Why can't I find a borla catback for my 96 cobra?

scottg

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I just bought a bone stock 96 cobra. I'm looking for an exhaust that isn't very loud at idle or 2200-2500 rpms but does sound good at WOT. I've heard quiet borla mufflers on a 5.0 and I loved it. I'm either going to do a catback or just weld in mufflers and leave everything else factory. What do you guys recommend?
 

RIO RED SNAKE

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if you just get the mufflers it is a helll of a lot cheaper than buying a whole catback, but the stock catback is 2 1/4inces while an after market is 2 1/2 which doesnt seem like a lot but it deff affects the sound, so if you want to becheap and get some sound then just buy the mufflers, if not go to americanmuscle.com and buy a magnaflow catback, you will love that, i used to have that with a hiflow catted x, super quiet around town then when u mashed it it opened up nicely
 

96S/Cobra

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I'll have to agree with Rio Red Snake. I purchased magnaflow mufflers (not magnapacks) and were shocked at how quiet they are at an idle and just simply cruising around town. But when you mash the go pedal they REALLY come alive.
 

Tabres

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The reason you can't find a Borla catback is, I believe, they've stopped producing them for our cars.
 

scottg

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yeh, I'll probably do something like that. I was just making sure I wasn't missing anything as far as catback systems. I couldn't find one anywhere for the 96-98 cars. thanks for the replies. I'll keep the magnaflows in mind too though because I can get a complete catback
 

amorrow

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Huh...I'm surprised they quit making them for our cars. Just look for any used one for '96-8. If you find one for a '98, swapping rear hangers is easy. And as long as there's no damage to a Borla cat-back, buying used is no big deal since everything except for the front flanges is 304 stainless.

Sound is obviously subjective so you'll have to make that decision yourself, but of all the catbacks made for our cars, I believe the quality of Borla is second to none.
 

amorrow

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And FYI, I have one Borla muffler section of a catback (can't remember left or right) from my old '98 if you need one or want to save some money on a 2.5" Borla Turbo muffler. PM me if interested.
 

scottg

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And FYI, I have one Borla muffler section of a catback (can't remember left or right) from my old '98 if you need one or want to save some money on a 2.5" Borla Turbo muffler. PM me if interested.

thanks, i'll keep that in mind.
 

scottg

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and wow, magnaflow catback kit is way more expensive than I thought it would be. I didn't figure magnaflow in there with borla as far as pricing. It's been too long since I've been in the stangin business i guess.
 

eatmoparscrapch

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I like Bassani had it on the car when I bought it. I love the sound. Might be a little loud for what you are looking for, but the chrome tips start at the back of the tire. Alot of the catbacks don't have the long tips like that and it looks ugly. Worth the extra money. IMO.
 

scottg

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If you do a catback of the Borla take note that the Tips are not going to start behind the rear tires like the stock one does.

can't you get borla tips and have them welded in place? I know it'd be some extra money but that is possible right?
 

scottg

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does any one have a vid or sound clip of borla xs mufflers with stock catback and stock everything?
 

amorrow

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can't you get borla tips and have them welded in place? I know it'd be some extra money but that is possible right?


Any competent shop that does welding should be able to modify the tailpipes to your liking without issue.

Outfits like SPD and Stainless Works sell tubing in any material you want, from mild steel to 321 stainless, and you can get transition pipes that will allow you to run a tip of whatever size to the diameter of your catback (most are 2.5"). And it's no big deal for them to slash-cut the tips at whatever angle you like. Additionally, if you want a chrome look have your tips resistant to rust and corrosion, use a buffer to polish 304-stainless tubing prior to giving them to the shop to be welded.

Sometimes to get the look you want, custom fabricating what you want or starting off with a system and modifying it to your taste is the best bet (what I'd recommend to someone wanting a Borla cat-back who's not fond of the tips). FWIW, I wanted a 3" 304-stainless side-exit exhaust with x-pipe made for my '65, so I bought all the components, drew it out with bend locations and angles, and had a shop TIG weld it for me - relatively expensive, but worth it and it turned out great.
 
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2DXTRM

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I have seen American Muscle advertise the 94-95 Borla catbacks...Should bolt up to your 96 without much hassle IMO.
 

2DXTRM

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i thought about that too. shouldn't they be pretty much the same?

Every other catback Ive experienced (Magnaflow, Flowmaster, MAC, Dynomax etc) 94-97 is the same. Magnaflow also includes the proper tailpipe hangers for 98s in their 94-98 kit.

However, the issue with the Borla kit might be the length of the flowtubes (the tubes that go into the muffler), might be slighty different than the 96up cars, as the flowtubes are a unit/welded to the mufflers from Borla.

All the other catbacks mentioned, the tubes are all seperate from the mufflers to aid in adjustment individually.
 

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