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Installing a Corsa Shelby GT500 Axle-Back Exhaust System
Sound is something that every car guy considers at the top of his or her list of what is important to their ride. Take, for example, the stereotypical sport compact driver. He or she typically has a huge muffler or mufflers and corresponding exhaust tip(s) that make those cars sound as if they are going 100 mph, even when cruising at slow speeds. We Ford guys know that good sound on a real performance car is also important, but we also know that sound must be backed up with corresponding performance.
We already introduced Tom Harris and his GT500 and explained that he is a car guy through and through. This was true as he was searching for the right exhaust note for his new ’07 Shelby GT500. Harris understood that Ford had left something on the table in the exhaust department on the new Shelby, and like any serious car guy, he turned to the aftermarket for the appropriate upgrade. Unfortunately, the car was so new that there was no suitable aftermarket system available. He turned to a local muffler shop and had Flowmaster mufflers installed. Harris considered this a step in the right direction, but he wasn’t satisfied, as the new mufflers gave his new high-tech ride a rumble more associated with old-school muscle cars.
Enter Corsa Performance and its patented Reflective Sound Cancellation (RSC) technology exhaust, a system now available for the GT500. This system promised better flow than stock, with no “droning,” as well as the straight-through design that Harris hoped would result in the exhaust note he was looking for. The system (PN 14311) sells for $778.99 and is an axle-back design. Since Ford has done a good job on the X-pipe, a cat-back system was not necessary. The system is made of 304 stainless steel, with polished 4-inch-diameter Pro Series tips, and comes with all the necessary hardware and installation instructions. Corsa Performance also offers a limited lifetime warranty for as long as you own the car.
We followed along as the guys at Advantage Performance Center installed the system on Harris’ Shelby GT500. With all the necessary pauses for photography, they completed the installation in about an hour and a half. If you are performing the installation yourself, in your garage or driveway, plan on two to three hours, as the limitation of not having a hoist will likely slow you down. Follow along to see the basics of the installation, but do follow the instructions completely if you are installing the system yourself. Also, be sure to practice general garage safety rules. If you just drove the car home from the track, the exhaust will be hot, so grabbing it with your bare hands will likely result in a burn. And when lifting the car, make sure it is properly supported on jackstands.
The Corsa system was easy to install and align, and looks great, but what about that all-important sound? To Harris it sounds great, and we have to agree it really is a mean machine—sounding a lot like a professional road-race, GTP-type car. The Corsa RSC system seems to work as well, since there was no drone while driving the car at freeway speeds, allowing us to carry on conversations easily while cruising, but rev the engine and anyone within earshot knows this car is for real.
Each muffler is held in place with two hangers that are bolted to the framerails. We found it easiest to unbolt the hangers and remove the muffler and hangers as one unit.
With the hangers properly installed on the Corsa mufflers, the assembly can be installed on the car by slipping the muffler pipe over the exhaust pipe and mounting the rear hanger first
Article Sources
Advantage Performance Center
www.advantageperformancecenter.com
951/684-8483
1253 W. LaCadena Dr. Riverside, CA 92501
