[3.8newedge5spd]

Alright i need some opinions on this i have a 2000 3.8 5spd current mods are Short Throw Shifter, Cold Air Intake, 3.73 Motive Gears and a Sniper Performance Tune... Im stuck now between 2 choices as my next mod either a full exhuast (longtube headers, H-pipe, high flow cats, borla mufflers) or the windstar manifold swap. Which mod would be better worth the time and money?

[6ixer]

Windstar hands down case closed lol

No but for real windstar is cheaper then full exhuast and will yield twice a smuch power then full exhuast
7rwhp/15rwtq vs the at most 5hp ull get from exhuast

But if u want sound over power then go for the exhuast

[mustangmike!]

I would dissagree

Getting rid of the 4 cats will be a HUGE improvement.

He'd probably delete the EGR w/ LT's while he was at it. That'll clean up engine bay a bunch as well.

Plus any future mods that may come in, like a cam or something will be much better w/ this exhaust.

Its just as important to have a good breathing exhaust as it is a good breathing intake system.

[99 BLUE V6]

Windstar hands down case closed +1
You can element egr while doing it plus remove a fair amount of weight.
I think adding all that exhaust weight to your 6er only off sets the minimal amout of power you gain from it.

[sunburst]

that's a nice sounding exhaust setup.. depends on whether you want alot nicer sound + minimal hp gain (exhaust), or even more hp gain with about the same sound (windstar).

[mustangmike!]

If we were talking catback exhausts I would agree to windstar.

But in his case being a full exhaust I say go for it. He has the tuner to adjust O2.
Removing the stock cats and 2 high flows (even consider no cats if possible OP) will gain way more then a cat back will on our cars, and most of the time it helps fuel economy when tuned for it.

Plus he'll have a much better sounding sixer.

7hp and 15lbs is really not alot. IMO you would need to just go ahead and atleast pull the lower intake and have it port matched. And really you need to do the heads then to, but the lower intake at minimum atleast ...

And if he'll shop right, buying used exhaust parts he could save A LOT of money.

[mustangmike!]

Make a decent offer and weld up egr port:
save a few bucks


For Sale 3.8 MAC longtubes - Ford Mustang Forums : Corral.net Mustang Forum

Then go here and find more:
Exhaust Parts - Ford Mustang Forums : Corral.net Mustang Forum

Remember 1 thing though please ...

When you take these exhaust parts to a shop and have them put it on for you. It doesn't matter from mid pipe back what its for. My prochamber is NOT sold for a V6 mustang but once you cut n' weld shit in it doesn't matter.

[mustangmike!]

Not long ago a used set up for Mac LTs, Mac O/R H pipe, and two flomasters was on sell on ebay for like 300$ or some shit. Just cause it was used lol

[6ixer]

mike ive never dealt with full exhuast just cat backs so ill just agree to disagree

lol

and ill be warping up my cam build tonight or tomorrow so hopfully everything goes well

[mustangmike!]

Well you better get to dealing with it cause if your runnning stock cats and such your not gonna hardly hear a thing from your cam.

Full exhaust vs catback is two different worlds

[WhiteShadow]

you know, i really dont think unless this guy plans on doing more performance mods in the future, that a windstar is what he wants right now. were talking only 7 hp and yeah 15lbs of torque, but still, nothing beats the sound of a mustang with a nice exhuast setup.

if you had two cars, yours and one just like yours sitting next to one another, and one has the full exhaust setup you mentioned, and sounds amazing, and the other has the windstar. which would would seem cooler in your opinon OP?

would you rather be like... fuck yeah thats my ride roaring like a lion, or..... yeah mines got 7 more hp than the one that sounds like a beast ready to devour any rice thats on the road.

food for thought

[mustangmike!]

you guys seriously need to think outside the box some lol

the 5hp exhaust mod is a damn cat back. That means cutting out your Y pipe and putting in some other BS.

Long tubes and high flow cats to a dual exhaust will be much different then that measly 5hp from a catback. 4 huge fucking cats restrict so much and do aide in killing your mpg from what Ive seen.

Now most likely the exhaust if noticable will be in the upper rpm range, but idk less restriction might help down low to.

the windstar will be better for low end, 7hp aint much, 15ft/lbs is a bit more and if noticeable you'll feel it down lowish.


+ the factor you just mentioned. A much nicer tone + performace you can definately hear.

You'd be 10x happier w/ a FULL exhaust then a windstar.

[6ixer]

ok so how bout this and im trying to work with you on this one so calm down spaz

so would hi flow cats be any better over stock for getting rid of the restriction and aid in the sound of the cam (not like the sound really matters but does kinda)

as in help chace what you speak of

[mustangmike!]

im at work so I cant link vids, maybe david will chime in soon though.

But I have a video of the 'lumpy' specced cam in my car, w/ stock mani's, 4 stock cats, x pipe, flo 40s. QUIET AS SHIT.

And im sure you have heard my O/R video's

But you can also check out David's cam w/ high flow cats. 2 high flows compared to 4 stock cats is crazy different.

[sunburst]

Originally Posted by mustangmike! you guys seriously need to think outside the box some lol the 5hp exhaust mod is a damn cat back. That means cutting out your Y pipe and putting in some other BS. Long tubes and high flow cats to a dual exhaust will be much different then that measly 5hp from a catback. 4 huge fucking cats restrict so much and do aide in killing your mpg from what Ive seen.

will high flow cats help out as well (with hp and sound)? every shop around here refuses to cut out the catalytic converters.

[6ixer]

mike ive seen some of ur vids...
1 with long tubes with nothing behind them
1 with flowmasters and an x pipe but i dont remember if it wa o/r or not
1 with flowmasters and prochamber....

and to behonest the x pipe didnt sound to bad if it was not o/r but the rasp form the x pipe was deff a no no lol

[6ixer]

my other question is all 4 of my cats has one sensor going to it if i elimiate either the front to or back two what do i do for the extra two sensors that have no were to go?

[mustangmike!]

Originally Posted by sunburst will high flow cats help out as well (with hp and sound)? every shop around here refuses to cut out the catalytic converters.

Never tested them myself, but david is running a pair, idk what brand or anything as such. But As far as sound, I dont think his was AS loud as O/R, having heard David's on the dyno that is. But If you asked me to compare the same cam w/ my stock cats and Xpipe cat back, and Davids high flow set up, its a night/day difference.

After work Ill round up vids and let you guys hear.

And you might need to check out your emissions laws, that can become a problem, hell my shop said I had to have some sort of visual cat on. So, I had them weld in a pair of fake cats on

Originally Posted by 6ixer mike ive seen some of ur vids... 1 with long tubes with nothing behind them 1 with flowmasters and an x pipe but i dont remember if it wa o/r or not 1 with flowmasters and prochamber.... and to behonest the x pipe didnt sound to bad if it was not o/r but the rasp form the x pipe was deff a no no lol

I have vids of my Xpipe cat back set up
I have vids of the 'lumpy' specced cam w/ the Xpip cat back set up
I have vids of Open long tubes w/ my custom cam
I have vids of my custom cam to LT's, Prochamber, Flo 40s

No O/R Xpipe though.

Originally Posted by 6ixer my other question is all 4 of my cats has one sensor going to it if i elimiate either the front to or back two what do i do for the extra two sensors that have no were to go?

You have 4 O2 sensors total. The front two sensors are kept. My LT's have a threaded hole near the end. You must buy extenders or splice your own and have your front two O2's plug in there. W/ a tune the back two O2's are turned off and not needed. So I unplugged mine and left the plugs hanging.

[mustangmike!]

Ford V6 Mustang Dyno Graph Database

#34 99+ auto and
"dual exhaust''
139/182

Vs

#30 99+ auto and
"Homemade CAI w/ K&N, MAC Offroad H-pipe, GT Dual Exhaust"
154/191

vs

#19 99+ auto and
K&N CAI, BBK 65mm TB, Pypes True Dual (no cats), Demon Coil, MSD 8.5MM wires
(TB might help a tad bit but I really doubt it, coil pack and msd ... no)
177/223

Im sure the GT catback is killing 30# from being even higher, a better muffler would help there.

[3.8newedge5spd]

A buddy of mine threw another idea at me basically the underdrive pulley/ harmonic balancer & belt package for half the price of the windstar manifold kit and it gets "8-10 HP and 8-10 torque" what about going this route?