BlackRocket

After reviewing my previous post and considering the extra $ for a Corsa or my favorite, B&B I thought; well it's just a dirty exhaust system and as long as it looks good I'll go for it...

My previous post prior to my purchase asking members their thoughts was somewhat positive:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...x-exhaust.html

I received the system and it look great after unpacking! Shiny, good welds and complete! There was an area on one of the muffler cans that the cardboard got eaten through and the mirror polished area was badly scratched. (I manages to get the scratches out with never dull).

I then put my car up on a lift and was going to try to tackle myself thinking how hard could this be?? After considering all the ramifications of not being able to drive my car once the original exhaust is off...I decided to call a local muffler shop. They quoted me $160 for labor over the phone.

Hearing that...I was in! Took my car over there and the following happened:
= No bung for O2 sensor on drivers side and fortuntely this shop had them...
= They couldn't get the original O2 sensor out of stock exhaust costing me a walk over to a Napa auto parts and an add'l $42...
= first 2 forward pipes installed no issues...
= Then realized one side 1.5 " longer than other...
= I told the shop workers to cut the long one off to match and so spring hangar lined up on back end...
= One side of spring hangar bracket too long requiring 3/8" trimmed off...
= None of the SS band clamps provided were large enough so shop had to provide there own better galvanized clamps...
= The rear "S" pipes appear to same, but one is 2 pieces welded together...
= Hung mufflers and tried to line everything up...
= Major issues getting sides lined up...
= I recommended swapping the "S" pipes side to side...
= Driver side fine but pass side way off...
= Driver side had only 1/2" overlap muffler to "S" pipe so shop welded...
= Noticed entire system off center by 1/2" at the bottom bolt of diif. cover...cutting forward pipe only improved this issue...
= Pass side required cutting nearly 1.5" off "S" pipe to get tailpipe at same length as Driver side. Then had to butt weld...
= "S" pipe on Pass side close to bottom of fiberglass spring required twisting down...
= Pass side muffler lined up but noticeable 3/4" lower than Drivers...required machining flat plate to push up on rubber muffler support bracket behind bumper...
Muffler shop was pissed and let me slide at $240 as it took them 3.5 hours!!!
(As you can in the picture the outboard tailpipes droop slightly...but considering everything we went through...


Now I'm out the cost of the exhaust; $555 + $240 = $795! Eventually will replace with B&B. I had a B&B years ago on my '91 ZR1 and installed myself in 2 hours! Loved it and the quality! The extra cost for the quality systems is obviously in the engineering both for fitment as well as the acoustics and manufacturing...Well worth the extra cost! Also, this cheap system is just glass packs and the drone is painful when cruising down the road! Save your $$$ and headaches PLEASE!!!

81c3

That drooping outboard pipe does look kinda bad... not trying to rub salt in the wound, but Im being honest. Been on this forum for a long time through ownership of 8 Vettes now. Ive heard some guys love the OBX system and some have had similar experiences as you.... Seems like a crap shoot on what you get. As for the B&B systems.... I agree with you, A1 stuff. I had the BB cat back on my 92 ZR-1 behind Stainless Works headers... easy at home install, very nice looking and great sound.

Cjunkie

Ugh who installed that exhaust Ray Charles?

cv67

seems nothing aftermarket is truly bolt on...your muffler shop guy needs to make that right....if he cant he should close his doors

billschroeder5842

Yeah, that is inexcusable.


You should have never taken possession of the car with your system like that.

383vett

Those tips need to be repositioned. I'm a Libra and couldn't live with those.

GREGGPENN

Uhhh....My Taurus azz couldn't live with it either. If band clamp loosening can rotate/fix, do it. Can't believe the shop didn't check before clamping/welding. If piping wasn't "right", they should have bent or replaced to fit.

Based on this post, I'd be more inclined not to use the shop vs the pipes.

steven mack

The cheapest part almost always ends up being the most expensive part.

Dt86

The shop shouldn't have even thought about letting the car leave looking like that! Poor fit out of the box is no excuse for lack of craftsmanship. Yes some are worse than others but a good shop should be able to make it work.

muzikmanwi

Sounds like a shitty exhaust shop to me. I worked for a while at a shop that did
exhaust. The manager would have my head if I tried to say that was done.

aklim

Bolt on: Fits somewhat if you cut, hammer, and force.
Universal: Fits everything and nothing well in this universe.

I'm sure that they can make it right. It just will cost more money and time. I'd be pissed too. You brought something and we estimated X hrs and it takes more time than that and I have other crap piled up. Now, if you say "Make it work regardless of how much it costs." that is another story.

aklim

I wouldn't either but you'd have to be prepared to pay much more and reschedule if the shop is busy.

aklim

Why do you think I usually say "I can't afford it if it is so cheap"?

confab

eutu1984

had same problem with my OBX on my 90, did the install my self and still not happy how it hangs so I will rework it this winter, was able to get rid of the drone by adding resonance tubes with block off plates on inboard exhaust tips. I can say that I have put well over 3000 miles on the system on some of PA's best frost heaved roads and nothing has broken or fallen off, overall I would not recommend this system unless you enjoy doing lots of fab work.

link to resonance tubes: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tor-tubes.html

aklim

You can pay me now or later with interest. Either way, you are going to pay. Good stuff doesn't have to be cheap and cheap stuff isn't good.

RichS

If you read any post about OBX everyone says about fitment issues, and that the supplied clamps suck. So anyone the gets them should expect that, or warn anyone putting them on. I've put a few on C4s and C5s. They all needed some massaging and I usually end up welding them. I recently put OBX headers and Maximizer cat back (e-bay) on my ZR-1. I had to extend one front pipe and trim one rear pipe, but in the end the tips all line up, and rubs nowhere after a little fighting. It also sounds very good with no drone.

aklim

What you said is true but that alone doesn't kill the hope that one can spend less and get more. I mean, I got hooked into buying TFS since they were cheaper than AFR when they came out. Specs were similar but after it trashed my LPE short block, I didn't see the savings. But was I hoping to spend $2000 and get almost $3000 worth of product? Sure I was.

Dt86

Not really a comparison. Exhaust you just fab to fit. Theres no moving parts that will damage anything.

aklim

Just isn't a snap of the fingers. It is work regardless of who does it. Cheaper product, more work or more money. THAT is the guiding principle. If it goes together in 1 hour, it costs $100. It goes together in 5 hours, $500.