How to install X-Pipe 99-04 GT

[MineralGray02K]

How To Install an X-Pipe on your Mustang

When you are working under your vehicle, make sure it is supported by secure jack stands. There is always accident reports indicating someone has perished because of working under a car that was only supported by the jack. Do not take any chances. If you do not feel 100% comfortable, then don't do this!!

To get the best of both worlds with your naturally aspirated Mustang, you want the engine to breath in easier and exhale easier. After upgrading to a Cold Air Intake , I wanted to ensure that the exhaust was doing as well as the intake. The installation of a Bassani O/R X-pipe left us X-static , very X-cited , X-tremely satisfied and it was X-actly what we was hoping for.

Now I am not going to kid you here, the installation of the Bassani X-Pipe went well, but wasn't without it's little problems. This job is best done with the car on a full lift, but it can be pulled off on jacks, it just takes a little more patience and a lot more getting up and down.

The first step is to remove the existing stock H-pipe from the exhaust manifolds. Now Ford and their better ideas didn't make it super easy to get at these manifold bolts, so I now have an appreciation for those who are trying to tighten header bolts. This pic is from below the driver side foot well looking up the converter to the manifold bolts.

The passenger side was a major pain in the butt and a swivel or universal socket is a must. This side is a flat mating flange as opposed to the flared fitting like the driver side.

We wanted to get X-cited again and decided to assemble the X-pipe to get a good look at what was in store for the installation. This pic shows the X-pipe pieced together before getting the front O2 sensors and before getting installed on the car. Be very careful removing the stock O2 sensors from the stock H-pipe and be even more careful not to cross thread them into the X-pipe.

The OEM H-pipe came out very easily. There is some bulk here, we are sure the X-Pipe shaved a couple of pounds.

Install the 2 fitted pipes separately to the manifold and leave them slightly loose so that you can jockey and shift them around when actually putting the X-Pipe on. Now for the X-Pipe. You don't want any sag, so adjusted the tails up slightly for tightening. Shimmy here, wiggle there, check to make sure the clamps are on and we are off to the races.

Here is the X-Pipe all installed, O2 sensors tied off with MIL eliminators, clamps all tight, lets get the tires on and see what shakes.

found @ http://www.mustanghowto.com

[TBapp3]

Great Post
Just was looking through these pics and saw the one with the new X pipe and the old set up......Are those 4 cats on the stock set up????

[TBapp3]

Any one know....Is there 4 cats on a 99-04GT stock???

[MineralGray02K]

I believe 2 on each pipe, but I could be wrong.

[TBapp3]

Damn...that is pretty crazy....I gotta get the new one for some more flow! Thanks again!

[IRSmart]

96-98 had 6 cats, 99-04 had 4. my car has none