89 e-150 exhaust

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 3, 2007 | 04:44 PM

cleeE150

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 112

Likes: 0

89 e-150 exhaust

Hi all new here love forums. I have 89 e150 conv,van 302,aod need to put new exhaust on. all original minus muffler. thinking of cutting daul pipe thats inlet to coverter, I think its 2.5 inch. going daul pipes dual 70s mufflers pipes pass rear passenger wheel. hoping to get more h.p. for trailering, has 2 cats with 400,000 miles on them motor has under 50,000 miles, srry 4 spelling, any sugestions, pics etc thanks much.

Sep 3, 2007 | 08:34 PM

2000Ford2000

Elder User

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 592

Likes: 1

You'll gain very little HP doing anything with a 1989 302 exhaust unless you install headers first. I ran Thrush Magnum Glasspacks directly off of stock headers on my first 89 302 because I had them laying around and couldn't afford anything else at the time. I noticed no difference in HP or MPG. I noticed a little difference in sound though.

Sep 3, 2007 | 09:03 PM

pfogle

Lead Driver

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 8,140

Likes: 4

From: Oak Harbor, OH

Keep the cats, and run a straight pipe. It sounds good and it WILL gain a little bit down low. Use a 2.5" single (what we did to our '88) and the thing will pull a loaded 8x14 box trailer all day long.

Sep 3, 2007 | 11:11 PM

Club Wagon

Posting Guru

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 2,351

Likes: 8

You saying original cats, w/400,000 miles on them? Got to wonder just how long cats keep working? Somehow I'd have thought they'd just 'wear' out eventually. IF they no longer serve the catalyst function & there's no inspection worries for eliminating them where you are, you wouldn't be sacrificing anything. There's a chance they could also be partially plugged if the motor ever ran rich or the cats got dented.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleeE150

has 2 cats with 400,000 miles on them

Don't expect much in the way of noticeable HP improvement, unless the cats were restrictive. As others have said, there'd be more to be gained by replacing the constricting original iron exhaust manifolds, if you could find headers that will fit Econoline.

I still like to believe cats help combat air pollution. How about a dual system that has a new low restriction, fully functional, cat in each pipe?

Sep 4, 2007 | 07:04 AM

cleeE150

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 112

Likes: 0

cleeE150 thanks 4 replies, I read some were cats dont ware out, only damage or plugging, dont know how true this is?. few years ago had muffler replaced with straigt pipe. all from cat back is rusted, full holes needs to be replaced, power band been down 4 while, hoping to get back to org. power , cat could be part pluged, motor runs good, as motor temp go up power gos down not bad but not were it should be, thinking cat could be promblem (motor dose not run hot,overheat) few years ago fuel pressure went out blew lot black smoke ie maybe part plugged cat, dont have inspection here, need to do on cheap, Im part disabled, hope this makes since. wish ive see this site years ago, thanks for help......89 e150 302 aod full conversion, Love my van..........thanks again

Sep 4, 2007 | 07:20 AM

cleeE150

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 112

Likes: 0

p.s I also am cocerned about polution, also thinking cats cant be clening exhaust verry well after all these years,miles ect. could go with hi flow cat?. about month ago replaced exhaust manifolds with new stock, didnt know better, till I seen this site, stock headers,down pipe,cross pipe,o2 sens, dual pipe to first cat in great shape, cant find anybody that sells dual inlet cat to fit this setup?. thats why I was thinking to cut dual inlet pipe remove cats and going from there back. thanks