[QuEeNiEsTaNg]

K. I have a question, little pressed for time, so hopefully someone can answer me quick cause I didnt have time to really look around for an answer yet.
I have a 2000 plain ass v6 mustang. and I need to know what size my exaust pipes are because I want to put a different muffler on or whatever. Would it be 2 1/4 in and out?
Dont mind the dumb question but my excuse is Im a girl.... lol
Anyways, any help would be great.
98pgprix@nycap.rr.com

[CyberPrey]

According to a couple online sites, its a 2" in/out..

here is a link to the napa factory replacement muffler..

http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...r+-+Quiet+Flow

[QuEeNiEsTaNg]

K thanks. I was originally told 2" but then my ex husband that did the exaust on my GT mustang told me to get 2 1/4" so obviously I should of stuck with the 2" .
What is my best bet with redoing this? I dont really care about the money, I mean as long as its practical. I just want it to sound a little bit better. Its hard having a GT, totaling it and then going to a quiet V6....

[CyberPrey]

Well, This is a subject of some debate among almost ALL mustang owners

If you are going to go the easy/practical route.. Get a Cat-Back kit... that can turn your single outlet exaust into a nice sounding dual exhaust setup, and its all bolt-on.... no modifications requred.

If you have the money, there are two other methods..

1. Get an X (or H) pipe that hooks into the factory manifolds(shorty headers) and then get a GT Catback system. I say GT catback when you do this, as most manufacturers design their V6 X(or H) pipes to function with a GT Style catback system. Again, this is all Bolt-On and no real modifications need to be done.

2. Get Long-Tube headers, a "short X (or H) pipe, and a GT Cat back system. This is a bit more complex to install, but it will give you the better results for sound (nice throaty growl...) and will be a good preperation for future modifications. this may or may NOT be a 100% bolt-on as it depends on the manufacturer you go with.

I myself went with option 1.. but will eventually go with long tube headers.....

*EDIT* I lied.. there are actually 3 options...
3. you CAN take the car into a local shop and have them put a "true dual" exhaust on it... no X or H pipe. the downside to this on a V6 is in all honesty it sounds like crap... and it also does not have the performance that you would get from an X or H pipe system.

Also, do not go bigger than 2.5" tube on the exhaust as that can result in dramatic losses in low end power for a stock or lightly modified motor.

Here is a link to Mac performance exhaust systems, right to their mustang page.
http://www.macperformance.com/store/...9&CatLevel=top

[QuEeNiEsTaNg]

Thank you so much, I too think I will go with option 1 for now. A few people have told me to get the X or H pipe and take that route.
But I think that is what I am going to do.
Just confusing with so many options and people telling me to do this and that. Actually had someone tell me to just throw a glasspack on it and no one would know the difference. But thats not the point, If Im going to bother putting the time and money into it than I want it done right.
Thanks for the help.

Also. I have seen alot of these "HP increase chips" like on Ebay and whatnot, do they even work? Is it even worth the few dollars that they are? I mean just seems like they are too cheap to even make a noticeable difference....

[CyberPrey]

Be sure to check when you get the X or H pipe to make sure you get the matching set for the back end. Like I said, you will probably need a GT kit, but the notes on the site where you order will say, or if you go to a place and order in person, they can match it all up for you. I >REALLY< recommend a nice pair of 3" chrome tips on the end... they look AWESOME out the back of a mustang

I would avoid the ebay chips like they were plagueridden. Check out the SCT Xcal2, there are a lot of people using them, and no one say's anything bad. Also, SCT has a new product coming out next year called the 'live', which is a step up from the Xcal2.

ah, just my person opinion, but whomever told you to just toss a glasspack on it... I would really not get more advice from that one

You have the right attitude though, which i love to see... "If your going to do it, do it right". :award

*edit* (I love to edit...) You can get your V6 to perform like your GT, but it does take a bit of money tossed into it. AB (AtlanticBlue) can toss out some good advice on that, as he has a similar car to yours. Quickest way to get a bit better performance would be Exhaust, Gears, Tuner (the SCT Xcal2 device I mentioned), and Underdrive pulley's.

*edit again* on the X or H pipes, you can get "Catted" or "off road" types.. Off-road do not have the Cat Converters on them, and that can be illegal in a lot of places, and will immediatly fail you if you have a visual inspection for emissions.. You might be safer getting a 'catted' x or h pipe as those have the converters on them. The off road pipe will sound a bit raspier though, as the cat's do tone down the exhaust a bit.. not a ton, but just a little bit.

[CyberPrey]

LOL, I went to edit AGAIN... and couldn't..

But.. the ONE THING you might need to purchase on some dual exhaust setups for V6's is the Passenger side Muffler hanger, and the passenger side tailpipe hanger. These, if they are not in the exhaust kits, can be gotten from your local ford dealer VERY cheaply. Just tell them you have a GT and need the passenger side hangers... I think all total I paid like $20 for both of them on my car, plus another $2 for the bolts to hook them up.

[QuEeNiEsTaNg]

Awesome thanks for all the help and GOOD advice, unlike my glasspack happy friend lol..

Now I think I already know the answer to this but Im gonna ask anyways, now should I get a different bumper since Im going from single pipe to dual exaust now? Or will it not really matter? I mean a different body kit is eventually on the list of things to do, but Im more worried about the other stuff first, not the body kit and all that stuff. but if I need to do it now than I might as well if I am going to need a new back bumper

[Cricket]

Do not touch those chips on ebay. They hurt your engine.

Alright a v6 will never truly sound like your GT did. Your gt had an unequal firing order unlike the v6. From idle to about 2,500 rpms it will sound nice, but at 3,000 on up it will just sound loud. If you want the best sound out of it, and some performance out of it go with the h or x-pipe route. If you just want a small difference in the sound go for the muffler idea. The muffler idea actually won't make that much of a difference because how restrictive the stock pipes still are. Yea, it will still be louder than stock, but it won't do as much as full exhaust system will.

The y pipe to dual exhaust setup...will give a slightly better sound, but will sound a lot worse than the x or h pipe route.

Also I wouldn't go to a shop to have them fab up a exhaust system for you since they wont will aluminum piping probably and not stainless steel so it will rust out on you.

[QuEeNiEsTaNg]

Yeah Im definately going to do he x or H pipe route. I just want something that sounds somewhat similar to my GT that I had. I mean it doesnt have to be Perfect cause obviously that wont happen, but just something. And I want it to sound nice, not just loud.
Now Im just starting to wonder if I should just throw a 5.0 in the damn thing and start all over...

[CyberPrey]

I would not worry aobut the rear bumper... YET

Get the other stuff done first, then you can always toss in a Saleen body kit, or roush, or a GT bumper

[QuEeNiEsTaNg]

Yeah Im not really too worried about it right now. I definately am going to get the more important stuff done first, then work on the cosmetic stuff.

It really sucks though, because there is so much stuff I want to do with the car, but not enough time, and I keep turning around and asking myself, hmmm. when are you going to take this a little too far.

But I just want something different ya know. I mean around here in NY almost everyone does the same damn thing to their cars, Nobody does anything different. I mean obviously sometimes peoples options are limited due to expense, or time, or just lack of ambition, but I just dont want to be the girl with "just another mustang"

Anyways. Wow, I guess I got a little too into that conversation HA..
But oh well.. I love my car, I loved my GT, sounds gay but that car definately took a piece of my heart when I smashed that all to hell and back...

And I definately wont touch those chips from ebay, and I am going to take a look into the SCT xcal2

[CyberPrey]

This is why I have a V6 Mustang.. in my area, its NOT common at all for someone to hotrod them.. I love being different than everyone else

And as long as you don't bankrupt yourself, you can never really take it to far... have fun with it, enjoy it, just ah.. don't smash it heh heh

check out vmptuning.com for the SCT, they treat people here from the boards pretty good.

[QuEeNiEsTaNg]

Ok I will definately check it out... Thanks SO much...
And yes, I will try not to smash this one lol

[232stang]

its good to see a woman intrested in cars. there arent too many out there.
with the whole bumper thing you can either cut out holes in your current bumper to resemble a GT bumper. buy a GT bumper which looks better than the cutout way. or just lower the tail pipe so they clear the stock bumper which doesnt look bad. plus people know indefinetly its a v6.

[QuEeNiEsTaNg]

Yea when I get to the cosmetic stuff Im just going to get a GT bumper...