The LX has started sounding more obnoxious these days, so I decided to take a look underneath. Alas, nothing but swiss cheese except for the Flows and the tips. The Flows might last a bit more, but there are a bunch of soft spots so I figure it's time to do a full cat-back.
So what are some of your favorites? Prices? Sound? Drone? TIA.
Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
Joe,
I had Dynomax on my old LX. They were just a little louder than stock, but they did drone at about 2,200 rpm. They were a bit quieter when I added a catted X-pipe.
My '93 is still running the stock set-up... 103,000 and counting.
Patrick '93 Cobra
Double Dynomax here. The LX has the UltraFlows, really like the sound. For the GT, with the turn-downs, I have the SuperTurbos - a bit louder, but still more "dignified".
Besides - I AM an old fart, and I can't be running around with Flowmasters.
dwight
As I get older I like things quieter. The Dynomax Ultraflows on the car now are good until you put your foot in it. Then they sound like straight pipes. One of the best sounding systems I had on the car was the Motorsport stainless steel catback. It had no drone but the inlet/outlets on the mufflers necked down to 2.25" while the tubing was
2.5". If you aren't looked to squeeze ever last hp out of the engine it is a very affordable alternative that will give a somewhat unique sound. I got many compliments on the sound of my car when it was installed.I wound up with about the same setup when I was trying to recover from the mistake of adding Flowmasters. My final & still current configuration is 2
1/2 inch pipes from the cats to a set of staggered length 2 1/4 Midas turbos back to 2 1/2 pipes going to a set of 10 inch long glass packs set up in a resonator configuration before dumping out the back. I know I picked up a lot of bottom end torque when I added the narrower mufflers. Based on my experience I would recommend going with 2 1/4 pipes going into a nice set of turbo mufflers. They don't have to be the Midas brand but they do carry a mustang specific set of staggered length turbos complete with heat shields and brackets. Works for me.
I have the bbk offroad with 3 chamber flows and love em no cats...aod 373's gt40 upper/lower gt40 heads (worked) tfs stage 1 cam bbk equal length shorties 88 notch with 59K miles LOVE IT!!!!!!
"dwight" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:
I did check out some of the more common systems, i.e., Dynomax, Flowmaster, Borla, Bassani, etc. Amazingly, one of the least expensive systems I found was from Ford Racing:
BTW, The LX pipes were fine way back at 103k miles. But now that I'm up to 143k, things have gotten pretty nasty. I'm sure dwight knows what I mean... ;)
Now, froggy, we are both old farts, but the Flows were never that bad. Unless, (like Michael is also saying about the UltraFlows) you put your foot into it, the old Flowmasters I have (had?) are fairly mellow.
I kind of like the idea of staying mellow until you punch it, especially because my son will be driving the LX for the most part now. Even though the car sticks out on the road because of its color (the only other Calypso Green cars out there are a few old Rangers, Probes, and Tracers/Escorts), I'd much rather it didn't draw attention due to excessive noise.
Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
"Michael Johnson, PE" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:
Things seem that way to me already. Could be because I'm going deaf... ;)
This is a good thing. See comments in my reply to Patrick and dwight.
Now that's interesting. Is it the same system in the link in the reply to Patrick and dwight? As my son will be driving the car mostly, I'm not too concerned about squeezing every last bit of power out of it. In fact, I'm taking the underdrives off to give it better driveability. It's going through a battery a year now.
So far, it looks like the Ford and Dynomax systems are contenders.
Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
I think this is similar to the Ford setup. More torque certainly wouldn't hurt, as the car's got an AOD.
Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
"ironrod" wrote in news:Wuupe.912978$ snipped-for-privacy@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:
"IsellJeeps" wrote in news:m1Dpe.1925$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com:
That's a bit over the top for what I'm looking for. Don't want to deal with the cats, h-pipe, or headers either. As is dwight, I'm an old fart.
Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
The Dynomax Ultraflows are really loud at WOT, especially with the blower making boost. It's so loud that it attracts too much attention. I like to accelerate without worrying that ever cop within a 1/4 mile is trying to find me.
That looks like the same system. Its a good deal considering its all stainless steel. With you being in Florida though I guess that isn't a big concern. :)
Thanks. Now I'm looking at the crate 302s again...
The Dynomax pipes are mandrel bent.
I remember what a happy day it was, when one of my pipes just broke. That was some years ago, but it meant that I could go shopping for a new set-up. I also remember asking just about the same questions you are, and settled on the UltraFlows, because I wanted a quieter sound for puttering around the neighborhood, but a somewhat meaner note at acceleration. Where the stock pipes were definitely a tenor, the UltraFlows would be baritone.
You got me curious, so I just stepped outside to poke around under TFrog. The pipes are still very healthy, although several inches of pipe just after the mufflers are showing signs of age. The mufflers, themselves, still look new.
Hah! I've offered the convertible to my daughter, for the occasional cruise this summer, but I'd still be sweating it out if she ever took me up on it. There's no way in this life that I'd let my son drive either Mustang - but you'd have to know my son to understand. I don't think he'd be all that interested, anyway.
I don't even like to see a mechanic drive my cars, if only from the parking spot into the bay. I am one nervous owner...
dwight
Today, I'm an even older fart. 51.
dwight (as my wife says, now one year closer to god)
Dwight--Old Fart doesn't start until you're atleast 60. You guys have given me some new ideas for for '90 LX 5.0 HB
Dave (61)
me two I am on my 9th mustang and almost 34
Hah. Old Fart starts every morning when I wake up. But as long as I wake up, I'm happy.
I'm still in maintenance mode, myself - no upgrades in the near future. Right now, I'm hoping that I have a clogged fuel filter.
At least, that'd be the cheapest diagnosis of TFrog's current problem.
:()
"dwight" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:
Yeah, they're pretty cool. Not too streetable, but neat nonetheless...
Nice.
Good way of describing them. I think I'd like the deeper tone.
Did you poke at them for soft spots? The LX's Flows looked ok, but there were a bunch of soft spots that will probably give way after a few more months or so.
You're referring to The Boy I assume..
I know what you mean, as I'm sort of the same way. But I force myself to just let it go and deal with it. At our age there are more important things to sweat over, eh? ;)
Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
"Michael Johnson, PE" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:
I'm sure the blower doesn't help with the noise at WOT. I don't have that problem, as the LX is fairly mild.
No snow, but plenty of humidity. The rust may not be as bad, but the "rot factor" is pretty high. The environment down here is murder on rubber and plastic.
Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
LOL! At 34, you're just a pup. Hell, I've got 6 months on dwight.
Joe Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
"IsellJeeps" wrote in news:UFYpe.2057 $ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com:
IT!!!!!!
?? The "beginner's model" 302, rated at 315HP/305ft.-lbs... why not streetable? I'm not taking TFrog to the track every week, but a replacement
5.0 that makes 100HP more than I have now? And almost a direct drop-in... I could learn to live with it.If I had the equipment, I'd send you sound files of both cars. I really like the "note".
Yeah, sure, I'll poke at 'em with a stick. No way! They're corroded, but I don't want to force the issue by poking holes in the pipes. Okay, okay, I'll look for "soft spots" - but if I DO make holes, I'm just going to have to get ME a new exhaust...
Okay, I'm back. Yes, some slight corrosion, but mostly just dirty (sue me). The metal is still very sound. If I hadn't just moved, I'd pull out the records and tell you how old they are - I think at least 5 years.
The Boy - who lives out of state and seems to have forgotten my birthday.
... Can't think of any. I have to go fill up the John Deere now.
dwight
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