I just got my 1996 V6 3.8l mustang what would be the best to start with when putting mods in it. I am planning on putting dual exhaust on it and already installed CAI, what should i do next. By the way this is my first mustang, and new to adding mods to vehicles. And what kind of exhaust should i put on. tnx for any help

 

Well if i would install a set of long tube headers with a off road h-pipe and a quiet catback, like magnaflow or dynomax super turbo's. Cuase lets be honest the v6 sounds awful.

 

I beg to differ. Along with my GT, I also have a 95 v6 that my fiance drives. All i have in terms of exhaust is 2 welded in flowmasters. the y-pipe was cut and gt pipes run from the cats out, no crossover. I have had soooo many people swear to me that it is a v8. I have even had it in a shop before where the guys swear its a v8, of course before they pop the hood. I have also heard some nice sounding one on here from people who have posted video clips. I have been exploring upgrading the exhaust on mine to sound even better and been talking to some people in a couple of threads. do a search for v6 exhaust and read what was said and listen to some of the clips there and see what you think of those setups.

of course, a v6 will never sound exactly like a v8, but they can be very darn close. it is however, just a matter of preference with exhaust sounds anyway. you can also try mustangexhaust.com, although you do have to register to get to the clips. they are limited on v6 clips, but there are some there.

Scott

 

Yeah i agree some v6's sound awful. But if had some people ask me if mine is a gt and have had many compliment me on my exhaust. Even for a v6 its a nice deep throaty sound. Cobra4123 has heard it and said it tricked him on it being a v6. Also i do have true dual exhaust with flowmaster mufflers. So it could be all in what you do to it.

 

[QUOTE=spike_africa]install a set of long tube headers with a off road h-pipe QUOTE]

yeah man i'd watch out for that H-pipe a couple of my friends have add them and say they actually loose power. But def. listen to www.mustangexhaust.com , they a good sound clip area that you can listen to each set up. Although some of the people in the clips don't rev their engines enough.

 

thats a myth, i want ot see someone dyno less power with long tubes and h-pipe with a catback without cats i might add.

 

yeah on the V8's it doesn't matter, but even the guyz at the Ford Performance shop tell me with 2.5 inch pipes and an H-Pipe, the 6's loose back pressure. I'm just tellin ya what i heard, I'm tryin to go with a simple flowmaster kit, or maybe the MT off-road x-pipe, flowmasters and tips, I've always heard the X-pipes sound the best. Neone know?

 

Just show me a v6 that lost power and will gladly agree. They also say the GT's lose low end with off road pipes, mine was faster all around. These backpressure theroys are myths. You dont need much at all.

But as for the x-pipe i have no idea what it would sound like, get it and try it out. whats the worst that happens you sell it on ebay?

 

Thanx everybody for your help I just installed a flowmaster 50 series exhaust in it. sound much better, thanx again for all your replies. I had one more question my power steering pump whines, i had it replaced but it still whines any body know why it does this? thanx for all your help again.

 

yeah i have the same problem on my stang. It wihines alot, and people think its supercharged or something. Anyway to fix it?

 

the 95 v6 I referenced in an earlier post about the exhaust does it really bad too. it always has. it must just be something that is characteristic of these models or something. I have never looked into replacing it or anything b/c my fluid and fluid level are fine and as long as i have powersteering I figure it will be ok.

Scott

 

I have a 96 3.8 v6 with stock single exhaust, nothin special, new cai. But still the exhaust sounds great. I had an engine rebuild a few years back but she sounds great, better then most on these roads. Around this year of mustangs though I believe they have a problem with inevitable exhaust leaks, most people don't know when they are hearing a small leak or their exhaust, thus leaving a bad name for the stang unless you guys are saying the flow masters exhaust and all these other exhaust systems don't sound good, cause they're pretty damn throaty personally I don't want to go with one of those exhausts. Might just get the headers x pipe it. And get a dank catback. Or just get a new single and mess with boar power. On that note I think the bbk long headers are the best v6 headers for adding power and feel economy if you get new resonators and cat back then go with the bbk headers it'd be worth it. But an exhaust in my mind is pointless without some mods so. On top of a new intake, maybe a larger boar throttle body. Although this is the 3.8 v6 after all so the largest size throttle bodies compatible with this vehicle are tops 56mm. While the 4. anything v8 is capable of running at least 10 on that and then the 75mm throttle body typically throws enough horses over to out do probably any 3.8 v6 not that they are necessarily similar anymore haha. Hopefully ford goes somewhere with their new v6 ecoboost engine that they're putting in the new gt. It's said to tear it up but there's a lot to take in on a new car like this I think they'll do it right and maybe come up with more of these feul efficient and aerodynamic specs.

 

Offroadster x pipe will add more power and feul economy compared to the h. Mid length headers and a good cat back that all go together are the way I think. Then you could even experiment with resonators and a couple cat backs if you wanted to be able to swap anytime along with engine mods that go with your exhaust.

 

Spot on. H pipes don't release your engines exhale the same. You might as well straight pipe haha. And the bbk shorty headers with their cat back is supposed to be the top for this car.

 

i put a mac cat back on my 96 when i first got it. ive been pretty happy with it after all these years still sounds good