To go dual exhaust, or not to go dual exhaust?

[Kraze]

I have a base 97 that I just got a set of Geno's mufflers for. I'm trying to decide if I want to spend the extra money to get the whole exhaust redone, or just have the stock mufflers cut off and these mufflers put in place. What do you guys think?

If I go the full exhaust, I still have to get an X pipe, plus tubing. For tubing, I would go here. I don't really live in a place where I would trust a shop to bend up the tubing themselves.

And for the X, it would either be the LMS double x, or if those are out of stock then just whatever X I can find. Maybe the stainless one off SCP.

So what do you guys think? Worth the money to do the whole thing? Keep in mind, that any money saved from not doing the whole thing will still go towards the car, just towards other parts

 

[Lux]

I have a base 97 that I just got a set of Geno's mufflers for. I'm trying to decide if I want to spend the extra money to get the whole exhaust redone, or just have the stock mufflers cut off and these mufflers put in place. What do you guys think?

If I go the full exhaust, I still have to get an X pipe, plus tubing. For tubing, I would go here. I don't really live in a place where I would trust a shop to bend up the tubing themselves.

And for the X, it would either be the LMS double x, or if those are out of stock then just whatever X I can find. Maybe the stainless one off SCP.

So what do you guys think? Worth the money to do the whole thing? Keep in mind, that any money saved from not doing the whole thing will still go towards the car, just towards other parts

What are your goals with the car? If your just going for looks and sound throw the mufflers on and remove the resonator after the 3rd cat. If your going for better flow, increased power, etc. Duals would be the way to go with in x in place of the 3rd converter. You can get an X off ebay for about 40 bucks.

 

[Kraze]

Better flow, increased power, etc. Looks and sound is a bonus

I guess what I'm really wondering is how big of a difference duals will really make? If it's a big difference, then that's what I'll do.

 

[02LS8Lincoln]

how much horsepower does a true dual exhaust actually gain?

 

[Kraze]

That's my question. Although this wouldn't exactly be true duals because of the X, but whatever.

Anyone ever just cut off the third cat and resonator on a base 2nd gen and welded up a straight pipe in place of it? Is that possible?

 

[02LS8Lincoln]

yeah its done all the time, thats exactly going to be my route, plus some dynomax bullets inplace of stock mufflers.

 

[Kraze]

Well the problem with doing anything besides replacing the mufflers is going to be finding a shop that doesn't mind taking off that cat. I live in California, it's strict here.

So now the question I guess would come down to: full exhaust, or hack off resonator and third cat and replace mufflers?

 

[Kraze]

No other opinions on this?

 

[rays brother]

I have a base 97 that I just got a set of Geno's mufflers for. I'm trying to decide if I want to spend the extra money to get the whole exhaust redone, or just have the stock mufflers cut off and these mufflers put in place. What do you guys think?

If I go the full exhaust, I still have to get an X pipe, plus tubing. For tubing, I would go here. I don't really live in a place where I would trust a shop to bend up the tubing themselves.

And for the X, it would either be the LMS double x, or if those are out of stock then just whatever X I can find. Maybe the stainless one off SCP.

So what do you guys think? Worth the money to do the whole thing? Keep in mind, that any money saved from not doing the whole thing will still go towards the car, just towards other parts

I have an extra x-pipe that i got for my exhaust that im not using. Its a long story why i didnt do both x-pipes. But let me know if u want it. Still in the box and everything. Its been opened but never been used. Just pm me if u want the pipe. Its not going anywhere.

 

[LaserSVT]

I would go dual. The LSC has what? 10 more HP over the base and all thats different (power wise) is a dual exhaust. Get an x-pipe and that piping kit you linked and have it installed.
When you go to a shop point out that there are no O2 sensors after the center resonater so its not a cat.
Dont want to start that fight in here again! It may be a cat, it may not be. I dont care. :lol:
Im just saying to tell the shop that so they dont think its a cat.
According to Geno you should see a 20 hp gain over the base model exhaust with a 2.5" true dual.

 

[Kraze]

I have an extra x-pipe that i got for my exhaust that im not using. Its a long story why i didnt do both x-pipes. But let me know if u want it. Still in the box and everything. Its been opened but never been used. Just pm me if u want the pipe. Its not going anywhere.

You've got mail.

I would go dual. The LSC has what? 10 more HP over the base and all thats different (power wise) is a dual exhaust. Get an x-pipe and that piping kit you linked and have it installed.
When you go to a shop point out that there are no O2 sensors after the center resonater so its not a cat.
Dont want to start that fight in here again! It may be a cat, it may not be. I dont care. :lol:
Im just saying to tell the shop that so they dont think its a cat.
According to Geno you should see a 20 hp gain over the base model exhaust with a 2.5" true dual.

Lol I like your idea. I'll just call it a resonator then if they say anything about it.

Has anyone ever used that piping kit? What's the benefit of stainless over aluminized steel? Just trying to decide which one to order now.

 

[Speed Demon]

Plenty of the TCCOA guys use that Mandrel place. I ordered the mid to rear sections for myself. I'm sure it will take a little work to get it to fit just right, but it looks like it should line up nice. I'm making my own crossover so it didn't matter that they don't have one for our car just yet. You can also get them in stainless if you need to. Unless your showing the car or your going to keep the car for more than 5 years, generally most people say aluminized is sufficient. I know Ginos system gets some good power over stock and sounds badazz, just curious if the double x was tested against a single for hp or if it was more for sound tuning at that point? Good luck.

 

[StealthShadow]

Hi Kraze,

I just had the dual exhaust kit installed in my '97 Base. I used the Mark VIII cat-back mandrel kit and the '92-'97 T-Bird front cat kit, sourced from the above link. I also had the Kooks 3/4 length headers installed, with Magnaflow 11229 mufflers and DP tips. I'll try to post some photos tomorrow. If you are in So. Cal., contact Kevin Murphy (from Brother's Performance) for the install, he's in Riverside (PM me for contact info). He's an expert on the Mark VIII now, he's been working on my car all summer!

Hope this helps!

James
'97 Base
116K miles

 

[DLF]

I used the pipes from Mandrel Exhaust Systems on my '98 LSC, in stainless steel. I had to make a bunch of changes to get the pipes to properly route around the tank and diff. Be warned, it's not a bolt-on.

 

[ONEBADMK8]

Duals are good for 20hp xx pipes or x pipe is still true dual.

Were getting our xx's in this week coming up FINALLY.

$279.99 for the whole kit and Gold members will pay $249.99!!
Can't be beat.

Oh and those Pypes kits, are they unassembled? If so you will spend more on labor getting all those little pieces welded up then you would if you had someone bend it. Our cat back will pass CA smog too.

If you want an easy way to get around the 3rd cat deal just sawzall it off and go to the shop with parts in hand and tell them you thought it was a bolt on kit then when you got it "Suprise" If they dont see the 3rd cat and only the 2 primary cats (which by law states ONE cat per pipe anyway, TOTALLY LEGAL) then they won't know and they will bend the job.

 

[MarkVIIIS]

I have a question I bought a set of mufflers and xx pipe kit from you Geno and all the xx pipe kit was, was two seperate x piope that werent welded together, this was a while ago and it wasn't really a big deal I was just always curious if that was how it was supposed to be sent to me

 

[lincolnboy]

id go 3" from the cat back

 

[ripped camel]

Magnaflow X used for my midpipe, and I did feel a difference in performance with my car when switching to dual exhaust. The difference was more noticable when the secondaries opened up though.

 

[Kraze]

Hi Kraze,

I just had the dual exhaust kit installed in my '97 Base. I used the Mark VIII cat-back mandrel kit and the '92-'97 T-Bird front cat kit, sourced from the above link. I also had the Kooks 3/4 length headers installed, with Magnaflow 11229 mufflers and DP tips. I'll try to post some photos tomorrow. If you are in So. Cal., contact Kevin Murphy (from Brother's Performance) for the install, he's in Riverside (PM me for contact info). He's an expert on the Mark VIII now, he's been working on my car all summer!

Hope this helps!

James
'97 Base
116K miles

If you could post some photos, that would be nice. And I will PM you for that info. I don't think I'll be going to him for the exhaust, but once it comes down to more serious mods I might want to make a trip down there since he has experience on your mark already lol.

I used the pipes from Mandrel Exhaust Systems on my '98 LSC, in stainless steel. I had to make a bunch of changes to get the pipes to properly route around the tank and diff. Be warned, it's not a bolt-on.

What type of changes are we talking about here?

Duals are good for 20hp xx pipes or x pipe is still true dual.

Were getting our xx's in this week coming up FINALLY.

$279.99 for the whole kit and Gold members will pay $249.99!!
Can't be beat.

Oh and those Pypes kits, are they unassembled? If so you will spend more on labor getting all those little pieces welded up then you would if you had someone bend it. Our cat back will pass CA smog too.

If you want an easy way to get around the 3rd cat deal just sawzall it off and go to the shop with parts in hand and tell them you thought it was a bolt on kit then when you got it "Suprise" If they dont see the 3rd cat and only the 2 primary cats (which by law states ONE cat per pipe anyway, TOTALLY LEGAL) then they won't know and they will bend the job.

I thought about doing that if they have a problem cutting that off lol. Thanks for the suggestions and info!

 

[slowmkviii]

DLF your exhaust is seeeeeexy but I like the stock tips better
I wish I had the money for that

 

[DLF]

What type of changes are we talking about here?

Take a look at all the welded seams in the picture of the pipes around the diff.

 

[Kraze]

Ah ok, I see it. So if you had to do it over again, would you just go to a shop and have them bend up and install their own tubing, or go with the tubing kit again?

 

[DLF]

Ah ok, I see it. So if you had to do it over again, would you just go to a shop and have them bend up and install their own tubing, or go with the tubing kit again?

Well, I did it myself, and if I had to do it again, I'd just use mandrel bends and straight pieces.

If I had to pay someone else to do it, I'd probably look for a really good custom exhaust shop, and just let them bend it. Bending is much cheaper than good TIG welding.

 

[ONEBADMK8]

I have a question I bought a set of mufflers and xx pipe kit from you Geno and all the xx pipe kit was, was two seperate x piope that werent welded together, this was a while ago and it wasn't really a big deal I was just always curious if that was how it was supposed to be sent to me

Yes we send thm unassembled for packing purpouses.

 

[Kraze]

Well, I did it myself, and if I had to do it again, I'd just use mandrel bends and straight pieces.

If I had to pay someone else to do it, I'd probably look for a really good custom exhaust shop, and just let them bend it. Bending is much cheaper than good TIG welding.

Good to know. I guess I'll just look for a good exhaust shop, and just bring them the mufflers and the X-pipe and have them fab up an exhaust for me. By the way, yours looks nice!