what kind of exhuast do you think is best for the 03 cobra

[jguerre1]

any one got some input before i buy a catback exhuast. i was going to go with steeda.

[rachrse]

Look in the Dec issue of 5.0 Mustang & Fast Fords, it gives you a break down of muffler systems horsepower gains and over all performance.

[DaleM]

I have a set of MagnaFlows from a JDM kit and the mufflers sound incredible. I do think you should check out the Fast ford article 'cause sound is what you are paying for with catbacks. You have to decide how loud or soft you want to go. The mangaflows are middle of the road but thats because I plan to put on a set of heades/x-pipe soon.:cbra:

[bigmr2]

Not to sound too macho here, but I went the long tube, x-pipe, and bassani cat-back exhaust route.

Maybe I am deaf or just crazy BUT this ain't too lound for me. It sounds mean and throaty, but no problems with the neighbors.

Loud? C'mon dudes. What about the days of glasspaks?

I almost wish I had done the semi-street cat-backs from Bassani. When a car has this much power you have to HEAR it, man. Power on!

[Beabout]

Bassani, Bassani, Bassani :tmb:

Bring $$$$$$$$

Bassani is proud of their system :rolleyes:

[SVTCobraTx]

I have had a custom Magnaflow Catback system installed on 8 customers cars. ALL were extremely pleasedwith both sound and power gained. I Upsized the Pipe to 2 1/2' Aluminized Pipe with Magnaflow Polished Stainless Steel Mufflers and a 4" Magnaflow Polished Stainless Steel , Slash Cut Tip. This is a total custom bent, built and welded system. Welded is the only way to have a leak free system. ( One customer dynoed his car and with NO other mods, dynoed 401 RWHP). Sound is deep, throaty and authorative without brash or sharp tones. At Crusing speeds you will be able to converse at normal levels and play stero at normal levels, but romp on it and get all that lovely sound. :tmb:
No Need for expense of Stainless pipe. It will in time develope stress cracks from the heat, due to the low grade of the stainless used and the thinness of the pipe.
Magazine article on mufflers is right on... Sound is subjective...Only you can decide...

[Cobra40]

I'm concerned about voiding warrenties.

If you replace the entire system (headers back) does this void the warrenty since the O2 senser is involved?

What if you just install a cat-back? Will this void the warrenty on any thing other that the cat-back? and, will just a cat-bak give you enough additional power to justify the cost?

[rachrse]

Replacing your exhaust system will not void your warrany. The cats on the 03 in my opinion are not the best and you will be doing yourself a favor to replace them. Rachrse

[Stunt Stangs]

I had the 03 Bassani Catted X w/ Cat-Back installed. EXCELLENT workmanship..quality..fit and finish. It went on perfectly with absolutely no modifications. I took the baffles out and it sounds mean and the signature on the 4" tips and the contour with the body looks awsome. Money well spent! (in my opinion):)

[KWladyka]

I too put on the 03 Bassani Catted X with the complete Cat-Back system and I agree the workmanship is excellent and the installation was easy. I don't think this kit will leak as the fit on all parts was perfect. I tried it with both the off-roads and cat configuration. I think the off-road configuration is on the loud side since the mufflers on this kit go straight through. How loud? I couldn't even hear the blower during acceleration. With the cats on it is a good balance for me but still significantly louder than stock.

[dwtalso]

I'll put in a vote for 1 5/8" JBA headers, Bassani catted x-pipe, and FR500 exhaust. Very nice :).

[Brad12]

If you get a chance to read that article you will soon see that they all get you about the same horsepower gains,so more money does not mean anything.I just had my exhaust done with long tube bbk,x pipe and deltaflows and it sounds great and has no noticable resonating.Some of these companies are way to proud of their products,money wise.

[MadMax]

Hey man, you must be the other Cobra guy that Dan of Idle Wild Racing in Largo FL was telling me about. I've got an appointment for a Spin-Tech X-pipe install on Monday. He said that he had just put one on a guy's Cobra recently and that the customer was really happy with it. I saw it up close and checked out the weld job on the joints, really a nice x-pipe . Price was less than a Bassani including install/ labor !

[Stunt Stangs]

The article in 5.0 Magazine was published in Dec. and the tests performed prior to that time. The Bassani system for the 03 Cobra is a different system then was tested. The new Bassani 03 Cobra application was not produced or available until mid-summer of 2002.

[Brad12]

Mad Max,yas that is my car.So you have seen how well it fits and it sound great.

[MadMax]

Hey, saw your Sonic Blue baby at Dan's shop today ! I don't have the nads to get a full-on exhaust like you did. John said that they were still awaiting the Auto-logic chip burner so they did not start your car for me to hear it. Wanna know something pretty cool ? The same two guys at the Romeo Engine plant built your motor and mine !!! I like flipped out when I saw the I.D. plate. I'll tell ya, my motor is so right...it idles like Mercedes quiet. No ticking, clicking, clacking or strange noises. Since I have a first run motor, let's hope it stays that way ! I've got the rear-end "clunk" every time you put it in first, but a lot of guys are saying that's normal. Also Dan said that the Auto-logic Chip has this cool 3-stage function and he'll max out the performance for each stage on the dyno. First stage is for normal efficient cruising around, then 2nd stage is for more power and 3rd stage is for max 1/4 mile blasting or street slamming. It has some kind of selector that he puts in your interior somewhere so you can pick what level you want !

[Brad12]

I will be at Freedom Ford on thurs for the show,All will be complete for that.We will take a little ride if youd like

[SVTyballz]

Kooks custom LT headers, Dr. Gas X-pipe, Dynomax catback. 3" all the way through. Will have dyno numbers in a couple weeks.

gary

[Cobra544]

I just had the following installed: Bassani hi flow cats, MAC exhaust, new chip and 4 lb. pulley. The sound is great! Not too loud, but much better than stock. It got me 448 rwhp and 501 rwtq. Hope this helps.

[jguerre1]

about that mac exhuast, do they have a catback system for the 03' cobra or did you do some custom work. i think MAC exhuasts are great, they sound nice on the older model mustangs. where did you get yours from?

also did you look at the mac intake for the cobra?

[Cobra544]

The MAC exhaust was designed for the 2003. It fit perfectly! I had the work done at Excessive Motorsports in Manassas, VA. (703)331-1422. I haven't looked into any intake modifications yet. The sound is deeper than other exhausts I've heard.

[ox03]

> ...some input before i buy a catback exhaust.

If you are just thinking cat-back, consider whether you want a traditional cut-weld (Flowmaster, DynoMax) or bolt-on (Bassani, MagnaFlow) application. I favor the Spin Tech cut-welds and the Borla and MagnaFlow bolt-ons.

> will just a cat-bak give you enough additional power to justify the cost?

The shortcoming of the '03 is the intake. The price-per-power ratio can be justified with the addition of a CAI and/or TB.

[Brad12]

My buddy gained 18 RWHP from flowmaster catback alone

[TBSVTOA]

That would be me !

Not a pretty as stainless. But the Flowmaster Thunder II (DeltaFlow) seem to produce the most HP for the Money.

[NJC]

Bassani, Sounds very nice, I left the cats off mine and it sounds like a NASCAR. I still sounds really good with the cats on but just not as loud.

[JTFX6552]

I vote for the Borla catback. Quiet and makes great power. I'm still running through the factory manifolds and the stock cats.

[03TRMN8R]

U can't lose with the Bassani. If you want quality, excellent sound, perfect fitment, etc. Buy Bassani. The headers will be out soon too :tmb: