Borla Question.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 187
Likes: 2
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Borla Question. Hi all, I'm fairly new to exhaust systems. I recently purchased a 98 Formula with a Borla catback already on it . I'm not sure which model it is, only that it has the adjustable plates. My question is, what headers and Y-pipe go good with this catback? What will produce more power and sound good. I've heard this exhaust sounds like crap without cats. Just what I've heard. So any advice will be appreciated. Oh yeah one more thing, I do live in an emissions state. 
Your only 2 dilemnas are:
1: How much do you want to pay?
2: What material would you like them to be made out of?
Anyway. Kook's and QTP are both stainless.. If you ask me. I would run the QTP's with the borla setup. That way you will have a full stainless setup.
Cheap way, but still good. Pacesetters. They are ceramic coated, look amazing, and also cost around $400.00 shipped to your door, or even cheaper in some circumstances.
Since you live in an emissions state you will want to get the AIR/EGR option on your longtubes. Looks like NM....Thank goodness you are not limited like the Californians.
1: How much do you want to pay?
2: What material would you like them to be made out of?
Anyway. Kook's and QTP are both stainless.. If you ask me. I would run the QTP's with the borla setup. That way you will have a full stainless setup.
Cheap way, but still good. Pacesetters. They are ceramic coated, look amazing, and also cost around $400.00 shipped to your door, or even cheaper in some circumstances.
Since you live in an emissions state you will want to get the AIR/EGR option on your longtubes. Looks like NM....Thank goodness you are not limited like the Californians.
I've got Borla on my 98Z with Pacesetters and cat-less y-pipe. I run it with the full plate in town and open it at the track. It's plenty loud for me around town, nice and mellow powerful sound till you got on it, then its pretty loud. I ran it without the plate when I did the Header install and was obnoxiously loud and un-refined! As for the Pacesetters, for the price, u cant beat em. Awsome fit, easy install and they've been on for a year now and still look mint! Hope that helps ya' 
TECH Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
With cats and LT's it sounds pretty good. Real aggressive at WOT but not totally obnoxious and smooth while just cruising. And what is good about it, is that all the sound is out the back, so it's not bad inside the car. But it is still loud since it's a cut-out in the exhaust. Without cats it would just be a sloppy sounding raspy exhaust. Although i've never closed mine, i'm sure its pretty tame with it closed even without cats since the borla muffler is huge.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 187
Likes: 2
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Cool, thanks guys. I'll start the research on all that good advice. I am a bit limited with money right now so I have some time to save up. A friend of mine has been telling me all day, "screw the Borla and go TRUE DUALS!" I guess that's an option also. How much does a used Borla catback go for these days anyways?
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I run my Borla open %100 with long tubes and an ory. Everyone tells me it sounds hot. 
I like it anyway. Closed up even with no cats it almost as quiet as stock. I'd keep it till you get the headers and see if you like it before getting duals.
I like it anyway. Closed up even with no cats it almost as quiet as stock. I'd keep it till you get the headers and see if you like it before getting duals. 
i run mine with QTP's and ORY open plate all the time it's a lil loud but i like it... someone was actually selling a borla on here for like 300 dollars look in the midwest section maybe im not sure
TECH Resident
iTrader: (1)
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 848
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From: Tree-Hugging, Bug eating CALI'
I have the Borla and QTPs with their catd' Y-pipe, and love it. I also have a QTEC and with it closed, it actually resonates LESS around town, and well actually, all the time, even when compared to manifolds. With the QTEC open, it gets a little raspy, but nothing obnoxious IMHO. Unless you go with a big stroker or power adder and need a bigger exhaust, I'd just leave it alone. T304 SS will last longer than the car will and you won't have clearance issues like you possibly will with TDs.
The only thing I'd change with my Borla would be a 3.5 - 4.0" I-pipe.
The only thing I'd change with my Borla would be a 3.5 - 4.0" I-pipe.
I'm got Kooks LT's and Catted Y-Pipe matched up with my Borla Cat-Back w/ the open plate. I think it sounds good from outside of the car and get a few complments every now and then, but once in the you inside er, it gets raspy in the 2500-4000 RPM rang and "sounds like there a honda in the back seat" as my buddie quoted haha
