Exhaust system modifications for my '03

[JohnS]

With all due respect to the much touted Borla system, I would like to know if anyone has bypassed the third catalytic converter and resonators? I have a muffler guy that thinks that will lower my back pressure a bit and give me the sound I want. The third converter is after the 2nd bank O2 sensor so it shouldn't affect the computer, right?

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[Aznav]

With all due respect to the much touted Borla system, I would like to know if anyone has bypassed the third catalytic converter and resonators? I have a muffler guy that thinks that will lower my back pressure a bit and give me the sound I want. The third converter is after the 2nd bank O2 sensor so it shouldn't affect the computer, right?

Virginia (for now...) allows straight pipes. Bad, bad, bad sound but you won't have an "intimate" conversation until you are cruising. Just my two cents.

 

[Bond007]

Way back in the day my college roommate in Virginia was pulled over for loud exhaust. He spent the night at the county jail for another reason. I was lucky to have gotten out of the car earlier in the night.

 

[JohnS]

Virginia (for now...) allows straight pipes. Bad, bad, bad sound but you won't have an "intimate" conversation until you are cruising. Just my two cents.

I was planning on keeping the stock mufflers. I don't want it loud. Just a little more noise when I accelerate...

 

[RDH]

With all due respect to the much touted Borla system, I would like to know if anyone has bypassed the third catalytic converter and resonators? I have a muffler guy that thinks that will lower my back pressure a bit and give me the sound I want. The third converter is after the 2nd bank O2 sensor so it shouldn't affect the computer, right?

I put a Borla on my 03, and sounds great, don't know if the bypass all the stuff but I pass inspection every two years

 

[BirdTMan]

Unless you are going to install lake pipes / side pipes I would not go that way. It is not going to give you the sound that you think it should plus it will set off lights that will not reset. I did go with the Borla system, Found on Ebay for 830 bucks and set my car up on jacks in my garage & did the install in three hrs. You should look up some one close by that have installed on there T Bird and drive it to get the full effect. It will release back pressure and increases horse power & increases gas mileage, The sound of muscle is perfect for this Sport car. Borla is worth every penny.

 

[Frankie the Fink]

I agree; instead of trying to rig some "jacked up" system that a local "muffler guy" thinks will make the car sound better, like we did in the 1960's, before computers and OBDC codes -- go with a system engineered for these specific applications by professionals.

Otherwise, if all you want is more sound when you take off there is always this:

SoundRacer USA

SoundRacer is an automotive device that plugs into a vehicles 12V power adapter to provide realistic muscle and supercar engine sounds over your speakers.

soundracerusa.com

You won't Bubba-up your car and can turn it off when you want.....

 

[Merk]

Come on this isn't a haul ass sports car do you really want something that is going to rumble at a stoplight and at cruising speed the resonance drives you crazy cause you cant carry on a conversation or hear the radio without talking over the noise or turning the radio up louder than the exhaust
this car is a luxury cruiser you should keep it that way

 

[Aznav]

I was planning on keeping the stock mufflers. I don't want it loud. Just a little more noise when I accelerate...

That's probably how this will end up for me. Putting Flowmaster's on next week. It's somewhat humorous when a kid with a rice-burner pulls up next to me and starts revving his engine. Sounds like an angry bumble bee. (-;

 

[Frankie the Fink]

Not a big fan of the small Japanese cars with the f*rt pipes and the park bench rear wings....but at least they are car guys (who watch too much "Fast & Furious" sequels).

I've struggled with retro bird sound a bit myself and have decided to stay stock. The current sound is not great but acceptable in a cruiser IMO...

 

[JohnS]

That's probably how this will end up for me. Putting Flowmaster's on next week. It's somewhat humorous when a kid with a rice-burner pulls up next to me and starts revving his engine. Sounds like an angry bumble bee. (-;

I have been doing a little bit of reading on resonators and mufflers. Also I checked out some Jaguar forums. It seems as though removing the resonator is a bad idea. Now I'm leaning towards just changing out the stock Mufflers with something with a more aggressive tone and leaving the resonator. Let me know how yours works out please.

 

[Angry Bird]

Way back in the day my college roommate in Virginia was pulled over for loud exhaust. He spent the night at the county jail for another reason. I was lucky to have gotten out of the car earlier in the night.

The cops will always hear you coming!

 

[Aznav]

I have been doing a little bit of reading on resonators and mufflers. Also I checked out some Jaguar forums. It seems as though removing the resonator is a bad idea. Now I'm leaning towards just changing out the stock Mufflers with something with a more aggressive tone and leaving the resonator. Let me know how yours works out please.

You bet.

 

[Bond007]

The cops will always hear you coming!

Having New York plates in rural Virginia didn’t help. He had a forestry major with him and they decided to steal the welcome sign from Jefferson National Forest. Pretty hard to hide that in the backseat of an Olds 4-4-2 ragtop.

 

[b3tunes]

Does anyone know what company make an exhaust system to the oem specks? (sound) ? I installed the Borla exhaust and it,s to loud for my taste. Is there any way to quiet the Borla down ? My mistake was letting the dealer destroy my original system.

 

[cobrajeff]

I had a local muffler shop replace those huge, ugly resonators in my exhaust system with small bullet-style resonators (similar to what 1965-66 Mustangs with dual exhaust had. Also requested him to have the tips extend about 3/4" further out from the valence when he welded it back together.
I am 1000% happy with the result - it has a mild throaty sound under acceleration, and it is totally quiet at cruising speed, with no resonance.
And it only cost me 250 bucks!

 

[JohnS]

Looks great. Wish I could hear it. I like where the tips end too. Thanks for the update and pics!

 

[Bond007]

Does anyone know what company make an exhaust system to the oem specks? (sound) ? I installed the Borla exhaust and it,s to loud for my taste. Is there any way to quiet the Borla down ? My mistake was letting the dealer destroy my original system.

Does your car have a cold air intake? That will make things louder.

How far have you driven with it? It takes about 500 miles to achieve the sound.

 

[Bruce Arrowood]

2003 bird. What is the proper size of pipe and resonator size. 2, 21/4. Or 21/2 inch needed to replace factory resonators?
Thanks

 

[JohnS]

The pipe is 2 inch. If you are doing clamp on then your new parts should have a 2 1/4 inch inlet. Most people recommend against changing the resonator (close to the catalytic converter). It controls back pressure and can negatively affect the way the car runs. Instead change the mufflers (closest to the tail pipe). Please let me know what you end up doing and how happy you are with the results.