North American Turbocoupe Organization



Advice on exhaust
Rob H Offline
Senior Member
#1
I took my car in to a shop to see if they could fabricate the y section of exhaust where it splits to dual as I have a sizeable hole in the top.
They asked me today if I was aware that there is also a lot of rot in other sections. I wasn't.
Does anyone have any advice on replacing the exhaust? I like to keep things fairly original, obviously I won' be able to get one from Ford.
Are there any exhaust systems from other fox body vehicles that I might have a better chance at finding?
They simply by pure coincidence, and almost luck really, as you NEVER see Thunderbirds around here, happened to have a 5 liter Thunderbird that they were ALSO doing the exhaust on. Said when all was said and done it was about $1000 Sad
The guy got cherry bombs and such, maybe raised the price a bit, I don't know.
Funny thing is, and don't ask me what the reason was, they told me but I forgot...It HAD a perfectly fine exhaust on it, but they cut it all off, and into smaller pieces!
I guess they went back to the scrap pile and grabbed a lot of it back.
Was way more than I was hoping to spend, thought I was replacing the y section only.
Big downer as I have several small but added together, pricey projects on the go
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anasazi4st Offline
Senior Member
#2
(05-16-2019, 03:03 AM)I Rob H Wrote: I took my car in to a shop to see if they could fabricate the y section of exhaust where it splits to dual as I have a sizeable hole in the top.
They asked me today if I was aware that there is also a lot of rot in other sections. I wasn't.
Does anyone have any advice on replacing the exhaust? I like to keep things fairly original, obviously I won' be able to get one from Ford.
Are there any exhaust systems from other fox body vehicles that I might have a better chance at finding?
They simply by pure coincidence, and almost luck really, as you NEVER see Thunderbirds around here, happened to have a 5 liter Thunderbird that they were ALSO doing the exhaust on. Said when all was said and done it was about $1000 Sad
The guy got cherry bombs and such, maybe raised the price a bit, I don't know.
Funny thing is, and don't ask me what the reason was, they told me but I forgot...It HAD a perfectly fine exhaust on it, but they cut it all off, and into smaller pieces!
I guess they went back to the scrap pile and grabbed a lot of it back.
Was way more than I was hoping to spend, thought I was replacing the y section only.
Big downer as I have several small but added together, pricey projects on the go
Well that narrative kind of jumped around a bit.  Undecided

So, how much did you spend? And they pieced together the sections they cut apart from the 5.0 car?

The biggest problem with the exhaust in our cars is that not only is obsolete but it has a bit of an odd configuration. One exhaust pipe leading to the catalytic converter, which then has a y-connection to two tailpipes.

In 2006 I realized I needed a new converter. I visited a local muffler chain (forget which one), and soon got into an argument with the manager, who insisted I had a single tailpipe system—“Someone must have modified it”. I had a copy of a Haynes manual with me (as reference, if needed)—I showed him and he still insisted it was single exhaust. Not only was this VERY POOR customer service (arguing with a potential customer), but the the hell difference did it make what exhaust I had. If I wanted a dual exhaust (and did not have one), who was he to argue?

By the time I had pulled my car out of the service bay, he came out and apologized for his mistake. Of course by then it was way too late, there was no way his shop was touching my car.

I later found a Meineke shop that did the work for $200. And he didn’t argue with me.

In 2011 I had the y-pipe and tailpipes replaced by another Meineke for $300.

While you might not be able to get the exact parts from Ford, come on now after all it’s just pipe. The most important parts are the converter and the mufflers, and stock-similar ones are fairly cheap and affordable.

I replaced the converter recently with a universal one from O’Reilly’s for about $50. It needed some adapters, but it worked out okay.
Another proud dues-paying member.

1987 Turbo Coupe w/T5OD, 8.8 axle, grey smoke; most options. Got it in 1991 with 41K miles: 3 turbos, 2 heater cores, 3 T5OD full rebuilds, 6 clutches, 1 head gasket, 2 Teves II ABS units, etc. later....
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mapman87 Offline
Junior Member
#3
I am also looking for a new exhaust.
My 87 turbo has an auto trans and single exhaust.
I want to go dual after a y pipe.
Wondering what size up to y pipe and what size after.
Thanks
Gary in Michigan
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mapman87 Offline
Junior Member
#4
Well, I just visited a muffler shop that does custom work and by Michigan state Law they cannot omit the catalytic converter. I'm to old to be under a car trying to hang an exhaust system. Now what?
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andrewjs18 Offline
Administrator
#5
(05-16-2019, 07:27 PM)mapman87 Wrote: Well, I just visited a muffler shop that does custom work and by Michigan state Law they cannot omit the catalytic converter. I'm to old to be under a car trying to hang an exhaust system. Now what?

is the car registered as an antique or is it a regular tag? I'm in Pennsylvania so the laws here may be different, but I know a lot of states with antique tags do not require inspection/emissions, Pennsylvania being one of those said states. with that in mind, I had my exhaust redone about 6 months ago or so, if I recall correctly. I went to a full single 3in exhaust with no cat: 3in downpipe, 3in piping, dynomax ultra flo muffler, custom exhaust tip.
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andrewjs18 Offline
Administrator
#6
stinger sells kits that might suit you well: https://www.stinger-performance.com/stockparts.html
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Rob H Offline
Senior Member
#7
Sorry if my story jumped around a bit, I'm bad for that.
I was just mentioning the other Thunderbird only because I thought it was unusual and also pretty cool, like I said you don't see them here.
To pull my Thunderbird into a small garage in a town of 20,000 and see another Thunderbird...the chances of that happening were pretty slim.
The other guy cut his whole good condition exhaust off in pieces, I think because he didn't realize it would not be so easy to replace. They went back and grabbed it for him, not for me.
anasazi4st,
I agree, it is all just pipes mostly. So far I have not spent a dime. Waiting to hear what they thing they can do.
I was asking in anticipation of the worst case scenario, so I would be able to offer suggestions that others have done if necessary.
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#8
I agree with Andrew.... check out stinger. High quality stuff at reasonable proces.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
anasazi4st and andrewjs18 like this post
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Rob H Offline
Senior Member
#9
I checked them out, does seem reasonable. Shipped to Canada though, I might have to save up for a bit Smile
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andrewjs18 Offline
Administrator
#10
(05-19-2019, 03:13 AM)Rob H Wrote: I checked them out, does seem reasonable. Shipped to Canada though, I might have to save up for a bit Smile

if there's a local exhaust shop that does custom work, it might be best to have them do it then. shipping to Canada will probably be spendy..
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