About the Video
2015-2016 Mustang GT350 Style Quad Tip Valance & Exhaust Conversion Install
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Published on 2016-01-21
If you are looking to increase the performance and exterior appearance of your 5.0L Mustang, the Ford Performance GT350 style sport exhaust system is for you. This exhaust system bolts onto the stock catalytic converters and utilizes the stock hangers and mounts. This GT exhaust system is constructed of 2.5" stainless steel mandrel bent tubing to give you the performance increase of a free flowing exhaust system and includes an integrated X-Pipe. The rear axle back is finished with GT350 quad exhaust tips and GT350 lower valance.
Mustang Fitment: 2015 (15), 2016 (16) GT w/ Premium Package
Note: Requires permanent modification to your stock bumper.
Transcript
Hey! What’s going everyone? Landan here with Late Model Restoration. Today, this video is going to cover my review and install on the GT350 style exhaust kits available for the 2015-2016 premium Mustang GT’s.
Ford Performance Racing Parts is dedicated to manufacturing the highest quality products offered in the Mustang market. Several of Ford Performance parts have made their way onto a ton of project cars here at Late Model Restoration, all of which maintained an OEM fit and finish!
Ford Performance’s GT350 style exhaust kits will be offered in four different variations. Two of which will be the cut and clamp axle backs and the other two being full, complete cat backs. The axle backs will feature the easy cut and clamp design, your choice of the touring muffler or the “tried and true” sport muffler, and the piece that makes this kit what it is; the exact rear lower valance from the badass GT350.
If an axle back isn’t for you, and you’re wanting a louder exhaust tone out of your GT, than the cat back kits are the way to go. Like the axle backs, the cat backs are offered in the same trims with either the touring or sport mufflers. Since it is a cat back, you’ll get new intermediate piping and Ford Performance’s integral X-pipe. This X-pipe deletes that sound-robbing factory resonator and is a surprising 15 pounds lighter.
Other than the axle back and cat back differences, the muffler characteristics are easy to differentiate. Externally, they are identical! The internals is what makes them one in their own. If you’re looking for a subtle exhaust tone, the touring mufflers will be your best bet. On the flip side, if you’re one to have an exhaust sound that turns some heads, then the sport mufflers are for you.
The GT350 rear lower valance is the highlight of this kit without a doubt. This valance is the exact same one found on the production GT350 and GT350R Mustangs. It of course adds exterior styling to your run-of-the-mill GT by featuring the popular quad tip exhaust openings. Being a Ford original part, the fit and finish is spot on.
Alright guys, follow along as I walk you through the detailed steps on installing Ford Performance’s GT350 rear lower valance and sport cat back onto our 2015 GT.
Before continuing, this install does require permanent modification to the rear of your bumper. To begin installation, place the car on a lift or jack stands. Remove the rear wheels to allow for easier access of the rear splash shield hardware. Inside of the trunk, remove the four plastic retainers securing the rear panel to the trunk. Remove the two upper plastic push pins securing the side carpets to the inner trunk. Remove the trunk carpet and then remove the rear plastic trunk panel.
Now, remove the two furthest push pins securing the side carpeting to the trunk. Starting on the driver side, roll back the trunk carpet and then disconnect the tail light electrical connection. Loosen and remove the three 10mm bolts securing the tail light to the car. Carefully pull out on the tail light. From inside the car, push the wire grommet out to remove the tail light from the car. Repeat these steps for the passenger side.
Moving back to the driver side, locate the three push pins securing the cloth splash shield to the car. Remove the smaller push pin with a push pin removal tool. The two bigger push pins can be removed by simply tugging on the cloth splash shield. Directly behind the splash shield and underneath the rear bumper, remove the two plastic push pins. Behind the splash shield, loosen and remove the three 7mm bolts securing the bumper to the car. Working your way around the underside of the bumper, loosen and remove the two 8mm bolts securing the middle of the bumper. Finally, repeat the same steps for the passenger side splash shield and bumper hardware.
Start to carefully pull out on the bumper. I would advise the help from a buddy to assist in removing the rear bumper from the car. Don’t pull too hard since you’ll need to disconnect the main electrical connection for the rear accessories. Lay the rear bumper carefully on an old, but clean bed sheet or padded blanket. Start by disconnecting all of the lights, back up sensors if equipped, and any clips securing the harness to the rear support. Work your way around the rear bumper support and then remove the two small push pins securing the lower bumper the rear support.
Remove the lower support from the car by releasing the three plastic retaining tabs. Loosen and remove the four 7mm screws securing the reverse light to the car. On each side of the bumper, remove the three bolts securing the sides of the lower valance. Now, carefully work your way around the entire bumper and release the tabs securing the lower valance. Once the tabs are released, remove the lower valance from the bumper. Take this time to wipe down any dirty areas on the rear bumper.
Re-position the bumper so that it is facing up. Mark the areas as shown; this is where you will make your cuts. Use a body saw and a blade designed for plastic and cut the two sides. File down any rough or uneven areas. Use a blow gun to remove any excess cutting debris from the bumper. If you notice the new rear GT350 valance already has the needed hardware already on it. Now, position the rear bumper upside down. Have a friend help you hold the GT350 valance so you can secure all of the plastic tabs.
Re-tighten the six previously removed valance to bumper bolts. Reinstall your reverse light. On the factory valance, remove the pal nut from the reflector and then release the tab to remove the reflector. Do the same for the other one. Transfer the reflectors and re-install the pal nuts. Re-position the rear bumper support. Reconnect any electrical connections and re-clip the harness in its designated area. The next step is optional, but I would recommend doing this. Take your body saw and cut the two rear bumper support braces.
These don’t get in the way, but this does give it a more finished look. Moving underneath the car, loosen the exhaust sleeve hardware with a 15mm deep socket and the rear hanger hardware with a 13mm socket. Grab a buddy and remove the stock cat back from the car. Remove and transfer your exhaust hangers. Install the included X-pipe and loosely tighten the exhaust sleeves. Slide an exhaust clamp over each intermediate pipe and then position them into place. Loosely tighten the hanger hardware. Slide the last two clamps over the rear of the intermediate pipes and then position the passenger side muffler into place.
Loosely tighten the hanger hardware. Do the same for the driver side muffler. Push up on the muffler and intermediate pipe and loosely tighten the clamp. Loosely tighten the intermediate pipe to X-pipe clamp. Before continuing, make sure the tips on the muffler are level. Fully tighten the hanger hardware. Grab your buddy, and re-install the rear bumper. Be sure and re-connect the electrical connection. Snap it back into place and clean any dirty areas. Make sure the lower valance is fully seated into the rear bumper.
Begin re-installing all of the previously removed fasteners and splash shield hardware. Re-install your tail lights and then re-tighten the previously removed hardware. Re-position your side carpets, rear trunk panel and trunk carpet. Finally, make sure all of the push pins and retainers are on. Double check your work and adjust the mufflers accordingly until they sit even inside of the tips on the GT350 valance. Reinstall your wheels and get the car on the ground! You’re done!
As far as installation goes, bet on about three hours from start to finish. The only time consuming aspect of this install is removal of the rear bumper. Other than that, once you get going this one is extremely straight-forward.
Now that we’re all wrapped up, let’s have a listen to the before and after sound clips of the sport cat back with the GT350 valance.
Well, not too shabby if you ask me. It mimics the hollow growl from a GT350 almost spot on. While we’re on the subject of exhaust clips. Check out the quick comparison of the regular GT sport cat back vs the GT350 style.
If you guys want to continue watching awesome install videos for your S550 Mustang, then I invite you to subscribe to our YouTube channel if you haven’t already done so. If you’re not already there, head back over to the site and pick up a Ford Performance GT350 style exhaust kit from LMR.com!
