New exhaust
 

Gentleman, I would like some suggestions please. I am going offshore next week and I plan to rework my exhaust with that check. I plan on installing new headers, have someone customfab an H or X pipe, hi-flow cats, and Warlock mufflers, all run with 2 1/2" pipes.
Hooker is the only place that I have found headers, so far, for the 4.9L engine. Do ya'll know of any other companies that makt them? Who would have the better quality? Also, as far as the custom H or X pipe, which would you suggest, please elaborate? I have an o/r X pipe on my stang and I love it, but I have never had experience with an aftermarket H-pipe. I think that ought to civer me for now. Thanks for any and all suggestions.
Caymon

You're going to give it dual exhaust? You're going to lose all your torque if you do.

If that is the case, what would you suggest? I'm definately going to replace the headers. Will the Hookers bolt up to the remainder of the factory exhaust?

I don't know about your year, but my '95 has a nice set of tri-y headers, factory. They combine into one at the cat, at which point I installed an Edelbrock RPM cat back kit, which sounds cool, but it's borderline powerwise. I didn't lose any torque, and I did gain top end, but I think if I had gotten 2.25" instead of 2.5" exit pipes, I would have gained torque too.

Take care,
~Chris

If I'm not mistaken, mine are two peices, each having 3 tubes coming from the heads, to a collector. The pipes coming off of each collector, run into what looks like a cat woth two inlets and one outlet. From there it goes into a huge cat, then to the dumped muffler. I think?????
What wxactly do you mean by tri-y.

That sounds right. A tri-y is 3 pipes that "Y" into one. BTW, if you REALLY want to find hot parts for the 4.9, check out Clifford. They have a website.

Take care,
~Chris

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out. One more quick question, I changed the headers in my stang, from stock to MAC equal length shorties without removing the engine. This was the most time consuming and pain in the arse job I have ever done for the stang. It took me almost 10 hrs to do and I had a nasty leak, talk about being pissed. I realize there is twice the room in the engine bay with the 4.9 as comparetd to the 5.0, but, given the location, how hard will it be compared to the stang? Thanks for the help.
Caymon

Hehehe, it will be a pain, but for entirely different reasons. You will have to remove your intake(s) in order to install headers. They are mounted with the same bolts.

Take care,
~Chris