Just want to get some opinions before I start making purchases...

Current project is my 1993 Mustang LX that I have named the Mustang LSX.

It's in the works to become LS1, TFS 215 Heads, EPS 236/242 Cam, LSX-R Intake Powered. Should yield some fairly decent numbers and maintain decent driveability.

My area of concern as with almost everyone who modifies cars in our state is inspections... I really don't have much concern about the engine or smog since my car is a 93 and the engine is out of an 01 Camaro. However, exhaust is going to be a little tricky. I really don't want anything loud to begin with and do not mind sacrificing a little power and torque to keep it to legal levels. I know there has been a "ban modified exhaust" bill working around but I don't guess it's passed (and probably wont)

So what I was looking at doing is using the Dynatech Swap headers and use a reducer to bring it to 2 1/2" exhaust. Then build a custom X pipe with OEM Catalytic Converters from a 2003-2004 Cobra. Then, buy a cheap flowmaster american thunder 5.0 mustang LX exhaust (so it will fit stock 5.0 hangers) and replace the mufflers with OEM 2003-2004 Cobra mufflers. My thought process is that they are OEM parts from a newer car... If I recall correctly, parts must be of the same model year or newer... These would be 10 years newer and since the 03-04 Cobra's already make 400+ hp from the factory, I see no reason that these would not be a decent choice for the exhaust on the car.

I would like to hear what you guys have to say about this, opinions or suggestions are very very welcome. I am still a bit of time away from even putting the engine in the car, I want to get the paint and body part done before I place this beast in it's hole, but I would like to have my ducks in a row.

Thanks Guys!

Phil

 

I don't know if I would get that complicated, I would just run some high flow cats and Magnaflow mufflers, even with a big cam that setup should still keep it pretty tame, especially at low RPMs, and won't produce much restriction.

 

Well, I mean to begin with I don't want the car to be really loud... I want to be able to hold a normal conversation with the person next to me in the car or listen to the radio at normal levels, I'm not building a race car, just a cruiser. I will look into some high flow cats, I just figured they might try to nail me on visual inspection if I didn't have OEM cats up in there...

 

Honestly the average inspector has no idea what it should look like, if they see cats you should be good. My car is nowhere near as radical as what you'll be running (stock LT1 with stock manifolds and cats) but I have a Magnaflow on my car and driving on the highway you can barely even hear it, and at low RPMs it could almost pass for stock. I've heard plenty of LS1s with decent size cams and Magnaflow catbacks and even without cats it's very tame.

 

cats and magnaflow mufflers will keep it quiet. The one problem you will run into is cobra mufflers are center in center out, fox body is offset/offset so if your trying to retain the stock hanger locations you will have an issue, my old '92 lx 13.5:1 comp 306 with a 600+ lift cam with shorty, off road pro-prochamber and mac mufflers with tail pipes was quiet when I wanted it to be.

 

oh crap, I forgot about that part... SIGH! I guess the magnaflows will have to do... lol

 

Yeah, you will be fine if you leave the cats on it and have any type of muffler. Like mentioned they don't know what to check, at worst they will do a visual for cats.

Sounds like you are gonna have a sweet little motor in that Stang.

 

I honestly wouldn't worry about it, I got a sticker for my car yesterday and passed with flying colors. My car is pretty loud, its a heads cam car with magnaflow magnapack and zero smog on it.

 

As others said, you're over thinking this...especially with all the cobra/mustang parts.

Slap on the headers, but some high flow cats and decently sized mufflers and have a shop build you a custom catback with those pieces. You should be fine passing inspection with that.

 

since its a fox, I might as well go ahead and put a Flowmaster catback on it then... the Magnaflows just look gawdy with the 3" tips... 2 1/2 is plenty for me. would be just easier to buy a kit thats made to fit the car and build the xpipe to line up, rather than try and make everything right from the headers back from scratch.

Thanks for the insight guys!