EXHAUST: A personal Quest! My discoveries in video!!
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EXHAUST: A personal Quest! My discoveries in video!!
As these are common questions that get asked over and over and over again..I thought I would document my personal journey through the land of Mustang exhaust.
Like everyone else, the first thing I wanted to do was make my Mustang sound good. I was amazed by the price of axle and cat backs for these cars. As I wanted to do more than just add mufflers to my car, I could not justify spending $700-$1000 for exhaust. So, I took the low road. No Borla, no Corsa, no Stainless Works for me. I figured I would make it sound good on a budget.
Like most guys, I started with the GT500. I also immediately removed the resonators because I thought they were too quiet:
Then, I decided that mid-pipe was too restrictive. I also didn't like the "chop" of the H. So, I got an X-pipe. A 3 inch Pypes X-pipe. This is also cheap, $125, and all stainless. After welding it in though, it is a $175 investment:
Never satisfied with anything....I had to try a different axle back. I chose MAC, because I love them on Fox bodies...and because they were under represented on the forums and YouTube. The MACs were a fail. They droned horribly. However, they were the king of deep. They lasted 20 minutes:
The MACs were returned, and exchanged for the Roush. About the second most popular axle back...but for good reason. They ripped:
I then got rid of my Pro-Cal tune, and got a full tune from AED. This meant I could get an idle lope tune. Oh, did those Roush sound evil:
What the hell, I have a real tune....let's eliminate the cats and see what that does!!!
What did it do? It made my car about as loud as a Winston Cup car.
Yeah, that was not going to cut it for daily driving. I had to borrow a set of stock mufflers, because I gave mine to a friend. Stockers were not bad with the O/R X and no resonators...but too tinny for my taste, they were wicked with the lope though:
They just sucked under WOT...although good enough to get an 11 second time slip!:
So, it was time for a change. What inexpensive axle back to get now? I had wanted to try the Dynomax Ultra-Flow around the same time I got the Roush. So, I said WTF. There were just about no videos out there on these...and no info. So, I sailed into the sea of uncertainty once again:
I liked them. However, they had a little too much "sizzle," a little too much rasp..and they "hooted." They had a resonance like blowing into an empty bottle. It was annoying, but not too bad. So, I was thinking of ditching them and trying the Force II. But, I had an idea. How about replacing the long lost resonators? No, those are restrictive pieces of crap. But, how about a pair of 3 inch Dynomax Race Bullet mufflers where the resonators were replaced with straight pipe? Hmmmmmm...might work:
So, there you have it. My 4 month journey through the land of exhaust. I am happy with where it is now, although the lope is weakest with the current "quad muffler" setup. I would say my favorite tone may have been the Roush with no resonators but with cats...followed closely by the current setup. The Dynomax is much deeper than the Roush ever could be. You can feel the Dynomax if you standing by the car.
Enjoy!
Mike
Like everyone else, the first thing I wanted to do was make my Mustang sound good. I was amazed by the price of axle and cat backs for these cars. As I wanted to do more than just add mufflers to my car, I could not justify spending $700-$1000 for exhaust. So, I took the low road. No Borla, no Corsa, no Stainless Works for me. I figured I would make it sound good on a budget.
Like most guys, I started with the GT500. I also immediately removed the resonators because I thought they were too quiet:
Then, I decided that mid-pipe was too restrictive. I also didn't like the "chop" of the H. So, I got an X-pipe. A 3 inch Pypes X-pipe. This is also cheap, $125, and all stainless. After welding it in though, it is a $175 investment:
Never satisfied with anything....I had to try a different axle back. I chose MAC, because I love them on Fox bodies...and because they were under represented on the forums and YouTube. The MACs were a fail. They droned horribly. However, they were the king of deep. They lasted 20 minutes:
The MACs were returned, and exchanged for the Roush. About the second most popular axle back...but for good reason. They ripped:
I then got rid of my Pro-Cal tune, and got a full tune from AED. This meant I could get an idle lope tune. Oh, did those Roush sound evil:
What the hell, I have a real tune....let's eliminate the cats and see what that does!!!
What did it do? It made my car about as loud as a Winston Cup car.
Yeah, that was not going to cut it for daily driving. I had to borrow a set of stock mufflers, because I gave mine to a friend. Stockers were not bad with the O/R X and no resonators...but too tinny for my taste, they were wicked with the lope though:
They just sucked under WOT...although good enough to get an 11 second time slip!:
So, it was time for a change. What inexpensive axle back to get now? I had wanted to try the Dynomax Ultra-Flow around the same time I got the Roush. So, I said WTF. There were just about no videos out there on these...and no info. So, I sailed into the sea of uncertainty once again:
I liked them. However, they had a little too much "sizzle," a little too much rasp..and they "hooted." They had a resonance like blowing into an empty bottle. It was annoying, but not too bad. So, I was thinking of ditching them and trying the Force II. But, I had an idea. How about replacing the long lost resonators? No, those are restrictive pieces of crap. But, how about a pair of 3 inch Dynomax Race Bullet mufflers where the resonators were replaced with straight pipe? Hmmmmmm...might work:
So, there you have it. My 4 month journey through the land of exhaust. I am happy with where it is now, although the lope is weakest with the current "quad muffler" setup. I would say my favorite tone may have been the Roush with no resonators but with cats...followed closely by the current setup. The Dynomax is much deeper than the Roush ever could be. You can feel the Dynomax if you standing by the car.
Enjoy!
Mike
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Sounds great!
You might try some glasspack resonators in place of the pre-muffler mufflers - they deepen the sound without dampening it too much. They come in all different shapes, lengths, and diameters.
You might try some glasspack resonators in place of the pre-muffler mufflers - they deepen the sound without dampening it too much. They come in all different shapes, lengths, and diameters.
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Also, with an offroad X, I wanted to deepen the sound.
Thanks,
Mike
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Also, as you can see, there was a mixture of super-popular (Roush, GT500) and almost untested (MAC, Dynomax) in my trials. There were other "untested" exhausts that also really intrigued me, like the Gibson, MBRP Streets, GMS, Spintech, Force II, Pypes and even some homebrewed stuff like Moroso spiral mufflers going in where the resonators were and having my guy make me a custom axle back. I really wanted to find something new and exciting that I would be credited with discovering. I have already steered a few people towards the Ultra-Flows, so maybe I am on to something.
Mike
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Excellent post. I do like the dynomax setup. Sounded very good. Id love to hear it in person. My brother in law lives in Mandeville. As a matter of fact Im going to be in Mandeville this week. Gotta go over to Banner and have some stuff checked out. I bought my Stang at Banner as well!
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Excellent post. I do like the dynomax setup. Sounded very good. Id love to hear it in person. My brother in law lives in Mandeville. As a matter of fact Im going to be in Mandeville this week. Gotta go over to Banner and have some stuff checked out. I bought my Stang at Banner as well!
Believe it or not, Amazon.com! $313 with free second day air shipping with Amazon Prime.
Mike
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Cool. I should be over there Wednesday for an alignment check. I talked with the guys t StangHi last time I was home and I may purchase their package that will include LT's. Not sure yet. If I do that and I don't like the way the GT500's sound I will change. Ill message you if I decide to hang out in Mandeville for a while and give them a listen. Thanks!
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That goes for you too, Rob. I am always up to meeting Mustang guys.
Now, back out to finish the LCA job (I installed them wrong the first time, LOL).
Mike
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I almost got a set of Outlaws, but never the Hushpowers as people complained about drone with those. Plus, I hate to admit it...but I think that is one of the worst names in the history of exhaust marketing, and this really turned me away from them.
Also, as you can see, there was a mixture of super-popular (Roush, GT500) and almost untested (MAC, Dynomax) in my trials. There were other "untested" exhausts that also really intrigued me, like the Gibson, MBRP Streets, GMS, Spintech, Force II, Pypes and even some homebrewed stuff like Moroso spiral mufflers going in where the resonators were and having my guy make me a custom axle back. I really wanted to find something new and exciting that I would be credited with discovering. I have already steered a few people towards the Ultra-Flows, so maybe I am on to something.
Mike
Also, as you can see, there was a mixture of super-popular (Roush, GT500) and almost untested (MAC, Dynomax) in my trials. There were other "untested" exhausts that also really intrigued me, like the Gibson, MBRP Streets, GMS, Spintech, Force II, Pypes and even some homebrewed stuff like Moroso spiral mufflers going in where the resonators were and having my guy make me a custom axle back. I really wanted to find something new and exciting that I would be credited with discovering. I have already steered a few people towards the Ultra-Flows, so maybe I am on to something.
Mike
Last edited by Blackbird.; 2/26/12 at 01:09 PM.
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I have the GT500's and the Heartthrob 3" H-Pipes and over axle pipes.
#20
I love the MAC exhaust on my 99GT. Finding the right tone was a lot easier with the 2v. Ive had a similar experience trying to find the right exhaust with my 2011 as you. Put on mufflers, get a x-pipe, change to h-pipe, change muffler, install resonators, remove cats, change muffler. After the last change I figured it was not only easier, but more cost effective to purchase headers, then work my way back. Right now I have 1/2 the Stainless works exhaust, and it will take me another month to buy the rest. The satisfaction of not having to change it ever again will be worth it to me.