Downpipes for Flex/SHO/Explorer V6 Ecoboost/Lincoln MKT/MKS

Forgot to mention first driving impressions. Good increase in power, no change in exhaust note, though there is a slight whistle now. Those with an intake probably will not notice that though since an intake probably makes more whistle anyway. Spools a few hundred rpm sooner too, giving those 255\45\20 Hancooks more than they can handle.
 
Nice pics! Weird you had to clearance, I know of 2 others that didn't have to so it must have been a difference in either the car - some guy had the same issue with the Livenois pipes on his SHO or a small difference in the downpipe manufacturing. Paul and I looked for that bearing on my car according to SHO pictures and couldn't find it.
 
After the rear one makes the second bend to run parallel with the axle shaft, that is where the bearing housing is located. The pipe has easily a couple inches clearance on the firewall side to be moved that direction, at least on the Flex it does. Not sure about the SHO.
 
Is the early buy price still in effect?

I tried to find out on PPE site but there is no price listed, just the two options and the $100. up front charge.
 
Found the broken stud in my jacket pocket this morning. Broken one left, magic one right... I say magic because I had tried 5 times to weld other nuts to the stud and they all kept breaking the weld. Then I got the bright idea to cut an "X" into the stud, then put the nut on, then pounded a stainless steel nail into the middle of the "X" to flare it as much as I could, then pounded the crap out of the end of the stud with a ball peen hammer, THEN welded it. When it finally came out, I ran inside to show my girlfriend and said "Taaaaa daaahhh!!!"  :biggrin:
 
Went to a muffler shop... getting the downpipes installed and a custom 3rd cat + resonator delete  :-[

Should be done on Monday :D
 
Just to let everyone know, unless you have an overtightened nut on the from the factory like mine did, this is a VERY easy install. Even with the trouble I had, it was barely over a 3 hour job. No special tools, just a couple sockets with long extensions and a couple wrenches. With no issues you could easily do this in under 2 hours on stands in your driveway.
 
I contacted PPE Engineering by e-mail when I couldn't find a price on their site for either set of downpipes.  The 20% discount is no longer available, except for one lucky person who will do a before and after Dyno check, but I still don't know what the new price is.

Based on my NESHO mid-pipe, I am sure that downpipes will gain you some extra HP, but how much is still unknown, and will the NESHO mid-pipe help more, help less, or hurt the downpipe increase.

Also wondering how much extra sound, and if there's any drone issue.
My NESHO pipe sounds good outside and in the front 2 rows, but is annoying in the third row.

Guess we need more data.  I have decided to wait.
 
EcoBrick Bob said:
I contacted PPE Engineering by e-mail when I couldn't find a price on their site for either set of downpipes.  The 20% discount is no longer available, except for one lucky person who will do a before and after Dyno check, but I still don't know what the new price is.

Based on my NESHO mid-pipe, I am sure that downpipes will gain you some extra HP, but how much is still unknown, and will the NESHO mid-pipe help more, help less, or hurt the downpipe increase.

Also wondering how much extra sound, and if there's any drone issue.
My NESHO pipe sounds good outside and in the front 2 rows, but is annoying in the third row.

Guess we need more data.  I have decided to wait.
The price for catted pipes is $1000 the price for non-catted pipes are $850.
I did not notice an increase in sound with my catted downpipes and stock exhaust, just more power.
 
I went with catless pipes and there still no drone, but I still have the stock exhaust beyond these pipes.
 
EcoBrick Bob said:
Also wondering how much extra sound, and if there's any drone issue.
My NESHO pipe sounds good outside and in the front 2 rows, but is annoying in the third row.

Guess we need more data.  I have decided to wait.

Performance wise I wont be able to tell as I'm getting my downpipes installed and a copy of the NESHO done at the same time. Noise will I'll be able to provide a sound clip/vid when they're installed on Monday so you'll have an idea.
 
non-catted PPE downpipes, custom 3rd cat and resonator delete.

That's only a few throttle blips but you can hear a bit of turbo whine. I'll try to get another vid while driving tonight or tomorrow.

[youtube]5yOrG0RfjMQ[/youtube]
 
4DRHTRD said:
That sounds bad ass! Great job

just went for a test drive with a warmed up engine... well it's the only time it sounds bad ass!
when you start to give it some throttle it sounds like an old GM  V6 2.8l engine which is annoying as F**K! At cruising speed, no drone and if you throttle up a little even with the windows closed you can hear the turbos.
 
EcoBrick Bob said:
Sounds like "RICER HEAVEN"!!!!

Can you tell the HP difference?

Ricer heaven would be lots of sound and no action... It isn't the case as there's definitely an improvement in engine and boost response but can't really tell about the HP gain as I couldn't push it due to traffic.

I guess I'll have to get a resonator re-installed... the stock mufflers aren't muffling much.
 
Have you removed the 3rd cat and the middle muffler?  I have a NESHO X-Pipe.  However,  I can swap it out for stock section in about 30 min. 
 
EcoBrick Bob said:
Have you removed the 3rd cat and the middle muffler?  I have a NESHO X-Pipe.  However,  I can swap it out for stock section in about 30 min.

All I have left are the stock mufflers.

 
I want to run 2.5" pipes to a Magnaflow internal x-pipe muffler in place of the stock third cat/res and see what that sounds like before I choose what to run out back.
 
That's what my Magnaflow Street System is like on my 09' G8.
(Kooks middie headers w/cats, x-pipe, mid muffler,  & axlebacks)

For some reason it is louder on the road, but quieter at idle than my 08' G8 (Kooks middie headers w/cats, H-Pipe with stock piping to Magnaflow axlebacks.)

H-pipe seems to have a lower tone note than X-pipe, which likely affects what one hears at HWY speeds.  Both are not obnoxious, unless you really get on them.
 
Back
Top