exhaust setup???
 

I have a 2000 GT. I am trying to figure out this whole exhaust setup? I want to put on an aftermarket exhaust and I definetly want to keep my Cats on or get sometype of highflow Cat. What I don't understand is this x and h pipe ordeal. Do the x and h pipe continue all the way to the rear of the car or is there another part of the exhaust that I need to purchase. Looks like there are 3 different sections to the exhaust? Can someone please help me with a setup that uses the Cats. I don't want to go without them. Thanks.

A Mustang exhaust consists of headers, a crossover pipe (X- or H-, with or w/o cats), and a catback system that consists of the mufflers and tailpipes. The catback is mostly for sound; don't expect to gain more than a couple horsepower by changing it out. As for the crossover, an X-pipe gives slightly more top end horsepower and a little less midrange torque than an H-pipe. The H-pipe tends to have the musclecar sound while the X- sounds a little more like an exotic at high rpms.
I have a Magnflow stainless X-pipe with cats on my car and a Magnapack catback and it sounds great.

Thanks, that answered alot of questions. Are your cats still the stock ones or aftermarket?

My brother has a Bassani o/r X and 2 chamber flows on his 99GT and it sounds killer. But it's definately is too loud for street use IMO, and the fact that his car is an auto doesn't help. He is going to have some stainless high flow cats welded in to cut down on sound and to see if he can get some more low end torque. I would get a pipe with high flow cats.
I had the exact same setup on my 5.0, and it's louder on the 4.6.
Check out this link: Bassani X . It should help to give you an idea about X and H pipes.

The cats are on the crossover pipe, so when I switched from the stock H-pipe to the X-pipe it went from 6 stock cats to 2 high flow cats.

Hey Blue00gt, does yours still pass emissions? If so, is it risky or a definite pass when tested?

With a catted pipe you should still be able to pass emissions. Some people don't have to worry about it. Check your local laws. Some people only have a sniffer test, and can pass with a catless pipe. Others that have the visual too are screwed.

If you want to hear various exhaust combos, check out www.mustangexhaust.com. Try to determine which sound you like best, because the power is going to be about the same.