Mustang X-Pipes & Mustang H-Pipes

The X pipe vs. H pipe debate is a huge topic in the Mustang community. The mid-pipe is the section of exhaust piping that connects the exhaust manifolds or headers to the cat-back exhaust system. The exhaust note produced by these two Mustang mid-pipes provides a uniquely different exhaust tone. Exhaust gas is scavenged differently with the two designs resulting in the difference in sound.

The H-pipe intersects as an “H” and gives you the old-school "American Muscle Car" sound that we have all grown to love! While this version of the crossover pipe produces a deep, throaty exhaust note, it isn't as efficient at balancing exhaust gases as the X-pipe. The H-pipe is designed with two straight pipes and a crossover pipe that, while it does help to equalize exhaust pulses from the passenger side to the driver side, does not encourage more exhaust flow. The result is slightly more low-end torque but a little less high-end horsepower.

 

The H-pipe will still perform very well. They have been around for roughly 60 years, and nobody would use them if they did not work!

 

The piping of the X-pipe intersects in the shape of an “X” so that exhaust gases cross each other from each engine bank to create an increased flow that will help to evacuate the system efficiently and evenly. The X-pipe will create a more raspy tone and has a slightly higher pitch than an H-pipe with the colliding exhaust pluses. In most cases, you will see power gains in the higher RPM because of the smooth, continuous exhaust flow caused by crossing exhaust gases from the left to the right side. The exhaust pulses are scavenged more efficiently, producing that higher RPM power, but they will have a slight loss in low-end torque.

 

Though producing a more raspy tone, the X-pipe will have fewer decibels compared to the deeper exhaust note exiting the H-Pipe.