BEST exhaust system

[V75bronco]

Hey, right now I’m running a reduced sound exhaust system that is stock on my 302 bronco. We’re looking into opening up the exhaust, but wondering who makes the best exhaust system for a 1975 ford bronco?

 

[DirtDonk]

What do you mean by “best“ in this case? Usually regarding exhaust there is literally no such thing.
Depends on the individual Bronco and its modifications, and depends 99% on the owners preferences.

There are only a very few that are actually made for an early bronco even at this point with their values being through the roof. There just hasn’t been that much demand over the years, but a few nice ones exist and several members here are using at least a couple of them. Hopefully they will chime in with their opinions.
Up until recently at least probably better than 95% of bronco owners have simply had one made at their local exhaust shop.

I can’t see from my phone when you joined the forum, but if you’ve been here for any time and read any of the threads about different preferences, you’ll find that there is seldom (if ever!) a consensus on most things. Especially which modifications are best.

What do you want to be best?

Good luck either way. Exhaust tone and sound level are very personal.

Paul

 

[Broncobowsher]

Best is probably what you have right now. A lot of people would love to have an original exhaust system.

Now are you looking for the best noisy exhaust system? Even that is difficult as the source of the noise will change what the exhaust does to it. A stock 302 only makes a little noise by itself and it isn't exactly a great noise. Will never sound like a high compression engine. Even working with what you have, a stock 302, the options of what is best is really wide. Not in a single diminsion of loud vs quiet, but the type of sound. Rumble, burble, crackle, drone are all different directions that the sound can go. Some mufflers have a sounds associated with them, the chambered Flowmaster has that flowmaster sound. Glasspacks have a glasspack sound. Sizing is yet another variable, larger for flow will usually result in a drone. On top of all that there isn't that much performance to be gained in just opening the exhaust on a small block ford. It starts with a choked exhaust port in the head.

 

[Shimmy]

good advice offered in the above posts.

"best" is subjective when it comes to our cars and IMO "best" would be something you choose and have a shop custom bend/weld up based on your requirements and clearances. In my case, I'm running a somewhat stock 302 and D20 so the James Duff kit here is an affordable bolt on option.

https://dufftuff.com/product/customizable-aluminized-dual-exhaust-1966-75-bronco/

They also have this in a SS kit.

Your best bet for hearing these (borla, flowmaster, MF, cherry bomb, flopro, etc) is to attend a rally or gathering and listen to them in person. I've been around the car scene enough to know I want borla on my bronco (I've ran all the mufflers mentioned in my post). I'm not after anything loud these days. I'd really like to hear a set of corsa pipes on our car.

 

[.94 OR]

There seems to be more and more opinions migrating towards a 2 into 1 system dumping the larger single pipe out the passenger side to keep the heat away from the emergency brake cables and fuel lines..

 

[DirtDonk]

Exactly. And to expand on what .94 said, duals have been falling by the wayside more and more for the last ten to twenty years in fact.
It's not that more people don't like the dual look, and dual sound, and dual performance, but it's far easier to have a good clean install with a 2-into-1 setup than it is duals under an Early Bronco.
The exception is with long-tube headers, which makes the crossover point more difficult. But under any other circumstances, a single exhaust has it all going on. And with the correct sizing and routing, you can have just as much power as you need out of it. Virtually the same, if not the same or better in fact, than true duals.
It's easier to get that last bit of high-end power out of a dual setup sill most likely, but most of us might never notice the difference in a typical Bronco with typical power ranges.

Paul

 

[billh1289]

Exactly. And to expand on what .94 said, duals have been falling by the wayside more and more for the last ten to twenty years in fact.
It's not that more people don't like the dual look, and dual sound, and dual performance, but it's far easier to have a good clean install with a 2-into-1 setup than it is duals under an Early Bronco.
The exception is with long-tube headers, which makes the crossover point more difficult. But under any other circumstances, a single exhaust has it all going on. And with the correct sizing and routing, you can have just as much power as you need out of it. Virtually the same, if not the same or better in fact, than true duals.
It's easier to get that last bit of high-end power out of a dual setup sill most likely, but most of us might never notice the difference in a typical Bronco with typical power ranges.

Paul

I’m planning on doing this over the winter this year actually. I have a dual set up now from the PO that has an h pipe at the transfer case drain. I ran a 2 into 1 in one of my other trucks and liked it.

 

[sprdv1]

What do you want to be best?

Good luck either way. Exhaust tone and sound level are very personal.

100%...

 

[sprdv1]

Best is probably what you have right now. A lot of people would love to have an original exhaust system.

Now are you looking for the best noisy exhaust system? Even that is difficult as the source of the noise will change what the exhaust does to it. A stock 302 only makes a little noise by itself and it isn't exactly a great noise. Will never sound like a high compression engine. Even working with what you have, a stock 302, the options of what is best is really wide. Not in a single diminsion of loud vs quiet, but the type of sound. Rumble, burble, crackle, drone are all different directions that the sound can go. Some mufflers have a sounds associated with them, the chambered Flowmaster has that flowmaster sound. Glasspacks have a glasspack sound. Sizing is yet another variable, larger for flow will usually result in a drone. On top of all that there isn't that much performance to be gained in just opening the exhaust on a small block ford. It starts with a choked exhaust port in the head.

Great words of wisdom and advice

 

[duffymahoney]

Purge tig weld, food grade stainless, stainless v clamps would be the best. Header design would be best with equal runner lengths prior to a collection.

 

[77BroncoWag]

Exactly. And to expand on what .94 said, duals have been falling by the wayside more and more for the last ten to twenty years in fact.
It's not that more people don't like the dual look, and dual sound, and dual performance, but it's far easier to have a good clean install with a 2-into-1 setup than it is duals under an Early Bronco.
The exception is with long-tube headers, which makes the crossover point more difficult. But under any other circumstances, a single exhaust has it all going on. And with the correct sizing and routing, you can have just as much power as you need out of it. Virtually the same, if not the same or better in fact, than true duals.
It's easier to get that last bit of high-end power out of a dual setup sill most likely, but most of us might never notice the difference in a typical Bronco with typical power ranges.

Paul

thinking 2 into 1 also. What size pipe did you go with? 2.5's into a 3"

 

[76YETI]

I'm running a 95 5.0 in mine. I have shorty headers into 2.5" tubing (2 into1) muffler and 1-3" tube coming out of the muffler.

 

[DirtDonk]

That would good all around, but better at the higher power levels and higher revving use. Good for max power, which might be what you’re looking for.
Should still have good low end, just might be biased to the high end.

My ‘68 has dual 2.25’s Y’d into a single 2.5” in/out Flowmaster. It’s hampered at the top end by the stock Explorer manifolds.

My ‘71 has full 2.25” duals crossed over to the passenger side. Some benefits of a small dual but with the convenience of a single, from running all down one side.
Mufflers are generic tubos. Very quiet but breathes pretty well.

 

[sprdv1]

Agreed... ^^

 

[duffymahoney]

Best would be custom purge welded stainless. 304 or 316, food grade. proper slopes for water. With V band or similar.


I have the BC 2-1 kit, I like it but the pipes are huge!

 

[nvrstuk]

Best would be custom purge welded stainless. 304 or 316, food grade. proper slopes for water. With V band or similar.


I have the BC 2-1 kit, I like it but the pipes are huge!

That might be best lasting" or "best looking".
That would be a great setup along with all the other things that might make it best!!

The OP just said "best exhaust system..." because he's running whatever a "reduced" system is.

From his original post I think he just wants a HS kids exhaust- LOUD!

 

[904Bronco]

That would good all around, but better at the higher power levels and higher revving use. Good for max power, which might be what you’re looking for.
Should still have good low end, just might be biased to the high end.

My ‘68 has dual 2.25’s Y’d into a single 2.5” in/out Flowmaster. It’s hampered at the top end by the stock Explorer manifolds.

My ‘71 has full 2.25” duals crossed over to the passenger side. Some benefits of a small dual but with the convenience of a single, from running all down one side.
Mufflers are generic tubos. Very quiet but breathes pretty well.

I thought it was hampered by the 4:56 gears and 31" tires, even with the 4R70W there are some higher RPM's there at freeway speeds .

 

[DirtDonk]

Haha! Yep, that too.
But that’s more the top end “vehicle speed” where it feels at least like the manifolds impede the top end “engine speed” when trying to rev it up.
At least that’s the feeling. Luckily I don’t try to redline it very often

 

[nvrstuk]

This goes back to my reference earlier about my Dad's 302 in his '69. It was a dog compared to my '68 289. I had headers, duals, 4 bbl and intake. His was stock.

He could barely hit 50mph in 2nd gear. If he was pulling his little 16' camp trailer he was really slogging along on the 7-8% grades in BC.

Like I've mentioned several times (I'm sure you've all heard heard it) he could easily and quickly rev up and reach 70mph in 2nd after we changed his to match mine. I swapped cams and stuff later but he was literally blown away by the acceleration and power without affecting his beloved 14.5-15mpg that he could squeeze out of it with his G78x15" tires.

SBF's even before smog ports were very restrictive for air in and out. Fix that and you have potential for more improvements.

 

[nvrstuk]

I always get a chuckle out of a new member posting up a question when 10 or 15 of us chime in, make all kinds of "been there, done that" references and we never see another post.

Maybe they have a life and we don't so we check CB more often??? lol