Hey guys. I wanna put on a new exhaust system. I want it mostly for performance, not noise. It should sound nice, but I want it quiet. I wanna lose the cats. I dont wanna spend an arm and a leg. I'm thinking about dumping in front of the rear tire just for looks. Dual exhaust would be nice, but is it worth the extra cash performance wise? How much of a performance jump am I realistically looking at without changing headers? If you wanted what I want, what would you do?
'86 F150. 5.0L 302. EFI. Stock.
Thanks

 

Without headers, don't bother with anything. Leave it stock as it won't make much difference and your money can be better spent elsewhere.

If you want a performance improvement do a dual 2.5" exhaust. Use some turbo mufflers such as Dynomax Super turbo or even any generic turbo muffler. They'll keep it quiet at idle and off idle but bark a bit when you get into the throttle harder. Not obnoxious like glasspacks and not loud or resonating like a 2 chamber muffler.

 

Dual exhaust is definitely worth it.Improves your HP a little and should increase your mileage a little too. As far as what you want to do, its all preference there. I would put headers on for better exhaust removal. Do a search for exhaust clips here for your engine.

 

Headers is the way to go then. Well, guess I'd better save up a couple more hundred before I get to working on it.

 

I found some headers on the jcwhitney website...they were flowtech performance headers and only a $139...me myself im looking to purchase them but I was looking for additional information before I actually did so. I hope this helps or sets you in the right direction. I would be getting them for a 300 I6

 

Get the ceramic coated headers, especially for your 300. They dissipate heat better, and from what I understand, they last longer.

 

Mustang shorty headers??

 

Yeah, in the $140-$200 range is about what i'm finding headers for. I have checked most major sources, so that seems to be the going rate everywhere. Mustang shorties, huh? Suppose i could. Would they require any modifications, or would they pretty much just bolt right on since the stangs used the 302 also? I really have no intentions of having to mod anything. I am willing to do some mild fab work, as I have access to the equipment I'd need, but I wanna keep it as "bolt on" as possible. Do shorties give much of a performance boost over reg. headers?

 

I'm not an exhaust system guru, but everything I've read says that longtubes will give a bigger torque-gain than shorties because of better extraction, particularly with a lower rpm (truck) application; & that a 2 into 1 setup, while less sexy, also does - because of the extra extraction effect at the y-pipe junction.

Pipe diameter is critical for performance - a lot of people go too big & lose exhaust velocity/torque.

 

Geez Ken, I thought you said you were'nt a guru. That is all good info to hear, as the long tubes are a bit cheaper, as is running back into one pipe. I was thinking 2.5" would be about the biggest that I'd go, larger seems a big extraneous. Thanks for the wisdom.

 

There's a heap more knowledgeable gurus out there than me

 

The problem with Mustang shorty headers is the angle of the header is pointing to high. If you look at your stock manifold and exhaust it has to cross under the oil pan, so our exhaust is pointing down more.

A good exhaust option to do your self is the hooker or dynomax true dual system. I ran it on a 77 F150 and was pleased. It is cheap and bolt on. I liked it for it's stealth appearance. It is 2.25 and both come out behind the passenger rear tire like some stock 351 and 460 exhaust. It is expandable also, because of it's design it will be easy to put on headers, cats and H or X pipes.

I'm in agreance about a quiet system. Let us know how it turns out.