Confusing Borla question.

jfran430 · Jan 14, 2008

Alright I have searched and searched and have no answer. I have a 97 Cobra right now and i want to put a Borla catback on. There is no Borla catback in production for a 96-97 cobra (98's have different hangers and there is no catback for these either). There is for a 94-95 cobra and a 94-97 gt. They use 2 1/4 piping, which is stock on a 97 cobra. Ok so my question, as STUPID as it may end up being is why the hell can't I use one of these catback's on my car?! Is it only because its not a bigger pipe (i.e. 2 1/2) and thats Borla's way of saying dont bother? Or is there an actual reason this will not bolt up to my car. I have found plenty of other catbacks that are for all mustang V8's 94-97, and really have no idea why this wont work. One last thing that gets me is the 94-95 cobra price is around 850 from Borla.com and the 96-97 gt is about 750, with different part numbers. So I'm honestly not even sure if these two are different from one another.

BennyBlown2v · Jan 14, 2008

jfran430 said:
Alright I have searched and searched and have no answer. I have a 97 Cobra right now and i want to put a Borla catback on. There is no Borla catback in production for a 96-97 cobra (98's have different hangers and there is no catback for these either). There is for a 94-95 cobra and a 94-97 gt. They use 2 1/4 piping, which is stock on a 97 cobra. Ok so my question, as STUPID as it may end up being is why the hell can't I use one of these catback's on my car?! Is it only because its not a bigger pipe (i.e. 2 1/2) and thats Borla's way of saying dont bother? Or is there an actual reason this will not bolt up to my car. I have found plenty of other catbacks that are for all mustang V8's 94-97, and really have no idea why this wont work. One last thing that gets me is the 94-95 cobra price is around 850 from Borla.com and the 96-97 gt is about 750, with different part numbers. So I'm honestly not even sure if these two are different from one another.

Only reason you would want one of those catbacks is the sound and the tips (and slightly better flow characteristics from the mandrel bends and perhaps from better flowing mufflers. My buddy got one for 96-97 gt and it fit his cobra fine. Look around ebay and svtperformance classifieds before you buy new, you can great used prices for exhaust junk

LaserSVT · Jan 14, 2008

96-97 GT catback will fit fine, IDK why they wouldnt want to sell it for a Cobra.

jfran430 · Jan 14, 2008

Me neither .. I CANNOT figure it out .. the only reasonable thing I can think of is like I said .. there's no increase in pipe size.

EPIK · Jan 14, 2008

I think after the exhaust manifolds back, the only thing that is different on a 96-97 GT versus Cobra is the tranny crossmember & the cobra midpipe has 4 cats instead of the 6 that the GT's have. So in other words, i think any catback for a 96-97 GT should fit a Cobra.

forum155pl · Jan 14, 2008

EPIKGT said:
I think after the exhaust manifolds back, the only thing that is different on a 96-97 GT versus Cobra is the tranny crossmember & the cobra midpipe has 4 cats instead of the 6 that the GT's have. So in other words, i think any catback for a 96-97 GT should fit a Cobra.

I agree wit dis guy here bout them cat baks, that there rear suspention is the same there as da gt as the cobra

mazen189 · Jan 14, 2008

just buy the mufflers and have a muffler shop do some custom piping, it might cost you less than the actual catback. Cause....thats what imma do, i dont really care to have "borla" on the tips.

EPIK · Jan 14, 2008

mazen189 said:
just buy the mufflers and have a muffler shop do some custom piping, it might cost you less than the actual catback. Cause....thats what imma do, i dont really care to have "borla" on the tips.

Thats a good Idea, plus IMO, the Borla tips look funny....theyre too short...

jfran430 · Jan 14, 2008

Cheaper, you really think so? Because i was thinking along those lines of buying just the piping back (mac offers it i think) and then having just the pipes from the mufflers to the mid-pipe cuztom-made. Yeah the tips are whatever, i personaly would prefer just a 3 inch chrome angle cut. But ballpark figure .. if the mufflers alone are about 400$ how much for all the piping custom?

Zax · Jan 16, 2008

The tips I have arent too short

mazen189 · Jan 16, 2008

ummm it just depends who you go to for the piping, i would think they would want in between 200-250 for the piping, it would be 2 1/2 inches. Then with chrome tips, i would say between 200-250, then 400 for mufflers, thats about right for a catback.

LaserSVT · Jan 16, 2008

50 Resto has the MAC chrome tail pipe kit, goes from mufflers to bumper with slash cut tips for $170 and a shop shpuld not charge more than 100-150 to make the pipes between the h-pipe and mufflers.
Just my .02

EPIK · Jan 16, 2008

Zax said:
The tips I have arent too short

Thats because u have a 99 Cobra, which has bumper cutouts which hide the whole tailpipe besides the end of tip. But on a 94-98, the whole tailpipe is exposed and the short Borla tips look funny on those years IMO.... Thats just my opinion though....I think the Flowmaster & Dynomax tailpipes look the best on the 94-98 because they look similar to the stock tails, but 2 1/2" instead of the stock 2 1/4" & since the whole tailpipe is exposed, they are polished stainless all the way to behind the tire.... Its just a cleaner, more subtle look rather than a weld on 3 1/2" tip that looks like it belongs on a truck....

twogts4us · Jan 16, 2008

mazen189 said:
just buy the mufflers and have a muffler shop do some custom piping, it might cost you less than the actual catback. Cause....thats what imma do, i dont really care to have "borla" on the tips.

forum155pl said:
I agree wit dis guy here bout them cat baks, that there rear suspention is the same there as da gt as the cobra

I highly doubt you'd get the same thing (OEM sytle fit) with the $9.00/hr Joe Blow at the muffler shop...No friggin way I'd waste ANY money and let a muffler shop build a catback.

EPIKGT said:
Thats a good Idea, plus IMO, the Borla tips look funny....theyre too short...

Too short? Eesh, I actually need to shorten mine as I think they stick out too far. By the way, adjusting the length is something you can do with their catback that you won't be able to do with someone's hack job of a catback.

jfran430 said:
Cheaper, you really think so? Because i was thinking along those lines of buying just the piping back (mac offers it i think) and then having just the pipes from the mufflers to the mid-pipe cuztom-made. Yeah the tips are whatever, i personaly would prefer just a 3 inch chrome angle cut. But ballpark figure .. if the mufflers alone are about 400$ how much for all the piping custom?

See above, and IMO I wouldn't waste ANY money, even if you stand to save some. If funds are tight and you simply can't afford the full catback (After buying all my nitrous junk, I'm poor right now too, nothing to be ashamed of!) just get the mufflers and have them welded into your existing OEM catback.

Catback systems are computer designed for OEM fit and piping is bent with a mandrel bender. More often than not, complex multiple angle bends are required. Quite likely what you'd come out of there with is a half-assed job with uneven piping that looks like it's homemade.

(NOTE - no offense to anyone who is a true craftsman, who can weld like a pro, and anyone who works at a muffler shop - not all are alike, but most are hacks.)

EPIK · Jan 16, 2008

twogts4us said:
Too short? Eesh, I actually need to shorten mine as I think they stick out too far. By the way, adjusting the length is something you can do with their catback that you won't be able to do with someone's hack job of a catback.

)

I just mean the tips, not the tailpipes...here is a horrible pic of a photoshop that I found on borlas website, but u get the idea of how the short tips look funny unless u have bumper cutouts like a Saleen or a 99-04....

This pic is funny, but i couldnt find a better one on the net....

twogts4us · Jan 16, 2008

Yeah, agreed, those little ones look a bit weird.

jfran430 · Jan 17, 2008

Alright so I have almost everything figured out. Found Borla S-type mufflers from Jegs 140.99 each .. I'm going to go with the mac tailpipes but my new problem is, all I can find is 2 1/2 inch tailpipes for 170 (the whole pipe is 2 1/2, which is what i want) but i want a 3 inch tip. I called MAC and they said 285$ shipped to my door for exactly what i want but its going to take three weeks. (Keep in mind my 97 cobra has 3 1/4" tips already). I called the muffler shop and he said 150 to weld the custom peice and install the whole thing for me and another 100 to throw the O/R H pipe on. Epik you're completely right on the tailpipe idea, I agree about them being exposed, what size are yours? 2 1/2? Thanks everyone for the help so far. I'm really glad i didn't just order the GT catback now and I waited, now I'll get exactly what i want.

EPIK · Jan 17, 2008

jfran430 said:
Alright so I have almost everything figured out. Found Borla S-type mufflers from Jegs 140.99 each .. I'm going to go with the mac tailpipes but my new problem is, all I can find is 2 1/2 inch tailpipes for 170 (the whole pipe is 2 1/2, which is what i want) but i want a 3 inch tip. I called MAC and they said 285$ shipped to my door for exactly what i want but its going to take three weeks. (Keep in mind my 97 cobra has 3 1/4" tips already). I called the muffler shop and he said 150 to weld the custom peice and install the whole thing for me and another 100 to throw the O/R H pipe on. Epik you're completely right on the tailpipe idea, I agree about them being exposed, what size are yours? 2 1/2? Thanks everyone for the help so far. I'm really glad i didn't just order the GT catback now and I waited, now I'll get exactly what i want.

My tailpipes are 2 1/2 from the muffler all the way to the tip....

Zax · Jan 17, 2008

Thats because u have a 99 Cobra, which has bumper cutouts which hide the whole tailpipe besides the end of tip. But on a 94-98, the whole tailpipe is exposed and the short Borla tips look funny on those years IMO.... Thats just my opinion though....I think the Flowmaster & Dynomax tailpipes look the best on the 94-98 because they look similar to the stock tails, but 2 1/2" instead of the stock 2 1/4" & since the whole tailpipe is exposed, they are polished stainless all the way to behind the tire.... Its just a cleaner, more subtle look rather than a weld on 3 1/2" tip that looks like it belongs on a truck....

Ah, got ya man

LaserSVT · Jan 17, 2008

jfran430 said:
Alright so I have almost everything figured out. Found Borla S-type mufflers from Jegs 140.99 each .. I'm going to go with the mac tailpipes but my new problem is, all I can find is 2 1/2 inch tailpipes for 170 (the whole pipe is 2 1/2, which is what i want) but i want a 3 inch tip. I called MAC and they said 285$ shipped to my door for exactly what i want but its going to take three weeks. (Keep in mind my 97 cobra has 3 1/4" tips already). I called the muffler shop and he said 150 to weld the custom peice and install the whole thing for me and another 100 to throw the O/R H pipe on. Epik you're completely right on the tailpipe idea, I agree about them being exposed, what size are yours? 2 1/2? Thanks everyone for the help so far. I'm really glad i didn't just order the GT catback now and I waited, now I'll get exactly what i want.

Changing the h-pipe is really easy, it took me 45 min and that was including the time to jack it up and put jackstands under it. Save yourself $100 and you can do it yourself really easy. Do it before you bring it in for the catback install/fabrication so it will be perfectly aligned

Confusing Borla question.

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