Ok, i know that the "best exhaust" sound is very subjective based on the driver. This is my first v8 that I have owned, so i don't have a clue.

I have a '98 LSC, i do want to remove the rear cat, and put an x pipe in (or would an h pipe be better??) and I want to replace the mufflers. I do want performance increase, but I don't want my car to be loud at driving speed, I would like it to barely be noticeable at idle and normal highway speeds (or atleast not give you a headache after a few hours) but will really give a good mean sound when i get on it. Any help?

It is my finding that an X-pipe in place of your third cat then dauls out and oval shaped near stock muffs, would result in a more "European" growl when accelerating at heavy throttle between 3000 and 5000 RPM. In other words, the stock Ford 45 pound muffs are really quite quiet at freeway speeds. An H-pipe would likely sound more "North American". I personally have all cats with two Magnaflows and it sounds a little more potent at idle and a bit more strong at freeway speeds. I guess I need to post a couple of "sound bites"

Does that help?

Littlehorn

If it were me, (andI know its not) I would replace the 3rd cat with a dual in, dual out magnaflow muffler and then dual exhaust back to the muffler area. Listen to it, and see what you need to quiet it down. There are all kinds of exotic mufflers out there but I kinda like the idea of plain old "turbos". No pops and/or bangs, just a soft gurgle, and I've never had a harmonic drone with them.

1995 LSC Black on Black aka Stealth

yeah that does helps some, it's just too bad there isn't a website that you can type in what engine, and what exhaust setup, and be able to hear the exhaust sound (hmmmm.... idea? yeah right)

anyone else?

That would be a sweet website if someone created it. Unfortunately, every exhaust setup is going to sound a little different. The 4.6 DOHC in the Mark VIII will even sound different from the 4.6 DOHC in the Cobra simply because of different exhaust lengths and muffler placement.

I believe a DIDO muffler mounted as far upstream as you can get it will give you a more mellow sound since there is more pipe after the muffler to resonate, and mufflers near the end of the pipes should result in a sharper exhaust note. I think.

"...will even sound different from the 4.6 DOHC in the Cobra simply because of different exhaust lengths and muffler placement..."

The piping construction also is a factor. The new 2005+ Mustangs had an engineer design the sound using software, etc.

'Horn

i have a dido magnaflow and kooks headers 2-1/2 custom duals i have tried aset up without anything in the rear it was to loud,then i tried a set of 40 series flowmasters in the rear good tone but just to quiet now i have 2 cherrybomb 1 chambers its agressive but not obnoxious...i have a burnout video i havent posted yet...i have some exhuast clips of the system just magnaflow,then with the flowmasters,and then with the cherrybombs i will try and post them today if you want to hear them

my hott rod Lincoln

Here are a couple pics and videos of my Mark. All custom 2 1/2" stainless steel pipe. Kooks headers, Magnaflow high flow cats, custom x pipe, Magnaflow oval polished stainless steel mufflers, opened-up to 2 1/2" stock tips. I like the sound a lot. The best Mark exhaust I have seen and heard by far


http://videos.streetfire.net/video/The-Mark-All-DONE_210647.htm


http://videos.streetfire.net/video/SSHS8-The-Mark-1175112080_197859.htm

Mike
11.751 @ 120.80
SSHS8 Class D Runner-Up
Favorite Wendy quotes of The Mark: "WEEEEEEEEEEE" "Rides like a minivan..." "Nice hubcaps"

  

I have my video on you tube now a burn out and a couple exhaust clips let me know what you think

my hott rod Lincoln

Here is a vid of my setup which is Kooks headers with 3" collectors and dual 3" thru Magnaflow 2 in 2 out and Magnaflow 50's in the rear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI17C_PL2To




Whiner
535 RWHP 486 RWTQ

the amount of loud that'll give you a headache?

when my 72 chevy pickup ran, i had open headers on a 350. never registered the truck, left my driveway twice under it's own power. blew the motor up being a 17 year old with a truck that'd wake up the neighborhood 5 miles away.

and most of the running, was me leaning under the hood, throttling it by hand just to feel it.

i'm that kind of guy. i think my car's quiet without mufflers. i dropped the exhaust on the mark behind the manifolds one time and that's the sound i'm looking for, but it's just got the mufflers cut.

Brother's TransAm has a cutout under the passenger side. it isn't quiet. i'd drive it anywhere, but i enjoy hearing motors run. TransAm is louder than my car because the sound bounces under the car, my Mark's pipes are at the back.


from what i've heard on youtube, dynomax bullets are pretty quiet but holler under throttle. that what you're looking for?

"Being different has a coolness factor all its own."