It's great when you can have it all. That's what you get with the new stainless steel "collector back" exhaust system now marketed by MagnaFlow for early Mustangs. To make power the system is, of course, constructed from 2.5" mandrel bent tubing and includes one of their Tru-X crossovers.
   If you've been a steady reader of Mustang Enthusiast you'll remember that in our recent comparison test of crossover pipes, the data showed the "X" configuration had several advantages over the H-pipes in terms of being able to produce more power with less noise, all else being equal. Furthermore, of the various combinations tested, the MagnaFlow parts were consistently among those yielding the highest power and torque.
   Even though increased performance and a better sound are usually the primary reasons why someone upgrades to a per-formance exhaust, there are still other considerations. Take durability. This new MagnaFlow system is constructed from a proprietary alloy of stain-less steel that give you a much better appearance versus 409 stainless (which tends to discolor over time) or al-uminized mild steel, yet it is less expensive and even can have a weight advantage over both, as well as some of the more exotic 300 series stainless alloys. Weld ability is fine. What this means is that you get a great-looking system that will stay that way, and you don't have to pay a fortune or suffer a weight penalty for the privilege.
   This becomes obvious once you look at the other comp-onents in the kit. The mufflers themselves have highly polished stainless outer shells to give the best appearance, while on the inside they utilize a straight-through design and have a layer

of stainless steel wool wrapped around the perforated exhaust pipe to shield the high temperature packing and prevent blowout. All of the hangers and hardware are first-rate, definitely not cheaper stuff you might find elsewhere. Special band clamps are provided to eliminate the need for welding at pipe connections. All of this adds up to a system which will last far longer than most, and will look and sound pretty much the same as long as you own it.
   In terms of power and sound, MagnaFlow does extensive research to optimize the balance between the two. As you will see in the following photos, the tuning of the various components is done in subtle ways such that power is maximized while keeping sound volume at the desired levels. Particular attention is paid to the geometry and dimensions of the Tru-X crossover in this regard, with clear benefit as our comparison test data showed. In fact, the design of this crossover is so efficient that a perforated version is used internally in some mufflers intended for larger vehicles where it is not feasible to use an external crossover. in some applications where a single exhaust pipe is required, these internal crossovers can be combined with a Y junction (all inside the muffler, mind you) to have the necessary dual inlet/single outlet configuration while still being able to benefit from the tuning provided by the X-style junction.