whats the best setup for my 85 w/ 302?
keep the cats? long tube v. shorty headers? is true dual worth the hassle? and what size pipe should i run (i have 4bbl 600cfm edelbrock with perfomer intake and msd ignition)?

i guess my original question works best...whats the best setup for my truck?

 

It matters where you live and what your state requires as far as the cats go, some states require that you have them. Im in NY and had to keep them, I have an 86 F250 302 EFI, put on long tube headers with the true dual and I noticed a gain in power so I was happy with the true dual. I ran 2.5 inch through the whole truck.

 

nc requires cat but i can always get somebody to pass it no big deal....what's the best setup regardless of where i live?

 

bump bump bump

 

What determines the type of exhaust is more of a personal like or dislike as far as how you want it to sound, and how you physically want to route it.

Any type of header will give you some increase you can feel, along with a larger exhaust system. You will never notice the power difference as far as long or short header, or larger single or smaller dual pipes. Most of it is pyschological as far as how it's sounds. If it's louder, it will "seem" to have more power.

My personal opinion is true duals sound the best, but are harder to route and are not legal.

 

true duals arent legal??? why is this?

im plannin on gettin some hooker long tube headers true dual w/ hollowed out cats and glasspacks runnin straight out the back

i think i have to run the duals along the passenger side frame rail is this right? cause if so its gonna be a pain....

and i'm assuming i need an x-pipe or h-pipe or somethin like that...man, this will prolly cost alot ;-)...

 

Federal law;
The catalytic convertor is an emissions device. Where it's placed and how the exhaust is routed to it is considered essential to the convertor working correctly as it was certified, so legally you can't change anything from the convertor forward. That is why cat-back systems are so popular, because they are legal.

In my state, and probably in most, all exhaust systems must be baffled. So glasspacks are not legal to run on the street. People do it, and how the harley guys get away with it is beyond me. I personally have run them, and it's fun for the 1st 30 minutes of driving. After that, it's too loud.

After saying all that, is my truck legal to the letter of the law? No. I have long tube headers, with true duals, catalytic convertors in both pipes. I first had it with no cats, and got caught at the inspection station. But the guy that inpsected it, said if I put one cat on each side, he would pass it. So that's what I did, and he's happy.

Fords are a problem, because the gas tank is in the way. What I did to avoid this problem is 90 the exhaust right after the header, underneath the frame on each side, and then kicked it up and ran it along the outside of the frame along the rocker panel, and then out each side in front of the rear wheels.

If you want to do any of this, you will have to buy a kit or do it yourself. I could not get any exhaust shop to do it for me because, well, it's not legal to run it that way. I built mine out of the universal pieces you can buy at the auto store.

 

The best exhaust system to me is an all-stainless one. My 83 has proven its' durability....except a regular steel exhaust is a weak point...not durable at all.

 

I like FlowMasters, they have a nice little rumble thats not too loud and they sound nice and with 3 in pipes on a 302 EFI, I have enough power for any passing. I still have the cat with the oxy sensor...so its legal behind the rear tires.