I have bitten the bulllet, and ordered a set of AR 1-7/8 headers, with an x-pipe, and hi-flow cats. Now I just need to finish it off with a nice set of mufflers. I want a nice mellow sound, that will be loud when I go WOT, and quiet going down the highway. Here is a link from Borla for what is currently offered:

http://www.borla.com/applications/lo...olet/Corvette/

All help deciding is appreciated!

If someone has a better solution, I am open to other suggestions.

 

Enjoy the new AR headers but take my advice and do not put the Borlas on with these headers or you will be sorry. I have the Stingers and they sounded awesome with the stock manifolds and an x-pipe. When I put the AR headers and hi-flow cats on this summer the drone at 1500RPM was enough to drive me out of the car. I ended up installing some car chemistry inserts which solved my problem but I am not sure what they might have done to HP gains. Planning on a H/C install after the 1st of the year. Depending on the dyno numbes, I may still end up having to replace the mufflers.

I recommend you look at a set of GHL magnums or bullets or try and find a set of stock Z06 mufflers. These seem to work the best with headers and produce the least amount of drone. Just my $0.02. Good luck with it.

 

I completely disagree. I have AR headers with Borla Stingers and get DAILY compliments on how the car sounds from both Vette heads and random people alike.

 

Fun LS1, I do not disagree that the Borlas sound great with these headers. My particular setup produced too much drone for my taste. I think sound and drone are two different issues. I equate drone to resonance or harmonic vibration at certain RPM ranges. Mine was particularly bad at 1500RPM. Maybe your setup does not produce any resonance. I still have my Borlas with the CC inserts installed and I enjoy the sound I get with the ARs but now without the resonance. This is all subjective based on personal likes and dislikes. Just wanted to throw my own experience out there for what it is worth. I know there are a lot of forum members out there running the same setup and love it.

 

i have long tubes, xpipe, highflo cats and borla quad stingers. it is LOUD and it is awesome. i do not however like the drone i get at 1600 rpms or so when cruising.

its ounds frekin awesome, but it is LOUD. if your in maryland at all soon or close let me know, you can go for a ride in mine and listen before u buy.

~ nick

 

Borlas are notorious for drone. I don't have headers but i still get drone. I was able to quiet it up with closed cell acoustic foam. Corsa's Pace car setups are a nice alternative. They have a more hollow sound than the borlas.

 

Just to clarify some of the above posts.

Borla basically makes 3 kinds of mufflers. Strait pipes, Stingers (or "S" type in borla literature), and their standard muffler setup. It's very common here, when people say "Borla's", it is assumed that you are talking about stingers.

Strait pipes are pretty much out for several reasons. Very loud, no mufflers, and not completely legal in all states. Very cheap though. Add with headers and you'll need to buy a set of earplugs.

The Stingers (what I have) are decently loud, there is some drone, but not overbearing. Adding headers will deepen the tone, increase drone, and somewhat increase how loud they are. I personally don't think its too bad, but you'll have to judge for yourself. Personally, I think it's a great combo, has the best sound by far of any exhaust brand, and drone can be somewhat controlled by adding frostking insulation to rear hatch (see mikemercury's site for installation details).

Now, the often overlooked standard Borla series, is also available. Has the same great sound of the Stingers, but not quite as loud, and it has no drone. It's easy to physically tell the difference, the stingers have small round mufflers, while the standard ones have large mufflers that look more stock. This setup would be the perfect combination with headers and no drone, but it does cost more than the stingers.

GHL's would be my second choice. I'm not a big fan of Corsa sound, but many hear love them.

As everyone suggests, find cars in your area that have different setups, and find what you like, because everyone has different needs and likes different things.

 

you want the Stingers...
because of some drone with most aftermarket exhausts, some elect to go with the Z06 Ti exhaust

 

nj02vette: For the standard kit, I assume you're talking about the sportsman XR-1 series. My friend had that muffler on his truck and it sounded awesome. I wasn't aware they made it for corvette.

Has anyone installed this on their car?

 

Right now, I am thinking of leaving my stock mufflers on at first. That way I can check the sound before and after with the new headers, x-pipe, and hi-flow cats.

 

I think leaving the stock mufflers on at first is an excellent idea. If you don't think they are loud enough, then based on your original post, I would look at a set of Z06 Ti's. Most aftermarket are going to be noticably louder on the street. Both the Ti's and aftermarkets will be nice and loud at WOT.

Speed

 

I have to agree with FUNLS1,I have the same set up and love the sound, everyone in my club comments on it all the time.

 

How loud do you want it? I have long tubes, x-pipe high flow cats and ti cat-backs and it sounds great. No drone at all and only a deaf person would fail to look my way when I get on it...... Dave

 

This does sound what I am wanting! what is a ti cat-back?

Do you have an audio clip I can listen to?

Thanks!

 

When I bought my catback system I went with the Corsa Touring because I knew I was adding AR headers at a later date. The Corsa's sound great with the AR headers. No drone. Loud at WOT. It's a slightly higher note than the Borlas. I also have two friends that did not pass DEQ due to noise with the Stingers.

 

Put on the headers first. Then, if it isn't loud enough, take a look at a set of Z06 Ti's. They are the Z06 stock cat backs and are made of titanium (light). Many Z owners take them off and put on aftermarket. They can be found on the forum quite often. You can, obviously, find them from other places as well.

No audio clip from me, I have Borla stingers; but, search youtube and otehrs (and the forum). I am sure they exist.

 

I get the same thing, and I love the way the car sounds. If you have an MN6, you can limit the "drone" by shifting into gears that keep the sound down, when cruising.

I had one of my brothers friends tell me that when he was behind me the other day, he drove with his head out the window of his car for a few miles just to hear my car. He said "when you got on the gas, I can truly say, that's the best sounding vette I have ever heard" That's a pretty big compliment coming from a guy that races a 600hp flat track car with open exhaust. His car sounds scary to me.

 

I don't know why people claim this happends to folks with Borla exhaust systems. My brother has BB's with straight pipes and ohe passed the DEQ at a state inspection center. It's just luck of the draw, depends on the individual that does your inspection.