The outgoing 4.0L V6 that Ford had used for years to fill the engine bays of non-V8 Mustangs was not something special. It was essentially an updated version of an ancient truck motor that really had no business between the fenders of a sports car. It was loud and not particularly smooth and it made as much horsepower as your local ice cream truck. Drivers of other performance vehicles gave it about the same consideration too. They loved to see a Mustang V6 when they were in the market for something calm and creamy to chew on for a while. Needless to say, it was time for a replacement.
The aptly code-named “Cyclone” 3.7L V6 Ford introduced in the 2011 Mustang is something very different. Where the old Cologne V6 sounded like the conveyor belt system in a meat packaging plant, the new mill sounds like a chorus of angels… screaming your favorite Metallica song. In all of its whirlwind glory, the new engine howls like a proper sports car engine should, while throwing out more horsepower than the 2009 Mustang GT’s V8.
As is typical with any mass-produced car, the manufacturer has managed to hide a lot of that special sound behind a set of EPA-pleasing mufflers that all but disguise the savage nature of the banshee that lurks beneath the hood. Fortunately, the army of aftermarket exhaust companies has sent forth its greatest warriors to storm the tower and liberate our wailing damsel. At the vanguard of the assault is the Sport Series exhaust system from Corsa. Touting features like full stainless steel construction and a lifetime warranty, the Sport Series is well equipped to handle the challenge.
Corsa is famous for making some of the world’s highest quality exhaust systems and the Sport Series for the 2011+ Mustang V6 is no exception. At the very first glance it is easy to see the level of attention to detail and care that goes into every system. Each muffler is a mirror replica of its counterpart and the fit and finish is second to none. Some exhaust systems don’t perfectly line up once installed and can be asymmetrical. This is not the case with Corsa’s product. The highly polished and laser-engraved exhaust tips are beautifully formed to precisely match the sweeping angle of the Mustang’s rear valance. They do not stick out like a gun barrel poking out of its firing port, as so many other exhaust systems manage to do. These tips complement the rear of the car and exude a sense of quality when observed.
On par with the phenomenal quality and appearance of the system are the sounds emitted from it. Corsa has managed to create a system that is both pleasingly calm while cruising and savagely brutal under hard acceleration. In typical Corsa fashion, interior drone is completely canceled out leaving only a melody that is just audible above normal cabin sounds. From idle to cruising around 2000 RPM, the engine sounds smooth and docile, but put your foot down and it comes alive. Past 3500 RPM and all the way to the crescendo of the engine’s near 7000 RPM redline, she sings a haunting song of pure performance. With Corsa’s help, Ford’s pony sounds more like one of Ferrari’s stallions than the bellowing cow of yesteryear.
The benefits of the Corsa Sport Series exhaust do not end at the audible improvements. Corsa’s axle-back units are substantially lighter than the stock mufflers and in turn help to improve ride quality and reduce overall vehicle weight. Combine that with the performance improvement from a more free-flowing exhaust path and it is possible to see fuel economy improvements of 1-2 MPG.
With the arsenal of benefits to be gained, you just can’t go wrong with the Corsa Sport Series Exhaust system for the 3.7L V6 Ford Mustang.
Installation:
Installing the Sport Series Exhaust System is relatively simple and requires only basic tools.
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Start by raising up the rear of your car either with ramps or jacks. |
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Use a 13mm wrench to loosen the clamps on both the driver and passenger side mufflers. |
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Use a 15mm wrench to just loosen the 4 bolts on the clamp located at the midpipe. |
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Use a 15mm socket or wrench to remove the 2 bolts on the driver side of the panhard bar, then loosen the bolt on the passenger side end with an 18mm socket or wrench enough so that the bar drops freely. This will help when removing the driver side muffler. |
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Detach the muffler brackets from the rubber hanger grommets. Soapy water is suggested as it will make grommet removal easier and less likely to damage the grommet. |
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Separate the axle pipe from the clamp joint and push the muffler towards the bumper to remove the other hangers from their hanger grommets. The muffler will then be free of the car and can be removed. |
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Locate the two included spherical joints and supplied anti-seize lubricant. Apply the anti-seize to the threads of the bolts on the joint clamps. This step is necessary to keep the threads from being damaged during installation. |
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Install the sphere joint onto the muffler pipe but do not tighten. Insert the front two hangers into the existing grommets and position the muffler pipe onto the axle pipe so that the sphere joint connects both ends. |
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With the sphere joints still loose, you can now install the back hanger into the remaining hanger grommet. You can then tighten the sphere joint to hold the muffler in place but do not fully tighten the joint yet. |
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Repeat the installation process for the other muffler. |
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Reinstall the two 15mm bolts on the panhard bar and re-tighten the 18mm bolt on the passenger side. |
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Check the clearance around the axle pipes over the axle and tighten the 15mm bolts on the clamp on the mid-pipe assembly. |
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Align the exhaust tips evenly in the bumper cut-outs and while holding them in position, tighten the sphere joints to hold them in place.
Re-check all bolts to ensure tightness. |
*Be sure to re-check all exhaust bolts for tightness after you drive the car for the first time. The parts will heat and expand then cool and shrink. This thermal cycling can lead to the bolts becoming loose.
That’s it! You are now ready to enjoy the smooth and muscular sounds of your new Corsa Sport Series Exhaust System.
Article and pictures by: Wayde Sutton
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