Single In/Out Borla for 2014 Silverado High Country 4WD with 5.3L?

TedH · April 5, 2016

I really liked my single in/out Borla cat-back system on my 2003 Silverado LS with 4.8L. Bought my 2014 High Country and promptly started searching for a better stainless exhaust.

Borla is both MORE expensive (than I recall) and does not seem to offer a single in/out system. I see single in/split dual and single in/double right outlet. Are my only options Magnaflow, Gibson and MBRP for my needs?

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · April 5, 2016

Just go to a shop that's good with exhaust and have them build you the system with exactly what you want and it will be cheaper than a premade system. I had everything from the muffler back removed and had them put in a Flomwaster Super 44 single in/dual out muffler with the 2 tailpipes and 2 black chrome tips. Parts and labor was around $350 and I got exactly what I want so I didn't have to settle for how a premade system is setup. The only difference is that it isn't mandrel bent, but with a daily driver pickup you won't feel the difference. Just make sure to tell them to use stainless tubing.

TJay74 · April 6, 2016

While having a shop make a system might be cheaper, it wont be better nor will it flow nearly as well as the premade stuff. There are very few shops out there that own or use a mandrel pipe bender, those machines are super expensive and take a lot more time to bend the pipes versus the normal crush bender that most all shops use.

Personally I went with the Magnaflow 12909 (3.5" offset/offset) muffler, cut out the flapper valve and cut out the resonator. Sounds perfect and no drone, cost me $220 installed for everything.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · April 6, 2016

While having a shop make a system might be cheaper, it wont be better nor will it flow nearly as well as the premade stuff. There are very few shops out there that own or use a mandrel pipe bender, those machines are super expensive and take a lot more time to bend the pipes versus the normal crush bender that most all shops use.

Personally I went with the Magnaflow 12909 (3.5" offset/offset) muffler, cut out the flapper valve and cut out the resonator. Sounds perfect and no drone, cost me $220 installed for everything.

I understand that, but on a daily driver pickup I don't see how you'd know the difference. Especially if you leave everything before the muffler untouched. I just don't see how just mandrel bent tailpipes would make any difference on a daily driver truck. I'm not saying mandrel pipes won't flow better, I just mean that you won't feel the difference especially when the only mandrel pipes are behind the muffler. The only time I would want mandrel bent pipes would be on a performance vehicle and I mean one with tons HP or something that has forced induction.

jrob56 · April 6, 2016

As for buying a Borla off the shelf that way I think youre out of luck. I will be buying the Dynomax catback below and replacing the muffler. Stainless mandrel bent and 300ish online.

http://www.dynomax.com/single-3-cat-back-system-dynomax-vt-muffler-38531.html

This is a borla mufller with the same pipe diameter and center in/offset out configuration. Is a little shorter so will have to add some straight pipe.

http://www.borla.com/products/proxs_muffler_part__400482.html

This would get you what your looking for though under 500 bucks if you source parts right.

Edit: Here is the install instructions and individual part numbers as well if you didnt want to buy the full Dynomax catback. I found that it was more expensive this way though or close enough that its easier to buy the full catback.

http://www.dynomax.com/downloads/instruction_pdf/38531%20InstRev0115.pdf

jrob56 · April 6, 2016

Just go to a shop that's good with exhaust and have them build you the system with exactly what you want and it will be cheaper than a premade system. I had everything from the muffler back removed and had them put in a Flomwaster Super 44 single in/dual out muffler with the 2 tailpipes and 2 black chrome tips. Parts and labor was around $350 and I got exactly what I want so I didn't have to settle for how a premade system is setup. The only difference is that it isn't mandrel bent, but with a daily driver pickup you won't feel the difference. Just make sure to tell them to use stainless tubing.

Other objection to this is that this was not stainless for that price.

07Softail · April 6, 2016

I really liked my single in/out Borla cat-back system on my 2003 Silverado LS with 4.8L. Bought my 2014 High Country and promptly started searching for a better stainless exhaust.

Borla is both MORE expensive (than I recall) and does not seem to offer a single in/out system. I see single in/split dual and single in/double right outlet. Are my only options Magnaflow, Gibson and MBRP for my needs?

What ever you do don't go with a muffler shop system. They suck ass and look like shit also...spend the coin and get a good mandrel bent system.

RT

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · April 7, 2016

Other objection to this is that this was not stainless for that price.

I honestly don't even know if they used stainless because I was so eager to just have the exhaust done since you hear nothing (barely at WOT) with the stock exhaust. It does look like it has some sort of coating or maybe they just spray painted it black because when I said what I wanted I said I wanted it black. I was only talking about the tips but I think they thought I meant everything they installed.

What ever you do don't go with a muffler shop system. They suck ass and look like shit also...spend the coin and get a good mandrel bent system.

RT

Actually the shop that did mine did a good job, they're good with exhaust. And again, someone can buy whatever they want but you won't notice mandrel bent pipes on a daily driver truck especially if you only mess with the muffler on back and not anything before the muffler. The only time I would make sure to get mandrel pipes would be anything with forced induction or just anything high performance. I'm not even going to mention show vehicles because I don't like trailer queens that only go to shows.

drparker7 · April 7, 2016

what yalls opinion on the stainless works exhaust system?

jrob56 · April 7, 2016

I honestly don't even know if they used stainless because I was so eager to just have the exhaust done since you hear nothing (barely at WOT) with the stock exhaust. It does look like it has some sort of coating or maybe they just spray painted it black because when I said what I wanted I said I wanted it black. I was only talking about the tips but I think they thought I meant everything they installed.

Most likely mild steel. Coating should help though.

Actually the shop that did mine did a good job, they're good with exhaust. And again, someone can buy whatever they want but you won't notice mandrel bent pipes on a daily driver truck especially if you only mess with the muffler on back and not anything before the muffler. The only time I would make sure to get mandrel pipes would be anything with forced induction or just anything high performance. I'm not even going to mention show vehicles because I don't like trailer queens that only go to shows.

I know to each his own but another big thing for me is resale. You can't recoup any of the cost of those systems with the exception of maybe selling muffler. If you go buy a stainless nice catback you can always resell for 80ish percent of the original cost if you sell truck or revert to stock.

Disclaimer: pulled number out of my ass based on my experience reselling and parts I've seen sell but you get the idea.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · April 7, 2016

I know to each his own but another big thing for me is resale. You can't recoup any of the cost of those systems with the exception of maybe selling muffler. If you go buy a stainless nice catback you can always resell for 80ish percent of the original cost if you sell truck or revert to stock.

Disclaimer: pulled number out of my ass based on my experience reselling and parts I've seen sell but you get the idea.

Well I know I sure as hell won't go back to stock since I don't want my V8 Silverado sounding like a Prius. I know a premade system is made where you can easily take it off and resell (unless you have it welded), but I plan to keep this truck for as long as it will go down the road so no problem with resale value. Thing is with premade systems is that the company wants to make back any R&D and so on. I'm also picky so I don't want to settle for how a system is laid out, I'd rather just tell the shop what I want and have them do it. Again I'm not the one to tell someone what to do to their own truck, just giving my opinion. Maybe the tailpipes aren't stainless, I really don't know and I know I didn't specify that it had to be stainless and maybe I should have. But again I'll say that I was just eager to have a bad ass sounding truck after not being able to hear the truck whatsoever.

TedH · April 9, 2016

I favor keeping the stock stainless pipes and going with a performance replacement (stainless) muffler (like from Flowmaster). Which is closest in fitment to the (whisper quiet) stainless muffler that is stock on the truck? I really don't like the stock quiet. I prefer a mild performance tone; relatively mild at idle and noticeable when I press the pedal

Question: What is up with the 'drone' that some kits such as the Dynomax VT eliminate when dropping 8 to 4 cylinders? I'm not crazy about having a valve inside the muffler... what if it sticks in either position? Is the exhaust tone that annoying when the engine flips 8-to-4-to-8?

TedH · April 9, 2016

Just ordered the Flowmaster Force Two dual exit kit # 817666. Will have the pipes exiting behind both rear wheels. I had a system out the back and want a different duals look. At least it will exit behind the wheel(s) like my single Borla; just behind both wheels. the Flowmaster video on Youtube sealed the deal. Super 50 stainless muffler. Will have local Rainbow Muffler shop in St Pete handle the install.

TedH · November 19, 2016

7-8 months after and the 4-cyl drone and switching 8-4, 4-8 in city traffic is making me use M5 on the trans in stop-and-go and I'm HATING the drone at highway speed when it flips to 4-cyl.

Is it possible to have one of those valves added AFTER the muffler? That is all that I hate about the exhaust system. Don't like the idea of replacing the entire system if I can get a flapper aft-muffler.

TedH · November 19, 2016

Here's what I'm going to do: Have the original exhaust system re-installed WITH Borla Touring Muffler PN # 19131346.

Wish I had done more homework and taken more time. I am hoping I can sell the Flowmaster Force II system USED for at least half what I paid for it to recover the cost of the Borla muffler with install. I just can't stand the 4-cyl drone and don't want to have to use M5 to get around it. I had the OEM system cut in one place so I am hoping I can get it welded/connected again.

Will advise. Not happy