I was wondering what kind of hp gains i would get from an aftermarket x-pipe and cat-back system (with cats I live in Massachusetts). My 03' currently has an accufab throttle body, pulley and a Diablo Sport Tuner and the car was dynoed at 431 hp and 463 ft lbs. Also what exhaust would you reccommend? I want the car to have a nice sound but not too loud. Thanks for any imput you guys can provide.

 

well whatever the system you put on there is gonna be drowned out by the supercharger

 

Dont know about the cobras, but if you want a nice sounding exhaust that isnt too loud id say go with borla. I have a catback system on my 99 GT and it sounds great. Its not too loud when im just cruising around, but when you get on it it certainly turns some heads.

 

I have a MRT catted H and a Steeda catback and the car makes really good power, not too mention it gets a lot of compliments on the sound.

 

how much power are you putting down? i got 430/460 with a chip, cold air kit, throttle body, pully on a conservative tune. im thinking either magnaflow or bassani (or any other stainless brand) do you guys think with my current set up and an x-pipe and a cackback will get me into the 500hp range?

 

^no. It might put you up to the 460rwhp range.

 

How much is your car making? Do you have any suggestions what else besides exhaust and the mods i have that would push me up to the 500rwhp mark?

 

do you have a cold air intake on the car because positive displacement superchargers are very sensitive to inlet restrictions

 

The current mods on the car include a K&N cold air kit, Accufab throttle body with spacer, a pully giving me about 16psi of boost, Diablosport preditor tuning chip. I got about 430rwhp, 460ftlbs I want to try to get my car into the 500hp range.perhaps a full exhaust from the headers back will do the trick? anyone here with a 500hp cobra? if so can anyone share some modification ideas with me?

 

I'm curious, are you wanting just the hp upgrade or wanting to also improve your time at the 1/4 track (or road course)?

 

stainless works makes a good kit (headers x-pipe and cat back) but its a little pricey

 

I kinda want it to be a complete car for the track and the 1/4 but at the same time i also want the 500hp goal to say that i have a 500hp car. I ran 12s all season long with the stock F1s and the crappy stock shifter so i think with a power upgrade the new B&M shifter and some slicks should easily put me in the 11s

 

Bassani stainless, I'm looking at a 2003 cobra that has the complete bassani system. They have baffles that you can put in and out of the mufflers to keep it quiet if need be. Also, they have high flow cats. thumbs up all the way around.

 

The stock manifolds on the car are fine until you get over 500hp.

I noticed that you said that you are making 430rwp with 16psi, so my question is what type of dyno were you on?

With 16psi you should be somewhere near the power you are asking about.

My car has Steeda Cai, Mrt H, Steeda Catback, 2.93" upper pulley, SCT Xcal w/custom tune, Diablosport MAFia and the car makes over 450rwhp on a Dynojet with a nice conservative tune (the tune is for 91 octane, and accomidates for 110+ degree heat in the summer).

The car made 435rwhp on a 110degree day on with a completely heatsoaked blower. Now that it is cooler out, the car runs like a raped ape.

 

I didnt know the type of dyno mattered. All i know is that the speed shop i went to put on a "conservative" tune to keep the car reliable and thats how i wanna keep it. I want my car to run on normal premium fuel, and be an easy to live with driver.......and the car only has 9,000 miles...do you think it is fully broken in yet? any more power to come as it gets more miles on it?

 

Dynojets and Mustang Dyno's are completely different. My tune is very conservative as it was tuned in the heat of the summer (110 degrees).

 

My car was on a dynojet

 

dynojets register higher then a mustang dyno. but nice numbers regardless.

 

You may want to consider upgrading some of the 'supporting cast' before beefing up the engine more. IRS brace, DSS halfshafts, new clutch, subframes and such. You will notice a difference at the track, and will shore up some of the weak links in the car. I just bought a kenne belled 04 Mystichrome cobra. It has an abundance of power, but no way to use it. The car spins in 3rd gear at 55MPH on a cool day. What I'm trying to say is horsepower alone does not a fast car make.

 

Your not going to get to 500hp with just exhaust. And definately don't do headers. For the work/cost involved, they're not worth it.

The only way your going to get to 500 is to port the blower and possibly having to change to a 2.93 upper/4 lb. lower set up. That is unless you buy KB or Whipple replacement blower annd then you'll be at 600+hp with supporting mods.