Borla catback, what do you think?
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Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Pennsylvania
Borla catback, what do you think? Well, I'm debating whether to put my borla catback from my V6 on to my new car (2001 SS all stock). How does it sound (I want opinions) and is it a well flowing system? I did a search but I really didn't get much out of it. Also, which plate will make the car sound best? I'm really looking for a mellow muscle car tone in lower rpms, and a nice scream through the higher rpms. Which system can provide that if the borla can't? Thanks.
***Ls1sounds.com didn't have any good clips of borla imo***
***Ls1sounds.com didn't have any good clips of borla imo***
I had a borla system on 2 different camaros. On the 1999 z28 i had headers, off road y, and no plate on the borla it sounded real good. And on the 2000 SS I just got the borla with a half plate and sounds pretty good althogh i liked the z28 set up better. I personally would do it , and dont install the plate on it let it flow thru
lound and expensive.....sounds great if thats what your are looking for.....never had a quality issue on the borla cat back...i had it on 2 cars as well....never rusted or anything and i had plate off on mine as well
Here just uploaded a video of my Z with borla open plates. Next week I have ARH headers I'll be putting on. Can't wait! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO8sXVyNnX4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO8sXVyNnX4
i've had mine for a while, i like to run the smallest plate(actually gets rid of some rasp). i'm pulling my borla off after 4 years that i owned it. i bought mine used and never had a problem with it. only reason i am removing it is i'm looking for a new sound. just tired off it. the quality is excellent, like i said i bought mine used and there is no rust or anything.
I LOVE my borla! I have long tubes and no cats too, and with the fully open plate, it's not that loud. At least not in the car. Could be due to my shitty y pipe, but regardless it sounds damn good.
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Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 29,404
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From: Houston, TX
Well, I'm debating whether to put my borla catback from my V6 on to my new car (2001 SS all stock). How does it sound (I want opinions) and is it a well flowing system? I did a search but I really didn't get much out of it. Also, which plate will make the car sound best? I'm really looking for a mellow muscle car tone in lower rpms, and a nice scream through the higher rpms. Which system can provide that if the borla can't? Thanks.
***Ls1sounds.com didn't have any good clips of borla imo***
***Ls1sounds.com didn't have any good clips of borla imo***
A new member with 3 posts trying a search and looking on ls1sounds.com, others (including senior members) should learn from you. 
Borla is a great cat-back, flows well and its stainless steel. With stock exhaust manifolds & stock y-pipe it sounds great. With full exhaust it gets pretty raspy but there are ways around that. You could get headers with high flow cats in the y-pipe, get a Borla XR1 bullet muffler in the i-pipe, or get a QTEC to go inside the Borla's flange. But about the plates, none is the best.
Peace,
Craig.
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I love my borla.... heres my car, pacesetter LT, ORY Borla catback (no plate in) and a cam...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_3Si2_Zmjs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oKm99NJA4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6G3WzSfbI4
plate in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc9hBuFwoZY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE7mFQScI-8
yes shameless plug for my car i know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_3Si2_Zmjs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oKm99NJA4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6G3WzSfbI4
plate in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc9hBuFwoZY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE7mFQScI-8
yes shameless plug for my car i know
My wife has adjustable Borla with high flow cats on her otherwise stock WS6. Its louder than I realized. When you sit in the car it doesnt sound like anything. But one day she dropped me off at work and Ill be damned, that sumbitch sounded SWEET. Very muscly and yet still mellow while cruising. But it wakes up a grip with just a little motivation. I want to get one for my Z28 now.
cliffs: I really like it. A lot
cliffs: I really like it. A lot
Pacesetter LT's with ORY here and the Borla open.
Mine is very loud WOT and not too loud at idle but around 2200 rpms it can drown out everything else going on in the car. If your looking to get a converter and you'll be spending a good amount of time in that rpm range that may be something to consider.
Mine is very loud WOT and not too loud at idle but around 2200 rpms it can drown out everything else going on in the car. If your looking to get a converter and you'll be spending a good amount of time in that rpm range that may be something to consider.
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 29,404
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From: Houston, TX
Plus there is zero ground clearance for true duals on a lowered car.
How exactly does the adjustability of the Borla work? I keep hearing about these plates but i just cant get a picture in my mind how it would work and where it is located. Can anyone provide some photos of it?
So you basicaly have to place different size plates in there when you want a different sound? Do these plates come with the kit?
So you basicaly have to place different size plates in there when you want a different sound? Do these plates come with the kit?
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 29,404
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
How exactly does the adjustability of the Borla work? I keep hearing about these plates but i just cant get a picture in my mind how it would work and where it is located. Can anyone provide some photos of it?
So you basicaly have to place different size plates in there when you want a different sound? Do these plates come with the kit?
So you basicaly have to place different size plates in there when you want a different sound? Do these plates come with the kit?
Full size pic here:
http://i27.tinypic.com/2n6rqlj.jpg
Peace,
Craig.
Thanks a lot for the pic.
Its a pretty cool system, but even with no plate and in the pipe, it would still be going thru the muffler system a lil bit too, and i guess when that plate is fully in place, the passenger side exit is pretty useless?
Its a good system but i think that it could have been made into a more adjustable system if for example a small manualy operated cutout was placed before the muffler without any connection to the muffler what so ever like this system may have.
Its a pretty cool system, but even with no plate and in the pipe, it would still be going thru the muffler system a lil bit too, and i guess when that plate is fully in place, the passenger side exit is pretty useless?
Its a good system but i think that it could have been made into a more adjustable system if for example a small manualy operated cutout was placed before the muffler without any connection to the muffler what so ever like this system may have.
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 29,404
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Thanks a lot for the pic.
Its a pretty cool system, but even with no plate and in the pipe, it would still be going thru the muffler system a lil bit too, and i guess when that plate is fully in place, the passenger side exit is pretty useless?
Its a good system but i think that it could have been made into a more adjustable system if for example a small manualy operated cutout was placed before the muffler without any connection to the muffler what so ever like this system may have.
Its a pretty cool system, but even with no plate and in the pipe, it would still be going thru the muffler system a lil bit too, and i guess when that plate is fully in place, the passenger side exit is pretty useless?
Its a good system but i think that it could have been made into a more adjustable system if for example a small manualy operated cutout was placed before the muffler without any connection to the muffler what so ever like this system may have.
With the block off plate, the whole idea is to force it through the muffler to make it quiet. This cat-back is the only adjustable cat-back for our cars.
Now here's the cool part. You were saying something about a manual valve to open/close it? Well Quick Time Performance makes an electric gate that fits inside the Borla. Their website is down right now but should be up very soon (they're never down):
http://www.quicktimeperformance.com/
...but I found an image from another sponsor that sells QTEC:
I have Borla with this QTEC on my T/A, and I have the switch in my ashtray. All I have to do is flip the switch and its wide open or closed. Its pretty sweet IMHO.
Peace,
Craig.
Yeah that would be pretty sweet, but like you said your buddy gained pretty much nothing with a cutout in his borla so it must flow really well with no plates. How is it with a fully backed out plate tho? Is there any droning or just a nice mellow tone?
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 29,404
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From: Houston, TX
Peace,
Craig.