Best Mufflers for SS

[jos3ywales]

NO way I can afford 1,000 or more for Corsa which I would love (Best Sounding IMO) and even the Axle Backs most are over $600. Whats you guys thought on just adding Mufflers to Stock Exhaust and if so Best Sounding and Flow for the money? I plan on going maybe with Borla or Corsa after I save up the cash but this is until then.

[NC_SS]

Solo axle back with J pipes here, basically a stainless steel muffler kit with J pipes to get rid of drone

Absolutely in love with it. My only complaint is I don't really hear it wake up till 2K in the cabin, and I have to sit outside to really hear it roar. It's the best of both worlds I'd say, Apex sells them for like $500 I think.

[pyroguy]

Originally Posted by jos3ywales

NO way I can afford 1,000 or more for Corsa which I would love (Best Sounding IMO) and even the Axle Backs most are over $600. Whats you guys thought on just adding Mufflers to Stock Exhaust and if so Best Sounding and Flow for the money? I plan on going maybe with Borla or Corsa after I save up the cash but this is until then.

NONE!!! Go Solo so that you get J pipes to eliminate the possibility of drone. If you have a L99 it is the best exhaust IMO, but to really get some good sound you should go with their Mach XL catback so that you eliminate the stock resonator for Solo's muffled X pipe. If you have a LS3 then an axle back shouldn't be too bad.

Originally Posted by NC_SS

My only complaint is I don't really hear it wake up till 2K in the cabin, and I have to sit outside to really hear it roar.

If you want to hear it roar, then install long tube headers. The exhaust gets real nice with LT's!

[NC_SS]

Originally Posted by pyroguy

If you want to hear it roar, then install long tube headers. The exhaust gets real nice with LT's!

I'm looking at BBK and a few others

Any recommendations? I don't necessarily want to spend $1,300 on kooks headers or something.

Not bashing them, amazing product but if I was gonna spend that kind of cash I'd swing for 3.73 gears or something

[Ashen 6.2]

Solo Mach XL on mine as well.. Awesome sounding exhaust and can't wait to upgrade to Kooks LT headers soon.

[jshaf]

I would recommend Solo mach or the Stainless works retro chambered 3 inch system. that is the two I chose from and went with SW. it is mufflerless system, having four chambers that have a unique design that has raised little cup like teeth that kind of mold the sound in to a deeper tone. was a tough decision I think I would have been happy either way but I am glad I went SW. might want to check out the apex videos on the SW, those video's also sold me on LT headers

[FASTDIESEL]

I put my exhaust dollars into a set of Speed-Engineering headers (came with off-road pipes, no cats). Sounds great with the stock system. Quiet at low throttle, growls when you're in it.

And before anyone hates on the cheap headers, they fit great, look great, preform great, haven't cracked/rattled/loosened in 10 months of daily driving!

[justjoshin]

Swapped the factory with MagnaFlows and installed headers. I like the sound.

[jos3ywales]

anyone one got any vids of there cars with the Mufflers on em mine is a L99 by the way

[pyroguy]

Originally Posted by NC_SS

I'm looking at BBK and a few others

Any recommendations? I don't necessarily want to spend $1,300 on kooks headers or something.

Not bashing them, amazing product but if I was gonna spend that kind of cash I'd swing for 3.73 gears or something

No offense taken. I originally thought I didn't want to spend the $$ on Kooks, but I ultimately did because I wanted the American made, lifetime warrantied, guaranteed quality. That being said, there are some high quality products that are more budget based. Texas Speed, Stainless Power, and OBX are the most popular choices here on the forums. Texas Speed, to my knowledge, isn't a knock off of anyone, Stainless Power is Stainless Works made in China, and OBX is a Kooks knock off. I looked at BBK's LT's because I had BBK shorty headers on the car when I bought it and they were nice quality. However, unless something has changed since I last looked at them they only came in 1 3/4" and you should really go ahead and go 1 7/8" or 2" depending on your future modification plans. If you go with www.marylandspeed.com you can get the headers ceramic coated which will prevent discoloration with use as well as reduce engine bay temperature. They had a code that I know applied for Kooks, 'freecoatkooks' but it might work for others too.

Originally Posted by rlsmith17

Solo Mach XL on mine as well.. Awesome sounding exhaust and can't wait to upgrade to Kooks LT headers soon.

Here's my Solo Mach XL with Kooks w/ cats. I have to say, it is AWESOME!! Just a warning, cold start in the garage is a little intense, but in a good way. In the video I only revved to 4k max in the video because I'm waiting to tune before going full out.

[Jasper]

I think I have a different answer for you. First off, I have the solo axleback with J pipes. If you add any muffler to the car Stock, it will not change the sound very much. You should only consider keeping a muffler if you're going to add headers IMO.

The answer depends on how much money you wanna spend, what your future plans are for the car (headers?) and what sound you want (more raw or refined).

Chopping muffers off and putting straight pipe - cheapest option but may have too much drone for you. ~$100 or less.

Solo axleback with J-pipe- chops off mufflers but adds j-pipe for resonance to eliminate drone. $500

If you plan to do headers in the future, an axleback without mufflers can get too loud depending on your tolerance and if you do the cats as well. So in that case you should start with the headers.

As you know, a standard (flomaster, magnaflow etc) setup with mufflers is quite costly but it will give you a smoother more refined sound. I prefer a more raw sound which is why I love the muffler delete. It's just a bit quiet still though until you get over 3krpm so I'm not planning to change out the Cats for high flow since I'm not planning to do headers.

If no headers are in your future, you can take a stepped approach like I did but in hindsight, I'd probably start with high flow cats since they will give you some power and sound. Then work my way back instead of the other direction like I did. In the end though, it might all cost you the same as going with a complete system when you add in the install costs

J

[NC_SS]

Originally Posted by pyroguy

No offense taken. I originally thought I didn't want to spend the $$ on Kooks, but I ultimately did because I wanted the American made, lifetime warrantied, guaranteed quality. That being said, there are some high quality products that are more budget based. Texas Speed, Stainless Power, and OBX are the most popular choices here on the forums. Texas Speed, to my knowledge, isn't a knock off of anyone, Stainless Power is Stainless Works made in China, and OBX is a Kooks knock off. I looked at BBK's LT's because I had BBK shorty headers on the car when I bought it and they were nice quality. However, unless something has changed since I last looked at them they only came in 1 3/4" and you should really go ahead and go 1 7/8" or 2" depending on your future modification plans. If you go with www.marylandspeed.com you can get the headers ceramic coated which will prevent discoloration with use as well as reduce engine bay temperature. They had a code that I know applied for Kooks, 'freecoatkooks' but it might work for others too.

Thanks for the info, the OBX and Texas Speed ones look good for a decent price

I'll keep everything you said in mind. Now would I immediately need to go with high flow cats for headers or could I keep stock cats on till I got high flow cats?

[rontammy0]

Originally Posted by NC_SS

Thanks for the info, the OBX and Texas Speed ones look good for a decent price

I'll keep everything you said in mind. Now would I immediately need to go with high flow cats for headers or could I keep stock cats on till I got high flow cats?

Heres a good scenario......keep everything stock except your cats. There is nothing that changes your exhaust sound on it own as much as hi flow cats do.



Heres on with muffler delete also.

[pyroguy]

Originally Posted by NC_SS

Thanks for the info, the OBX and Texas Speed ones look good for a decent price

I'll keep everything you said in mind. Now would I immediately need to go with high flow cats for headers or could I keep stock cats on till I got high flow cats?

The Stainless Power ones are good too, don't mistake the logo with Stainless Works. Same company, just Stainless Power is China made and much less expensive.

Yes you would need new cats with long tube headers. They can and should be ordered at the same time as the headers. The stock cats do not bolt up to and long tube headers no matter the brand. Besides, you don't want stock cats with long tubes. The biggest choke point in a 5th Gen exhaust are the stock cats in terms of both sound and power.