1985.5 OEM Muffler Install

[gamerjoe]

Well, I have finally replaced the rusted-out mufflers on my 85.5 with the OEM replacements from Walker Exhaust. I thought that there was just a hole in the larger muffler, but when I got underneath to take a good look I noticed that the small one was pocked with holes too.

Now my SVO has a nice smooth rumble to it. I really like the sound of the stock exhaust.

I attached a couple of screenshots.

[Eyelawdoc]

Looks good!

[mustangcruise]

I'll second that - It looks good. So were the original mufflers clamped on at both ends, one end, or welded?

[gamerjoe]

The original mufflers were only clamped at the Cat side, and were welded from the rear side.The clamps were all rusted-out, so we decided to weld them at the Cat side, and then maybe I will put clamps there for aesthetic reasons at some point. Depends on how exact I really need to be for the original show class.

I did not get a shot of the new mufflers from the backside, but we used the exact same hangers and welded them exactly like the originals. I attached a closer view of the new mufflers from the Cat side, and the old mufflers from the rear.

[gamerjoe]

Oh I think I should mention something funny about this whole thing.

When my exhaust guy opened the boxes for the new mufflers I received from Walker, I hear him yell out from the garage, "Oh crap!". "I think we have a problem here!"

I come running in all worried and he says, "Look at those two mufflers that Walker sent you, they are two different sizes!"

I told him how the 85.5 and 86 SVO's had two different sized mufflers, and he did not believe me at first. Then after we lifted the car he said, "Well that is a goddam first!, "I have never seen 2 different sized mufflers in a dual exhaust configuration!"

Then I proclaimed, "How many times have you actually seen a factory dual exhaust on any 4-banger?"

He said he has only seen 4-banger dual exhaust a couple of times, but that was on Thunderbird Turbo Coupes, and those were already modified with aftermarket mufflers.

[svono50]

I swear the 5.0's had two different sized mufflers from the factory to combat the 2000rpm drone or am I just having random brain cell firings?? My 86 still has Ford replacement mufflers on it, but they are both the same size. I will need to note down the part number on them when they come off this spring for a pair of old skool FMS Borlas.

[chalkys_explorer]

Looks nice.

Anyone have an inkling as to why the factory mufflers were different sizes??

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Anyone have an inkling as to why the factory mufflers were different sizes??

I have an inkling.

My 65k mile 85.5 still has the original exhaust system. It has two different size mufflers. I believe that it was in the "parts bin" available at the time from Ford for other Mustangs. IOW, the 5.0 dual exhaust had different size mufflers, and I bet if you looked up a dual exhaust for the same or next year 5.0, you would find that the same part numbers appear.

I have the original factory parts books out in the garage but I'm way too pooped to look them up right now. If you're down here for Knott's , I'll break them out for you..

[Eyelawdoc]

Ford did that with all their dual exhaust systems of that era. Mustang 5.0s, SVOs even Lincoln Mark VIIs. It was supposed to reduced NVH while crusing at steady RPM levels., less drone.

[SVOeric]

Ford did that with all their dual exhaust systems of that era. Mustang 5.0s, SVOs even Lincoln Mark VIIs. It was supposed to reduced NVH while crusing at steady RPM levels., less drone.

he nailed it, that answer gets a 9.999

[trainford308]

I have used a Super Flow on one side and a Turbo style on the other for the same reason, to cut down on the drone at certain speeds. Two different mufflers seems to help with the drone. Tom

[mustangcruise]

Part numbers anyone....
According to the gentleman at the Ford dealer I work with, the part numbers are:
Left: E4ZZ-5230 H
Right: E4ZZ-5230 G

And he said that these are the same for the 5.0. So does anyone have an nos set?

[gamerjoe]

The original mufflers were made by Walker Exhaust, and then stamped with the Ford name and numbers. You can still get the replacement mufflers through Walker, like I did, but they will not have the Ford name stamped on them.

The Walker numbers are 22348 for the left side (smaller one) and 22389 for the right side. They basically still make everything from the Cat-back.

https://www.walkerexhaust.com

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Isn't the smaller one on the right (passenger) side??

14 1/2" long on the passenger side.
18" on the driver side.
The pics support this.
Making me crawl under my car while still in my jammies!
Good thing I didn't spill my beer or I'd be upset.

[sar4497]

Now my SVO has a nice smooth rumble to it. I really like the sound of the stock exhaust.

I don't believe I've ever heard a stock exhaust on an SVO. Do you have any audio clips?