KR Muffler Polishing and Installation

[gr8snkbite]

way to go carnut...don't forget to polish them weekly....

[68fastback]

Great description, Carnut ...thanks. I can almost 'hear' them! ;-)

[6-Speed]

Today is 1st day I really spent any time driving around with these mufflers and I would have to agree with your assessment carnut - these are keepers.

[Birdman]

Originally Posted by Carnut

I installed the KR mufflers today, keeping the stock X pipe.

Easy install, very straightforward and no busted knuckles. I opted for the ramp installation since my lift was full and I didn't want to spend an hour moving stuff around.

Overall time was about 45 minutes, including coffee and smoke breaks.

Once I got the car down, I fired it up.

WHOA BABY.

Deep rich tone, it cackled a bit until it warmed up though.

Down the road I went and it sounds great. Kind of refined snarl without the tinny sound I have had with Borlas and Bassanis. It is fairly close to the stock mufflers at idle and no load cruise. NO cabin resonation, which was very important to me.

Stand it on it and its a whole different story. Mean and nasty sounding without the crackling.

All of the people who have listened to it from outside the car say they like the sound better than the "other" Mustangs they hear. Rich exhaust note is what most people describe.

It is not the loudest, but IMO the best and still keep your sanity on a long road trip.

Great discription Nut , thanks for posting your findings.

[Carnut]

The only thing about the install that I am not entirely happy with is that the left pipe is a little low or the right side whichever. My tips were this way with the stock mufflers and were this same way on my 2007.

Last night I examined every late model Mustang GT at the Saturday night cruise in and they are the same way. So I am assuming this is rather typical but it bothers me.

I plan on driving the car a few weeks to let the exhaust do what its going to do, make sure everything is still tight, then assess a fix. I think I can tweak the left rear hanger up or possibly tweak the right one down.

The stock exhaust uses a button and slot where the pipes join so you can twist the pipes to get that perfect alignment. That's why I think I need to tweak the bracket. Bailing wire is not an option.

It is only off an 1/8 inch or so but those beautiful shiny tips make it it more noticeable. And I'm a little anal about my installs.

[6-Speed]

Originally Posted by Carnut

The only thing about the install that I am not entirely happy with is that the left pipe is a little low or the right side whichever. My tips were this way with the stock mufflers and were this same way on my 2007.

I noticed the same thing too with the driver's side hanging about 1/4" lower than the passenger's side. They centered perfectly though. I am trying to not let this bother me. I have thought about either bending the bracket or perhaps the pins on the muffler. If you decide to fix, please post your solution.

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by 6-Speed

I noticed the same thing too with the driver's side hanging about 1/4" lower than the passenger's side. They centered perfectly though. I am trying to not let this bother me. If you decide to fix, please post your solution.

I think the solution is to either shim the passenger side bracket down or tweak the drivers side up. The problem with tweaking is the support point will rotate and bring the pipe closer inboard.

I could always take a 1/4 inch off my left shoe to level things out.

I may choose to do nothing as it is a factory thing. I will post any fix I attempt.

[6-Speed]

Originally Posted by Carnut

I think the solution is to either shim the passenger side bracket down or tweak the drivers side up. The problem with tweaking is the support point will rotate and bring the pipe closer inboard.

I could always take a 1/4 inch off my left shoe to level things out.

I may choose to do nothing as it is a factory thing. I will post any fix I attempt.

The problem with shimming is the two mounting holes in the bracket are mutually exclusive; shim one and the other won't align without re-drilling. I can always put more air in one tire.

[King Cobra]

Try loosening the pipe where it connects to the x-pipe. Myself and if I remember right, The Prez had the same problem. A combination of adjusting the above pipe and the axle back got us to where we needed to be.

Cal

[Carnut]

Thanks for the tip. I will include that in solutions in a few weeks.

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by 6-Speed

The problem with shimming is the two mounting holes in the bracket are mutually exclusive; shim one and the other won't align without re-drilling. I can always put more air in one tire.

I was looking at the rubber isolator too. I will also check out KC suggestion about the x-pipe.

Not today though.

[cheftjpeck]

awesome feedback carnut......these mufflers sound pretty awesome...As 6-speed advised me a while back on another forum, i dont think they are what I would do as I never had stock mufflers on my car since before I left the dealership and I like the sound of the FRPP mufflers I have..now this could all change when I try out the H-pipe and hear the sound....great write ups though...

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by cheftjpeck

awesome feedback carnut......these mufflers sound pretty awesome...As 6-speed advised me a while back on another forum, i dont think they are what I would do as I never had stock mufflers on my car since before I left the dealership and I like the sound of the FRPP mufflers I have..now this could all change when I try out the H-pipe and hear the sound....great write ups though...

I think everyone has that individual tone and decibel level they want. For me, I just did not want that dreaded drone at low rpm but still wanted the snarl when you put your foot in it.

The KR's gave me both. I suspect that they would not be loud enough for everyone, but that's why they make different mufflers.

[500 Blue]

My KR mufflers were shipped out today. I have already order PHRPs H pipe to go with it. I think I am going to put them on at the same time!

I'm really excited about this mod and the stock setup is WAY to quite for my taste. I had an Off Road H pipe on my Roush and loved it.

I have heard the KR mufflers on the stock X on the GT500 and it sounds pretty good but i'm really looking forward to it with the H. I think it will have a deeper/louder tone with the H vs. X.

How are those H pipes coming Wes?

[VaporDude]

About your adjustments, if I remember correctly, the brackets are connected to the frame with one bolt on the bottom and another bolt on the side. I don't think you can put any shims between the bracket and frame on the underside. That wouldn't let the side bolt holes to line up at all. What I did was to bend the hanger on the muffler slightly to get them to line up. If you bend the hanger up, that lowers the muffler. If you bend them left that will move the muffler to the right and vise versa.

[Boston Mike]

Originally Posted by 500 Blue

My KR mufflers were shipped out today. I have already order PHRPs H pipe to go with it. I think I am going to put them on at the same time!

I'm really excited about this mod and the stock setup is WAY to quite for my taste. I had an Off Road H pipe on my Roush and loved it.

I have heard the KR mufflers on the stock X on the GT500 and it sounds pretty good but i'm really looking forward to it with the H. I think it will have a deeper/louder tone with the H vs. X.

How are those H pipes coming Wes?

On Saturday, I was behind The Natural's car on a cruise to lunch. He's got an offroad x-pipe and it sounded bad arse. Rattled my windshield when he took off. And given my desire to irritate my neighbor until they give up and move, it sounds like a great option, but how to get around those pesky inspections....................anyone?? Would electric cutouts do the trick? Anyone have these??

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by VaporDude

About your adjustments, if I remember correctly, the brackets are connected to the frame with one bolt on the bottom and another bolt on the side. I don't think you can put any shims between the bracket and frame on the underside. That wouldn't let the side bolt holes to line up at all. What I did was to bend the hanger on the muffler slightly to get them to line up. If you bend the hanger up, that lowers the muffler. If you bend them left that will move the muffler to the right and vise versa.

Looks like pretty tuff stuff to bend, how did you do it. Off the car?

[VaporDude]

Originally Posted by Carnut

Looks like pretty tuff stuff to bend, how did you do it. Off the car?

Depending on how far yours is out of line, just pull off the bracket at the rear most part of the car and bend that hanger accordingly. It is some tuff stuff but it can be done.

[SLB8SNK]

Good to know. I got mine a couple days ago and have not had the time to install. Have guests in the next three weekends so it looks like the end of the month for me. Waited long enough, now all the dang visitors... moving to Vegas is like getting a new boat or pool, lots of friends and family all of a sudden LOL. Oh well, it will get done.

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by VaporDude

Depending on how far yours is out of line, just pull off the bracket at the rear most part of the car and bend that hanger accordingly. It is some tuff stuff but it can be done.

I'll have to find my tuff stuff bender.