Mustang Exhaust - From The Header To The Tailpipe

by Troy Perkins

Next to buying new wheels, upgrading the exhaust is the most common alteration done to a mustang. Either exchanging the mid-pipes, or redoing the entire system a common theme among mustang owners is they want exhaust systems that sound great and last. You can achieve this by improving the parts of your exhaust. Now you ask yourself, what are the different parts of the mustang exhaust?

There is more to the mustang exhaust system than just pieces of metal bolted together. Your mustang exhaust performs many functions, the most important ones are the following. They move the hot exhaust gases coming from your engine out of the car. They limit the noise output and reduce exhaust emissions. The faster you are able increase the air flow through the engine the better overall performance you will have and the exhaust is integral this.

How is it that the exhaust system accomplishes these things? By forcing the gases from your engine into the pipes and mufflers and out of the vehicle. There are three main parts of the mustang exhaust system. Regardless of what year, all mustangs have the same configuration. Upgrading both the headers and going with cat-back exhaust are definitely recommended. Performance will be improved, and in many cases sound and fuel efficiency as well.

The manifolds are first of the components and are attached to the exhaust ports of the engine. Manifolds funnel exhaust gases from the cylinders to an exhaust passage mid-pipe. The manifolds are occasionally referred to as mustang headers, and although they perform the same functions, are not exactly the same thing. While a manifold usually has many holes coming together into a common chamber, headers generally have tubes that curve and join the exhaust ports to the exhaust pipe. This allows gases to easily glide into the pipe as opposed to smashing through the ports.

The next component, which is something included in each and every mustang exhaust, is the mid-pipe. when the gases depart the manifold, this is where they go. Equalization of exhaust pulses is the main purpose of having this. They are bursts of exhaust from the engine to the pipe, which allows the engine to produce more power while also helping the system run more efficiently.

The mustang catback is the third component. The catback is bolted on at the rear of the catalytic converters. Assembly is made up of the mufflers and tailpipes and is the last stop along the line for the vicious gases coming from your engine. Multiple aftermarket performance upgrades relating to headers, exhaust and intake are available. Clicking the links within this article or resource box is where your best sources can be found.

Mustang headers are synonymous with manifolds and although they perform the same functions, they do not work in exactly the same way. Headers normally have curved tubes joining the exhaust ports to the exhaust pipe while the several holes of the manifold converge into a common chamber. The next component, which is something included in each and every mustang exhaust, is the mid-pipe. The third component is called the mustang catback. The catback bolts on at the back of the catalytic converters. The assembly consists of the mufflers and the tailpipes.

Published March 27th, 2008

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