Remove mid muffler or not?

[Mustang5L5]

I ran that exact setup on my old 2003 GT and loved it. Stock mid-pipe with Flowmaster American Thunder. Plenty of growl but not excessively loud. Does have a bit of drone at 2k rpm but I liked it.

When I finally get tired of the bone stock exhaust on my ‘00 convertible I’ll probably go that route again.

 

[Daryl]

FWIW, but you’ve probably realized already, a cat-back system is installed MUCH MUCH easier with the rear wheels off and ample clearance below.

Mufflers only… not nearly as tough. But should you ever go the cat-back route, you’ll see what I’m talking about very quickly!

 

[Mustang5L5]

If you do a cat-back, chock the front wheels and set a set of jackstands under the rear subframe ahead of the axle. Disconnect the quads (if still there), the main shocks and put a jack under the rear axle and let it drop as low as you can get it before it starts stretching bushings/brake lines/etc. Put 2 more jackstands under the axle there. Then you should have enough room to get the tailpipes up and over the axle.

If your stock cat-back is in great shape, draw some lateral lines through your cut zone (so it can be lined up and rewelded) and cut it off about 5-6" or so from the muffler on a straight section of pipe. If the exhaust is all rusted out/rotted don't bother. Some folks are on the hunt for stock exhaust systems for these cars given they are entering restoration age

 

[Daryl]

If you do a cat-back, chock the front wheels and set a set of jackstands under the rear subframe ahead of the axle. Disconnect the quads (if still there), the main shocks and put a jack under the rear axle and let it drop as low as you can get it before it starts stretching bushings/brake lines/etc. Put 2 more jackstands under the axle there. Then you should have enough room to get the tailpipes up and over the axle.

If your stock cat-back is in great shape, draw some lateral lines through your cut zone (so it can be lined up and rewelded) and cut it off about 5-6" or so from the muffler on a straight section of pipe. If the exhaust is all rusted out/rotted don't bother. Some folks are on the hunt for stock exhaust systems for these cars given they are entering restoration age

Perfect advice. And removing the wheels goes without saying. Gives you that much more wiggle room to finess the cat-back out especially if you’re removing each side in one piece.

 

[PWNY]

I haven't seen what the stock exhaust system looks like in such a long time lol. I agree with keeping the cats so the exhaust doesn't stink. I bought a 2001 f150 recently that had no cats and it smelled horrible. Had a high flow Magnaflow cat put in and soooo much better.

 

[Musturd]

I haven't seen what the stock exhaust system looks like in such a long time lol. I agree with keeping the cats so the exhaust doesn't stink. I bought a 2001 f150 recently that had no cats and it smelled horrible. Had a high flow Magnaflow cat put in and soooo much better.

So many people don’t like the smell of merica in here . No cats is life

 

[shovel]

my credit score is too high to go catless

 

[Musturd]

my credit score is too high to go catless

400 credit score with a 35 year mortgage doesn’t mean your too good for cats buddy .

 

[shovel]

That's.. some kind of guess I guess

 

[PWNY]

The mustang has no cats and it actually doesn't smell bad. The truck on the other hand is a daily and a kid hauler.

 

[Musturd]

The mustang has no cats and it actually doesn't smell bad. The truck on the other hand is a daily and a kid hauler.

That makes sense . My trucks still got the cats too just the cars don’t

 

[RAU03MACH]

None of my cars have cats
just 2 1/2 bbk straight and back half 2 1/2 with Flow masters the way it was meant to be

 

[RAU03MACH]

none on the trucks also

 

[Terrorist 5.0]

I have the middle cats removed and I can tell you that there is little to no smell. So long as your car is running good, the only time you will really notice any smell is if you are standing next to the car and it is not warmed up yet. Glad you found what works for you.