::Exhaust/Headers::

[Furai]

I have a 2002 expedition XLT 5.4 liter V8.... and i wanted to get a whole new exhaust system, including headers.

But I have hit a road block... I found the headers and exhaust system, but I want to know what connects the headers to the exhaust?


thanks,

Harmen

 

[Furai]

bump!

 

[ELVATO]

Would it be the cats?

I think it's headers that go to the cats, that then goes to a Y, which goes to the muffler, which goes to the tailpipe. I hear hi-flow cats sound real mean.

I'm sure if you called an exhaust shop, they would be able to tell you. Are you doing the work yourself, or you taking it to a shop? If to a shop, most can give you a free estimate on how much everything is going to be. There, I'm sure you can ask the guy what you'll need.

 

[Furai]

hmm... i dont think its the cats, but it sounds right. Yeah im installing this myself.

thanks

Could you or anyone suggest a good online aftermarket parts shop?

 

[ELVATO]

Performancepeddler.com
Used this one for my muffler, very good prices.

Autoanything.com
Haven't used them personally, but someone here has had great service from them.

 

[AvroAero]

Theres four cats on that truck. It goes (on one side) Header, tube, cat, tube, cat, tube, y connector, muffler, tube. If you want an entire redone exhaust you'll need to get the piping between the headers and y connector redone. I don't think anyone manufatures them so a custom exhaust is the way to go. Ussually costs the same. The cats you can reuse, or buy if you want. They'll run you 60 a peice I've seen on ebay so 250 or so. Headers you'll need to buy. I did headers and a catback exhaust on my 4.6 and it adds quite a bit for power.

 

[Furai]

woah, that is really complicated. is there a diagram that shows the placement of these cats and connectors?

Also where can i get a custom exhaust?

but thanks for the help

 

[4x4Dude]

Avro.....what headers did you get? I've been thinking about adding headers to my 5.4 but the last experience i had with headers was horrible so i've been really reluctant. any problems with leaks or tranny issues?

 

[ELVATO]

You can get a custom exhaust at an exhaust shop.

If you're going that route, you might find it alot cheaper to just bring in all the parts (Long Tubes, cats, Y/X pipe, muffler(s) ), and just have them install it. They'll take care of the piping.

 

[AvroAero]

Yea any exhaust shop ussually can do mandrel bent exhausting. I'd bring the headers to them, tell em you want the headers on the truck and a completely new exhaust headers back. The only thing with using old cats is they might be little to rusty to weld. Not sure if they'd be willing to use the old cats.

My headers are Gibson stainless ones. They've been really good, other than slight discolouration (which I've been told is common with all stainless). But I don't really care. I wouldn't get anything other than stainless or ceramic coated otherwise your looking for rust problems. Thats ussually the cheap shit they use on ricers.

By the way, tranny issues? Regarding the headers or generally?

 

[AvroAero]

Bare with me I couldn't find any good pictures. The manifolds (headers) start then those black boxes are cats. The first one is right after the manifolds (no more than a foot) and the secound one is somewhere before the Y connector. Haven't looked down in a bit but they're pretty close to each other. The Xed box is a muffler.

If you buy a cat back system, on this truck, it would only give parts for AFTER the Y pipe. So basically a small amount of pipe, muffler, and the rest of the exhaust. Headers will be right before the cat. So if you buy a prefabbed system your only redoing about 60% of the actual exhaust. If you get headers and have an exhaust shop fab you up a complete exhaust you'll have a lot more. And if you want buy your own muffler for the sound you looking for. Although most shops carry popular mufflers in stock.

edit: I'm not sure if the pic uploaded so


Not to scale of coarse, the cats are smaller.

 

[thereason21]

Excellent drawing avro

 

[ELVATO]

Copying Avro's drawing, here's some more configurations I could think of.

Single in, Dual out muffler (SI/DO) Headers ->Cats->Y pipe->Single in, Dual out muffler (SI/DO) ->2 tail pipes


Headers->Cats->DI/DO Muffler->2 tail pipes



Headers->Cats->X pipe->2 Mufflers (probably round)->2 tail pipes. This one would probably be the loudest if you're looking for that loud race car sound.

 

[Furai]

phew... daam! thnx so much, that helped alot

im diggin the loud race car one! How much HP/Torque would you think i could get out of that?

 

[AvroAero]

I haven't dynoed mine and am not going to bother as I'm in the process of ditching it for a 6L but in terms of comparing it to the power you'll get from a K&N cold air, somewhere around 4 times as much power I received. An easy 20hp, maybe 30.

I reciently drove a coworker's trashed 97 expy (which has 425km on original tranny and motor, which he crashed into a guard rail and still drives pretty tough just a loud wheel bearing lol) which had the 5.4 and comparing low end power isn't even fair to the 4.6. You might be able to get more than 30hp.

BTW I'd go for the 2nd setup that ELVATO drew, looks like the least resistance. Make sure you don't go above 3.5" in diameter of the tube they use or you'll use backpressure which I've been told hurts low end power. Never tried and don't want to.

 

[Furai]

can you put a Turbo/supercharger into an expedition? j/w

 

[ELVATO]

Yea. I think there's quite a few supercharger kits for the 5.4 2002 and under.

If all else fails, there's the universal turbo from STS, but I hear there's a bit of lag there. Also, it places the turbo on the underside of the car, which might make it easier to steal.

 

[AvroAero]

That STS is pretty interesting. I wonder how well those things hold up against salt and water. They'd probably be somewhere in the 6-7K range or more considering it basically comes with another exhaust and lengthened intake.

 

[Furai]

ok... srry i wasn't online, cause i was on vaction.

But i think i found an exhaust system

http://www.autoanything.com/exhausts-mufflers/61A3548A0A0.aspx



Is this a good buy? and do i have to add anything else to it to make it a whole new exhaust system?


NOTE: im goin to link the headers once i find em.

 

[AvroAero]

Try and get the duals that have the pipping up from the muffler. If you get that you'll have virtually nothing old (with the headers that is).