 2.5" Dynomax Mustang LX tail pipes will fit fine. A little length needs to be added to make them reach the bumper but that's it.
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa33/thunderjet302/Thunderbird%20web/DSCN3931_zpsqffwvdso.jpg) (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/thunderjet302/media/Thunderbird%20web/DSCN3931_zpsqffwvdso.jpg.html)
great looking car; thanks for the pic.
Where did you find adding extension pipe was the easiest?
At the end of the tail pipes. Just make sure you order a set with regular aluminized pipe instead of stainless tails.
For the love of GOD dude please don't get Flowmasters and run dumps. Trust me on this. The resonation will drive you insane.
Now...with stock gearing, maybe not so bad. And if you had cats, it might even be reasonable.
But say goodbye to hearing any bass at all out of your stereo, and if you have a headache and have to drive it, that headache will worsen LOL.
Borla ProXS will be reasonable, and will sound great to those around you (have confirmed this myself).
Mac's square-shaped welded chambered lers (they look like a "square Flowmaster" you might say) also roar very well without a stupid amount of drone. I may try these as well.
A friend's '89 Mustang hatch has 4.10 gears, a full GT40 setup, BBK shorties, and I think just an off-road H-pipe. It MIGHT be a MAC ProChamber. But the lers are those Mac chambered ones. (The ProChamber deepens the sound and does le it just a little. I can confirm that from experience as well on a third unrelated car). But this Mustang, from the outside, is just a guttural roar with very little metallic ringing or hum/drone. Especially between 2500 and 3000 RPM. I'm really surprised at how tolerable it all is. There is obviously no comparing a 'Stang and TBird/Cat in the road/wind/exhaust noise inside department. It's not anything groundbreaking, but it's BETTER than my red cougar was with catless, Flowmasters and dumps.
I don't know what happened last year. I just snapped and couldn't deal with the drone anymore. When I was 18 (9 years ago) I thought the setup was awesome. I also had a 220-horse, 2.73 gear, 16 second 1/4 mile car that was a pro-street big block in my head. Context is important LOL
I will stay away from the dumps. I can see how they may produce more noise then "character"
Dumps get old real quick. Trust me ;).
Whatever.......
Truthfully, I am tired of mine to.
Don't spend on extensions, just buy new sensors for something that came with an HO, like a Mark VII or a Mustang. They'll be the correct length already.
Just say no to dumps; people only get them as a cop out from running a tail that they have to work for, to save money or time. If you don't have cats its worse, just because of all the CO pooling under the car at stops. There's a reason that the law says your exhaust has to exit at the perimeter of the vehicle, and unlike so many other laws, this one is for safety.
Another question: whats the deal with the cheaper non-chrome headers; the ones that are just painted. They get a lot hotter then chromed ones? Should I stay away from those in the future..?