Installation Time
(approx) 2 Hours
Difficulty Level:
Light to Moderate mechanical skill required.
Installation Guides
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Stephanie: Hey guys, Stephanie with americanmuscle.com here with my review of the BBK shorty X-pipe available in either catted or off road versions fitting all BBK long tube header equipped 2011 to 2014 GT Mustangs. This one's pretty easy as far as who it's going to be for. This shorty X-pipe is going to be for anyone that plans on using BBK's long tube headers on their Coyote powered S197 GT. Whenever you go from a shorty or factory header setup to a long tube header setup, you're going to need to change your mid-pipe to a shorty mid-pipe. There are some options out there that come as a complete package, the headers and mid-pipe together, but BBK has broken these two up so you can have different options when it comes to going catted or non-catted. Like I just said, you do have two options when it comes to this mid-pipe, an off road version which I have with me here and which does not include any kind of cats and is typically going to give you the most power and sound gains, and a catted version that has two high flow cats. Both options are constructed from three inch mandrel bent aluminized steel tubing, and both options feature a factory style two and a half inch connection that will work with most aftermarket catbacks in addition to your factory exhaust. Along with that you'll also notice 202 bungs along with the included flanges. The high flow catted version of this mid-pipe is going to cost between $400 and $500. Like we usually see, the catted version is going to be the more expensive of the 2 options, costing about $200 more than the off road version. That puts the off road mid-pipe in the $200 to $300 price range, being slightly closer to $300. It is pretty typical to see a catted version of exhaust being more expensive than the off road setup, but it will be more appealing to those of you with strict emissions rules or those of you that aren't looking for the loudness level that an uncatted mid-pipe will have. Also, keep in mind that you won't be running this mid-pipe without a set of BBK's long tubes, so you can factor those into the price of the shorty X-pipe. These items go hand in hand since you can't really install one without the other, which is another reason why long tube headers are pretty much an investment. Either way, all of BBK's header and mid-pipe options are coming in on the more budget friendly side of things no matter which options you end up choosing. You could be looking at a whole long tube and mid-pipe setup for well under $1000, which is going to be one of the most affordable options here at AM. With all of that said, the quality of the BBK options might not be as nice as some of the other options here on the site. I'm basically looking at materials when I say this. This BBK mid-pipe is aluminized steel like I mentioned earlier, while the higher end brands like Kooks, LTH, Stainless Works and even JBA are a full stainless steel if not a full 304 grade stainless steel. This isn't really going to have an impact on performance at all, but it just won't be as nice of a material, which may not even be a concern to you if your Mustang isn't a daily driver or it only sees mild weather. You may not necessarily be installing long tubes and a shorty mid-pipe for sound, but you are going to get a huge change in sound. The long tubes alone are going to change the sound of your exhaust. When you combine that with changing the mid-pipe, you can expect a pretty big difference in sound here. Obviously if you go uncatted all the way it is going to be louder than if you stick with high flow cats. Either way, you're looking at a brand new sounding Pony when you're done.At the end of the day you're looking at both power and sound gains here. In fact you can expect gains of 20 to 25 wheel horse depending on your setup and tune, in addition to an awesome change in your exhaust tone. Speaking of a tune, you will need a tune after the install here. Anytime you go with a serious mod like this setup you can pretty much expect to need a tune along with it. The install of this X-pipe alone is not difficult at all. It's just a basic mid-pipe split up that doesn't involve removing any other items or any cutting. But, since you'll most likely be installing this along with those BBK long tube headers, you can expect a project. Because of the combo install, you can expect a full three out of three wrenches on this one and a full day in the garage if you do decide to tackle this yourself. If you don't have a helping hand or don't have much experience in this area, it might be better to just take the car to a shop for the install. If you do tackle this yourself, just know that you can do it on a jack and stands, but a lift will make it easier for sure. Like I said before, the mid-pipe is easy enough to install, but the difficult part will be installing the headers. You're going to need your toolbox for the install with an assortment of different sockets, wrenches, and extensions. You're looking at things like disconnecting the steering shaft, removing the motor mounts and dropping the cross member. A lot of this install obviously requires working in some pretty tight areas. While everything is straightforward, getting access and maneuverability in these areas is actually tricky. Having a helping hand in this case is really going to benefit you. At the end of the day I think it's all really worth it. Wrapping this up here, the BBK shorty X-pipe is going to be a must have for anyone that's looking at running BBK's long tube headers. They're aluminized steel. They come either catted or non-catted. They're very affordable when we compare them to other options that are on the site. I'm Stephanie, and for all things Mustang, keep it right here at americanmuscle.com.
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Features, Description, Reviews, Q&A, Specs & Installation
Brand | BBK |
Exhaust Pipe Type | X-Pipe |
Technical Note: This BBK product may not be legal for use in emission restrictive states. Check local ordinances.
Fitment:
DetailsBBK 1658
CA Residents: WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
Installation Info
Installation Time
(approx) 2 Hours
Difficulty Level:
Light to Moderate mechanical skill required.
Installation Guides
What's in the Box
Tech Guides:
10 More Questions