What is the U-Bend for? To keep the O-2 Sensor from knocking up against the Floor Pans or is there another reason for putting a "U" in the Exhaust Pipe right there. I was thinking that it mist have to do with Robots welding-up the Exhaust and that piece is more easily centered and positioned for Robotics than a straight-through piece of round stock would be.

I'm sure there has to be another good reason I am not aware of ... so, ... what is it?

And why will there be a gain of 20 Horsepower just making that U-Bend a straight-through???

 

Im not too familair with sixth gens but im pretty sure its to protect the o2 sensor from being damaged by rocks, debris, etc. I got a friend with a GTP that just had straight pipe put in and an o2 bung, and he said he felt a ncie gain from it

 

The main reason isprotection against it being knocked out/disconnected. With the 02 off to the side, there's more chance that it'll get knocked off, causing a warranty repair. But in all honesty if u don't jump the car or go off roadin putting it off to the side is really no more dangerous than straight up n down.

 

Come one Mike, tell the truth, we all know that the u-bend was designed by a Ford engineering spy who was planted at GM secretly 15 years ago.

 

How much of a horsepower gain will be added with a straight pipe deleting the U-bend? Is it really 20, oris it more like 5?

 

The number 10 keps getting knocked around.

 

Lol, Doesn't take much more than a hot intake and a Ubend delete to make a V6 Monte keep right up with a StockV8 rustang! Spy-planted or not, if you look at it you'll realize why it's a power bottleneck.

Putting out 350 for those mods installed should be plenty enough consolation for any Monte owner that decided against shelling out 3k more for a V8 rustang. I'm sorry, but I went to furd as a joke (seriously, nothing more than a research trip) and their V6 rustang with worse mileage than a Monte Carlomakes 200 HP at the crank? I nearly lost my bladder!Even the3.5L engine makes more than that! A 6th Gen 3.8 with a ubend delete should make 230 easy, 235-240 with an Intake. I think they were rated at 220 stock, right?

 

I wasn't too sure what you guys were talking about so I had to go and look at a picture...

very interesting I must say ...

 

I belive you can also buy the u bend pipe with the o2 sensor plug in it already from http://www.zzperformance.com as well

 

The u-bend removal, and replaced with a straight pipe on a NA 3800 will only net 3-5hp max. Intake and PCM with a 2.5" downpipe and resonator removal will add another15, maybe 20 if your engine is a freak. Sometimes, numbers are grossly overinflated. 200hp stock of of the NA 3800, 225tq, and these are all crank numbers.

On a SC'ed 3800, u-bend removal is definately good for 5hp when stock. If you've got other mods first like the intake, PCM, and 3.4" pulley, and then you go and replace your u-bend, it will net more HP, since you were probably having timing removed from KR as a result of boost stacking caused by the u-bend... so you have to be careful how you value the u-bend removal. It's not "giving" you 20hp... it's only allowing a free flow. Though if you only do the u-bend, your resonator and downpipe will be the next bottle necks causing you boost stack, and resulting KR.

HTH