Exhaust systems are many times one of the first things to be upgraded on a Mustang. The sound of an exhaust system can transform the image of a car from a quiet and simple daily driver to a mean muscle car that sets off car alarms as it drives down the street. For most Mustang owners, the optimal exhaust system lies somewhere between the two. The performance aspect of replacing the stock exhaust system is also enticing, as a free-flowing exhaust can mean more horsepower and torque. Gibson Performance in Corona, CA manufactures cost-effective high performance exhaust systems, and they recently launched a line of muscle car exhaust systems including one for the S197 Mustang GT. We stopped by their facility to test out one of their complete exhaust setups.

Our Mustang GT test car was fitted with a set of shorty headers, x-pipe crossover pipe without catalytic converters, tailpipes, and dual mufflers. The system is built from T-304 stainless steel and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Each component is completely bolt-on and requires no welding and includes all hardware necessary for installation. The headers and mufflers are 50 state smog legal, although the x-pipe is for off road use only. You will need to keep the stock crossover pipe with catalytic converters if you want to pass an emissions test.

Gibson put particular effort into developing their Superflow CFT Performance mufflers. The design utilizes chambers, baffles, and louvers to provide for optimal air flow, particularly in the low and mid range where it is most usable. Gibson?s tests show approximately a twenty percent increase in air flow, improving from 300 cfm to over 360 cfm. The system also provides a more aggressive exhaust tone. ?On a V8 everybody wants that deep, throaty sound,? said Shawn Seidelman, Gibson's head of R&D. That's what we strive for here, that perfect sound. We did tests on the Mustang for a month and a half trying to get the right sound and the right power out of it.?

Gibson's system does indeed improve exhaust efficiency. Our dyno tests done before and after the installation showed a significant increase in both horsepower and torque across the entire rpm range. With the shorty headers, x-pipe, and mufflers installed, our Mustang GT netted an additional 20.9 horsepower and 26.1 lb-ft torque. As for the sound, the system proved a much deeper and more aggressive tone, but stayed relatively quiet and unobtrusive at idle. We could see Mustang owners buying this exhaust for the quiet cabin while cruising, the aggressive sound during acceleration, or both. Overall, the Gibson system provided an excellent improvement in both power and sound. Pricing has yet to be announced, but we are sure that it will be competitively priced like other Gibson systems. 

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