PANTHURSDAY: Exhaust cutout story

"FJ80WaitinForaLSV8" (fj80waitinforalsv8)
08/15/2013 at 11:01 • Filed to: Panthursday

Last year I took the dive and bought my first car. I've always lusted over big cars and trucks since I was a wee toddler. I like rugged cars which can take a beating and be easily modified. As such with the help of jalopnik, I have developed a very natural affinity for the panther platform. Solid axle, V8, body on frame- sounds a lot like my truck, what’s not to love. Low and behold I get dragged to an estate auction with my mother who wants to look at antiques. Little did I know there were some automotive antiques as well. I walk in to find 4 cars parked in a row and I immediately lock eyes with a 2004 Grand Marquis. One owner and with 25,000 miles on the clock it was almost too good to be true. She had a leather bench seat (another feature I have always admired of cars of yore) and the 9 spoke alloy wheels with white walls. Needless to say it was love at first sight. Bidding was rather uneventful- another older gentlemen and I engaged in a slight bidding war but he became dissuaded after $3,800. For that paltry price I took home a bonafide V8 land yacht which I immediately begin thinking about how to chop up. I drove her home and showed her off to my neighbors. One of my best friends dad, a gear head himself, immediately dubbed her the Marquis de Sade- the name stuck.

Now my other ride is a FJ80 land cruiser which I straight piped back in high school. Her straight six sounds pretty nice but driving her cross country really alerted me to how terrible the combination of exhaust drown and mud tires on the highway are. For the de Sade I began investigating exhaust cutouts to free up her 4.6 mod motor. I ordered a QTP exhaust cutout from summit and whipped out the sawzall to begin some surgical procedures. The whole process took about 6 hours to complete. It was delayed by the fact that once I cut the muffler loose I rushed to turn the car on and listen to that beautiful exhaust note only to heat up all the pipes. After letting them cool down I climbed under the car to figure out how to route the exhaust.

The de Sade came with a single exhaust channel so I decided to help her breath a little more and located the cut out right where the two headers merge into one exhaust pipe. 30 mintues of mig welding later I had crafted a workable looking exhaust path.

She sounds great and is much more enjoyable to drive. I located the switch to open and close the valve under the dash away from any prying eyes. I highly recommend QTP cutouts they are of outstanding quality and made in the USA. As for next modifications I am a little unsure. I am thinking about welding up a bull-bar inspired by the Aussies. Thoughts?

DISCUSSION (29)

MonkeePuzzle > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:06

the cutout doesnt lead to a straight pipe out teh side or something? just, dumps right there under the middle fo the car?

MonkeePuzzle > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:08

I want one. act the fool then close it and roll up innocently next to a cop at the next light? "who me? no I drive a grandma car and it doesn't sound mean or nothin"

CalzoneGolem > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:09

I am thinking about welding up a kangaroo bar inspired by the Aussies. Thoughts?

ftfy

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:10

I kind of want to rig a GrandMa with a modular V-10 (supercharged), after first making sure it has a landau top as camouflage. Quiet exhaust -> cutout as needed, on-the-fly adjustable suspension, drag-capable box with controllable valving, possibly a retractable airdam and spoiler. Quiet sleeper unless roaring and burning tires.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > CalzoneGolem
08/15/2013 at 11:12

haha truth.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > MonkeePuzzle
08/15/2013 at 11:14

For now yes. I have been thinking about how to weld up a side pipe. Will likely have to dump aft of the front tire. Not worth it at the moment. If I get tired of the drone I just close the valve.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
08/15/2013 at 11:15

I assume you have seen the v-10 panther that was featured in hot rod mag a while back correct?

MonkeePuzzle > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:15

I guess my concern was about where the heat and fumes are going less than noise

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > MonkeePuzzle
08/15/2013 at 11:18

Yeah, I've had other cars dump under the passenger compartment and never really had any issues with fumes. I suppose if I were going to sit and idle for a long time I would close the valve.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:21

Correct, though "hey, V-8 modular -> V-10 modular!" had occurred to me before that. The necessary element is one with 3-valve heads (more innate power, truck only - not van, though a van one and 3-valve heads for it can be obtained about the same price: ex-U-haul). The one in HR magazine didn't have a supercharger, but supers for the V-10 modular *are* available, along with some other performance parts. Would be most hilarious with cylinder cutout for better mileage and a supercharger bypass, though the fab and fluid sim required for either of those is kind of daunting.

A Panther capable of loping along with a funny idle and >25mpg, suddenly dropping on its suspension, flaring a spoiler, and snarling - it's a mental image that makes me giggle.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
08/15/2013 at 11:25

Yeah the sleeper concept certainly appeals to me and I have thought about keeping this gal stock looking. But ultimately I think my extroverted personality will force me to turn her into a pseudo baja pig.

fink stinger > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:28

I hope it's some kind of optical illusion, but it looks like you are asking for ground clearance trouble with that thing at parking lot entrances. That part of the car is the closest to the ground going in and out of parking lots.

On a side note, creating a driveway scene like that for more than about 15 minutes during daylight would get me an HOA notice when I lived in sunny south Florida. Count youself lucky that you can work on your car openly in that nice looking of a neighborhood.

RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:30

Look into sealing up the electronic motor with silicon otherwise it'll rust and you'll need another within the year

Drsweetdik > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:42

Kinja'd!!!

This trumps "stanced"

Hooker > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:44

Excellent write-up! Great car for an insanely low price! NP indeed. Can we get a few interior shots? I bet that thing is a cream puff on the inside! Nice exhaust mod as well!

ASheep > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 11:49

That sounds amazing! Nice job on the fabrication. I'd put some kind of pipe under there if only to protect the butterfly from crap coming up off the road. There's no sound like a big old V8 thundering along!

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Hooker
08/15/2013 at 11:53

Beige on beige- wish it had the gray interior instead. The leather is of exceedingly low quality which really shouldn't be a surprise. I might look into getting the front bench upholstered with some real nice cow hide. The fake wood on the steering wheel feels nice though.

Kinja'd!!!

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > ASheep
08/15/2013 at 11:55

Thanks for the kind words. I'm sure you wouldn't be praising my welding as much if the pictures were better lit! I think I will fit an 90 degree elbow to it and point everything out the side.

Hooker > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 12:53

Looks really good! Yeah, the interior materials are low rent but that's par for the course when most of your buyers are fleet. Still, simple and well laid out dash's like this are nice. A rarity these days.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Hooker
08/15/2013 at 12:55

Also how could you not love the understated GRAND MARQUIS chrome logo inlaid in that beautiful fake wood. My favorite part of the dash by far.

Hooker > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 12:57

Indeed. It's subtle, which makes it awesome.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
08/15/2013 at 13:06

How do you mean? Just taking the rear housing off and sealing where it bolts up to the valve? The wires going in seemed decently water proofed.

RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/15/2013 at 13:17

The electric motor that opens/shuts the valve is prone to rust. If there is a rubber boot protecting the motor, you might want to add a little extra protection power via silicon, just to improve the longevity of your system

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > RS Hole, I forgot my password for 8 months
08/15/2013 at 13:23

Thanks for the tip I'll take a look next time I'm under the car.

 > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/16/2013 at 07:31

Here is a video of cutouts on my Vic.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 >
08/16/2013 at 10:52

Very familiar sound. Always surprises me how well they work. Love opening them on people who have never ridden in my car before to gauge their reaction. Any other engine mods? I'm trying to decided what to do first.

 > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/16/2013 at 13:12

This thing is my daily driver so don't really have much done to it. I did 3.55s with trac lock a couple of weeks ago and police airbox with tune. I got a supercharged Grand Marquis which is my mod car.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 >
08/16/2013 at 19:12

Very cool. Might have to pick your brain some more later when I decide to dive into the engine more extensively.

 > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
08/16/2013 at 20:51

Well then join the club www.crownvic.ca