I've just purchased a complete '94 5.8 to replace the 5.0 in my '95 F150 4x4. My plans are to bore it .15 to .30 over, valve job, add a higher torque cam, K&N air intake system and stay with the fuel injection and the mass air from my 302. I also want to add a set of headers and true dual exhaust without cats.

HEADERS:

Do long headers offer better performance then shortys?

Which brand of headers should I go with?

MUFFLERS:

I had glasspacks on my previous truck and they sounded OK but the cab noise was excessive, I do like listening to the radio at times. I want a deep aggressive sound and be able hear it bark when I jump on it. I've been reading some postings on Flowmaster 40's & 50's and Magnaflows.

Would dual Flowmaster 50's with a H pipe get the results I'm looking for? What size pipes? 2.5"?

Thanks!! Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

as for headers one is probably just as good as the other on the motor you described. You should go with 2.25 or 2.5 pipe and I love the idea of a balance pipe only I recommend an x pipe. Though I don't like them, I will go ahead and say the 50's are a good muffler. They are pretty quiet but hearable, pretty mellow with a decent bark and people seem to like them. The 40's are more aggressive sounding and are quite a bit louder inside the vehicle. But heres the thing, I just put the exact exhaust you just described minus the headers on my 95 with a 460 with 40's and it sounds really cool outside and it's noisey outside but inside it's nice and quiet. The only time its loud in the cab is at idle but I have mine dumped under my bed with some big tips and that tends to make it vibrate more in the cab. My guess is if you take it clear out the back it wouldnt be bad at all in the cab. The x pipe makes it sound cool. It almost sounds kinda funny because you dont expect a big pickup to sound like that but it sounds racey, especially when you put the pedal down or just rev it up it has a mean BARK. I always used to hear people say they liked the nice "rip" that the x pipe gives and I didnt get it, but I do now. When you hammer it, it rips. It sounds mean when you start it up too. I recommend 40 series if you get FM's, the magnaflows are cool and I hear Ravins are cool to. Sorry for the long post but there it is.

 

The long tube headers are suppose to give you more low end power than the shorties. Whatever headers you buy, spend the extra money and get the coated ones. I run Flowmaster 40 originals, 2.5" true duals, w/4" tips. "No Cat"
See Ya, Dan

 

Where can I get an "X" pipe? I,ve only seen "H" pipes.

Also, wouldn't installing an exhaust system with long headers be easier? Less bends?

 

I got my x pipe from my local not-so-special muffler shop. I actually asked for an h pipe and when i came to get it they told me they put an x in instead because it was better. Yeah long headers would probably be easier to put exhaust on but a good muffler shop can do damn near anything. You should see how they did mine, its a work of art.

 

After inspecting my current factory single exhaust system setup I have a question in regards to installing true duals. On the passenger side there is plenty of room for the exhaust pipe to go above the cross member on the frame but on the driver's side the transfer case and front drive shaft are there which would prevent the exhaust pipe from going over the frame cross member.

Where does the driver's side pipe get routed?

 

My pipes are stacked on top of each other in factory location next to trans. Then before rear axle mufflers are turned vertical side by side. Then tailpipes to corners of <a href="http://motorhaven.autoanything.com/">bumper</a>s. I still don't know how he did it. I can get to every bolt on starter, trans, etc. It's true art work. It's worth the extra money to find the best custom exhaust shop around. I put my headers on myself then drove it to the shop. I paid $475 w/tax. Check w/local speed shops to see who they recommend. Also I ask alot of people who they used if I thought their exhaust looked good. Good luck, Dan

 

dk5122, Do you have dual cat's and dual mufflers?

 

No Cats. Headers, 2.5" pipes, two mufflers, tailpipes w/4"tips.
My truck is a 1987 F-250 HD 4x4 didn't have cats. on it from the factory. I guess because of its weight. The guy who did my exhaust had a ton of pictures on his wall of all of his custom stuff. I can tell you when you have someone local that really cares about the type of work he does, it makes a differance. There was a newer Ford truck there that was just done before mine, he had two hi-flow cats installed the same way mine was run. Even with the cats on the newer truck it sounded awesome. Just take your time and do it right the first time I learned that one the hard way.
Good luck, Dan

 

Hey Minn 4x4 I just completed my new exhaust system on my 84 f-150. My duals that I had for years did run down the passengers side up over the cross member with long glass packs.
I put on a new set of DynoMax Ceramic Coated long tube headers with 2.5 inch pipes and a 50 series flowmaster 2 inlets 2 outlets. Its longer than your original but it tucks in nicely and sounds great. It also serves as a H pipe. The pipe on the drivers side drops down under the cross member and connects with the other side to the dual inlets. The guy did a nice job and the bigger pipe was just to much through the tight space that the original duals went. It has the sound that I wanted. Dual outlets with 45's turndowns underneath the bed. The guy said he likes to call them PHANTOM exhaust because at the stop light nobody no's which one in line it is but it sure sounds good.

JJH