Question on Exhust & Headers
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
Don't waste your money. The Borla's sound like a mazda miata with holes drilled into the mufflers and they don't do a thing for the drone or popping during deceleration. Do the job RIGHT the first time and spring for the LG Motorsport Pro long tube headers, X-Pipe and Random Tech hi-flow cats. You can get this as a kit from LG. There is even a sale on (I think) right now. These headers have been tested by MANY respected shops around the country and they JUST WORK. They have the longest down-tubes on the market AND a (Racing inspired) merge collector like a sprint car. The X-Pipe eliminates the popping and droning and the RT Cats scrub the exhaust like crazy with a very small (2-3 HP) penalty. If you MUST have mufflers get a race-type bullet muffler from JEGs (30$) and mount them on the down side after the axle and run them straight out the back. Back to the Borlas; they are heavy and expensive and I have never seen a set that mounted well. The Z06 Titanium mufflers would be a much better choice and can be had on this forum for around 2 to 3 hundred bucks. They are infinitely lighter and stronger than Borlas and they FIT! Just my 2cents FWIW. Good luck with your choice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,752
Likes: 3
From: Bethlehem PA
I would ask a question first:
1. What are your end goals with this car?
Head/Cam or just some bolt ons?
If you're doing H/C later, I'd leave the Borlas alone unless you can handle some seriously loud noise.
Borlas on my stock '04 sounded awesome. A strange opinion from the previous poster I think, but they were anything but tinny. Very deep, throaty and sounded wicked. It, of course, did not fix the popping on decel, but that is scarcely a muffler issue. Some mufflers will hide it better than others, but not eliminate it.
This is an issue with the H pipe between the factory manifolds and the exhaust.
I eventually had to take the Borlas off when I got the H/C package as it was just too loud for me.
If you're going to stick with bolt ons only, than Borla, GHL, and B&B's all have good sound. My fitment with Borla was just fine. It took a little adjustment to get both pipes to hang even, but no other issues with fitment.
Other than that, your best bet is to listen to someone elses car who has a similar set up to what you have or what you want to have down the line. You can NOT beat a live audition.
The LG's are an excellent header, but a few hundred more than TPIS, Kooks, Dynatech.... and they only make a couple ponies more from several back to back dynos posted here.
I currently have the Z06 Ti's with Kooks long tubes and off road X pipe.
If I had to do it over again, I'd probably go with GHL's. Less resonance, better overall quality and in my opinion, sound better.
Good luck with your choice!
Scott
1. What are your end goals with this car?
Head/Cam or just some bolt ons?
If you're doing H/C later, I'd leave the Borlas alone unless you can handle some seriously loud noise.
Borlas on my stock '04 sounded awesome. A strange opinion from the previous poster I think, but they were anything but tinny. Very deep, throaty and sounded wicked. It, of course, did not fix the popping on decel, but that is scarcely a muffler issue. Some mufflers will hide it better than others, but not eliminate it.
This is an issue with the H pipe between the factory manifolds and the exhaust.
I eventually had to take the Borlas off when I got the H/C package as it was just too loud for me.
If you're going to stick with bolt ons only, than Borla, GHL, and B&B's all have good sound. My fitment with Borla was just fine. It took a little adjustment to get both pipes to hang even, but no other issues with fitment.
Other than that, your best bet is to listen to someone elses car who has a similar set up to what you have or what you want to have down the line. You can NOT beat a live audition.
The LG's are an excellent header, but a few hundred more than TPIS, Kooks, Dynatech.... and they only make a couple ponies more from several back to back dynos posted here.
I currently have the Z06 Ti's with Kooks long tubes and off road X pipe.
If I had to do it over again, I'd probably go with GHL's. Less resonance, better overall quality and in my opinion, sound better.
Good luck with your choice!
Scott
Last edited by simpleman68; Jan 24, 2006 at 07:12 PM. Reason: addition
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 743
Likes: 1
From: Bartlett IL
Verry happy with my LG's, very easy install (3hrs) they also have the highest resale value if you change your mind. I would do the headders first and then chose your mufflers. The headders alone will make it louder. You might want to do the zo6 mufflers. Good midrange volume, not to loud, not to quiet and oem fit 
