Exhaust for a XL

[felixgun]

A black bear tune is about $500 or so but you get a significant performance increase from your vehicle and the majority of people notice a significant increase in MPG at the same time. You definitely get more 'bang for the buck' with that route. Many folks on here go the route of performance cold air intake ($200), mild exhaust upgrade ($300) and then the black bear tune and notice these significant gains with the overall package with the tune being the key to the 'package'. (dollar amounts are approximations and vary with brand and set up)

---------- Post added at 11:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:59 PM ----------



It mostly depends on your budget. Corsa is probably the best (or at least among the best) on the market but it also is $$$$. With regards to the drone issue many people like magnaflow (namely the larger muffler that is 22" long). I've also heard very good things about the MBRP system (sold on stylintrucks.com). In the past, i've always used flowmaster but they produce quite a bit of drone so when I do the Burb I will go either magnaflow or the mbrp system. You should PM Felixgun. He's got a nice setup with his magnaflow with volant tips and he says it produces no drone. He may have a part # for the muffler as well.

If you upgrade the whole exhaust system, the aftermarket piping you get will be close to the same diameter as the stock piping. Corsa's exhaust systems cost so much bc they don't sell the muffler separately and includes all new piping (Touring comes polished too not sure about sport... Which only adds to the price). If you are on a budget like me, all that is really needed (unless you are trying to do dual exhaust) is a resonator delete with some after market tips (in my case, I went with Volant's Super Tips) and a good muffler (Corsa (can't purchase separately)> Borla > Magnaflow... [best bang for your buck IMO]) with the stock 3" diameter piping and that along with a good CAI and BlackBear tune should get you right where you want to be. Also make note that the bigger the muffler the deeper/lower/less sound it will create which is why I went with the 22" Magnaflow 12589 muffler for the least amount of sound but has a deep low rumble to it (sounds good next to my friends Denali 6.2L).

 

[07Burb]

great post Felix do you remember how much just your muffler was?

 

[felixgun]

great post Felix do you remember how much just your muffler was?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...mYzqDg&usg=AFQjCNFFDnGKIxrY42knSfc_iF33bRagGg

$105 shipped @ Amazon. I paid $95.

 

[07Burb]

wasn't at a computer at time of posting and thought it'd be good info for the OP

 

[calima51]

If you upgrade the whole exhaust system, the aftermarket piping you get will be close to the same diameter as the stock piping. Corsa's exhaust systems cost so much bc they don't sell the muffler separately and includes all new piping (Touring comes polished too not sure about sport... Which only adds to the price). If you are on a budget like me, all that is really needed (unless you are trying to do dual exhaust) is a resonator delete with some after market tips (in my case, I went with Volant's Super Tips) and a good muffler (Corsa (can't purchase separately)> Borla > Magnaflow... [best bang for your buck IMO]) with the stock 3" diameter piping and that along with a good CAI and BlackBear tune should get you right where you want to be. Also make note that the bigger the muffler the deeper/lower/less sound it will create which is why I went with the 22" Magnaflow 12589 muffler for the least amount of sound but has a deep low rumble to it (sounds good next to my friends Denali 6.2L).

I really like your recommendation on the tune, intake, and magnaflow. It gives me the performance and the sound for the same price as a corsa touring. Is there any drone with the muffler?

Also, since I just bought the car, how does all of this effect my warranty. I was reading a couple of threads and was mainly concerned about the tune. What are your thoughts?

 

[felixgun]

My previous NBS tahoe had the infamous drone with a dumped flowmaster muffler so I decided to switch to Magnaflow. No drone at all and I love it. The ECM/TCM can be configured back to stock if you purchase the AutoCal from blackbearperformance.com so dealership wouldn't even know you had a custom tune.

 

[07Burb]

Felix...do you happen to have a sound clip of your setup?

 

[calima51]

My previous NBS tahoe had the infamous drone with a dumped flowmaster muffler so I decided to switch to Magnaflow. No drone at all and I love it. The ECM/TCM can be configured back to stock if you purchase the AutoCal from blackbearperformance.com so dealership wouldn't even know you had a custom tune.

Hi,
I would really like to hear what your setup sounds like. Also, you had mentioned in your previous post that Borla is better than Magnaflow. How come you didn't go with the Borla. How is the drone on a Borla? Could the volant tips reduce drone on any exhaust? Thanks.

 

[felixgun]

Hi,
I would really like to hear what your setup sounds like. Also, you had mentioned in your previous post that Borla is better than Magnaflow. How come you didn't go with the Borla. How is the drone on a Borla? Could the volant tips reduce drone on any exhaust? Thanks.

Borla is more expensive is what it really boils down to. If I had expendable cash, I would've went with Corsa, then borla, then magnaflow (which is IMO the best 'bang for your buck'). The magnaflow muffler I can get goes for around 100-120 so it's definitely worth every penny.

Yea i'll try and post a video/sound clip as soon as I get some free time. I don't know about the drone on the borla bc i've never had one, nor do I think that it will drone. The drone will come from the type of muffler you get. The volant tips is purely cosmetic. Cutting the resonator off your car and changing the muffler are the two factors of how your exhaust will sound (aside from fully replacing the cat back/getting dual exhaust/other big performance mods).

 

[calima51]

Borla is more expensive is what it really boils down to. If I had expendable cash, I would've went with Corsa, then borla, then magnaflow (which is IMO the best 'bang for your buck'). The magnaflow muffler I can get goes for around 100-120 so it's definitely worth every penny.

Yea i'll try and post a video/sound clip as soon as I get some free time. I don't know about the drone on the borla bc i've never had one, nor do I think that it will drone. The drone will come from the type of muffler you get. The volant tips is purely cosmetic. Cutting the resonator off your car and changing the muffler are the two factors of how your exhaust will sound (aside from fully replacing the cat back/getting dual exhaust/other big performance mods).

Hi Felix,

Cutting off the resonator, is that illegal? Similar to removing the cat converter? I live in CA, so I was just wondering what I am getting into. I was looking at Borla, but it did not seem to be that much more than a magnaflow. I don't know if I am just looking at the wrong mufflers. I spoke to a muffler shop and they recommended the largest muffler for the sound that I wanted. He said the 22 inch magnaflow, which I believe is the size that you have. The largest Borla I saw was 19 inches. How does the size effect the sounds.