Borla Exhaust...or

[SilverV96]

Hi,

I bought my 96CE LT1 last July. After 300 miles of driving I decided it's too quiet.
The only modifications to the car has been a Dana 3.73. I'd like to know if any one has the Borla Exhaust or other. I'd like to make a little more noise! What do you think?
Thanks for your info. G.

 

[CKA_Racing]

Before I go on, I'd like to give you some advice. Go to as many vette shows/events and listen to the different exhaust sound first hand. Also take a ride in these vettes if you can to check for resonance. Make sure you ask if any other exhaust mods were done such as headers, cats removed, etc. These mods effect how much resonance there is. From there decide on which look you prefer and also how much you are willing to spend. Also ask yourself what benefits are important to you from the exhaust mods. What's more important? More power? Just a nice sound?
Least costly?

I will make comments on sound and looks. Keep in mind this is based on personal choice. The other comments are base on my five years of reading forum comments, magazine article and personal experience.

Since you mention Borla, I'll start there. This system has been very well known for bad resonance. Wimpy tailpipes for an after market system. Nice finish. Fair price. Sound is ok. Fit is not always the greatest.

Corsa - Practically no resonance at all. Fair price. Good quality. Decent tailpipes. Ugly welds show to much. Sound is ok but not deep enough. Too quite at idle. Excellent fit.

Power Effects - Excellent quality. Nice deep big block sound. Excellent finish. Excellent fit. Has adjustable flaps in the mufflers that can be used to adjust the backpressure and loudness. It also helps in dealing with the resonance. With closed flaps there is a tiny bit of resonance at around 2,000rpm. This cat back is 2 3/4 inch which ideal for torq and horsepower for a street car.

B&B Triflow - The best looking tailpipes around. Excellent quality. There has been issues with fit. Mufflers spinning, not the easiest to install. Comes in 3 inch pipe. The system has resonance.

Flowmaster - One of the ugliest mufflers out there for a vette. Finish is not as good as the others. Has resonance.

MagnaFlow - Nice tailpipes. Has resonance.

Dynomax - Sound is ok but not loud enough for most. Cheap in price. Lousy tailpipes.

The following info was taken from an article in Corvette Fever June 1998 issue.
Exhaust shoot out! By Jim Van Dorn
Dyno results on stock Grand Sport LT4.

HP/TORQ
Stock:
299/307

BB Triflow catback 3-inch:
310/310

Dynomax mufflers only:
304/310

Borla Corvette Challenge cat back 2 3/4 inch:
304/309

Flowmaster cat back 2 1/2 inch:
306/309

Power Effects cat back 2 3/4 inch:
299/308 - flaps in closed position
311/313 - flaps in open position

As you can see the is very little difference between them all especially when you consider cost.

Some interesting comments they had were, "Borla teamed with Doug Rippie Motosports in developing their Corvette Challenge cat-back 2 3/4 inch system. Rippie's original request for the larger-diameter pipe was made when he fitted his mega-horsepower former Lemans engine (600+hp) to a production ZR-1. Rippie later related "We found the 3-inch system was great for horsepower, but (it) lost torque. The 2 3/4 inch system was the best of both worlds.

I have an issue with the above. If that's true why is it the the Triflow 3-inch tested pushed 310 torq and the Borla pushed 309torq. Could it be that they are really refering to how the max torq moves to a lower rpm with the 2 3/4 and moves up higher in the rpm's for the 3-inch? Is this possible?
I can feel a difference in low end torq if i closed the flaps on my PE system. Feels like it has more but maybe it's just available sooner.


They also tested sound levels at 70mph cruise, at idle, interior sound. Let me know if this interest anyone and i'll start a new post with the results. What's interesting is that they don't mention resonance at all. I'm thinking the Cruise @70mph sound level test would be as good indication of how loud the resonance is.
Stock 94
Triflow 107
Dynomax 96
Borla 100
Flowmaster 97
Power Effects 100(Closed) 103(Open)<this turns it into a straight pipe, you can see inside the exhaust.

107 DB is loud for most folks.
For me open headers use to be not loud enough.

So bigger is better for horsepower in a modified car I would think. When you have such a high level of power I don't think it makes much difference if you lose let's say 10-20ft pounds of torq for a street car.

 

[LT-4 CE]

I have the Magnaflow on my LT-4 collector edition and do not have any resonance problems. I really like them.

 

[SilverV96]

Thanks

Great advice. Thanks for the info... Here's another ? I want the exhaust changed but, I want to keep the stock look of the tail pipes. Can these be cut and welded back?
I do plan to attend a lot of events, watch, listen and learn I'm joining a Club here is SE Michigan. So between all of you I will have a sweeter sounding car. Thanks again G.

 

[Eagle85C4]

This past summer I replace the entire exhaust for 2 1/2 stainless with the Borla cat back with 3" Round outlets. At idle it has a beautiful low growl to it and at WOT you can hear it coming. No resonance to speak of. 6000 milea later I am still happy with it and the comments I get on how nice it sounds.

 

[CKA_Racing]

SilverV96,
As you can see from the reply's coming in, you will get many different opinions. Notice Eagle says no resonance to speak of.
I know two guys with LT1's who could not hold a decent conversation because the resonance was too loud with the Borlas they installed on stock vettes. Eagles vette is an 85. So due to the different years you may or may not have an issue.
Like i said, don't take some one's word. Use the info we provide as a guide but do your research.

 

[rrubel]

Mmmmmm.... Power Effects....

We listened to an LT1 (93 6-speed, I think) at Carlisle with the PE's. Closed and open. Great sound, and they have a resonator and crossover for the LT1 setup (though not for the L98; they claim it's not necessary with only one pipe).

They've got .WAV files of the exhaust in various situations posted on their website, or you can order a CD/tape (hmmm... now playing... Exhausts' Greatest Hits! And remember, you can tune a car, but you can't tuna fish).

Sorry, back to my beer... a nice microbrew from Lehigh Valley, PA.
[RICHR]

 

[RubyDropTop]

There is some great info. offered here, but I would just like to add another exhaust choice....chambered exhaust.

I have a chambered system on my car (the ones that appear in Mid-America and Eckler's) and absolutely love it. No resonator, no mufflers, just chambered areas where these items would normally be.

A benefit to this system is that it comes with stock tips (black/rectangular). At a glance the system appears to be stock...until you start it up. It has a nice throaty idle and is aggressive when pushed. I do not find resonance to be an issue, and I can certainly listen to my radio without interference.

It's just another option for you to consider, but I think that the chambered system makes the car sound as it should have from the factory.

 

[BigRed]

Dynomax here, they have BEAUTIFUL tone but Im changing the tail pipes to chrome folded ovals Vs the ZR-1 looking ones they supplied.

 

[SilverV96]

Thanks everyone for all this great information. I never thought about chamber exhaust. I just got the new MidAmerica Cat... will check it out.


Cheers! SilverV