Review & Install Video
Hey, guys, Stephanie with AmericanMuscle.com, here with my review of the BBK shorty Catted X-pipe, available for BBK long-tube header equipped 2005 to 2010 GT Mustangs. So, this one's pretty easy as far as who it's going to be for. The shorty X-pipe is gonna be for the GT Mustang owners out there that plan on using BBK's long-tube headers. Whenever you go from a shorty or factory header setup to a long-tube, you're going to need to change your mid-pipe to a shorty mid-pipe. Now, there are a few options out there, but the general rule of thumb tends to be that you should not mix brands. If you want BBK long-tubes, you should stick with BBK's mid-pipe.
Long-tubes and the shorty mid-pipe go hand in hand since you need one to install the other, and usually, those installing long-tubes are looking for power gains and an improvement in sound as well. Long-tubes and a short mid-pipe have a different iconic type of sound that's hard to ignore. And along the lines of gains, long-tubes and a short mid-pipe usually get mid-range to the top end gains, generally speaking. And 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. Long-tubes alone are going to change the sound of your exhaust, and when you combine that with change in the mid-pipe, you can expect a pretty big difference in sound here and you're looking at a brand new sounding component when you're done.
But looking more at the mid-pipe itself, we're looking at a two and three-quarter inch mid-pipe that's gonna work with the BBK headers. The X-pipe is [inaudible 00:01:17] bent, which is typical in exhaust, but the purpose of [inaudible 00:01:20] bending here is to deliver smooth airflow. The smoother the pipe is, the smoother the airflow will be, which helps with velocity. Now, there are a few different types of materials that exhaust components are made out of, and the material of this mid-pipe is going to really drive the price point. The mid-pipe is aluminized tubing, and that's what helps to keep the BBK components more price friendly than some of the other options that are out there.
So, aluminized tubing has some upsides and some downsides as well. Like I already said, this type of material is going to be more budget friendly. The sacrifice that you make here, however, is that the metal is prone to rust and have corrosion over time, especially if it sees harsh road conditions. But if you're low on the west coast or your car [inaudible 00:01:55], then it's not gonna be a big deal to you. If you're looking for a ride or die system that's gonna hold up and be everlasting over years and years, then you're better off shopping for a 304 stainless steel system instead.
This is a Catted X-pipe, and normally an X-pipe is gonna give more of a louder raspier sound as opposed to the deeper note of an H-pipe. The cats are high-flow race cats, so they're gonna flow more than a factory cat would, for sure. But I'm gonna hit again that these are high-flow race cats. That means they might not pass emissions, they might not be legal, and there's always that chance of a check engine light. But speaking of the check engine light, when you switch over to running a long-tube setup, you will need a tune. A tune here will not only help you get everything out of these expensive mods, but one of the main purposes of the tune, along with the long-tube headers, is to turn off the rear O2 sensors so that you won't be getting a check engine light.
Circling back around a price, you're looking at spending just over $400 for this X-pipe right there. I will point out that Catted mid-pipes or Catted pieces of exhaust in general are gonna cost more than off-road version will. BBK does have an off-road version of this mid-pipe, which is gonna be this same thing just without cats, and that's gonna cost a little bit more than $150 less. So that's always an option.
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 [inaudible 00:03:07] 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. So, at the end of the day you're looking at both power and sound gains here. Keep in mind that your gains will change depending on your setup and tune. And in addition to that, you're also gonna get an awesome change to your exhaust tune.
The install of the X-pipe alone is not difficult at all. It's just a basic mid-pipe swap 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 just to 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 stand, but a lift would make it easier, for sure. Like I said before, the mid-pipe is easy enough to install. The difficult part would be installing the headers. You're gonna need your toolbox for the install, along with an assortment of different sockets, wrenches, and extensions. You're looking at things like disconnecting the steering shaft, removing the motor mounds, and dropping the cross member. A lot of this install obviously requires working in some pretty tight areas, so while everything is straightforward, getting access and maneuverability in these areas is actually tricky. Having a helping hand in this case is really gonna benefit you. But at the end of the day, I think it's all worth it.
So, wrapping this up here, the BBK shorty X-pipe is gonna be a must have for anyone with a GT Mustang that's looking at running BBK's long-tube headers. It's an aluminized steel X-pipe that comes with high flow race cats, and your rear O2 extensions as well. As always, you can check this mid-pipe out some more online for yourself. I'm Stephanie, and for all things Mustang, keep it right here at AmericanMuscle.com.
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