I want to put headers and dual exhaust on my 1998 Ford F150 with a 4.2 liter V6. Compared to Stock exhaust will I get much of an increase in Low End Torque ? How will this affect the engines computer system ? Thanks


Joe

 

I'd imagine you'd get a little more low end torque with the headers due to better exhaust scavenging. And the dual exhaust will help you gain hp on the top end, but you'll lose whatever gains you achieved with the headers in the low end if you go duals. I'd get headers and a good single in-single out catback. The single piped exhaust helps you to keep that low end torque unlike duals. I don't think the 4.2L generates enough backpressure with duals of any kind. Gibson has a good si/so system. And MAC, JBA, and Gibson make headers for the 4.2L v6.

 

Who is MAC? Thanks

 

MAC is a company that makes mufflers, catbacks, y-pipes, intakes, and headers. You can find their products in any off-road truck or Truckin' magazine.

 

take it from some-1 with a si/do from gibson. you 'will' lose low end torque. i recommend a si/so with the 4.2L. peacemaker is correct, the 6 just doesn't produce anough backpressure with the dual exits."mine especially,since it dumps b-4 the rear wheel... just my $.02.

 

6 cyls just don't sound right with dual exhaust and the lack of back pressure hurts performance more often than it helps. That was definately my experience with the 4.2. I wish I had the stock exhaust again. I went from stock (still in front of the wheel) to a 2.5" pipe with no muffler (the best sounding 5.4ls have stock converters and no muffler so I thought I'd try it) and lost a noticable amount of low-end. I added a muffler and while it doesn't sound stupid anymore, I still wish I was stock in the exhaust department.

 

I still have my stock exhaust. But the idiot at the muffler shop cut it off to close to the dang muffler. He cut the pipe off exactly flush with the inlet. So it's useless now. Unless, I could get somebody to fabricate a pipe that'll fit in there.

 

i just had a flowmaster original 40 series installed with the stock piping (it exited behind the tire, it's a 98).

I cut the tip off (about the last 1 1/2 feet of pipe) so i can hear it in the cab better. I didn't feel any low end loss, actually, i think it helped a bit. I wasn't expecting any gains though, i was in it for the sound and milage. i'm not too happy with the volume. it sounds good, but it could be a little louder. I think it's really the delta flow and the guy didn't know what the hell he was talkign about, but all well...

 

Would the best thing be a Gibson single out system with new headers, would this be the best for the V-6. I want more flow over noise, because this is not going to sound like my Vic dose with Flowmaster on it.

 

Yep, I wanted to put the sweptside si/so catback on my truck after I had the flowmaster duals installed. Because I lost low-end with the FM to say the least. But yeah, that should be a good set-up with some nice hp/trq gains.

 

I'll go ahead and throw my 2, maybe 1 cent in. The headers "might" cause the exhaust to flow too freely and loose low-end torque. I had a SI/DO Flo-Pro muffler that exists in the rear put in over 4 years ago and have been happy with it since. The only time I lost a lot of low-end torque is when I had an exhaust cutout installed before the muffler, needless to say I had it quickly removed. Live and learn. :o