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One thing you could do to retain both converters is to just do a muffler delete with a Y pipe. This sounds quite decent. You could do this now and switch to the setup below after leaving that state.
Or you could do what I did and go with the original catback before there were catbacks which used to be well known at the exhaust shops as the torpedo pack which is a glasspack with a Y on it and a single cat.This sounds really good and slightly similar to the 2 cat with muffler delete, but better overall and the best part is no chambered muffler drone.
I have had several different exhaust systems on these trucks since they were new and the original way of doing it is my favorite for a stock truck.
I wouldn't buy any of that Blowmaster stuff. Also, headers aren't really needed for a stock 190 hp engine and there is no way I'd fool with them on an original motor. I'd just keep the manifolds and have less headaches. If the engine has better heads and a cam etc, my suggestion may change.
The Gibson stuff sounds nice with a mellow burble and some growl when stepping on the throttle, but with both stock cats it will not be all that loud.
I’ll go with the Gibson. But the manifolds on mine are rusty I can bend the flat part by hand, so I need new ones so that’s why I looked into headers, since they said bolt on.
Buy what YOU want. I like Flowmaster sound. Gibson typically sounds tame too, similar to Magnaflow. Hooker Aerochamber are awesome too. Throw the dice or flip a coin, get something.
Stock manifolds are garbage, anything to help that truck breathe the better is good. Camshaft is the biggest issue on the flat tappet trucks, beyond pathetic. If yours is late enough, you have a roller cam ready block.
You do four mods for 5rwhp you just gained 20rwhp.
Whatever you choose, start a build thread for us as we love to see other's trials and tribulations
I’ll go with the Gibson. But the manifolds on mine are rusty I can bend the flat part by hand, so I need new ones so that’s why I looked into headers, since they said bolt on.
Originally Posted by Hit Man X
Stock manifolds are garbage, anything to help that truck breathe the better is good. Camshaft is the biggest issue on the flat tappet trucks, beyond pathetic. If yours is late enough, you have a roller cam ready block.
The Gibson system should be nice and mellow, and at half price would be a deal. Bet it would sound really good with just a single high flow cat later on.
I'd just replace the manifolds. Actually am about to remove some headers on my friends stock F150 5.0 and put manifolds back on since the headers developed multiple leaks. Done this on a few stock trucks and noticed no gain from having headers or loss of power or fuel economy going back to manifolds on these trucks either. There is nothing wrong with manifolds on a stock motor. They are fool proof unlike headers. A warmed up motor with heads cam etc is a completely different story, and in that case manifolds are garbage. So, if you build up the motor, then get headers but otherwise forget it.
I had cracked manifolds in 1999 with my 88, my pal did too. I saw a dyno with them of 6rwhp, not much but some gains I guess. Problem with the shorty is that damned Y pipe is so small.
Does Ford even make manifolds for these anymore or are we stuck with cheapo foreign units only?
That’s another reason I want headers, the stock manifolds I’ve seen are notorious for cracking and leaking. So if I get a good quality header that won’t be an issue for a long time.
I had cracked manifolds in 1999 with my 88, my pal did too. I saw a dyno with them of 6rwhp, not much but some gains I guess. Problem with the shorty is that damned Y pipe is so small.
Does Ford even make manifolds for these anymore or are we stuck with cheapo foreign units only?
All I see is replacements from Dorman etc, but have usually just used clean used Ford ones when putting them back on. The next set I'm doing will be Dorman or whatever brand we can find. I doubt shorty headers will give more than 3 or 4 hp on a stock higher mileage truck. I've seen so many of the shorty ones that didn't last or leaked. When it comes to headers its either expensive ones or manifolds in my opinion. I completely agree about the Y pipe, but with stock heads cam etc it really just is not worth messing with them. However, if the manifold is damaged and has to be replaced, it won't hurt to install headers, just seen way more problems with them than with manifolds.
That’s another reason I want headers, the stock manifolds I’ve seen are notorious for cracking and leaking. So if I get a good quality header that won’t be an issue for a long time.
I've seen more problems with headers than I have with manifolds. The saying headers cause headaches is true, unless they are expensive stainless ones. Most are notorious for breaking welds and warping and having pinhole leaks that blow out especially on cheap thin steel headers. The manifolds that seem to be the most problematic are the ones for the 5.8 esp the passenger side. The ones for the 5.0 are much less so and I've rarely seen an issue with them.
When I buy headers for my 351 build they will probably be JBA. For a fresh build with the engine built up some, I'm all for good quality headers.
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