Ok, serious...

[FalconGTHO]

advice and guidance needed.

Lets start with exhaust. Perusing another board, Mac Pro chamber seems to be used most. This has caused me to reconsider my firm decision to go with Dr Gas or Bassani X pipe and Magnaflows. Ive heard, from what Ive been told after describing it, what an X sounds like. I freakin liked it. Had a hollow, "drainpipe" sound with a shrill, raspy, sredding metal sound. It was also loud. This was on the street as the driver was hammering away from a light.

Anyway, everyone Ive read so far sings the praises of the Pro Chamber and its VERY LOUD sound. While sound and quality of sound is a consideration, the performance any part can give me is my first and only real consideration. Thats why up to this point I was set on an X as it does give better performance than an H. So, quesiton one is, Pro Chamber or X?

Second, long tube or shorties. Im inclined to go with long tubes. How does this affect the Pro Chamber/X decision? What brand of long tubes? Are they all the same? For the sake of debate, what brand of shorties?

I need to determine which brand offers an off road piece as well as a hi flow cat piece that will mate up with either the long or shorts depending on which I choose. Im in an emissions state so I have to have the cats in for testing, but the rest of the year I want to run cat free.

Lastly, steering and suspension pieces. Too many questions right now. Ill try again later.

[shibby]

Go Bassani from the block back. Short tubes, followed by x-pipe with cats, then cat- back. Sticking with one manufacturer across the board rings true with exhaust products as well as suspension. Long tubes are good but if you are not getting enough air through larger mass air, tbi, and heads they become less than beneficial for low end torque, something that mod motors lack. I realize you want to go cat-less in between inspections but the time it takes for you to swap mid-sections twice(off then back on again) every year you will soon regret not buying something you can put on once and leave it on for inspection time. Above all you will make more power with or without major mods with the x-pipe with or without cats. If you live ina smog controlled area go with cats. They will not get in the way of you making serious power. There are plenty of 500+ hp Mustangs out there blasting all that power through cats without second guessing them.

[spickett]

Longtubes all the way. I have heard so many stories and read so many tests in magazines that say if you are going to put headers on a 4.6 don't even worry about shorties. A design guy from Ford also backed this up by saying that they have an excellent exhaust manifold design and that the shorties aren't very better. I have a 91 GT with longtubes, off-road h pipe, & dumped flows. Taking the h-pipe and mufflers off is a snap.
Bassani makes excellent exhaust components and they have some nice longtubes. They also have some new mid-length headers out. So you may want to wait and get some info on these before making a decision.

[FalconGTHO]

Lol. OK. Split decision so far. I failed to mention that this will be a 4.6 engine. However, theres more to it than that. I need to know if a 4.6 system can stay in place when I swap in a 5.4. Are there diminsional or locational changes differences? I WILL be swapping a 5.4. SO far, after doing some reading since I posted this, Im thinking BBK long tubes and Dr Gas X. As for muffs, I have three choices so far. Flow one chamber race, Borla XR 1 race and Dynomax Race Bullet. Yeah, its loud but phuck it, thats what I want. Others spend money on stereo, Ill spend mine on exhaust.

Also, I failed to mention that the 4.6 and ESP the 5.4 WILL be modded. Ill do minimal stuff to the 4.6, but the 5.4 is going to be an 00 R clone with and s/c.

Lastly, whatever way I go, it shouldnt be hard to have a center section flanged at both ends that can drop out to put in the off road section without cats. Id need a drop out section anyway if I ever wanted to do trans work.

[spickett]

You have to get the Borla XR-1 mufflers. I was at the track (memphis motorsports) one night are heard one of the sweetest sounds ever. I was looking around and realized it was a Mustang. I went and talked to him and he said he had an off-road x-pipe and XR-I's. I have wanted XR1's ever since but are a little pricey for my college boy budget.

Just my 2 cents. :D

[FalconGTHO]

K. Well, I hear similar comments about the Flow one chamber and the Dyno Bullet. The Borla is last on my list due to cost.

[MRigney]

I agree the borla is a tad bit expensive, but if you got the money don't settle for anything else.

[Los]

BBk LT headers and X seem great. I'm going with the Hpipe setup myself so I'm biased. XD

As far as the 5.4 and 4.6, they're pretty much the same design, just one is a bit bigger. I would think that at least hooker headers would have something for it. BBK? I didn't see it in their catalog. I'm inclined to believe that Mac is also lacking a 5.4 DOHC LT header setup.

I'd give them a call and see though.

[FalconGTHO]

Thats going to suck if no one does 5.4 headers.

[Los]

JDM makes long tube headers for the 5.4 SOHC Lightnings. They might have a setup for DOHC motors.

[sprayed88]

dude i was in the same position as you not too long ago... i looked on the internet , went to local car meets, did it all. i finally settled on the full mac exhaust. i did get longtubes, a pro chamber and i got dumps out the back of the car. it is pretty loud, well... real loud. but the increase in power is extreme. not just noticable.

the longtubes will give you more top end power than a normal shorty style headr, but sacrificing a little low end torque.it also gives you a deeper more growly tone.

now the next step in exhaust. any one with any sense will tell you an x pipe is better than an h pipe.an x pipe has a much smoother design there for less restriction. also the cross in gasses creat substatially more torque.(hense the "x")as for the pro chamber. the box like design gives it a louder more deep tone than any other middle pipe.it also has a straight through design for less resriction...

now for cat back...... any muffler is not gonna have enough difference in power for you to even notice. its all about sound. but the tail pipes is where the power is made. a longer tail pipe will give you a deeper tone and more torque as where a dump style pipe will give you less restriction and more top end powere, but you will be sacrificing torque..

i did as much research as i could before i made a decision. and every thing i just said is what i read from dyno sheets and from the companys them selves. you make the decision your self and dont let anyone else in fluence you .. good luck