YACT: Replacing Exhaust

[MDE]

I'm going to be replacing the exhaust on my 91 Lincoln Continental soon and I was wondering whether to keep it stock or go to a true dual. Would the car even benefit from a true dual or would it be a waste? The stock exhaust is separate until after the catalytic convertor, then it goes to one pipe, then splits to each muffler.

EDIT: Engine is a 3.8L V6. It definately needs a little more punch.

 

[Rent]

STOCK

 

[godmare]

dual exhaust you;d lose too much low end on that car, imo.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: MDE
I'm going to be replacing the exhaust on my 91 Lincoln Continental soon and I was wondering whether to keep it stock or go to a true dual. Would the car even benefit from a true dual or would it be a waste? The stock exhaust is separate until after the catalytic convertor, then it goes to one pipe, then splits to each muffler.

EDIT: Engine is a 3.8L V6. It definately needs a little more punch.

V6?

I thought the smallest engine was the 302?

Anyway, I went dual on my 1987 Crown Vic 5.0L. Sounds so cool.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Would the car even benefit from a true dual or would it be a waste?

I have yet to read about a dual exhaust hurting performance MDE; BTW if you go the dual route, install a low-restriction air filter

 

[MDE]

The reason I'm asking is because the single pipe that it joins into has the same volume as the two separate pipes, so I'm not sure if that hurts anything performance-wise. I want the car to be as quiet as possible actually so sounding cool means nothing to me.

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: MDE
I'm going to be replacing the exhaust on my 91 Lincoln Continental soon and I was wondering whether to keep it stock or go to a true dual. Would the car even benefit from a true dual or would it be a waste? The stock exhaust is separate until after the catalytic convertor, then it goes to one pipe, then splits to each muffler.

EDIT: Engine is a 3.8L V6. It definately needs a little more punch.

V6?

I thought the smallest engine was the 302?

Anyway, I went dual on my 1987 Crown Vic 5.0L. Sounds so cool.

The 88-94 Continental is basically a Taurus with leather and air suspension. I used to have an '89.

For that, I'd probably go with stock. Do they even make decent aftermarket systems for those?

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Would the car even benefit from a true dual or would it be a waste?

I have yet to read about a dual exhaust hurting performance MDE; BTW if you go the dual route, install a low-restriction air filter

Then you need to read more.
Do not put dual exhaust or a bigger pipe on it unless you have modded the engine enough to need it. A high flow muffler would be the MOST I would do to most stock setups.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: Rent
STOCK

 

[godmare]

The deal is you'll lose tha backpressure by opening up the exhaust. that's going to cut your low end torque, which you need, especially in a big and underpowered car like that.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: MDE
The reason I'm asking is because the single pipe that it joins into has the same volume as the two separate pipes, so I'm not sure if that hurts anything performance-wise. I want the car to be as quiet as possible actually so sounding cool means nothing to me.

The stock exhaust is separate until after the catalytic convertor, then it goes to one pipe, then splits to each muffler.

So you're asking if installing a true dual exhaust would be worth it MDE?

 

[Viperoni]

True duals with a 2" pipe on each side should be ok... figure that you've got 1.9 liters breathing through each side.

I would definetely recommend upgrading the stock cat though.
I went from the stock 2" to a 2.5" Magnaflow high flow unit on my Topaz and it definetely opened up the upper end. Haven't had it on the dyno yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it netted me another 5hp past 4500.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Would the car even benefit from a true dual or would it be a waste?

I have yet to read about a dual exhaust hurting performance MDE; BTW if you go the dual route, install a low-restriction air filter

Then you need to read more.
Do not put dual exhaust or a bigger pipe on it unless you have modded the engine enough to need it. A high flow muffler would be the MOST I would do to most stock setups.

Got a link for a n00b like me Marlin1975?

 

[white]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: Rent
STOCK

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: MDE
The reason I'm asking is because the single pipe that it joins into has the same volume as the two separate pipes, so I'm not sure if that hurts anything performance-wise. I want the car to be as quiet as possible actually so sounding cool means nothing to me.

The stock exhaust is separate until after the catalytic convertor, then it goes to one pipe, then splits to each muffler.

So you're asking if installing a true dual exhaust would be worth it MDE?

Exactly. I'm open to suggestions as to what kinds of air filters\mufflers\catalytic convertors to put in there too, but I want to keep the cost low.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: godmare
The deal is you'll lose tha backpressure by opening up the exhaust. that's going to cut your low end torque, which you need, especially in a big and underpowered car like that.

You are correct, but the reason is wrong.

The reason is that you have moved the power curve upward in the rpm scale. Hence, the car will feel a little underpowered in the bottom range of rpm.

 

[Viperoni]

Yet another person who thinks backpressure helps power. *sigh*.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Viperoni
Yet another person who thinks backpressure helps power. *sigh*.

I don't think that's the problem.

I think its that people don't know enough about power production and the effect of moving said power around the rpm range.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Would the car even benefit from a true dual or would it be a waste?

I have yet to read about a dual exhaust hurting performance MDE; BTW if you go the dual route, install a low-restriction air filter

Then you need to read more.
Do not put dual exhaust or a bigger pipe on it unless you have modded the engine enough to need it. A high flow muffler would be the MOST I would do to most stock setups.

Got a link for a n00b like me Marlin1975?

Sorry but most of my exp. is either first hand building engines or by reading tech books on how to build the most power i.e. match the engine comprssion, head size, exhaust pipe size, etc...

The bigger the pipes or if you have 2 you will need to have a engine that can fill that amount. Its like a pulling effect. So when you see a ricer with a BIG muffler and big pipes and header. They probable lost a LOT of power, esp at the low end. In fact a single 3inch exhaust system will do better then dual 2 inch pipes in most applications. So bigger is NOT always better. Same with valve size in heads and so on.
Everything needs to be matched up so that is works together. Kinda like haveing the top of the line dual core Athlon64 but putting in only 256mg of ram and a radeon 9200se and whondering why your games look like sh1t.


Oh and MDE. The only thing I would do to a stock motor is put a high flow muffler, KandN airfilter, and a high output ignation coil on the engine. That will not cost much but get the best bang for your buck unless you want to open teh engine up.

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: godmare
The deal is you'll lose tha backpressure by opening up the exhaust. that's going to cut your low end torque, which you need, especially in a big and underpowered car like that.

You are correct, but the reason is wrong.

The reason is that you have moved the power curve upward in the rpm scale. Hence, the car will feel a little underpowered in the bottom range of rpm.

That's what I mean, it moves the torque peak up in the rpm range, making it less useable for normal-type driving.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: godmare

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: godmare
The deal is you'll lose tha backpressure by opening up the exhaust. that's going to cut your low end torque, which you need, especially in a big and underpowered car like that.

You are correct, but the reason is wrong.

The reason is that you have moved the power curve upward in the rpm scale. Hence, the car will feel a little underpowered in the bottom range of rpm.

That's what I mean, it moves the torque peak up in the rpm range, making it less useable for normal-type driving.

Thanks. Many here don't fully understand that.

The less back pressure in a dual system increases both torque and hp. It also moves it up in the rpm scale so there is less low rpm power but more mid and top end power.

The same goes for cylinder heads/valves/camshafts. Too much may make more high rpm power, but if it doesn't work as a unit, overall power is badly affected. And if it does work together you can guarantee that low rpm power will suffer. The old school solution was steeper gears.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Viperoni
Yet another person who thinks backpressure helps power. *sigh*.

Define "backpressure".

Backpressure itself does not help low-RPM _TORQUE_ (note: not HP), but the faster flow rate cause by a smaller-diameter exhaust system _does_. Now, this same smaller diameter that increases exhaust gas velocity at low RPM becomes backpressure at highter RPM because the engine is pushing more air. So a certain amount of "backpressure" at high RPM is indeed helpful to low-end torque because it increases the exhaust gas flow velocity.

ZV

 

[MDE]

The question still stands, to do a true dual or keep the stock pipe config? Also, mufflers and catalytic convertors need to be replaced, suggestions on those, and if it's even worth the cost difference over a stock setup.

 

[MDE]

Bump, nobody answered the $129 question of whether a true dual will gain anything over stock, let alone worth the cost difference.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: MDE
Bump, nobody answered the $129 question of whether a true dual will gain anything over stock, let alone worth the cost difference.

If the dual exhaust flows better than the single it replaces, then you will see a performnce gain. Nothing big mind you, but a gain nonetheless. However, as noted in previous posts, it will raise the rpm range of usefull power.

In other words, you may feel slightly less bottom end and a bit more top end power.

The choice is yours. If money is the issue, then go with what is cheaper. Unless you find some reasonably priced aftermarket dual kit for your car.