Hey Everyone! I just bought a 1966 Mustang Convertible with a straight 6. The muffler is almost rusted in half so I need to replace it. The previous owner had dual exhaust (from the muffler back) but I want to make it a true dual exhaust and I want to make it rumble. I understand its not a 289 but still I would like it to sound good. What set up do you have? What would you recommend? What headers? What mufflers? I've read something about port dividers or something like that. What is that? I'm not looking the break the bank as I have a LOT of other projects that need to be done on it. I want it to rumble not be obnoxious. Thoughts? Thanks guys! Excited to join the community here!
We installed the Scott Drake split header, 2.25" pipes, and 24 inch glass packs on my buddy's '65 coupe.
They sound great, just keep in mind you're going to be very tight on space trying to run route the exhaust off the split header and through the convertible bracing.
It's rather hard trying to make an I6 "loud" without sounding like a tractor, especially if it's relatively stock. Muffler sound is rather subjective, but I prefer Magnaflows over just about everything. I do however, have a soft spot for the old school sound of glass packs
Hi Rob, welcome to the best place on internet you can be.!
Since my little Six is kept as close as stock as possible, I can’t really tell you what to do, but I have a friend who has put those headers and flowmasters or magnaflow mufflers and the car sounds pretty good.!
Good luck and welcome again.
"I can’t really tell you what to do, but I have a friend who has put those headers and flowmasters or magnaflow mufflers and the car sounds pretty good."
+1
I've heard the exact same combo above is the best for Dual exhaust I6....
Check out YOUTUBE! There are a bunch of videos from people on there that have done it already...
PS: You are also missing your front "Bumperettes" on your car...
I put the split headers on my 6(long ago) and a set of generic turbo mufflers which were not loud and not quiet so somewhere in between. I ordered that whole exhaust system and it showed up in a couple boxes. Cruising along the turbo mufflers were quiet but under power they made a bit of a rumble. I didn't like the sound glass packs make on a 6 so I didn't even try that. Just that one change made a noticeable difference in the power I had. I wanted to do the whole deal with the intake and carb, it needed a better distributor, cam, but I was working my way through college so the exhaust is as far as I got on it.
My neighbor at that time had a 66 Chevy Nova with a 235 6 cylinder engine that had everything done to it. It was a full on drag car which he raced and would pull the front wheels a couple feet off the ground when he launched it. He was seldom ever beat with that thing. When he cranked it up with open headers and the solid lift cam he had in it it sounded like it was going to come apart but it ran amazing.
VintageInlines sells some Arvinode style dual exhausts that sounds pretty cool on YouTube. I haven't seen any in person though. https://www.vintageinlines.com/exhaust
The port divider is a little metal wedge to separate the #3 and #4 exhaust ports. If you look at the head with the exhaust manifold off, those two ports are combined together. Some people think keeping them separate works better. The wedge would have to be welded in to the cast iron head though, so it's not a simple bolt on like new headers or something.
I remember reading somewhere that there are supposed to be decent Chinese headers available on eBay. I haven't looked into that though, but it might be worth looking.
The port divider is a little metal wedge to separate the #3 and #4 exhaust ports. If you look at the head with the exhaust manifold off, those two ports are combined together. Some people think keeping them separate works better. The wedge would have to be welded in to the cast iron head though, so it's not a simple bolt on like new headers or something.
I remember reading somewhere that there are supposed to be decent Chinese headers available on eBay. I haven't looked into that though, but it might be worth looking.
"Many of us aren't "missing" them. Some of us just feel like they look better in a cardboard box in the corner of the garage than actually on the car. "
Hey, Just letting him know since he's a new owner.......and may not know....
Besides....Even Shelby thought they looked good....That why he left them on... ....the street cars anyway....not the "R" Models....
The port divider is a little metal wedge to separate the #3 and #4 exhaust ports. If you look at the head with the exhaust manifold off, those two ports are combined together. Some people think keeping them separate works better. The wedge would have to be welded in to the cast iron head though, so it's not a simple bolt on like new headers or something.
I remember reading somewhere that there are supposed to be decent Chinese headers available on eBay. I haven't looked into that though, but it might be worth looking.
to magnus you listen. vintage inlines has a nice exhaust section on their site, so check the out site. you will find a lot of good stuff for your six.
as to the port divider, unless you are going racing, dont waste you money. in order to install it you have to pull your head, clean it up, and weld the divider in place, best way, or glue it in place, not recommended. the effort isnt worth the tiny amount of power you will see.
all i did to install my port divider is remove header drill and tap for a couple allen head machine screws insert divider install headers snug up allen heads. Started doing that back in 67 and many times since no issues.
Do you have your heart set on true duals? Even when my 6 was stock. I had single out headers and a dual out muffler. I had Magnaflows and Flowmasters but liked the Flowmaster sound better.
I have the chinese header on my car you can find on ebay. There will be many sellers and the price is inexpensive. It is stainless, dual outlet ball joints, fits great. the closer you look at it the better the quality looks. For performance a single 2-1/4 or 2-1/2 inch exhaust is all most sixes would need and is much cheaper. Check out this chart How To Calculate Muffler Size and Exhaust Pipe Diameter | Exhaust Videos
From what I've seen, the sound is all due to which muffler is used. I still haven't tried out enough brands.
For good performance, a mandrel bent exhaust is the way to go. You may be able to find a muffler shop that can do it. It takes an extremely expensive bender. I would compare one of their pipes to a mandrel ubend from some place like summit before going with them. My thing is making my own exhausts from mandrel u-bends and welding with oxy acetylene. It is terribly time consuming but mine fits like a glove, has flanges to come apart in 3 peices, has an o2 sensor bung etc. My single 2-1/4 system sounds great even with a tame thrush turbo muffler.
We run the Ebay/chinesium split stainless header, with true dual exhaust out the rear, thru 18" glasspacks. Pretty loud when you get on it. My 19 yr. old son loves it. It is loud, and does sound similar to a V8. Pretty decent header, especiall for the price.
best performance i have seen stock to a mild build with split headers is 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 duals or a very smooth y pipe connected to a single 2 1/4 exh system.
These set ups i ran in P or Q stock as rules changed using all ford parts except exh turned 14 flat to 13.96 depending on track conditions. .06 seconds less and i would have matched the class record at that time held by a paxton blown 57 factory ford wagon.
Rob: See what you started? Too many opinions on exhaust sound. lol
Hope some of the suggestions help.
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