Greetings I own a 1962 Galaxie 500 Sunliner with the Thunderbird 390. The engine has been bored and stroked to a 428. The frame has a huge cross member which the exhaust has been routed through (like the stock exhaust was). This gives me a 2 or 2.5 inch pipe which I've been told is really hurting my performance, but have no choice because of the frame. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Exhaust restriction problems.
- Thread starter Mr Kelly
- Start date
miker98038
Well-known member
I'm no expert on FE exhaust, but I found this on a Mustang site.
"Prior to Ford's introduction of the 428 Cobra Jet engine in April 1968, dual-exhaust Mustangs were only available with 2-inch diameter exhaust systems. But with the new power-plant also came new exhaust, and for the first time, 428 CJ equiped Mustangs were now available with a new 2.25-inch, better-breathing, exhaust system. And with that change, the tailpipes changed from a 2-piece, clamped-together design, to a one-piece welded-tip design. The new tailpipe design began in 1968 and carried over to 1969."
Those Cobra Jets came with some pretty sophisticated cast iron header style manifolds. So, unless your running headers and pretty low restriction (read racing) mufflers, I don't think 2.5" is a problem. Those CJ's were pretty fast with the 2.25's.
"Prior to Ford's introduction of the 428 Cobra Jet engine in April 1968, dual-exhaust Mustangs were only available with 2-inch diameter exhaust systems. But with the new power-plant also came new exhaust, and for the first time, 428 CJ equiped Mustangs were now available with a new 2.25-inch, better-breathing, exhaust system. And with that change, the tailpipes changed from a 2-piece, clamped-together design, to a one-piece welded-tip design. The new tailpipe design began in 1968 and carried over to 1969."
Those Cobra Jets came with some pretty sophisticated cast iron header style manifolds. So, unless your running headers and pretty low restriction (read racing) mufflers, I don't think 2.5" is a problem. Those CJ's were pretty fast with the 2.25's.
Ford blue blood
Well-known member
2.5 will do the trick more then enough. Unless you are going to be living in the 4500 - 7000 RPM those large pipes are just a place for rattles to happen.
A number of years ago Street Rodder magazine did a build using the FE series. They did three engines, one was bone stock 300 HP "Z" code, one was a mild street/strip, and the third was all out. The stock Z code made 302 HP at the fly wheel with stock manifolds, a 9.5:1 cr, and turbo flow mufflers on a 2.25 pipe.
A number of years ago Street Rodder magazine did a build using the FE series. They did three engines, one was bone stock 300 HP "Z" code, one was a mild street/strip, and the third was all out. The stock Z code made 302 HP at the fly wheel with stock manifolds, a 9.5:1 cr, and turbo flow mufflers on a 2.25 pipe.