FOCUS ON EXHAUST
MagnaFlow Helps The Ford Breathe Easier

Text and Photos By: Reinaldo Robinson

   Ever since its introduction a few years ago, the Ford Focus has become one of "the" cars to own and they have become pretty prevalent on the show scene. With that realization, we went to one of the foremost names in exhaust technology, MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust. MagnaFlow is the performance division of Car Sound Exhaust System, Inc., a world leader in the manufacture of catalytic converters and exhaust components for more than 20 years. MagnaFlow's quality and sound are some of the finest made and after seeing the exhaust up close, we can tell you that every weld and piece is top-notch quality.

MagnaFlow uses the same matting found in Ferrari mufflers. This premium matting will smell for a couple hundred miles when heated, but it lines the muffler and prevents rust from attacking from the inside out, which is one of the primary causes of most muffler failure. MagnaFlow makes some of the nicest-sounding exhausts with an authoritative but not too loud note. The 4-inch tip is double-walled and etched with the MagnaFlow logo. Come along with us as we let MagnaFlow do what they do best, hook up one of their exhaust systems to Eliseo Hernandez' 2002 Focus.

2. Here's the exhaust for our car, a four-door Ford Focus with the 2.0-liter, 16-valve engine. All of the tubing is mandrel bent.

3. The muffler is polished stainless steel. The entire system uses all of the OE hangers and fasteners for ease of installation and an OE fit.

4. After letting the exhaust cool to a chilly temperature, all of the bolts and hangers were sprayed with WD-40 for ease of removal. Nothing sucks more than wrestling with a bolt and busting your knuckles.

5. This is the stock exhaust pretty simple and restrictive, but we're going to open it up and add some exhaust note, good looks and a few ponies and in the process.

6. To remove the OEM system, the middle muffler will have to be cut between the middle muffler and the rear control arm.

7. The mid muffler is cut and removed from the hanger.

8. Unbolt the front half of the system from the catalytic converter at the two-bolt flange and remove it from the OEM rubber insulators. Remove the rear half in the same fashion Do not damage the OEM hangers or fasteners as they will be used in the reinstallation of the new exhaust.

9. Install the front extension pipe and bolt loosely. Connect the rear half and loosely bolt the clamps together. Install the new muffler by fitting the welded hangers into the OEM rubber insulators and fastening the mid pipe together with the clamps.

10. With all the components mounted loosely, adjust the system for the overall aesthetics and clearance from the bodywork. A ½-inch clearance is recommended by MagnaFlow from any bodywork to prevent any heat-related damage to the body panels.

11. Once the final position is chosen, all fasteners are tightened down from front to back.

12-13. Here's the new exhaust in all its glory. It's a shame that it has to be under the car! It's recommended that you check tightness after 25-50 miles, but after you hear the sound of this exhaust you'll be too busy driving just to hear the new exhaust note.

14. Afterwards another dyno run was done and the Focus gained 5.4 horsepower, 7.2 ft.-lbs of torque and, more importantly, better breathing and an exhaust note that has other cars trying to through revs on ya. MagnaFlow also did some sound samples of the exhaust for their Web site so watch for those to be up soon.