V6 exhaust choices and setups
 

Lets run down the basically of your cars exhaust first.
a stock v6 94-04 has a y-pipe that flows into a single in and single out muffler. the pipe size for a v6 is 2.25 inches.

Dual exhaust-
You can get the look of dual exhaust by buying a catback that takes the single pipe that flows into the stock muffler and replaces it with a y, then splits it out to two pipes which would then go into two mufflers then out the back to give it a dual exhaust look. This is the cheapest option but does not add hardly any power at all, and Steeda,mac,borla, etc.... all have kits for this.

Or you can get a V6 Dual Exhuast Adepter which takes the stock Y-pipe and splits it back to two separate pipes for each side of the motor. With this adapter you can run any GT catback as that's the way they are made. This setup will make the most power out of the two i have talked about so far.

Mid pipes-
So if you have decided to get rid of the little y-pipe all together. You can just like a v8 go with either a H-pipe or a X-pipe that they sell (American Muscle no longer sells the Mac H-pipe, you can find these at other places however)
These are for stock or Shorty headers and will not work with long tubes.
You can also get a shorty H-pipe from MAC that works with Long tube headers that i will discuss next.
As for which one should you get the x or the H its up to you there isn't to much a different in hp, but the H makes slightly more torque down low, and the X normally makes more power up top. Also the H-pipe will give a deeper tone where as the x will have a more European sound. Also with a aftermarket X-pipe or H-pipe you can also run any GT catback.
Also keep in mind that the v6 is an even firing motor meaning that exhaust gases are going be going going out of the motor at the same time every time it fires the spark. So the X-pipe is really not a good choice to use on the v6 motor. My advice is to run either an H-pipe or True duals which is two separate pipes from each header with no connecting aka crossover pipe.

Headers-
If you are keeping the stock y-pipe and or are running the dual Exhaust adapter kit you have to run shorty headers. they will give a nice gain in power,but of course not as much as Long tubes will. To my Knowledge only Mac makes Longtube headers for the 3.8 and they are also the only makers of a shorty mid pipe (which is required with long tubes). This will be the best header and mid pipe setup and will make the most power. With there shorty mid pipe you can also run any GT catback.

You can also take your car to a shop buy or bring whatever mufflers you like and have the exhaust shop fab up a nice true dual setup for you. A lot of times this is a lot cheaper then bolting a set on from the internet. But some places wont mess with cats or anything of the like so look around see what kind of prices you can get and figure out what is the best way for you.

For 05+ v6 mustangs-
You are a bit different off then 94-04 cars. You have a lot of nice cheaper bolt on kits to give you either a X or H-pipe system, but again I would not recommend an X-pipe on the v6 for the above mentioned reasons. Most of the other advice is the same however and also applies to the new 05+ v6 cars. I will add that if you simply want more sound from your car then a simple and cheap muffler swap would be the way to go as they can be had for as little as $150 and bolt up in minutes replacing the quiet stock muffler. But if you want more power a true dual or H-pipe setup would be the way to go. Also keep in mind that from the research I have seen most 05+ v6 cars don't gain much at all with exhaust until they have a good amount of bolt on's or have nitrous or forced induction added to them.

What kind of muffler, and or how can I get my car to sound like a v8?
Sorry folks it will never sound like a v8. You will hear people tell you there car sounds like a v8 idling.Yes I can believe that, but anything else will just sound like a v6. Its not a v8 and never will be one. Don't be ashamed of that.

As for what muffler you best bet is to go HERE, you have to register to hear the clips but they have tons that can help you pick the correct one for you.

I hope this helps you all out some.

Sure does! But now if i were to get a new mid pipe, I could then use the GT catback flowmasters? just tryin to clarify

That is correct, i forgot to add that part thanks.

Also if anyone see's a mistake maybe i didnt see or any info i might of forgot please let me know thanks alot.

I don't have a V6 but I'm sure this will answer a lot of people's questions a little better then saying, "buy a gt".

Thats why i wrote it i was tired of the bull**** answers and people asking the same exhuast questions. just trying to make it all a bit clearer.

That answered most of my questions. Now I just need to find a qualified person to put it on. Hard to find in deep east texas.

To clear things up i have a couple questions about the adapter...... If i put the adapter on you said i could put on any GT dual exhaust..... If i have a 95 V6 mustang and add the adapter do i have to put on a 95 GT exhaust or could i put on lets say a 2000 GT exhaust????????

Angry older guys
 

I know these types of questions get asked a lot but I checked the forum search before I posted any questions. Some of us new folks to the forums are more then likely not typing in the proper keywords. Also, sometimes the threads are tough to understand because of the lingo used by the more experienced users. I truly try not to post unless I do a search first but it seems to me that I must not be searching properly. If you don't like explaining the proper proceedure for us new people then just find a link to a post on that topic for us rather then making all of us feel like idiots for asking about things. Or, just don't reply to it. Remember, we haven't been around this stuff as long as you have so be kind to us tiny people :)

I have a couple of questions regarding the V6 conversion kit:

By looking at the pictures of the conversion kit it looks like it converts over to an H-Pipe System. Is this correct?

If so, do I have to purchase a "Cat-back" exhaust system or can i run pipes off of the ends of the kit into two Flowmasters with either turndowns or pipes out the back?

Just curious....

you can run some pipe off the back of the adator and then use Blowmasters with turn downs.

does the kit make it an h-pipe system?

it splits the stock y-pipe and turns it into a H-pipe which then means you can use Gt catbacks. or get some pipe your choice of muffler and dump those babies.

My sis wants dual exhaust for her V6 quick questions. What's the piping size of the h pipe that would fit her car is it the same as a GT 2.5? Is the y pipe adaptor worth it sound wise?

I have read how the GT's need a crossover (H or X) but the v6's necessarily don't because of the way the pistons fire. If this is true, then is it really worth buying a crossover for the v6? I would imagine that the sound would be better, but what about any power gain?

Her piping size is 2.25".


herndy_1: No you don't need a crossover. Difference in sound is debateable. Power gain in no different with or without a crossover.

And yes since our engines are even firing there is no point to a cross over.

borla
 

question : i am sick of the stock y and wanted to upgrade to double ... im more in it for the look than the sound so im goin for the cheapest option ... i talked to some ppl at my local shop and they said i could get a borla system put in for $430 and i was wondering if that sounds like a good deal to you ... thanks

That seems very exspensive. SO you are in for the look not sound? then the stock why shoudnt matter to you at all just run a catback that splits teh single pipe into two pipes then out the back you dont have to get dual exhuast ot that. Mac etc. and i think we have a few on this site that will do that also.

howabout we race so you can lose to a v6?

He is right about the crossover, you dont need an h/xpipe at all. I have dual 2.25 pipes back from the stock headers with no cats back to a set of dumped dynomax mufflers. I can take a pic if you guys want. The reason you dont need a crossover is because only one cylnder on each bank fires at a time, unlike the v8s where to clynders on the same bank are firing simutaneously. You wont get any more power gain by using a crossover or any less from not using one, it all depends on sound. Overall a v6 with an h-pipe will sound a bit deeper and throatier that a v6 thats got just straight duals.

Spike is right, that is a lil bit too expensive, even for borla. You should look into getting a custom exhaust made, but most shops dont have mandrel benders. My exhaust cost about 150 bucks to get done. I provided the mufflers which were about 50 for both, so i had exhaust for $250. Also most shops don't take off your cats due to epa regulations. Id say go with a set of mac longtubes $160.00, a mac catless h-pipe $110.00 and a spintech catback $300.00

Wow u think it's the cheap for LTs and shorty H-pipe...show me where YOUR shopping LoL... I want!...It was guna cost me 500 no less for LTs and Shorty h-pipe with cats....

U probably don't wana go catless just cuz of the issues you will have later with inspection and the 6's actually work well with a little bit of back pressure...

Well i only have no cats, because #1 florida has no inspection and #2 i blew out the stock ones spraying nitrous and they were rattling.

www.v6mustangstuff.com
www.gefracing.com
www.rpm-mustangs.com

but the best place:
www.ebay.com

I have a 2004 v6 Mustang. I'm looking at getting an SLP Loudmouth II, but they don't make any for a v6, and you said a v6 doesn't need an x-pipe. Someone else told me that for the SLP to fit I need an SLP x-pipe and the exhaust, but could I not just get the conversion kit?

also...I would REALLY like to hear a sixer w/ an slp x-pipe and loudmouth II exhaust. SLP's website doesn't have one and the company that sells those as a package doesnt have one. I've heard it on a v8 with modifications, but I know it won't sound n e thing like that so I want to have a roundabout idea.

MT#1 customer mentioned awhile back that he heard a SLP set up on a V6 and loved it. I've never heard the SLP either. If you wanted to get that set up you could go with a conversion pipe from MTing for like 90 bucks plus the catback, or you could do a mid pipe and just go from there...

It's true a mid pipe won't make a huge difference in our cars, but they will certainly change the sound. If you click the link in my sig theres a link to the 3.8 Mustang Board where they have sound clips posted of various V6 exhaust Set ups...

i thought this was a good find for people looking and trying to figure out what we are talking about...

I have Dual Flowmaster 40 series H Pipe coming from my cats it dont sound bad for a v6. Which next thing is hollowing out the cats shorty headers and new manifolds

Exhaust question
 

I just bought a 2003 v6 3.8L mustang gray... Iam looking for the best exhaust you can get on a mustang to get the best performance... i was looking at the catback that add 20 more horsepower with it but not shore... So if i could get some help you there... thank you my email is mikelax1621@gmail.com if you want to send me something or write back on the fourms.. thanks

The only way you'll ever get any where close to 20hp out of an exhaust is if you are supercharged.

Looking for a very nice exhaust setup i could buy for a 2001 v6 3.8L... help me out with some options i could use..

If you dont plan on going performance get a mac y pipe kit.

I just bought this 05 sixer with the pipes running from stock headers to flowmaster mufflers, no cross-over....Doesn't sound bad at all :punk: