Borla exhaust for 05 Bird?

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Borla Exhaust

I purchased a Borla exhaust 140081 from 21st Century for my 05 Bird.
Only problem is it won't fit the car. Midas removed my old exhaust and was unable to install the Borla system. They showed me the mock up and it wasn't even close. No one seems to have any ideas. If anyone has an information concerning the installation, I would sincerely appreciate it. Thanks.
 
rnosdyke said:
I purchased a Borla exhaust 140081 from 21st Century for my 05 Bird.
Only problem is it won't fit the car. Midas removed my old exhaust and was unable to install the Borla system. They showed me the mock up and it wasn't even close. No one seems to have any ideas. If anyone has an information concerning the installation, I would sincerely appreciate it. Thanks.
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There was at least one other person with a similar problem here some time ago. He returned his system but we were pretty sure someone at Borla mislabled the 2002 system or simply put the wrong one in the box. The 2003 -2005 systems are the same and except for a little tweeking of the heat shield it should fit fine.

Heres the configuration from Borlas website. The 2002 part number is 140008 and the 2003-2005 is 140081. I'm not sure if the two systems pictured here are really different or just laid out differently. Does yours look like this? And did Midas read the Borla directions?

2002 system
http://www.borla.com/applications/l...rbird/Stainless_Steel_Cat-Back_System/140008/

2003-2005 system
http://www.borla.com/applications/l...rbird/Stainless_Steel_Cat-Back_System/140081/

Midas showed you the mock up & it wasn't close? I wonder if they had the pieces assemble correctly.... If Midas said it wasn't even close I would call 21st or Borla and ask to speak to an engineer. Tell them apparently you got the wrong system and how can you tell if its really a 2003-2004 system. Borla doesn't even know the 2003-2004 system fits the 2005 so if I was you I think Id tell them you have a 2004 otherwise they'll say they don't support 2005s. Can you lay your system out and take a photo of it to send to Borla or somone else with a 140081 system? I have the 2002 system and Im pretty happy with it. Check out the photos at the above links and see if your system is the same.
 
Borla Exhaust

Quickdraw:

I sincerely appreciate your input on this frustrating problem. You are the first person I talked to that made any sense. I will follow your reccommendations and keep you posted. Thank You.
 
Borla exhaust

I just got off the phone with Richard at Borla and explained my problem to him. He was very helpful. He stated that the 140081 was only designed for an 03. With modifications to the heat shield, he said you can make it fit an 04. He stated there is NO WAY it will fit the 05 TBird!!!
 
rnosdyke said:
I just got off the phone with Richard at Borla and explained my problem to him. He was very helpful. He stated that the 140081 was only designed for an 03. With modifications to the heat shield, he said you can make it fit an 04. He stated there is NO WAY it will fit the 05 TBird!!!
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I'm afraid Richard at Borla is mistaken. I work at Ford and when the question arose a year ago if the 2004 system would fit the 2005 I personally called the Wixom assembly plant and they told me there were no changes made to the exhaust for 2005. I'll bet Julie can tell you several people with 2005 Thunderbirds that have successfully installed the 2003/2004 system on a 2005 with no problem.

Do the parts in your Borla box look like the system on the Borla page? Is the instruction sheet for a 2003 Thunderbird system?
 
Yes, the picture matches the website. Yes, the directions are for a 2003.
To be honest with you, I don't know who to believe. If 21st Century ever answers their phone, I will arrange a return. Nothing should be this hard and complicated!!!! Life is way too short to put up with this much aggravation.
 
rnosdyke said:
Yes, the picture matches the website. Yes, the directions are for a 2003.
To be honest with you, I don't know who to believe. If 21st Century ever answers their phone, I will arrange a return. Nothing should be this hard and complicated!!!! Life is way too short to put up with this much aggravation.
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If it was me I'd take the whole works back to Midas and show them this is the correct system. Better still if you don't trust Midas anymore find another shop and have them open the box, layout the pieces, and compare them to your original exhaust system BEFORE they take off the original. It might cost you $20 or $30 just for them to tell you YES or NO it will fit. Tell them what Midas said but your're sure they were mistaken and Ill bet they try to one-up Midas by fixing you up.

I put my own system on but most people who get these installed elsewhere usually get it done for $75 to $100. If this second shop tells you no way it will fit you know you got shippped the wrong system. If they say yes they can install it, have them do it, and take the paperwork back to Midas and demand a refund from them.

With the money Julie saved you, even if you have to pay the second place another $100, you still got a good deal from what others charge for the system
 
Sounds like a plan to me. I not as concerned about spending the extra money for a professional install. I just would like to know if they will fit at all. If not. I need to return them to 21st century exhaust. Thank you.
 
I spoke with 21st this AM and they coudn't have been more helpful. They contacted several of their sources (including Borla) and all said that the 140081 won't fit on my late model 05. He said just return the system and they would refund my money. 21st was honest, professional and apologized for the mix up. Can't ask for amymore than that.
 
rnosdyke said:
I spoke with 21st this AM and they coudn't have been more helpful. They contacted several of their sources (including Borla) and all said that the 140081 won't fit on my late model 05. He said just return the system and they would refund my money. 21st was honest, professional and apologized for the mix up. Can't ask for amymore than that.
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I still say the problem is Borla packaged the wrong system OR Midas assembled the parts wrong. It is inconceivable that Ford changed the exhaust system part way through the last model year.

Do you know what day yours was built? If not I can tell you, and if you can find out the last four VIN digits of other 2005s with Borlas I’ll bet we can find one built after yours that successfully installed the 2003 Borla system.
 
Borla exhaust

My Bird was built on 12/20/2004--see your post from 7/28/05. The last six digits of my VIN are 104326. I agree with you that I can't believe Ford would change the exhaust in mid year. I just can't get a picture, and/or installation instructions from anyone with Borla's on their 05. Borla, 21st Century, Midas, CarX, my local Ford dealer, and my local mechanic all said they won't fit. I've just given up and returned them to 21st Century. I bought my TBird to enjoy life, not add stress and frustration to it. Life is just too short! I do appreciate your help. Thank you.
 
Hubby went to A-1 Performance and got 2 Magna Flow resonators, 2 mufflers and 2 oval tips, then we took them down to a muffler specialist and they installed them with stainless pipes, whole system came out less than a Borla and sounds terrific, nice deep and throaty.
 
Exhaust

Dear Tarre:

Thanks for the information concerning the exhaust. I returned the Borla system and will follow your lead. Thanks for your input.
 
Borla Exhaust for '05 Bird

I agree with Tarre: the Magna Flow mufflers have a very pleasing sound - mellow, deep and throaty, without being objectionably loud. I've a SI/DO set up on my '02 F-150, with S/S bologna-sliced script tips...... I'm very satisfied with it. If my 'birdy ('02 Inspiration Yellow) stock mufflers ever burn out (I doubt they will, it only has 6k miles on it so far....), that's the way I'll go with it, too.
 
Flowmaster muffler replacement worked great for me

I have just had a good Flowmaster muffler shop replace the original mufflers with the Series 40 Delta flow stainlessmodels and they sound great.
They sound good at low speeds and under acceleration but are quiet inside during the long drive.
Thanks to whoever posted the tip on this forum, they sound better than I expected. :)
 
Has anyone done a comparison of the two systems, Borla and Magna Flow, to see if the sound is similar?
 
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