Confusing GM Exhaust Options

econometrics · August 17, 2020

I'm looking for a catback exhaust upgrade on my 2019 5.3L CC Z71 short box. On the Chevy Accessories website, it gives me two options:

Part number 84173604 - which is the GM Performance catback exhaust. It's $1645 before 15% MSRP savings / $145 dealer install. ($1544 installed after savings, plus tax)
Part number 19417840 - this says its a Borla catback system, but it says requires your choice Borla exhaust tips. This is $1544 installed per my dealer's quote as well. (plus tax)

Then, there's another Borla catback part number available when I check on GMPartsDirect.com:

Part number 19417841 - same description as the Borla package on the Chevy Accessories website.

Anyone know what the differences are with these three? Specifically, what's the difference between the GM 84173604 and Borla 19417840?

I called two Chevy dealers and they both said only the 19417840 Borla system works on my RST. But Chevy's website lets me buy the 84173604 when I input my VIN.

Basically, I want the Borla Touring-level of loud from the exhaust. So, not sure what is up here?

econometrics · August 19, 2020

I’ll answer my own question to this, after some further research...

Called two different dealers today and finally got some knowledgeable people on the phone. The first, at my local dealer, first quoted me the Borla 19417840 part when I gave him my VIN. After I pressed him, he said something like “oh, they must’ve just changed this... there’s a new one in here” and then quoted me the only one that will work on my RST is the GMPE part - which is $250 more, conveniently. Lol.

He still didn’t sound very confident, so I called Borla directly to see if I could figure this out. Their rep was very friendly, but wasn’t familiar with my conundrum, but did confirm the GMPE is a Borla Touring design clone, in cooperation with Borla.

Called another dealer up the road and finally got the answer that the 19417840 Borla part on the Chevy Accessories website wouldn’t work with my Z71 RST because it needed a separate purchase of tips.

So, after ALL that, it comes back to either the GMPE from the dealer or buying the Borla Touring from a Borla dealer for about $250 cheaper and getting it installed at a local exhaust shop.

Transient · August 22, 2020

The GMPE exhaust is very easy to install. You don't need a shop to do it. Just back your truck onto some famous in the driveway and get to work. Only tools I needed, iirc, were 13mm (or 1/2 inch) socket and a Sawzall with a metal cutting blade. Putting the new exhaust in easier that taking the original exhaust out. If still decide to go to a shop, and they charge you more than an hour of labor, imo you're getting ripped off. It took me 2 hours to do it in my driveway. Getting the truck in the air would have stopped it up, by not by much.

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econometrics · August 22, 2020

1 hour ago, Transient said:

The GMPE exhaust is very easy to install. You don't need a shop to do it. Just back your truck onto some famous in the driveway and get to work. Only tools I needed, iirc, were 13mm (or 1/2 inch) socket and a Sawzall with a metal cutting blade. Putting the new exhaust in easier that taking the original exhaust out. If still decide to go to a shop, and they charge you more than an hour of labor, imo you're getting ripped off. It took me 2 hours to do it in my driveway. Getting the truck in the air would have stopped it up, by not by much.

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Yeah, I’ve watched a couple of videos and realized it’s pretty straightforward, too. I don’t have a lift and it’s still hot in TX. The quote from my dealer to install it was just an hour labor. And for their rate, it’s worth for me to just have them do it, then flash my ECM for the GM CAI I’m going to install before I get the exhaust installed.

Transient · August 22, 2020

Yeah, I’ve watched a couple of videos and realized it’s pretty straightforward, too. I don’t have a lift and it’s still hot in TX. The quote from my dealer to install it was just an hour labor. And for their rate, it’s worth for me to just have them do it, then flash my ECM for the GM CAI I’m going to install before I get the exhaust installed. [emoji1360]

I arrived in Texas yesterday. San Antonio to be specific. I'll take this heat any day. I left Norfolk, VA where it's a lot more humid, which makes things miserable. I'm headed to southern Nevada in a little over a week, and it's 10°+ hotter out there.

As for your dealer charging you an hour and getting the ECU reflashed, that's a decent deal.

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econometrics · August 22, 2020

More info on my original post...

I DM’d @ian@borla about this, and he was VERY helpful!

When I entered my truck info manually on Chevy Accessories website, it gave me the GMPE and the “Associated accessories by Borla (19417840)”. This was the one that my local dealer told me would work. I was hesitant about this, because when I put my VIN into Chevy Accessories it only gave me the GMPE option.

Ian clarified that the 19417840 part was for single exit Silverados wanting to do dual exhaust under the bumper - NOT for the trucks with integrated dual bumper tips.

Really appreciate his help, and hope this can help others in the future.

econometrics · August 22, 2020

6 minutes ago, Transient said:

I arrived in Texas yesterday. San Antonio to be specific. I'll take this heat any day. I left Norfolk, VA where it's a lot more humid, which makes things miserable. I'm headed to southern Nevada in a little over a week, and it's 10°+ hotter out there.

As for your dealer charging you an hour and getting the ECU reflashed, that's a decent deal.

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Lol we are having a “cold front”. You came at the right time.

But yeah, I lived in Newport News for a couple years. Central TX heat is much drier and more tolerable.

Transient · August 22, 2020

Lol we are having a “cold front”. You came at the right time.

But yeah, I lived in Newport News for a couple years. Central TX heat is much drier and more tolerable.

I grew up in Northern Utah. I'm use to both extremes of hot and cold, but that's relatively dry compared to Hampton Roads.

I hope you're ready for flash flooding Tuesday and Wednesday. This will be my 2nd tropical storm this month.

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OnTheReel · August 22, 2020

Took my dealer around 2.5hrs to install the exhaust. Seemed like longer than I would expect, but they stuck to the 1hr labor quote when it came time to pay at least. Guessing that 1hr is what’s in the book.

Either way, as a lazy person I don’t regret having them do it.

econometrics · August 22, 2020

6 minutes ago, OnTheReel said:

Took my dealer around 2.5hrs to install the exhaust. Seemed like longer than I would expect, but they stuck to the 1hr labor quote when it came time to pay at least. Guessing that 1hr is what’s in the book.

Either way, as a lazy person I don’t regret having them do it.

Spot on.

Yeah, I’m prepaying the install on the Chevy Accessories website. So they can take more than an hour if they want. Same price for me.