Guys need some exhaust help please...inside>>>

Nadra

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Ok I've gotta pick your collective brains a little and really hope someone can help me out... So I bought a set of Borla p/n 40842S (S-Type mufflers) that are basically what comes with the Borla S-Type Cat-Back exhaust system and installed them Friday. And now my car basically sounds like an old school hotrod with glass packs. I mean that muffler is more or less a glass pack style muffler only with 21st century technology. It actually doesn't sound much different than the 40 Series 2-chamber Flowmasters they replaced. But here's the deal and this is where I hope someone can help me: I am the second owner of this car. But I've owned it since 2007. And the only thing I haven't touched in the 13 years I've owned it is the exhaust system. I've been through the engine and still never altered the exhaust. Up until Friday, the car has had mid length Bassani headers through a Bassani X pipe and out the back through the Flowmaster mufflers. There have never been cats on this car in the 13 years I've owned it. There are no resonators on this car (did they come stock on these cars??). So I was under the impression that it was the mufflers only that gave the Borla cat back exhaust with the stinger muffler that signature exotic, raspy and crackling sound. And that clearly is not the case. What is missing??? All this to say...do the factory catalytic converters somehow play a significant role in that signature sound or is there another component missing from the factory exhaust like a resonator? I don't know and that is where I am hoping someone can get me pointed in the right direction. I want my car to sound like what a 2003 Cobra with the Borla Stinger S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust system should sound like. And not like a freakin truck with glasspacks :mad:
 

98 svt

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The cats definitely change the exhaust tone, as well as the exhaust piping (especially depending on what material the piping is made from)

BTW, interested in selling the Bassani mid lengths? Or did you keep them on?
 

Nadra

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No not selling the mid lengths; they weren't touched. Since I already had a full custom exhaust system, I saw no compelling reason to spend the $$ for the entire Borla cat-back system. I only needed the mufflers. I got in touch with Borla and asked for the p/n just for the S-Type Stinger muffler like what comes on that cat-back system. So I bought a pair of those and simply replaced the Flowmasters with the Borla's. And I'm basically where I started lol. As far as the piping, I can't comment on that. Intersting as I had not given that much thought. I didn't think the material played a significant role in the exhaust note...?
 

wckdvnm

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It sure does.

No not selling the mid lengths; they weren't touched. Since I already had a full custom exhaust system, I saw no compelling reason to spend the $$ for the entire Borla cat-back system. I only needed the mufflers. I got in touch with Borla and asked for the p/n just for the S-Type Stinger muffler like what comes on that cat-back system. So I bought a pair of those and simply replaced the Flowmasters with the Borla's. And I'm basically where I started lol. As far as the piping, I can't comment on that. Intersting as I had not given that much thought. I didn't think the material played a significant role in the exhaust note...?

As mentioned above it most certainly does. I’ve gone through 4 exhaust setups and the difference in pipe material is what makes its sound change. A true stainless system will not sound the same as the cheap piping used by flow master and Mac resonate differently.
This is most noticeable in mid pipe changes going from lower quality pipe to true stainless.
 

Dewalt03Cobra

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My exhaust setup is almost as you described (mid length Bassani headers, catted Bassani X mid pipe, Borla stinger cat back). Now I installed it initially without cats but I ended up installing the high flow cats that came with the kit because I liked that better. Dyno wise the cats lost 5 HP but Gained 11 Ft-Lb Torque. Sound wise without cats it was louder at low RPM no boost and the pretty much same under boost, but deceleration in gear had a lot more burbble with cats, and one thing to note with stinger cat backs is the pipe that connects the 2-1/2" OD Bassani X Mid pipe to the Mufflers is 2" in diameter, then after the muffler it is all 2-1/2" OD.
 
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wckdvnm

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My exhaust setup is almost as you described (mid length Bassani headers, catted Bassani X mid pipe, Borla stinger cat back). Now I installed it initially without cats but I ended up installing the high flow cats that came with the kit because I liked that better. Dyno wise the cats lost 5 HP but Gained 11 Ft-Lb Torque. Sound wise without cats it was louder at low RPM no boost and the pretty much same under boost, but deceleration in gear had a lot more burbble with with cats. and one thing to note with stinger cat backs is the pipe that connects the 2-1/2" OD Bassani X Mid pipe to the Mufflers is on 2" in diameter, then after the muffler it is all 2-1/2" OD.

That is a odd design choice to make that initial pipe 2”; the set I had of stingers had a 2.5” pipe changed for the initial section. It has me curious if that is why mine sounded different than others and were retarded loud with my current O/R H, that was the man reason I switched to the magnaflow street cat back.
 

Nadra

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My exhaust setup is almost as you described (mid length Bassani headers, catted Bassani X mid pipe, Borla stinger cat back). Now I installed it initially without cats but I ended up installing the high flow cats that came with the kit because I liked that better. Dyno wise the cats lost 5 HP but Gained 11 Ft-Lb Torque. Sound wise without cats it was louder at low RPM no boost and the pretty much same under boost, but deceleration in gear had a lot more burbble with cats, and one thing to note with stinger cat backs is the pipe that connects the 2-1/2" OD Bassani X Mid pipe to the Mufflers is 2" in diameter, then after the muffler it is all 2-1/2" OD.

Hmmmmm mine is not like that...mine comes out of the header flange and is a full 2.5" from the X pipe thru the 2.5 inlet/outlet of the Stingers then out the back. Your comment about the burrbling on deceleration is starting to make me think the cats are the reason my car doesn't like most others with the same set up...they run cats. The only diff is...I don't. Might be time to install cats lol
 

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