Borla mufflers are horizontal?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,242
Likes: 8
Borla mufflers are horizontal?
What is the reason the Borla mufflers are positioned horizontaly? I've read threads that state the most efficient way for gasses to exit is straight, with as short of a distance as possible. Does this horizontal placement negatively affect perfomance?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by cmb13
What is the reason the Borla mufflers are positioned horizontaly? I've read threads that state the most efficient way for gasses to exit is straight, with as short of a distance as possible. Does this horizontal placement negatively affect perfomance?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Borla has done flow tests, and their particular design flows about as well as other mufflers. So the sideways placement really doesn't matter in their case, except for the funky way it looks.
The key is to minimize flow restriction while still muffling the sound. Most mufflers, with the exception of the old style glasspacks, have the gases enter one chamber and exit via another chamber. So even for mufflers that mount straight, the gases have to turn at least one corner, usually two, to get out. Surprisingly, this style of muffler, done right, can have a lower restriction than an old style glasspack, which really is straight through.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,242
Likes: 8
Originally Posted by shopdog
I think you mean *sideways*. All Corvette mufflers are horizontal, unless you're climbing a *really* steep grade.
Borla has done flow tests, and their particular design flows about as well as other mufflers. So the sideways placement really doesn't matter in their case, except for the funky way it looks.
The key is to minimize flow restriction while still muffling the sound. Most mufflers, with the exception of the old style glasspacks, have the gases enter one chamber and exit via another chamber. So even for mufflers that mount straight, the gases have to turn at least one corner, usually two, to get out. Surprisingly, this style of muffler, done right, can have a lower restriction than an old style glasspack, which really is straight through.
Borla has done flow tests, and their particular design flows about as well as other mufflers. So the sideways placement really doesn't matter in their case, except for the funky way it looks.
The key is to minimize flow restriction while still muffling the sound. Most mufflers, with the exception of the old style glasspacks, have the gases enter one chamber and exit via another chamber. So even for mufflers that mount straight, the gases have to turn at least one corner, usually two, to get out. Surprisingly, this style of muffler, done right, can have a lower restriction than an old style glasspack, which really is straight through.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,516
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Bch VA
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Da Man
Originally Posted by shopdog
I think you mean *sideways*. All Corvette mufflers are horizontal, unless you're climbing a *really* steep grade.
Borla has done flow tests, and their particular design flows about as well as other mufflers. So the sideways placement really doesn't matter in their case, except for the funky way it looks.
The key is to minimize flow restriction while still muffling the sound. Most mufflers, with the exception of the old style glasspacks, have the gases enter one chamber and exit via another chamber. So even for mufflers that mount straight, the gases have to turn at least one corner, usually two, to get out. Surprisingly, this style of muffler, done right, can have a lower restriction than an old style glasspack, which really is straight through.
Borla has done flow tests, and their particular design flows about as well as other mufflers. So the sideways placement really doesn't matter in their case, except for the funky way it looks.
The key is to minimize flow restriction while still muffling the sound. Most mufflers, with the exception of the old style glasspacks, have the gases enter one chamber and exit via another chamber. So even for mufflers that mount straight, the gases have to turn at least one corner, usually two, to get out. Surprisingly, this style of muffler, done right, can have a lower restriction than an old style glasspack, which really is straight through.
You never cease to amaze me. Good on you Mr Dog
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 0
The 2006 ZO6 mufflers point straight out the back .
All the aftermarket kits that I know of point sideways.
I am not going to venture the guess that the aftermarket does not want to spend the $$$ to redesign them because I don't know enough about exhausts to make that kind of statement.
I have called Borla out for this on the forum before and they claim that there is not enought backpressure at that point in the system to make a difference.
I have read that the C5 initially was designed to have a spare tire and the exhaust was placed sideways to make room for the spare.
The decision was made to drop the spare after the exhaust was approved and that's why the mufflers are sideways.
Bottom Line:
The 2006 ZO6 was supposedly designed from GM for performance with no compromises.
The ZO6 mufflers point straight out the back.
Who has more resources for research and development,
GM or the aftermarket exhaust companies ???
I rest my case.
Come to your own conclusions.
All the aftermarket kits that I know of point sideways.
I am not going to venture the guess that the aftermarket does not want to spend the $$$ to redesign them because I don't know enough about exhausts to make that kind of statement.
I have called Borla out for this on the forum before and they claim that there is not enought backpressure at that point in the system to make a difference.
I have read that the C5 initially was designed to have a spare tire and the exhaust was placed sideways to make room for the spare.
The decision was made to drop the spare after the exhaust was approved and that's why the mufflers are sideways.
Bottom Line:
The 2006 ZO6 was supposedly designed from GM for performance with no compromises.
The ZO6 mufflers point straight out the back.
Who has more resources for research and development,
GM or the aftermarket exhaust companies ???
I rest my case.
Come to your own conclusions.
Last edited by 427 C5; May 4, 2005 at 12:13 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Brighton, WI, USA
Originally Posted by 427 C5
The 2006 ZO6 mufflers point straight out the back .
All the aftermarket kits that I know of point sideways.
I am not going to venture the guess that the aftermarket does not want to spend the $$$ to redesign them because I don't know enough about exhausts to make that kind of statement.
I have called Borla out for this on the forum before and they claim that there is not enought backpressure at that point in the system to make a difference.
I have read that the C5 initially was designed to have a spare tire and the exhaust was placed sideways to make room for the spare.
The decision was made to drop the spare after the exhaust was approved and that's why the mufflers are sideways.
Bottom Line:
The 2006 O6 was supposedly designed from GM for performance with no compromises.
The ZO6 mufflers point straight out the back.
Who has more resources for research and development,
GM or the aftermarket exhaust companies ???
I rest my case.
Come to your own conclusions.
All the aftermarket kits that I know of point sideways.
I am not going to venture the guess that the aftermarket does not want to spend the $$$ to redesign them because I don't know enough about exhausts to make that kind of statement.
I have called Borla out for this on the forum before and they claim that there is not enought backpressure at that point in the system to make a difference.
I have read that the C5 initially was designed to have a spare tire and the exhaust was placed sideways to make room for the spare.
The decision was made to drop the spare after the exhaust was approved and that's why the mufflers are sideways.
Bottom Line:
The 2006 O6 was supposedly designed from GM for performance with no compromises.
The ZO6 mufflers point straight out the back.
Who has more resources for research and development,
GM or the aftermarket exhaust companies ???
I rest my case.
Come to your own conclusions.
) it has the side ways mufflers. So I can not come to any conclusion.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 81
From: Whidbey Island WA
A couple observations... I dont think they reallly designed it as in giving borla some blueprints and saying build this for us. They gave borla some design (what they want) and engineering (how they want it built) parameters and approved the final product when they were satisfied. We also dont know which came first, the chicken or the egg. Its pretty clear looking at pictures that either Borla adapted their street version to meet GMs design specs or they designed the street system from the begining to meet them. Anyways, whats important isnt that it has turns. Its, are the turns, for better or worse, significant? That it exists at all says a lot about that question. If I had to take a WAG I would think they used this design simply because they already had a lot of the sound testing in the bank from the C5 and it was an easier starting point. Remember that Corsa, for instance, was looking to change their sound somewhat and provide more of a good ol V8 sound with their exhaust so they were starting at more of a blank page position. Borla was never doing anything but sticking with the sound tune they already had and adapting it to the C6. So, theres my thoughts and I freely admit that Im guessing on a lot of points.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
