Exhaust system for 86 SVO

[Festus]

Well guys it finally time. Coming home from a 200 mile round trip the exhaust system from the muffler back fell off the car. This is the stock system and there is only 72K on the clock. The muffler rusted away and the exhaust pipe has some holes in it. I have read with interest the various discussions regarding down pipes and exhaust systems. My car is bone stock.

The questions are:

1. Should I go with a 3" system?

2. Should I go with a single exhaust or dual exhaust?

3. Which commercial system is best, i.e., is a "bolt in system" that I won't have to fab up a bunch of stuff. I don't know of any shop in Jackson, Mississippi that has a mandrel exhaust bending set up so that is why I am looking at ready made system.

4. Should I remove the "cat"? If yes what other modifications do I need to make so the car will run properly.

5. What 3" down pipe is the best to get as far as fit, finish, and clearence are concerned. I have read lots of discussion on this subject and am a bit confused so I am posing the question again.

Any help or suggestions you can give will be greatly appreciated. I have resisted modifying the car but I guess its time. I don't want to go radical so I figure the exhaust system and intake (air cleaner) are the best places to start. I currently have a K&N in the stock location. Is there anything better on the market i.e., cold air inlet, cone filter, etc.?

[Gyrhead]

Me too.

Festus... welcome and sorry to hear about your exhaust. Reading your post, it looked identical to one I posted a few months ago. The first thing I would do is search the old threads. This topic has been extensively covered here. Second thing is consider joining the SVOCA. Best $30 you can spend. Now that I'm off my soapbox..I've heard good things about the SAC 3" DP, however there have been some diverging opinions about clearance and the donut seal fitment at the Y-pipe. Other guys are using the MAC dual exhaust system with good results and I've heard it's a plug and play (virtually) fit. I'd also search the threads. Taking the cat off is a state by state issue. It depends if your state does a visual inspection or if they have an inspection at all. Clearly, the cat is a restriction point in the exhaust so if you can legally afford to lose it, lose it, IMHO. SAC and others have a DP for both cat and non-cat applications.

Good luck

Paul

[GAboySVO]

1. Should I go with a 3" system?

Yes. Try it, you'll like it.

2. Should I go with a single exhaust or dual exhaust?

That depends if you like the dual look or not. You can go with the stock duals from Walker or better yet, the dynomax mandrel bent stuff.

3. Which commercial system is best, i.e., is a "bolt in system" that I won't have to fab up a bunch of stuff. I don't know of any shop in Jackson, Mississippi that has a mandrel exhaust bending set up so that is why I am looking at ready made system.

DynoMax has a web site that you can find a local shop in your area.

4. Should I remove the "cat"? If yes what other modifications do I need to make so the car will run properly.

If you go with a 3" downpipe, you can get a highflow 3" Cat. The cat will offer some exhaust flow restriction. Since you have a stock engine, the 3" highflow cat will be a noticable improvement. You can remove the cat without changing anything else on the car, but you can help keep the air cleaner by keping it.

5. What 3" down pipe is the best to get as far as fit, finish, and clearence are concerned. I have read lots of discussion on this subject and am a bit confused so I am posing the question again.

I've got the Sac Mustang 3" downpipe for my '86 and have no problems with it.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

I see that you own an 86 from your profile. That makes a difference on the answer. If you had an 84 or 85, things would be complicated more by the fuel pump location.

You can go single or dual or whatever pleases you on an 86. I have a SAC downpipe that fits just fine, but they really need a support where the original trans bracket/exhaust support goes to make them last longer without sagging. The muffler shop just needs to duplicate the original rods that insert through that bracket.

[8T6 SVO]

Down pipe support

Originally posted by Pat_in_L.A.
I have a SAC downpipe that fits just fine, but they really need a support where the original trans bracket/exhaust support goes to make them last longer without sagging. The muffler shop just needs to duplicate the original rods that insert through that bracket.

ATR makes a bracket that clamps onto the downpipe that fits the original hanger mount. - $50.00

8T6

[SVOeric]

BTW :: There is a huge thread about exhausts, and what works well, and what is best.

[luvtolean]

Yeah, lots of info in another thread I found when I was trying to figure out what to get. I happened by Sac Mustang and bought one in person.

I loosely bolted it in to look at fit and it appeared the flange at the Y might be too long. I didn't care at all though because this meant I could grind it down and open up the hole which was pretty small at the flange. Someone posted pics of this.

It fits the chassis great and I don't hear any leaks.