[jblood37]

Hey Ive got a 2000 Mustang GT with an automatic transmission that I just recently put a cold air kit on, cut off the converters, put an off road x pipe on, and put flowmaster 40 series mufflers on. I also put some Steeda MIL eliminators on thinking that it would turn the service engine light off. Well, since I added all this it seems like everything has taken a turn for the worst. I know that the x pipe is not fitting exactly like it should on the driver side where it connects to the manifolds and is leaking exhaust into the car. But the worst thing is that the car is running horrible now. It is running way too rich, it almost burns my eyes to pop the hood. I guess the worst part of what is going on is that when I switch the transmission from park or neutral into drive or reverse it wants to go dead. The car will idle at around 700 rpms, but when it's put into drive or reverse the rpms fall to around 300 and then the car jumps pretty hard forward. Can you please tell me anything to help this situation? I'd much appreciate it.

[SWEET2KSTANG]

sounds like to me that you definitly need to fix that exhaust leak. as for the idle, check the cai to make sure that there are no leaks around maf, the iac line, or around the pcv line. make sure there are good conections with all the vacum lines that may have been messed with when you installed the cai. i have had the same problem before and thats what happen to me.

[matrixpuba]

on the exhaust on the drivers side, might want to check to see if the shoulder on the manifold studs are keeping the pipe from tightening down. some aftermarket x and h pipes will not tighten down with these until you grind them down.

[mjkids]

it sounds like a vacum leak maybe and i would witch the manfolds over to a nice pair of header it will open that a exhaust but i have a little problem like that with my drive side to the x pipe bolting up to the header it had a little bended in the flange (ford racing head off road x pipe steela exhaust) good luck

[jblood37]

If I put headers on my car which I may around Christmas, maybe later, should I put on long tube or short tube. Is it true that short is more for torque and acceleration and long tube for horsepower and top end? And also what would be the best brand, etc...

[matrixpuba]

do long tubes not shorties. bbk, kooks, slp all make nice header.

[ChrisJ]

Shorties on not worth the work...

Longtubes are where it is at...

Kooks are the best IMO...But they are pricey...

I have BBK's myself...

Slp makes great products as well...

When you get headers make sure you get them ceramic coated...

[niubodybuilder05]

What is the big difference from ceramic and chrome headers....with the price difference there should be something.

[jblood37]

Thank you for the help... I got the exhaust fixed and took off the positive cable for the battery to reset the computer and everything is running 100% better. I really thought it was more than that, but thank God it wasn't.