I just put an off-road Bassani X-pipe with a flowmaster cat back system. I'm not happy with it. I get a nice deep tone at low RPM's but under acceleration I'm getting a metal rapping sound. it almost sounds like glass packs if you know what I mean. I was told it is b/c of the off road x-pipe. I was told it was b/c of the x-pipe in general whether with or w/o cats. I have been told more crap that I care to talk about by non Mustang people. Ispoke with a rep at flowmaster over the phone, but he was such a jerk I just got off the phone...nothing but arrogance from him. Anyway, can anyone set me on the right path? What is the solution? Feel free to e-mail me if you want to hear it over the phone and I will gladly take my cell out there and give it a shot. this may sound good to some, but not to me.

 

I too have heard reports, as well as in person 'rasping' with the X-pipes in relation to the 4.6's. The X-pipes almost give the car an exotic/import sound as opposed to the H-pipe, as you noted that is not a "bad" thing but does take away from the low 'burble' of the V8, and is not to everyone taste.

I'm sure there are others on the board who can direct you better with a solution, but I think an H-pipe would help.

 

You are right. It does kind of resemble that annoying import gopher pipe thing. It's just not for me. Here's the thing, I wanted to get a new H-pipe that I saw advertised in MMFF magazine. It is made by Mac and is a pro-chamber with cats. I called Mac, but they told me it was so new that they haven't really started making them. Well, the thing sure looks like it's for sale in the ad they have in the magazine. They told me that I could pay them for it and when they get 9 more people to order they would make 10 at once and ship one to me....the lady said she could give me no time frame and wouldn't garantee anything this year. I mean come'on, give me a break!!!! Anyway, does it matter if the H-pipe is on or offroad and is there anyone out there that can recommend what would be the best h-pipe for performance and sound? Who is the best manufacurer or at least one that people can agree on?

 

I ran a VRS o/r X with flowmasters and it drove me crazy. Sounded worse than glasspacks. Swap mufflers to a magnaflow setup and you will fall in love.

 

yeah that stinks. i hate when you spend your hard earned money and then the manufacturer doesnt give you time of day. im not a real fan of flowmasters anyway. i like the mac on my 5.0 sounds really good. i have the O/R prochamber. was going to go with bassani midlengths for the headers, bassani x-pipe with cats, and borla catback for my wife 04. but ill prob change my mind by next summer anyway. hope you can get it resovled soon

 

sound is a preference. some people like X pipes with Flows, Alot don't. your only solution is to change your setup.

for you, i would more than likely change to an H pipe or prochamber, since thats the sound you are going for.

 

I had the X pipe but changed to the Pro Chamber H pipe and I like it a lot better.

 

The reason why is that xpipes are meant to be used with straight thru mufflers like magnaflow. If you swapped to an hpipe you would get the results that your wanting for the tone at wot. Although your gonna pay for it when your running 70-80 on the interstate. I had a 00 gt with hpipe and flows. I loved it personally .

 

Doesitmatter whetherthe H-pipe is off road? What can I expect as the difference between an H-pipe with or without cats? How would a magnaflow sound with my Bassani x-pipe?

 

If you get the Pro Chamber the cats will be taken out.

 

flows drone period. Its gonna be loud, its going to be that big burbbly (is that a word) mustang sound that everyone knows and loves.

I'm a huge fan of Dr. Gas x-pipes and magnaflows. Sound awesome together!

 

magnaflows with an x sound great.

as for an offroad h vs. a catted H, the offroad will be louder, it will have more exhaust smell, it will be cheaper, probably have more drone with the flows.

 

Mine was an offroad hpipe. Cats are always going to cut down on sound and some power. I am not sure exact #'s but the less restrictive the exhaust is the easier it is for the motor to push exhaust gas out relieving stress on the motor freeing up hp. If I had it to do over again I would go with bassani xpipe and magnaflows. If I am not mistaken they did a test on just the magnaflow cat back and it added like 13 rwhp. Thats a huge gain for a catback. One of my best friends has a 03 cobra with a bassani x pipe and magnaflows its sounds wicked and doesnt have near the drone of the flowmaster and hpipe I had. From what I understand is that the xpipe with straight through mufflers resonates differently and so you dont have quite the drone of a chambered muffler.

 

Was the x-pipe offroad? I would love to know what the magnaflows sound like with an offroad x-pipe. I mean, I can go 2 ways here....sell the flowmaster catback or sell the Bassani x-pipe....right.. In the case I keep my x-pipe the magnaflows seem to be the prefered choice and if I keep the flowmaster cat back, then I guess the thing to do is go with the pro-chamber...right??? I just don't want that metal rapping crap sound I have now at high RPM's....it to me takes away from a car I have put a lot in to. I need to hear both to make a sound decision. I've got a butter with a fox 5.0 that has a prochamber with spintech mufflers and his car sounds good...how close are my two options?

 

Check out . . www.mustangexhaust.com. There are quite a few different combination for listening.

 

I have magnaflows cat back with the factory H with all the nasty cats, and I felt the hp, as well as loved the sound...other mustang owners have told me it was "the best mustang they have heard".

Shocked the heck outta me, but I do think it sounds great.

Magnaflow's magnapacks..stainless catbacks...always on Ebay, thats where I picked them up.

 

Dr. Gas is the way to go!
EVEN THO i have dual flows right now i will soon be changing to Dr. Gas nothing sounds like it!

 

Do you mean a Dr. Gas X-pipe? Isn't that made by spintech? I want to buy a spintech cat back to replace the flows, but haven't found a reasonable price anywhere....any suggestions?

 

Ebay my friend

 

I never had a problem with my Bassani X pipe with cats but is was also the old style of cat before they went too the smaller ones lined with foil inside. On my 02 Gt I ran the X pipe with the cat back from flowmaster and it gave the 4.6 a 5.0 sound. When I bought my 01 Cobra I used the same x with two chamber flows welded in to the stock pipe, it to sounded great execpt the drone at 70 mph. On my 03 I now run the factory H and magnaflow. The tone is perfect when you are just cruzing down the highway it sounds almost like factory on till you boost it up and you hear the mufflers and the charger at the same time I love it! Go Magnaflow or Borla.