Review & Install Video
Hey guys, I'm Justin with AmericanMuscle.com, and this is my detailed review of the Stainless Works catback exhaust system, available for your 2015 and up EcoBoost powered Fastback Mustang. You should be checking out the Stainless Works catback if you're after one of the nicest systems available for just south of 1,000 bucks in regards to overall build quality materials, and one that's going to offer a noticeable increase in sound over your factory catback, as you guys just heard with our sound clips.
All right, guys, I'm going to quickly touch on the construction here of the Stainless Works exhaust, then we'll talk about the sound you can expect when using this system. As I mentioned a little earlier, this is currently your only option to get full 304-grade stainless steel throughout and still keep that price beneath 1,000 bucks. Now, the other options on the site beneath that $1,000 price point are going to utilize either 409-grade stainless steel or aluminized steel to help keep the cost down of those more valued exhaust systems.
So why is this going to be good for you? Well, even though 409 is still technically considered stainless steel, it has a higher content of what is called ferrous metals. Now these are the metals that are going to be more prone to rusting or corroding over the years. The 304, on the other hand, does not contain as much as these metals and, therefore, is less vulnerable or less prone to rusting or corroding over the years. This is going to be beneficial if your EcoBoost is a daily and it does see some road salt during the winter months if you live up north, or even if you live close to the coast and get some salt air off the ocean. This kind of stuff might corrode those 409-grade systems or even the aluminized steel systems, but again, it shouldn't be a concern here for the Stainless Works system, as it is made from that 304-grade stainless.
So guys, you know you're getting some premium materials here with the Stainless Works system. What else can you expect, though, when it comes to the build? Well, beautiful welds throughout, 2½ inch mandrel bent tubing, including the merge style Y-pipe. It does utilize the factory 2¼ inch downpipe connection here, so something to keep in mind if you are going to maintain that factory downpipe, or maybe look at an after-market downpipe, just make sure you have that 2¼ inch connection.
Other than that, though, Stainless Works' very unique round chambered mufflers, all exiting out the four inch slash cut tips. Now these round chambered mufflers is something that Stainless Works uses a lot of the times when it comes to their after-market systems, including the systems for their Coyote powered cars, and even the EcoBoost catback we have here.
As far as the sound this system is going to produce, well, you guys heard the sound clips, you can draw your own conclusions, but what I heard was a perfect middle-of-the-road sound, something that's not going to be too loud, too quiet, really no rasp to speak of, so therefore it's going to land right in the middle of my wake-the-neighbors scale, an easy or strong three out of five all day. Again, a very well-rounded system that sounds pretty good. Now, obviously, adding an after-market downpipe will only increase your volume overall, but that's totally up to you guys.
I do want to point out that driving the car with this system installed, I didn't really notice any interior drone. That's always a nice thing to point out when we're reviewing these systems, because that's something that will obviously make a lot of difference to you guys at home.
Another nice thing to point out is that this thing does utilize that 2½ inch diameter piping, which is a small step up from the factory 2¼ inch piping. Now by stepping up the diameter slightly, and by ditching that factory resonator, you might see a small bump in power, nothing crazy, but it is worth mentioning.
When it does come time to remove your factory catback and get the new Stainless Works system installed, expect a very simple and straightforward job, one out of three wrenches on my overall difficulty meter. Nothing crazy here, guys, no surprises, and best of all, no cutting. Now that one-piece exhaust system from the factory can be a little cumbersome to tackle by yourself, so an extra set of hands, while not needed, will definitely make life a whole lot easier. As far as tools, you're really only looking at a basic socket set, maybe a few wrenches, along with the included clamps. You're looking at maybe an hour or two in the garage or driveway before you're making some noise.
Wrapping up the Stainless Works, my biggest takeaway from this system, guys, was the killer construction and build quality here for the price point, and again, that's to be expected when talking about Stainless Works, as they typically turn out some pretty killer stuff. Now overall, the sound volume was pretty average in my opinion. Some of you guys might be into that, some of you guys might be after something a little louder. Either way, still a very solid system overall, and you can grab yours right here at AmericanMuscle.com.
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