First Step To Good Sound

m_maker said:
What you bought is a rear section only. You still need piping from the x-muffler to cats.
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It's all there if you'll look closely. DLF bought the same exact kit and I'm sure if there was such a problem and that much pipe missing, he would have said something. All the pipe is there and designed for an X to be put in place.

[url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/93-98-Lincoln-Mark-VIII-Mandrel-Exhaust-TruBendz-2-5-Stainless-Steel-/370651391649?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item564c8b66a1[/URL]

Do you think I would seriously pay $280 for half of the pipes? Maybe I did!

Doug, did you pay for half of your pipes?
 
If it is half of them, I'll buy the other half. I'll agree with you though, it does appear to just be the rear half now that I look at it lol. Either way, it will be done right and start from the high flow cats.
 
Yeah, the kit you bought is only the back half.

From the ebay ad - •This system is the tubing only portion of the catback exhaust system. It starts AFTER the catalytic converter.

I custom made the part from the headers to the center muffler.

BTW, How are you planning to install a Hi-Flow cat on the driver's side, where the stock cat is part of the exhaust manifold? Assuming that you're planning to keep the stock manifolds.

HPIM0589.JPG


HPIM0596.JPG
 
DLF said:
Yeah, the kit you bought is only the back half.

From the ebay ad - •This system is the tubing only portion of the catback exhaust system. It starts AFTER the catalytic converter.

I custom made the part from the headers to the center muffler.

BTW, How are you planning to install a Hi-Flow cat on the driver's side, where the stock cat is part of the exhaust manifold? Assuming that you're planning to keep the stock manifolds.
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Doug, I'm just going to keep the stock cats. So, will I need four 45's or 2 or what lol? I have one saying 2 and one saying 4
 
NoLimit95 said:
Doug, I'm just going to keep the stock cats. So, will I need four 45's or 2 or what lol? I have one saying 2 and one saying 4
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2 - 45 degree bends should do it, if you cut the stock exhaust somewhere around where I've put the green lines in the pic. The stock tubing is smaller than the 2.5" inlets of your center muffler, so the installer will need to do quite a bit of welding to make up the difference. Ideally, you could expand the stock pipes a bit to meet the new pipe, but I don't know of a way to do that while it's still installed on the car. The easiest way would probably be to use two small straight sections of 2.25" tubing as a sleeve between the stock pipe and the new 2.5" 45 degree tubing.

HPIM0130g.jpg
 
DLF said:
2 - 45 degree bends should do it, if you cut the stock exhaust somewhere around where I've put the green lines in the pic. The stock tubing is smaller than the 2.5" inlets of your center muffler, so the installer will need to do quite a bit of welding to make up the difference. Ideally, you could expand the stock pipes a bit to meet the new pipe, but I don't know of a way to do that while it's still installed on the car.
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Thank you, that's what I needed to know. The installer has been in business for 30 years and I'm sure they'll make it right. I just didn't want nothing crush bent to fit. I'll order two of those and get them on the way. Do you suggest 2 1/4 or keep on with the 2.5?

Keep in mind that I don't have LSC exhaust like you have pictured or will it matter?
 
NoLimit95 said:
Thank you, that's what I needed to know. The installer has been in business for 30 years and I'm sure they'll make it right. I just didn't want nothing crush bent to fit. I'll order two of those and get them on the way. Do you suggest 2 1/4 or keep on with the 2.5?

Keep in mind that I don't have LSC exhaust like you have pictured or will it matter?
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I don't know for sure, but I believe that your stock exhaust goes from 2 pipes into one at about the same place.

I'd have to measure the O.D. of your pipes to be certain, but I believe that a 2.25" O.D. tube will slide over it, once it's cut.

So, there are two ways to get the job done.

Either step up to 2.5" pipe at the cut, using a short piece of 2.25" tubing as a transition sleeve, and use 2.5" mandrel bends.

Or, use 2.25" mandrel bends with a short piece of 2.5" tubing as a sleeve at the muffler.
 
DLF said:
I don't know for sure, but I believe that your stock exhaust goes from 2 pipes into one at about the same place.

I'd have to measure the O.D. of your pipes to be certain, but I believe that a 2.25" O.D. tube will slide over it, once it's cut.

So, there are two ways to get the job done.

Either step up to 2.5" pipe at the cut, using a short piece of 2.25" tubing as a transition sleeve, and use 2.5" mandrel bends.

Or, use 2.25" mandrel bends with a short piece of 2.5" tubing as a sleeve at the muffler.
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I'll go with option 1 and let there be a 2.25 sleeve and have 2.5 mandrel bends. With the two I'll order, they should know what to do from there. I printed the picture for them to go by and I shouldn't end up with anything crush bent. Thanks again Doug. The pics helped a lot and knowing I'm only buying 2 and not 4 is helping too. $60 is better than $118 and this guy tells me the install is still going to be $250. :rolleyes: Looks like it'll be later this month now instead of next week like I thought. I can wait it out though.
 
DLF said:
Good luck! Make sure to take plenty of pics.
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If they'll let me in there and under the car, I will but if not, I can get them when I get it back home. :)

The hold up will be waiting on the 45's to show up. The kit itself won't be here till around the 15th. Now with the 45's, might be around the 20th. I'll get it there though.
 
Since you're spending all this money, you really want to go all the way to the manifold flange on the driver's side, and as close to the cat on the passenger's side.
The stock piping in the trans area is not even 2" because it dual walled.
If you connect it all the way in the front, you need 4 45 deg bends, or just buy the S pipes they sell with the x-pipe, but skip the actual X.
You could've actually bought the front section with x muffler from them ;)

If you cut it where Doug indicated, the pipe will be 2" OD there (look how it thins out around the bend), so a slip on adapter will need to be made.
Make sure the shop has SS. Also, the 45 deg bends do not work there too well, you want more like 60 deg.

IMG-20130110-02559.jpg


IMG-20130110-02560.jpg
 
Try calling them and find out if you can purchase the S pipes only from this front kit in 2.5" SS to match the rest of it.

trubendz_tbird_partial_xpipe_pic.jpg


It will be the most cost effective probably and less work for your install guy.

http://www.mandrelexhaustsystems.co...NCOLN-fdsh-MERCURY-RETROFIT-X-dsh-PIPE/Detail

BTW, here's how the 45 deg bends fit (or don't really ;)) in place of the third cat (don't mind the x-pipe, it would be the same with an x-muffler).
If I ever had to do it again, I'd use 60 deg bends for a smoother transition.
But in your case, just get the S pipes, and go all the way to the front. That stock piping is very deceiving as pictured in the post above.

IMG-20120510-01511 (Large).jpg
 
Ok, now I'm understanding this a lot better and I'm not wanting no little stock pipes to be involved, seeing how I have this much invested so far and nothing is even put on yet. Now, with the link you provided, it this what I should get?

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$155.00 304 Stainless Steel, 2.5 Inch, Standard X-Section

Will that be enough pipe to reach my muffled X or am I still going to be missing something?
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Yes, you need to buy the front section, but without the x pipe or muffler (website doesn't show that option, but I am sure they will deal with you).
Tell them you have the x-pipe muffler already, and try to buy the piping only.

The front section need to be about 3 feet long (in straight line) to reach the cat flanges and position the muffler where it still reaches the rear section.
Hopefully the pipes are that long, if not you might need short pieces of straight pipe. Again, talk to them to find out the specifics.
 
m_maker said:
Yes, you need to buy the front section, but without the x pipe or muffler (website doesn't show that option, but I am sure they will deal with you).
Tell them you have the x-pipe muffler already, and try to buy the piping only.

The front section need to be about 3 feet long (in straight line) to reach the cat flanges and position the muffler where it still reaches the rear section.
Hopefully the pipes are that long, if not you might need short pieces of straight pipe. Again, talk to them to find out the specifics.
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I emailed him back and told him exactly what I have already bought and even sent him pics and part numbers of the muffled X, mufflers and tips. I even gave him the link to this thread and told him to take his time and decide for himself if the long S pipes, without their X would work. I should hear back later but the order for the rear section of pipe is being held right now but he does know what's going on and pics have been sent of everything, including the pics he'll see here that you and Doug posted. Hopefully he'll have me set by the end of the day and I can go ahead and get everything on the way. He did however agree to add the 45's in the kit though, so, that was a good thing. I should end up with 2.5 from the cats back when all is said and done. If a couple of straight pieces are needed, that won't be a problem at all if the length is needed.
 
Unless you plan to upgrade the stock manifolds and cats later I still do not understand why bother with the extra cost and added installation cost of 2 1/2" mandrel bent tubing ?? :confused: I would think you could install a much cheaper 2 1/2' and probably even as small as a 2 1/4" custom system. A standard cheaper pipe bent exhaust with a X-pipe or X-pipe muffler or resonator and it flow just as well with those bottle necks in the front.
 
Don Pfau said:
Unless you plan to upgrade the stock manifolds and cats later I still do not understand why bother with the extra cost and added installation cost of 2 1/2" mandrel bent tubing ?? :confused: I would think you could install a much cheaper 2 1/2' and probably even as small as a 2 1/4" custom system. A standard cheaper pipe bent exhaust with a X-pipe or X-pipe muffler or resonator and it flow just as well with those bottle necks in the front.
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Right now there are no plans for headers but my mind could always change. Yes, I could have just went to the exhaust shop and had crush bent aluminized steel put in but I wouldn't have been happy knowing I had their cheap thin pipe and crushed bends. Now if I ever do decide to go with headers, I'll be ready for them with a good lifetime exhaust behind them. I have learned with somethings that if you go cheap at first with something, you end up paying the price later so, I'm paying the price now the first time.
 
Wow I searched that site up and down and didn't see that x pipe section! That's another item on my list!
 
Stangman said:
Wow I searched that site up and down and didn't see that x pipe section! That's another item on my list!
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It's going on my list too. I decided to just get the 45* angles for now, get that stuff put on and then think about headers this Summer and make the rest right. I know I'm not going to be full flowing like I could be but I was under the car 2 days ago and looking at the passenger side cat. Just by looking at that, I don't see getting a good opening in diameter there so, headers maybe coming soon. For now, I'll have the rear section done and sounding much better than it does now and breathing a lot better and having tips that actually fit my cutouts. Some may look at it as a stupid buy and a waste of money and some of it may be but to me, I admit that I went into this a little too fast and wasn't really thinking or reading (the kit) like I should have but I know in my head that the parts I bought are for life and there was nothing cheap about none of it. Do I want my money back for everything? Yeah, kinda but then again, no. I wanna hear the nice sound it's going to have and I wanna know my car is able to breathe and doesn't have asthma. :)
 
m_maker said:
The stock piping in the trans area is not even 2" because it dual walled.
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Was there a particular reason why they made the pipe dual walled right there? I see the pic of the cut you have and everything but that is stupid to dual wall it. They could have used one size of SS pipes and come up with a better system to play with in the future. Guess they never intended on anyone modding the exhaust with aftermarket stuff. I hate knowing I'll have this size pipe located there and then 2.5 the rest of the way but it's going to have to do for now.
 
NoLimit95 said:
UPS caught me of guard a few minutes ago and dropped the tips off at the door. They're bigger than I was expecting. Big possibility they might be up for sale at a discounted price so that I can go with some double walled Magnaflows. I'll drop a muffler later and see what they're going to look like first. Now I'm waiting on the mufflers to show up.

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2012-12-24Pypes-4_zpsdf6c7a1b.jpg


2012-12-24Pypes-5_zpsf1322db5.jpg
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man, those look sweet!

does anyone have a part # or direct link where I can get them.

btw, I'm also working on the exhaust for my car. A lot great info on this post.
 
I got mine from Jegs and the part # is EVT29 but check around, they can probably be found cheaper than what I paid.
I still have all of this stuff in the box and haven't had anything put on yet lol. Maybe in a couple of weeks... My son is out of school all of next week and that will make things easier for me.
 
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