HwyCruiser
05-01-2004, 06:51 PM
I didn't do it... I paid to have it done.
The biggest suprise for me was the altered exhaust tone. At first I thought it was more in my head than reality. After all, I kept the OEM mufflers... why would the sound be substantially different? I was hearing a "racier" tone, especially going under overpasses and during spirited acceleration. But I'm half deaf from standing next to too many jets in my younger days to be a good judge of sound.
While visiting with Jabird56 today on his roadtrip to Cabela's, he even said it sounded throatier that stock. I don't think it is at all excessive, just be aware that the tone will be altered a bit towards the wild side during acceleration if you're thinking of the DR Cobra exhaust kit.
I posted some pics of the Cobra exhaust kit vs. the OEM salvage in the gallery. First, there's quite a geometry difference with the Cobra E/Ms vs. OEM:
Cobra E/M Installed (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=501/1594Cobra_EM_2-med.jpg)
OEM E/M Salvage (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=501/1594OEM_EM_1-med.jpg)
Other that the fact that the Cobra E/Ms are ceramic coated vs. the rust look of the OEMs, I'd think they'd pass for stock easy. They even have "Ford" casted on them. I didn't get a chance to peek inside them, so I'm taking it on faith that these perform better than the OEMs. Hard for me to believe they wouldn't.
Here's a pic of the DR's X-Pipe:
X-Pipe (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=501/1594DR_X_PIPE_1-med.jpg)
Besides the tell-tale muffer clamps on the leaving side of the X-pipe to the factory pipes to the OEM mufflers, I don't think anyone would be the wiser that this wasn't a factory setup. Nothing a trip to the muffler shop couldn't fix.
I had UDPs installed with the Cobra exhaust, so I kind of mucked up the final results. The combo definately allows the engine to spool up more briskly and any hint of a flat spot in the RPM range I was thinking I had is completely gone. What do we think this combo is good for? 30-something HP? Whatever it is, it sounds and feels good.
Of course, this isn't a pavement cracking mod, only a S/C would meet my expectations there. But even without a point of reference for the Kook's setup I'm completely satisfied with the decision on the exhaust choice on performance and price.
Thanks Dennis! :up:
- JD
The biggest suprise for me was the altered exhaust tone. At first I thought it was more in my head than reality. After all, I kept the OEM mufflers... why would the sound be substantially different? I was hearing a "racier" tone, especially going under overpasses and during spirited acceleration. But I'm half deaf from standing next to too many jets in my younger days to be a good judge of sound.
While visiting with Jabird56 today on his roadtrip to Cabela's, he even said it sounded throatier that stock. I don't think it is at all excessive, just be aware that the tone will be altered a bit towards the wild side during acceleration if you're thinking of the DR Cobra exhaust kit.
I posted some pics of the Cobra exhaust kit vs. the OEM salvage in the gallery. First, there's quite a geometry difference with the Cobra E/Ms vs. OEM:
Cobra E/M Installed (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=501/1594Cobra_EM_2-med.jpg)
OEM E/M Salvage (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=501/1594OEM_EM_1-med.jpg)
Other that the fact that the Cobra E/Ms are ceramic coated vs. the rust look of the OEMs, I'd think they'd pass for stock easy. They even have "Ford" casted on them. I didn't get a chance to peek inside them, so I'm taking it on faith that these perform better than the OEMs. Hard for me to believe they wouldn't.
Here's a pic of the DR's X-Pipe:
X-Pipe (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=501/1594DR_X_PIPE_1-med.jpg)
Besides the tell-tale muffer clamps on the leaving side of the X-pipe to the factory pipes to the OEM mufflers, I don't think anyone would be the wiser that this wasn't a factory setup. Nothing a trip to the muffler shop couldn't fix.
I had UDPs installed with the Cobra exhaust, so I kind of mucked up the final results. The combo definately allows the engine to spool up more briskly and any hint of a flat spot in the RPM range I was thinking I had is completely gone. What do we think this combo is good for? 30-something HP? Whatever it is, it sounds and feels good.
Of course, this isn't a pavement cracking mod, only a S/C would meet my expectations there. But even without a point of reference for the Kook's setup I'm completely satisfied with the decision on the exhaust choice on performance and price.
Thanks Dennis! :up:
- JD