roller cam 5.0, 5 speed exhaust opinions please?

Post by **Greg D** » March 27, 2011, 5:24 pm

My first plan was Cherry Bomb header mufflers with 2 1/4" outlets, straight pipes with a turn down dump in front of the axle.
Turns out the parts store only stocks the mufflers in 2" ($24.99 each). They get enough more expensive to look at other options if I order the 2 1/4' ($64.99 each).
Stock 5.0 Mustang engine, full length headers, 600 CFM Holley on a 68 289 cast iron intake. There may be some other mild engine upgrades later too.
Is the extra 1/4" going to be worth spending more money with a basically straight pipe setup anyway?

R Pope · Post by **R Pope** » March 27, 2011, 5:27 pm

2 1/4 duals are lots for a 302.

charliemccraney · Post by **charliemccraney** » March 27, 2011, 6:37 pm

It just depends what you're going to do in the future because the pipes can be too small. My butt dyno indicates so far that larger pipes don't hurt anything except maybe your ears and some friends have backed this up with their own drag strip performance experiences, but still no official dyno tests.
For what it's worth, many aftermarket exhaust systems are 2.25 or 2.50 inch for 302 equipped vehicles.

Post by **Greg D** » March 27, 2011, 6:40 pm

Looks like I can put together a larger size setup like I want pretty reasonable by using Summit glasspacks. I'll have to weld the collector reducer on myself but that isn't and issue.
Part of my reason for wanting this setup is the exhaust system will be a straight shot back from the collectors to the turndowns. Each side will be welded together as one piece, turndowns will be just past the stock frame hangers.

trueblue0409 · Post by **trueblue0409** » March 27, 2011, 9:26 pm

well either way it will sound going but the larger size will help out on hp in the long run with future up grades

Motocentro · Post by **Motocentro** » March 28, 2011, 12:55 pm

I have a similar setup - i think 2" is too small. I have 2 1/2" and it's great. Great torque, good sound. IIRC smaller can move your torque curve down but I'm not sure that you can really tell so much with your setup. Bigger pipes can also reduce resonance. I think 2 1/4" would be fine. bigger than 2 1/2" on a 302 might be too big (lose torque, etc).