thunderbird exhaust

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thunderbird exhaust

July 30, 2012, 05:17:03 PM

my brother just purchased a 1988 t-bird with no exhaust. hes wanting to know if there is an aftermarket exhaut for his car. he doesnt want to put factory exhaust back on it if he doesnt have to. any help would be greatly appreciated!

thunderbird exhaust

Reply #1 – July 30, 2012, 05:24:12 PM

V8, V6, Turbo 4? Very hard to give answers without proper information. :D

Whatever it is, IMHO your best bet is to take it to the best local exhaust shop and have them fabricate and install a custom exhaust. You will get the best fit and look that way.

P.S. Welcome to the forums!

thunderbird exhaust

Reply #2 – July 30, 2012, 05:45:45 PM

If it's a 5.0, a decent set of headers for a 5.0 Mustang of the years '87-'93, then grab a Summit catalog and order an x or h pipe (i went with a bbk catless x pipe) and whatever brand of exhaust makes your manhood tremble. (again, I went with flowmaster's catback kit, with 40 series lers)

Get all that, and some good stainless header bolts, take it all down to your local ler man, and tell him he'll need to lengthen the midtubes and tails a bit, as the Tbird has a few inches of length over the Stang. Otherwise, do what T-BirdX3 suggested, as there's NO aftermarket exhaust kits for these cars that's worth taking a piss on.

Good luck. Oh, and by the way, catless x or h pipes are cheaper by far than the catted versions....so if you can get by without being on the sniffer, then you'll save some coin..

If you have the 3.8 or 2.3 engines, there's a few extra steps, both of which start by removing the NON-5.0 engines and promptly attaching a large chain and boat to, for the purpose of anchoring said boat...
But that's left for more experienced persons, not suited for small children, little old ladies, and men who shiznit their pants when they get a hangnail. :hick:

thunderbird exhaust

Reply #3 – July 30, 2012, 06:56:38 PM

Well stated!

thunderbird exhaust

Reply #4 – July 30, 2012, 08:37:26 PM

Motorsport brand headers are a little shorter than factory by just a wee bit and require modification to fit around motor mounts on driver side. With these and the unknown brand X-pipe that came with my Mustang donor car, I used Summit brand cat-back exhaust. It turned out just about the right length. If I were putting it in the Mustang rather than the bird, I would be pissed because it is all parts meant for a Mustang and would be too long on a Mustang. So far I like the sound. Have not drove it much. Still bugs to work out. I would really say that it would be better to have it custom done at the exhaust shop. I could not get mine quite right.

thunderbird exhaust

Reply #5 – July 30, 2012, 08:38:55 PM

My first bird was an 87 V6. I swapped a 4.2 short block ,3.8 spi heads and intake, 88 v6 wiring and pcm, a vacuum actuated IMRC setup, factory headers from a 98 v6 mustang, and from there I used a 5.0 mustang h-pipe and 2.25" fabricated mids and tails with dynomax super turbo's (street sound - s in the part number) Sounded good for a 6, but you'll never get a sound as nice as a V8 car.

thunderbird exhaust

Reply #6 – July 30, 2012, 08:45:16 PM

Find some local fox'stang guys and buy their used stuff! That's what I did....shorty headers, BBK catless "H" and complete Flowmaster catback lers w/ tails. Don't have the tails on yet...need lengthened a hair on the ler end to clear the lower CA's correctly.

thunderbird exhaust

Reply #7 – July 31, 2012, 09:23:57 AM

If you have the 2.3L turbo then these guys can help you out with a nice exhaust:

http://www.stinger-performance.com/

Otherwise, if it is a V-6 shiznit can it and put a 5.0L in the car and do what the guys are saying above.

Darren

thunderbird exhaust

Reply #8 – August 09, 2012, 02:44:19 PM

awesome, thanks for the help guys. All i mess with is foxbodys, i have a 86' GT, 89' LX, and a 91' GT. my brother bought the T-Bird to go with his 87' coupe and 86' GT, when looking at it i thought that some of the fox stuff would work but wanted a second oppinion. its a pretty sold car to start off with. basiclly looking to clean it up and use it as his DD. And since i do most of the work on his rides at my shop ill probably be on here ofter seeking help. Thanks again guys.

thunderbird exhaust

Reply #9 – August 09, 2012, 03:02:18 PM

J/K But some Pics WOULD be nice