On ramps for winter, LT header gaskets, trans maintenance

deezdrama

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Got my 2010 gt in january, has the 5R55S and had a slight delay/slip going into 2nd. After i put on the jlt CAI and flashed a steeda 93oct tune the shifting became much improved and dont notice the slipping at all anymore but am worried its just a bandaid to the servo bore issues......
My car will be garaged in the salt season so just finished up a pair of full length ramps with removeable center sections for sliding creeper in and out. Planned to do my headers/ exhaust , do some transmission maintenance, and maybe spray undercarriage with a protectant.
Come january I will tackle my suspension, been having creeks and pops up front so plan to do mild lowering struts/coils, gt500 strut mounts and control arms, sway bushings and ends, maybe watts link or panhard bar. And then will start to piece together a Department of Boost setup.
So..... Longtube headers. I got the pypes ebay clones, and pypes shorty offroad H pipe. I been hessitant to try these headers but read they basically come from same china factory as pypes and the welds and build quality look pretty good and hopefully will not have any fitment issues, they should matchup to the pypes offroad H.
My question..... Whats the OEM gasket part number if anyone knows? I seen the AM pypes LT set comes with what looks like an O2 harness extension.... Will i need to pick one of these up?
I think my headers came with bolts that i have somewhere... Planned to just buy grade 8 replacements.... Read about alot of guys header bolts backing out.... Should i use locktite blue?
I havnt picked my catback/mufflers yet.
I want deep throaty but not horribly load or raspy.
Was thinking the pypes m80 mid mufs...any thoughts?

While its on ramps I planned to swap shift solenoid pack, filter, and fluid. Is it worth looking into doing servo bore sleeves or should i just run the trans untill it craps out and get a rebuilt with sleeve job already done considering I plan to add the DOB kit later on that will put me at about 400-450 whp? I just dont want to invest too much time or money into this trans if its going to need replaced anyway.

Back to suspension. I plan on replacing front lower control arms with the gt500 style https://www.americanmuscle.com/ford-front-controlarms-0511gt.html
Still debating on which struts,coils,shocks to run.
Thinking about koni str struts and lowering springs. Only want about 1" -1.5" drop. Any suggestions on this and rear control arms keeping a budget and "bang for the buck" parts in mind?

Sorry for the long winded post. Ive owned a few 4.6's in crown vics but this is my first mustang platform so still pretty new.

Thanks

IMG_20181124_162731.jpg
 

07gts197

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The only thing I can really comment on are the m80s. I had them on my 07 gt with muffler delete axle backs and it was pretty loud. Now Im running generic 18” glass packs in their place and its mellowed out but its still loud. Having an h pipe will add to the blat too. If you dont want it to be too loud I would weld in mid mufflers and keep the axle backs you have and see how you like it.
 

deezdrama

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Yeah... PO of car deleted mufflers ... Im not sure what to run that wont wake the dead. I want loud and throaty but not obnoxious at cruising speeds just obnoxious at WOT lmao.

On one of my vics I have gutted cats, thrush welded 2 chambers which are flowmaster 40s pretty much. It sounds great. Maybe I should just install headers, OR H pipe, and have some flowmasters welded in midway on the stock catbacks?
 

07gts197

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Theres not enough room to mid mount any chambered muffler. If you want tame but loud at wot, go with mid mounted glass packs (the longer the more tame) and high flow cats.

Or if you want to get an axle back so you wont have to cut and weld in mufflers you can get Borlas or gt500 axle backs with or without cats.
 

Noclutch

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I was thinking of those adjustable mufflers with my pypes headers and Hilo cats on the x pipe. I still have the stock mufflers but want to open them to a straight out and not put in cutouts.
 

deezdrama

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I already have the longtubes and offroad H pipe so not wanting to go with cats.
I never cared for the glasspacks sound on other vehicles ive owned.... More high pitched and raspy.... I want deep, growl, throaty like chambered mufflers.
I guess I could just hold off untill spring and buy borlas. If I could just keep stock catback and have shop weld in mufflers behind axle.... What mufflers would you suggest?
 

Onelildude

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I have JBA headers and needed front and rear O2 extensions, as for the bolts there's no need to use locktite, just make sure you torque them to spec, and check them after around 500 miles.

I have GT500 lower control arms with Steeda X5 ball joints on my car and they are great. All work on my 2010 was done on jackstands in my garage too
 

deezdrama

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Dont the gt500 control arms come with beefed up balljoints? You just wanted to upgrade?


Keep all the suggestions rolling. I want to take my time and do things right.... Dont want to regret my exhaust sound
 

Onelildude

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I live close to Steeda so it was a no brainer to get their ball joints. How loud are you looking for your car to be?

I have LT's w/cats but i have them hooked to the Roush Extreme kit for the 2010 GT so i't extremely loud but not bad for a daily
 

deezdrama

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I want deep and throaty but not obnoxious while cruising. Only obnoxious when i get on it lol
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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For your particular application, I'd recommend Borla Touring axle backs. IMO their best suited for running long tubes without cats.
 

deezdrama

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Thanks guys! I been busy working overtime and havent had time to get anything done but you guys have given me some good leads to look into once im freed up
 

deezdrama

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Well, Finally got heat installed in the garage, ford header gaskets should be here this week. Going to get the car on ramps this weekend if all goes as planned.

Been watching/listening to ALOT of sound clips from 4.6 3v exhaust threads and am torn.

Ive listened to a couple clips of longtubes / offroad X / and magnaflow muffler combos and really like this sound. Has the deep low bass note without the tinny sound of flowmasters and probably other similar chambered mufflers. Problem is they just state "magnaflow mufflers" they dont say which model.
Also didnt find any examples of longtubes with offroad H mid - which is what I have. Any ideas /thoughts?

Another option is the pypes violators. Im assuming these are very similar to flowmaster 40s which I have on my catless 07 crown vic and love the sound except at around 2k rpm theres a pretty bad drone that was cool for awhile untill it became kinda anoying, also has that "tinny" sound which I dont dislike but dont absolutely love either. The price is right though! I dont want to spend over $500 on axlebacks.

Now heres the issue.....previous owner had mufflers deleted and pipe welded in. I dont know if this will affect fitment of axlebacks or not. Do most people clamp,weld,or install flanges for axlebacks?




EDIT..............
The more I listen to the violators, the more I dont want to go that route.

Anyone had the MBRP axlebacks? https://www.americanmuscle.com/mbrp-axleback-0510gt.html
They sound kind of similar to the magnaflows but cheaper.
I know sound is subjective, just really having a hard time choosing. I love the sound of flowmasters but the drone gets annoying. Magnaflows are kind of a stretch for me at the moment whereas I could order the MBRP's now which would light a fire under my A## to get this header install going.

Just dont know what will sound good with longtubes, offroad H. Wish I had the stock mufflers so I could see how that sounded.
 
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ghunt81

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So I've been through half a dozen axle backs on my car. I'm running a catted H, but I've had a hard time finding a sound that was acceptable and didn't drone.

I actually have those MBRP's sitting in my garage right now, I ran them for a short time last year. Sounded great, but loud as fuck. They have a louvered core so they don't do a ton of muffling.

Violators would also be loud, they are essentially a chambered design except they have a louvered tube and the body of the muffler is hollow. I also don't have any faith in Pypes product fitment since every car I've seen with a Pypes axle back on it has had bad tip misalignment.

Anyway- I am current running the aforementioned Borla Touring (branded as Ford Racing). I don't know what it would be like without cats but on my setup they are pretty nice. Not overly obnoxious most of the time but it still screams at WOT. Very little drone in the 1500-1900 RPM range, almost none at highway speeds.

Also, you said PO had pipe welded in in place of the mufflers. Does it still have the clamped joint right behind the axle? That's where the over-axle pipe and axle back clamp together. If that's still there you're fine.
 

deezdrama

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Thanks for all the details on the axlebacks you have experience with.

Im going to have to investigate the state of my axlebacks and see if the joint is still there .... I hope so.

I have the 2010 wich is right there being the oddball year between the 05-09 and the 11+ coyotes so im never sure when looking for parts which gen i fit in. I know drivetrainwise its the 05-9 but not sure suspension and exhaustwise whats interchangeable.... I say that to say i found the borla touring axlebacks for 05-09 but says wont fit my 2010. Are the ford versions any cheaper?

Ive also read a bunch of good things about the steeda branded borla axlebacks and that the baffling is different and lots of people saying they were the best sounding axlebacks for the the 3v 4.6 with offroad H.

Just a little confused with all the borla models and the rebrandings from other companies.
Ive read the mbrp's are basically identical to borla stingers, are they louder or sound different?, then the steeda borlas are said to be best 3v sounding muffler but from what ive gathered they are just rebranded stingers so should be same as the stingers and mbrp's?

The tourings and the steeda options are where im at right now. Just cant find the exact ford racing touring for the 2010. And if the steeda is the same as stingers and mbrp's then i could save money and just go with mbrp if they are similar.

I dont mind loud. My 07 is catless with flowmaster 40's and marauder 3.5" tips.
Its loud,deep,throaty and love it ... Just a bit too much drone. I could handle the loud if drone was notched back a bit. But maybe the tourings is the sweet spot. If anyone has a link for cheapest touring branding for a 2010 that would be great!

Sorry for the drawn out post. I just want to get it right first time.... Or at least be happy enough with it for a while.

Thanks again!
 

ghunt81

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So I totally forgot about the fact that you have a 2010, and yeah that's an issue. Really, the only problem is that the 2010 requires longer tips due to the rear fascia, so with an 05-09 axle back you may run into that issue.

Ironically, the Ford Racing/Borla Touring axle back I have on my car now was originally off a 2010 (I bought it used off ebay). The tips on it were all beat up so I had to cut them off and replace them, and they were too long for my car anyway. I think that particular model is out of production now unfortunately.

Anyway, AFAIK the only real difference between the Borla Stingers and the MBRP's is that Borla uses a perforated core vs. the louvered core in the MBRP. I'm sure the sound is similar as there isn't a lot of packing in those mufflers.

As I said I do really like my Tourings. I've tried stingers, couple kinds of chambered mufflers, but these so far have been the best for good sound with minimal drone. Best part was I scored them for $150, don't ask me how. Guy had them up for auction and they looked terrible and nobody else bid!
 

deezdrama

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Going to try and keep an eye out for the tourings on ebay or try and find somewhere with new old stock that will fit my 2010.

If i dont find them ill probably go with the steeda stingers.

What the hell ar the rev9 flowmaxx axlebacks? See em on ebay cheap as hell. Stainless and look good but probably sound like crap? Anyone had the balls to try them? Cant find a single review
 

ghunt81

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What the hell ar the rev9 flowmaxx axlebacks? See em on ebay cheap as hell. Stainless and look good but probably sound like crap? Anyone had the balls to try them? Cant find a single review

Chinese knockoffs...they look very similar to the axle back that came with the ebay cat back I bought (I only bought it for the over axle pipes). They looked like a Stinger copy, except upon inspection I found out the mufflers were hollow and had no packing or anything. Ran them on my car for part of one day, they were loud and obnoxious and the drone was THE worst I have ever experienced. Would not be surprised if they were the same thing.
 

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