Exhaust Question Answer Needed ASAP

Hey, I know this has been discussed to death, but just wanted to get your opinions. I plan to put dual exhaust on my Maverick in the near future. And I may be able to get a good deal on a set of mufflers now, so I made go ahead and buy them ahead of time and just set them aside. They are Flowmaster 40 series. Anyway the choices I have are 2.25 inch or 2.5 inch or 3 inch to me 3 inches would be overkill. I just want to know which I should go with to get the best performance and sound out of the car. The engine is still a pretty stock 302V8 only current mods are I did away with all the smog stuff and put a open element air cleaner on it, that's about all I can think of right now.

 

IMO 2.25 should be good for full length dual exhaust off a stock 302

 

just remember that if you bend over the rear axle you will really cut down on the pipe size unless you spurge and get mandel bends. ken and i both cut ours off before the rear axle to alleviate this problem.
if you remember what kens car sounds like he is running flowmaster 40 series

 

i run 40 series on mine... 2.5 inch pipe all the way out, up and over the axle and out the back under the corner of the bumper..

it sounds killer and doesnt hurt the performance at all. the guy that did mine is good at not kinking the pipe.

i plan on getting some removeable sections that i can take apart before the muffler so i have straight pipes for the track, just havent gotten around to doing it yet.. i need a welder .. LOL

 

mufflars whats that? we dont need no stinkin mufflas

straight pipe sounds good

but open headers sound even better

well hell if you HAVE to , i would say flows 40 series

 

I have 2 chamber flows on mine,dumped before the rear end,2 1/2 inch pipe,mild 302,souns really good not too loud untill you stand on it.Inside noise isn't bad either,very tollerable and can still hear the radio.Derek.

 

Thanks to all who replied. I have decided to go with 2 1/2.

 

go with the 2.5" pipes and use the offset inlet / offset outlet flowmasters for better fitment if going the full exaust route. the tail pipes can be done in two sections for ease of installation. must pay close attention on the drivers side as it gets close to the gas tank !!! and do the driver's side first and replicate the other the same way for appearance factor/ equal length

 

Good point! I have center outlet mufflers and cant put tailpipes on because the muffler outlet points right at the shock
Derek.