mustang86cars

Hey guys, I need some input. Can I remove this air muffler, I guess you can call it that, without it causing any problems? Also is there any gains by doing this. My car is mainly stock with un upgraded catback 2.5.

Any input would be great

87mustang347

yah u can but ur not goin to notice the hp gains but u will gain a couple and it will make the car a bit louder

roundman

Yes you can, that is the first thing most people do when they get a Stang, remove and throw away the air silencer! It is very restrictive on the intake air and removing it will improve the air flow into the engine and give you a bit more HP but not all that much. Add a K7N or Fram Air Hog re-usuable air filter and this increases the air flow a bit more also. Removing the silencer does make the car sound like it has an engine in it though!

mustang86cars

Thanks guys the air silencer is gone!

gwargantua

You have an 86 with 40K ? If I were you I'd keep it stock, or at least keep the parts. I think your car is gonna be a "classic" real soon. Most all of it's value will be tied to how close it is to original condition, not to how many cheap hot rod tricks you've added. There are a zillion such cars out there, if that's what you want, just buy one they're cheap. There are fewer nice original cars every day, and that makes those remaining increasingly valuable...but hey that's just my two cents...Good Luck !

mustang86cars

Gwargantua, you most likley right. Its easy to get caught up with all the talk of upgrades when you start reading the forums. Unfortunatly your input is to late. I already removed the air silencer and it does give the car a more throaty sound. Your advise is a good one and luckly the air silencer can be replace with minimal effort. I'll leave it out for the remander of this summer and just replace it this winter.

Thanks for the input and the reminder for originality.

roundman

I wouldn't worry that much about the collector car value on an '86 Stang as they have the worst performance of almost any Stang due to the heads, valves, and flat top pistons making the engine a real dog compared to all the other 5.0's out there. there is something to say for the last year of the square headlights though. If you do keep the parts you remove, you can always put them back on or include them in the sale price when you do decide to sell it though.

mustang86cars

Hey roundman, yeh, I know after all that I read about the 86 performance NOW I wish I had this info when I bought it. I bought this car at the end of the model year because I liked the style better than the new 87's at the time.[:@] 18yrs later I still like the style better! When it comes to performance, I most likley will never go any further than just bolt on upgrades like exhaust and such. Its still a great cruiser which my kids and wife have fun with. Its just starting to turn heads because she still looks like the day I picked it up from the dealers. Alot of the younger motor heads are now looking at the car with envy.

roundman

I'm so happy that I waited until '88 to buy my Stang! I had been following the developement of the GT for several years in all the car mags and finally decided to go buy one and I still have it, although it ain't street legal anymore! LOL