CAT Back Exhaust System Review
First The Mach 1 Review posted a poll on the www.mach-1.org to see what CAT Back Exhaust Systems the members there would like to see reviewed. We asked the following question…
What CAT Back to Dyno with CAI's?
“Since the Mach 1 Review just completed the CAI test...M1R is thinking the natural thing to do would be to ad a CAT Back Exhaust System and dyno test them together to see what the performance gains or losses were. M1R needs some help here. The Mach 1 Review has posted a Poll with CAT Back Exhaust Systems that we feel are the most popular based upon the many threads researched on the mach-1.org forums. M1R would like to get your input on which ones you'd like to see in the next review. Please vote and let us know!
Also...as M1R did with the CAI Review, I'd also like some help from you in an e-mail campaign to help me get the manufacturers to send a CAT Back Exhaust System for an independent M1R Review. I am including some links here and would appreciate you letting the manufacturers know that you'd like The Mach 1 Review to receive a test unit for an independent and unbiased review of their product. Please refer them to me in your messages at:
The Mach 1 Review
tach9@mach1review.com
Here is the contact information:
BORLA: http://borla.com/contact.us/?mode=generalcomments
Bassani: rtorres@bassani.com
MagnaFlow: muffler@magnaflow.com
SLP Performance: http://www.slponline.com/slp_contact/contact.asp
Flow Master: Toll-free: (800) 544-4761
Remember to tell them it's for the Mach 1 Review test at:www.mach1review.com and that the test mule is a 2003 Mach 1. I hope we can get the manufacturers to let us test away!”
The Poll showed us that the most popular CAT Back that ORG members wanted to see dyno’d were in following in order, from most popular to last:
1.> Borla Stingers
2.> MagnaFlow & SLP Loud Mouths
3.> Bassani
4.> MagnaPacks
5.> FlowMasters
We are happy to say that the campaign worked! While not every manufacturer that was contacted participated, the following did:
1.> MagnaFlow
2.> SLP
3.> Bassani
M1R would have liked to have had the other manufacturers participate, but they did not respond to the e-mail campaign nor to any of the registered letters sent to each of the perspective manufacturers requesting a test unit for the review. What manufactures that did respond, M1R would like to take the opportunity to thank them for standing up for their products and allowing a full independent and unbiased review. M1R gives the participating manufacturers a lot of credit for putting their products on the line. The confidence in participating shows M1R that they are not afraid to compete and that they all believe in the benefits of their perspective products.
The Mach 1 Review had noticed that the first real modifications most Mach 1 enthusiasts do, is to ad a Cold Air Induction and or CAT Back exhaust system. M1R has already covered the CAI’s…so with a lot of help from the members of the www.mach-1.org M1R decided to do a comprehensive review on CAT Back Exhaust Systems. All testing and reviews were conducted on The Mach 1 Review’s test mule, a 2003 Mach 1. All tests were conducted with a K&N CAI. M1R review of the CAT Back Exhaust Systems consisted of : fit and finish, ease of installation, hardware supplied, performance testing (dynamometer tested for RWHP, RWT and A/F Ratios) and sound measured with a Decibel meter 4ft from the exhaust tip at 1500 RPM and 3000RPM.
The installations and dynamometer performance data were obtained using a Dyno Jet Dynamometer and the fine facilities at Apex Motorsports in Santa Clara, CA. (www.apexmotorsports.com). Special thanks to Apex for opening their doors on their most coveted day off to help The Mach 1 Review test the exhaust systems.
We established a baseline run and during this dyno test, the K&N CAI made the engine run lean. From 2000 to 2500 RPM the A/F ratio was 14.8 then from 2500 to 3000 RPM the A/F went from 13.9 to 13. A/F ratio basically leveled off at 13.1 beginning from 3200 RPM to redline. Ambient temperatures were 90 degrees and increasing with low humidity. Base line dynamometer figures were peak RWHP at 269.9 @ 5300 RPM and 276.2 RWT @ 4400 RPM.
What we discovered wasn’t what we had thought it would be…
The Participants
SLP Loud Mouths PN# M31002 Retail Cost $399.95
According to SLP they use an exclusive "Shotgun" race resonators for minimal flow restriction to promote the loudest possible sound possible from their CAT Back Exhaust Systems. Constructed entirely from mandrel-bent stainless steel they incorporate a unique hand-polished, double-wall 3.5” diameter exhaust tip. SLP is the only Exhaust Manufacturer that guarantees that their exhaust systems will outperform any other currently available product with the same configuration tube size, material and application or your money back! Pretty heady claims…so let’s see what they got.
 
When you unpack the SLP’s you will notice that there really isn’t much in the box, except for four (4) mandrel bent stainless steel tubes. Matter of fact, it looks like there are only tubes in the entire box. What really is in there is stainless steel mandrel bent 2.5: diameter tubing that incorporates SLP’s unique “Shotgun” mufflers (SLP calls them resonators) welded into the main exhaust pipe section.
The SLP’s were by far had the least amount of components. They included precise installation instructions and four slip joint clamps. It is very apparent the SLP had performance in minds when designing this system. The pipes themselves have as few bends possible. Without even firing these up, the testers knew that these pipes were going to be loud!
Tools required:
To facilitate installation, a few basic tools are needed:
1.>15mm Deep Socket (for the H pipe to muffler pipe)
2.> Anti Seize Thread compound (for the studs from the stock H pipe 15mm nuts)
3.> A Spray Can of WD 40 (for ease of sliding in the exhaust system hangers into the rubber donuts)
Installation:
Before beginning, use WD 40 and lightly spray all the rubber donut attachment hangers’ holes. This will make it very easy for insertion of the exhaust system hangers, by allowing them to slide in easily. This will save you a lot of muscle effort. Installation was pretty straightforward. Of all the exhaust systems tested in this review, the SLP’s were by far the easiest to install. They are so simple that if you have any mechanical ability at all, you could just look at he pipe sections and immediately know where they go. This was the only CAT Back system tested that did not require removal of the rear wheel/tire combo.
Make sure before you join any of the pipes into a slip joint that you have placed the proper slip joint clamps over the pipe first. M1R began with the two pipes that begin their attachment from the end of the stock H pipe configuration. Begin by attaching the main pipes (with “Shotgun” resonator) exhaust system hangers into their perspective rubber donut hole. Then attach the head end to the stock H pipe flange. Place a dab of anti seize compound on the H pipe’s studs and loosely secure the 15mm nut. Now repeat for the corresponding side. Once loosely secured, snake the short tail pipe section over the rear axle housing. Insert the exhaust hangers into their proper rubber donut holes, and repeat for the other side. Once you have done this you can now go back and secure tightly the H pipe connection and the rear tail pipe connection using a deep socket on the 15mm nuts that secure all the pipes together. Now you can place the slip joint clamp over the far end of the rear tail pipe and place the hand polished rolled exhaust tip on. Slip the exhaust tip over the end of the tail pipe and insert the hanger that is attached to the exhaust tip into the rear rubber donut hole that locates the position of the exhaust tip. Repeat the steps for the other side.
Now measure the distance that the exhaust tip protrudes from the rear valance and use this measurement to exact the final distance of the other exhaust tip. Then secure the tip with the 15mm nut on the slip joint clamp. Now the SLP the CAT Back Exhaust System is fully installed.
Performance Data:
The SLP CAT Back Exhaust System did not surprise any of the testers with it’s performance. The SLP Loud Mouth began making power from as low as 2000 RPM with a peak RWHP at 6300 RPM with 278.4 RWHP and 291.1 RWT @ 4300 RPM.
A/F ratios at 2000 to 2500 RPM went from 16.2 to 14.0 From 2500 to 3000 RPM the A/F ratios went from 14.0 to 13.0 then basically leveled off from 3000 RPM to redline at 13.3.
Overall the SLP loud Mouths achieved 8.5 RWHP and 14.9 RWT increase above the baseline dyno run.
Sound Check:
Using a Digital Sound Meter we recorded two separate sound samples at 1500 and 3000 RPM. We placed the sound meter 4ft from the back of the exhaust tip while holding steady the RPM’s. The results were:
1500 RPM = 91 dB
3000 RPM = 104 dB
Subjective Notes: The tone of the SLP loud Mouths lived up to it’s name! This CAT Back Exhaust System is loud! They are “semi quiet” at idle and near idle but loud when RPMs reached above 3K, and we mean loud! 104 dB at only 3000 RPM is loud! The testers remarked that the tone quality was reminiscent of the glory days of the Glass Pack mufflers. The tone was low with a bellowing pulsation, definitely not for the meek! If quiet is your goal, then these pipes are not for you, however, if an authoritative bark at all RPM levels that increases to a very loud crescendo in a relatively short RPM range, these are your ticket! Overall the testers gave the sound quality a thumbs up, but the loudness a thumbs down. Fit and finish were excellent and the hand polished dual lip exhaust tips were not only unique but looked good too! If you have this CAT Back on your Mach, do not expect to be sneaking home unnoticed, they’ll hear you from 10 blocks away!
MagnaFlow: PN# 15671 Retail Cost $566.78
According to MagnaFlow, their systems feature straight-through flow designs allowing for unrestricted passing of exhaust gases and gas impulses. The Magnaflow CAT Back Exhaust System is an all stainless steel construction. All tubing is mandrel bent and is 2.5” in diameter all the way from the inlet at the stock H pipe termination, to the 3.5” exhaust tips.
The first thing M1R noticed when unpacking the MagnaFlow’s is the two beautifully polished stainless steel mufflers! These mufflers would easily be at home on a pure show car, they are that nice in appearance! The MagnaFlows came with new clamps to secure the individual tubing slip joints. The Chromed 3.5” diameter exhaust tips are nicely finished and are engraved with the Magnaflow signature on the upward facing side. The kit came complete with easy to read and understand instructions. It is apparent when inventorying the parts, that MagnaFlow had put a lot of thought into the installation process. The many individual parts with separate slip connectors and clamps offer superior adjustability for individual differences in the Mach 1’s chassis fluctuations.
 
Tools required:
To facilitate installation, a few basic tools are needed:
1.> 15mm Deep Socket (for the H pipe to muffler pipe)
2.> 4mm Allen Wrench (to adjust and secure the chrome tips)
3.> Anti Seize Thread compound (for the studs from the stock H pipe 15mm nuts)
4.> A Spray Can of WD 40 (for ease of sliding in the exhaust system hangers into the rubber donuts)
Installation:
Before beginning, use WD 40 and lightly spray all the rubber donut attachment hangers’ holes. This will make it very easy for insertion of the exhaust system hangers, by allowing them to slide in easily. This will save you a lot of muscle effort. Installation was pretty straightforward. M1R began with the two pipes that begin their attachment from the end of the stock H pipe configuration. Place a dab of anti seize compound on the H pipe studs and loosely secure with the stock 15mm nuts. Make sure all slip joint clamps are placed over the pipes before attaching any pipe into a slip joint. Loosely attaching the pipes allows for final alteration of the fitment needed when completing the installation. Removal of the rear wheels/tire combination was necessary to facilitate insertion of the tail pipes over the rear axle housing. There isn't much angular room where the tail pipes snake over the axle housing and removal of the rear wheels/tires combo allows easier access. It is important to be careful not to accidentally come in contact with the exposed rear brake line. The rear tailpipes were again loosely secured in place using the exhaust tips and their hanger mechanism to keep the individual tail pipes in place. Insert the long “S” shaped rod through the slot on top of the exhaust tip with the short stepped portion up facing towards the exhaust tip exit. Now insert this rod into the exhaust tip rubber donut hanger hole. Once the tail pipe sections were hung, attachment of the muffler was next. Insert the rear muffler hanger into the rubber donut, then while pushing the muffler assembly rearward, slide the muffler inlet tube over the pipe extending from the H pipe. Repeat for the other side. Once you have the exhaust system basically assembled and in place, it is now time to manipulate the individual pipes into their permanent location. Align one side of the exhaust system at a time. You are aligning the pipes and muffler assembly to achieve a balanced even horizontal plane. Begin from the front of the assembly and work your way to the tail section and finish with adjusting the chrome tips. Slight rotation of the pipes and mufflers are required to get the fit aligned. Once you align a section, use a deep socket to secure the 15mm nut that tightens the slip joint clamp. When you reach the chrome exhaust tip place the first tip in the final location that you want and secure it with a 4mm allen wrench. Now measure the distance that the exhaust tip protrudes from the rear valance and use this measurement to exact the final distance of the other exhaust tip. Then secure the tip with the 4mm allen wrench and the MagnaFlow CAT Back Exhaust System is installed.
According to MagnaFlow, the internal MagnaFlow muffler is designed of stainless steel perforated core, stainless steel wool, and an acoustical absorbent material -- superior to fiberglass. No internal baffles, chambers, or louvers are used in the construction of these mufflers.
Performance Data: The MagnaFlow CAT Back Exhaust System was the surprise of the review. Of all the CAT Back systems tested, the standard MagnaFlow out performed all of the other participants! The MagnaFlow began making power from as low as 2000 RPM with a peak RWHP at 6200 RPM with 282.4 RWHP and 284.8 RWT @ 4300 RPM.
A/F ratios at 2000 to 2500 RPM went from 15.2 to 13.9. From 2500 to 3000 RPM the A/F ratios went from 13.9 to 13.1 then basically leveled off from 3000 RPM to redline at 13.2.
Overall the MagnaFlow’s achieved 12.5 RWHP and 8.2 RWT increase above the baseline dyno run.
Sound Check:
Using a Digital Sound Meter we recorded two separate sound samples at 1500 and 3000 RPM. We placed the sound meter 4ft from the back of the exhaust tip while holding steady the RPM’s. The results were:
1500 RPM = 85 dB
3000 RPM = 96 dB
Subjective Notes: The tone of the MagnaFlow’s were a mellow rumble. Quiet at idle and near idle but loud when RPMs reached above 3K. The testers remarked that the tone quality was very pleasant and gave the Mach 1 an authoritative note without an ear shattering loudness. Overall the testers gave the sound quality a thumbs up! Testers were pleasantly surprised that the MagnaFlow’s were not as quiet as they thought they’d be. They were equally impressed with the tone quality when reaching upper RPMs as well. Fit and finish were excellent, the MagnaFlow’s were judged to be the best “looking” of all CAT Back Exhaust Systems tested. It almost seemed a shame to have the mufflers where no one can see them. Although installation took the longest to complete due to the many pieces of pipe that needed to be assembled, the myriad of pieces may seem like a hindrance, in actuality they really helped fine tune the position of the exhaust systems, allowing for minute changes where alignment was concerned.
Bassani Xtreme Performance PN# 46995S Retail Approximately $712.50
According to Bassani, overaxle-rear exit location, dual round "slash cut" polished stainless steel tips, make for a more powerful sounding exhaust note. Designed to maximize performance, improve style and enhance sound characteristics. Precision-engineered stainless steel for durability and backed by a lifetime warranty. Each exhaust system comes complete with superior quality mounting hardware and detailed instructions. The Bassani CAT Back Exhaust System is an all stainless steel construction. All tubing is mandrel bent and is 2.5” in diameter all the way from the inlet at the stock H pipe termination, to the 3.5” exhaust tips.
The Bassani CAT Back Exhaust System was the last of the three systems that M1R tested. When we opened the Bassani box, and were pleasantly surprised at what the contents contained. The system was neatly packed as was all the other systems, but what was apparently different was the little extras that Bassani provided. This consisted of a bag containing new H pipe studs, 15mm nuts, washers and a small tube of anti seize compound. This extra touch added to the thorough installation instructions and aided in facilitating an easy install. Bassani was the only manufacturer that supplied these components. A very nice touch indeed!
 
The Bassani system is all stainless steel and is apparent that the muffler are externally Tig welded to prevent any exhaust gas leakage. The finish of the system was not as good as the SLP or the Magnaflow. Not that the Bassani was bad in any way, but they were not up to the standards previously set by the other two CAT Back systems. Bassani’s were also the only system that provided an internal removable baffle inside of the exhaust tips. This baffle can be easily removed for less restriction and more sound but removing a 3.5mm allen head set screw and pulling the baffles out. These baffles are a perforated steel tube design wrapped in fiberglass packing to further deaden the sound. The exhaust tips are 3.5” in diameter nicely chromed unit with the trade mark Bassani Xtreme logo and wording engraved.
The Bassani CAT Back Exhaust System had the least amount of exhaust hangers. There are only two exhaust hangers on each of the main pipe section. One on the muffler and the other on the exhaust tips. Initially the lack of hangers suggested that there may be a problem in securing the system to be rattle free, it turned out during installation that our concerns were not necessary.
Tools required:
To facilitate installation, a few basic tools are needed:
1.> 15mm Deep Socket (for the H pipe to muffler pipe)
2.> A Spray Can of WD 40 (for ease of sliding in the exhaust system hangers into the
rubber donuts)
Installation: Before beginning, use WD 40 and lightly spray all the rubber donut attachment hangers’ holes. This will make it very easy for insertion of the exhaust system hangers, by allowing them to slide in easily. This will save you a lot of muscle effort. Installation was pretty straightforward. M1R began with the two pipes that begin their attachment from the end of the stock H pipe configuration. Remove the stock H pipe studs and replace them with the supplied new studs. Place the rear muffler hanger into it’s corresponding rubber donut hole. Now place a dab of anti seize compound on the H pipe studs and loosely secure with the supplied washers and 15mm nuts. Repeat for the other side. Make sure all slip joint clamps are placed over the pipes before attaching any pipe into a slip joint. Loosely attaching the pipes allows for final alteration of the fitment needed when completing the installation. Removal of the rear wheels/tire combination was necessary to facilitate insertion of the tail pipes over the rear axle housing. There isn't much angular room where the tail pipes snake over the axle housing and removal of the rear wheels/tires combo allows easier access. It is important to be careful not to accidentally come in contact with the exposed rear brake line. The rear tailpipes were again loosely secured in place using the exhaust tips and their hanger mechanism to keep the individual tail pipes in place. Insert the open end of the long rod that is attached to the exhaust tips into the exhaust tip rubber donut hanger hole. Once the tail pipe sections were hung, attachment of the muffler was next. Slide the tail pipe section into the muffler exit tube and loosely secure the slip joint clamp. Repeat for the other side. Once you have the exhaust system basically assembled and in place, it is now time to manipulate the individual pipes into their permanent location. Align one side of the exhaust system at a time. You are aligning the pipes and muffler assembly to achieve a balanced even horizontal plane. Begin from the front of the assembly and work your way to the tail section and finish with adjusting the chrome tips. Slight rotation of the pipes and mufflers are required to get the fit aligned. One note, the passenger side muffler was located too close to the right side frame rails. It was apparent that under some circumstances the muffler may contact the frame rail producing an unwanted “clunk.” Carefully using a pry bar, M1R maneuvered the muffler away from the frame rail and was able to provide enough clearance so that contact would not become a future problem. Once you align a section, use a deep socket to secure the 15mm nut that tightens the slip joint clamps. When you reach the chrome exhaust tip place the first tip in the final location that you want and secure it with the slip joint clamp. Now measure the distance that the exhaust tip protrudes from the rear valance and use this measurement to exact the final distance of the other exhaust tip. Then secure the other tip with the slip joint clamp. The Bassani Xtreme CAT Back Exhaust system is now installed.
Performance Data: The Bassani Xtreme CAT Back Exhaust System really surprised the reviewers. Of all the CAT Back systems tested, the Bassani system was the lowest performing CAT Back out of the group tested. The Bassani began making power from as low as 2000 RPM with a peak RWHP of 273.6 at 6200 RPM with 277.2 RWT @ 4300 RPM. It should be noted though, that the Bassani CAT Back Exhaust System was the last unit tested. By this time in the day,the ambient temps were 93 degrees and the Mach 1 test mule was experiencing some heat soaking. Due to the lack of time, M1R could not allow for the test mule to cool properly. The numbers posted should be taken with the knowledge that the dyno run may have produced a slightly better numbers if the cool down and ambient temperatures were less.
A/F ratios at 2000 to 2500 RPM went from 14.8 to 13.8. From 2500 to 3000 RPM the A/F ratios went from 13.8 to 13.1 then basically leveled off from 3000 RPM to redline at 13.3.
Since the Bassani was the last exhaust system tested we left it installed on the M1R test mule, and we decided to run a quick experiment to see if we could better the performance of the system as we felt it was pretty low compared to the others tested. We hooked up a Diablo Predator and using the Custom Tuning feature, richened the A/F ratio by .10 across the board. We then ran it on the dyno to see what a mild tuning difference would make. Here are the numbers: Peak RWHP was 274.2 @ 5300 RPM and RWT was 284.8 @ 4400 RPM.
A/F ratios at 2000 to 2500 RPM went from 14.7 to 13.2. From 2500 to 3000 RPM the A/F ratios went from 13.2 to 12.0 then basically leveled off from 3000 RPM to redline at 12.5.
Overall with the custom Diablo Predator tune the Bassani‘s achieved 0.6 RWHP and 7.6 RWT increase above the Bassani CAT Back baseline dyno run. Due to time constraints M1R was not able to perform further tuning, but we are already scheduled to do so in the near future for a review on the Diablo Predator. The RWHP increases were virtually nil, but the RWT torque increases were significant. If you combine the RWT increases with the Predator tune the torque increase was up 8.6 RWT. If M1R had enough time we suspicion that we could have tweaked out another 5 RWHP and 8 RWT via richening the A/F ratio. On this dyno and on this day, the mach wanted way more fuel, and the increases in the A/F ratio via the Predator custom tune has show we were on the right path.
Sound Check:
Using a Digital Sound Meter we recorded two separate sound samples at 1500 and 3000 RPM. We placed the sound meter 4ft from the back of the exhaust tip while holding steady the RPM’s. The results were:
1500 RPM = 87 dB
3000 RPM = 101 dB
* Interesting enough, all sound testing was accomplished with the removable exhaust tip baffles left in. After conducting the formal test, we rechecked the sound condition with the baffles removed. The data was a bit puzzling. At 1500 RPM the sound was higher by 1 dB at 88, but when running at 3000 RPM the sound decrease 1 dB to 100.
Subjective Notes:
The tone of the Bassani Xtreme’s is a low high-pitched mellow rumble. Quiet at idle and near idle but loud when RPMs reached above 3K. The testers remarked that the tone quality was very pleasant and gave the Mach 1 a nice authoritative note without an ear shattering loudness. Many testers remarked at how similar the sound was to the Bullit movie Mustang. The Bassani sound was quiet when off throttle and idle and steadily increased to a muscle car pitch when above 3000 RPMs. Of all the testers present, the Bassani sound was voted the best out of the three CAT Back systems reviewed. Overall the testers gave the sound quality the number one rating with a two thumbs up!
Conclusions:
On this day it was clear that the K&N CAI was causing a lean condition, and that that condition would worsen when adding the CAT Back Exhausts. This is representative of the many enthusiasts out there who are or have done exactly this same set up modification. That is why there have been so many reports of Mach’s loosing the bottom end when modding with a CAT back. This is the condition that the dyno reported and is confirmed on this dyno and on this day that the lean condition indeed causes the loss of power on the bottom end. It should be noted that all systems tested posted both RWHP and RWT gains above the baseline dyno.
This review was a good cross section of the available CAT Back Exhaust Systems in the marketplace. While there are other “Pack” type and standard performance muffler systems out there, the three that participated is a very good cross section and is indeed representative of the basic designs that are available.
If you are looking for all out performance, then the data in our testing of these CAT Back Exhaust Systems, shows that the MagnaFlow standard CAT Back Exhaust System really came through with some outstanding numbers. Without a Predator custom tune, the MagnaFlow out of the box out performed the Bassani’s with the Predator custom tune! That is an amazing feat! M1R’s conclusion is that the MagnaFlow Company has done their engineering homework and has come up with a muffler design that backs up their claims. M1R was very impressed with their performance numbers, their fit and finish but also their engineering that went into the system for ease of installation and adjustably for those minor chassis fluctuations commonly found. It is a well thought out and engineered system that flat out performs, and as an added bonus, it also was the quietist of the three tested! So much for the theory that the loudest makes the most power eh?
SLP is the new comer to the Ford Mustang Mach 1 performance ad-ons. They have previously made their mark with the GM side..SS Camaros and WS6 Firebird Firehawk performance cars. Their unique “Old World” glass pack sound has carried their reputation far. The fit and finish of the SLP’s were very good. Simple in design and by far they were the easiest of the three systems tested to install! There was no need to remove the rear wheel/tire combo and alignment and fittings were perfect! The SLP’s also have a unique exhaust tip that is hand polished to a brilliant shine. It was the only exhaust tip of the group that was double lipped and the finish was outstanding! This system made good power out of the box. It placed second in the dyno war but posted good gains! If you want an exhaust systems that says ”Here I come” from 10 blocks away, then the SLP Loud Mouths is a good choice. These are not for the meek! At 3000 RPM they were at 104 dB can you imagine what they are like at 5000 RPM and above!
Bassani Xtreme is a nice system with a great market reputation. Unfortunately it seems that the competition has moved forward with technology that surpasses the current Bassani performance offering. The fit and finish was good, but not up to the competition’s standards. What really stands out about the Bassani systems though, is it’s wonderful sound! Most will forget that they make a few ponies less than as soon as they step on the throttle! The Bassani sound is definitely unique and for all of the testers, was the number one in terms of sound appeal! The Bassani’s also were the second quietest of the three systems tested. Remember we are talking about measuring sound via decibels, and decibels are exponentially measured, so a 1dB difference is a lot. They are by no means silent, they pack a good bark and the tone is very pleasing to those that want that muscle car authority. Bassani by far had the most thorough component package of the three. Their attention to the small details like providing new studs and nuts to the tube of anti seize was a welcomed addition. Details like this are seldom seen in today’s marketplace.
So how do you choose a system that is right for you? First I’d say using the data provided in this review is a good start. Ask yourself what it is that you want from a CAT Back Exhaust System. What is your budget? Are you looking for all out performance? Or is your main concern sound? These seem to be the two most likely subject matters (sound and performance) that people use to determine what system is correct for their usage. It’s is clear in this review, that if you are looking for all out performance, then the MagnaFlow’s seem to be the one to go with, but, the SLP’s have potentially the same or more performance capabilities if tuning is something that you are willing to do. If sound is what you are looking for, it is hard to beat the Bassani! All of the testers loved the Bassani sound! Remember the RWHP difference between the highest performer and the lowest was 8.8 RWHP. The torque highs and lows were 15.2 RWT.
Closing Notes:
The manufactures that participated, Bassani, MagnaFlow and SLP, The M1R would like to take the opportunity to thank them for standing up for their products and allowing a full independent and unbiased review. M1R gives the participating manufacturers a lot of credit for putting their products on the line. The confidence in participating shows M1R that they are not afraid to compete and that they all believe in the benefits of their perspective products. Manufacturers are just beginning to understand the importance of independent and unbiased reviews of their products. With open Internet forums, the buying public and motor enthusiasts are getting smarter by learning the truths rather than the hypes. We at The Mach 1 Review hope that many more manufacturers come on board and offer they products for review at the M1R. Our goal is to provide independent and unbiased product review to dispel those myths from the truths.
Also special thanks goes out to Apex Motorsports (www.apexmotorsports.com) for the usage of their fine facilities on the day they were closed. The Mach 1 Review would like to thank them for opening their doors for the M1R crew and for their assistance in facilitating the results of this review!
Also my special thanks to Steve Ponciroili for helping to twist the wrenches and for capturing and recording the exhaust sounds of the systems, so that the M1R may report them accurately! Mach on! |
