We’ve already heard Borla’s offerings for the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, but unfortunately, the previous video was pulled from YouTube.
However, Borla has published a newer video comparing its S-Type cat-back system to the factory exhaust system on the 3.6-liter LFX V6-equipped Colorado. We must say; it’s certainly an improvement over the factory exhaust, which has a metallic – dare we say “ricey”? – sound, especially at wide-open-throttle.
In comparison, the Borla S-Type gives the V6 a deeper, throatier burble that’s much more pleasing to the ears.
We find ourselves once again weighing the improvement of an exhaust system against its cost, and this S-Type cat-back comes with a price tag of just under $800 from Summit Racing. We could think of plenty of other ways to spend 800 bucks, and to be frank, we might consider simply deleting the muffler if we faced such a choice.
That said, a muffler delete isn’t for everyone, and if you want a complete, warrantied system that’s been thoughtfully engineered , then the Borla S-Type cat-back isn’t a bad choice.
Comments
Delete the muffler in some systems and you run the risk of a check engine light if there is not enough back pressure to feed the two O2 sensors.
That’s fine on a V8, what I did with my 5.3 Silverado, but on a V6 and especially that V6 it’s going to be raspy and clatter to all hell. I’ve owned cars with the LY7 and LFX version of that 3.6L. Don’t delete the muffler.
Both sound like crap. It’s time to put a proper sound system in that truck. 5.3 L L83.
Ugh. That was painful…
Well I like it ! But at the same time , I do own a 2015 Colorado , I don’t know the others !
Are you sure that was the V6? I’ve heard a couple Colorado’s with aftermarket exhaust and they sound so much better than this and that is still not saying much. They were set up with Magnaflow and Flowmaster as cat back with resonators to try and kill the drone. This Borla system managed to make the truck sound like the 4 banger full of rice mixed in. If they can make the V6 in the Camaro sound fairly decent with the dual mode, why can’t Chevy work that out with the twins? All the stock and Borla sounds tell me is this truck needs a proper V6 and that would be the 4.3, which sounds pretty good with new pipes. Especially since we know Chevy is never bringing a V8 to the party.
I have owned both the 4.3 and the 3.6 and the 4.3 is a boat anchor.
The 3.6 with the8 speed is so much better mpg and smoothness. It still can tow 7000 with no issue.
Also the 90 degree V6 sounds horrible.
The issue here is you have a single pipe out and few engines sound goo with one pipe.
You can go to a duel outer for sound but you will lose the spare storage and odds are good you will lose the 10 hp gain.
Just leave the stock system on and use the $800 on something more useful.
You already have 308 HP and the truck gets great mpg while still able to boost a crew cab 4×4 to a 14 second quarter mile.
This is a mid size truck with more power than any other in class. It is enough to satisfy 95% of th e customers.
The bottom line is gains are minimal and the noise is not really needed. It is not a Camaro. or even a SS.
I get it, you own one and will want to defend it. If it is a great fit for you then it has served it’s purpose and the market you were in. I’m not sure which 4.3 you’ve owned in the past, but the modern 4.3 in the 1/2 tons gets down the road quite nicely, feels much more torquey than the 3.6 in the twins and certainly doesn’t feel like the old 4.3 from Astro – S10 days.
Drove a work provided Astro for several years with the old 4.3. It was slow but, it would not break and ran great. Drive an Explorer for work now and can’t stand it. These new high strung lower torque dohc V6’s always having to run at high rpm suck in heavy vehicles. They are passenger car engines. Trucks need torque. The 4.3 provides it and in my opinion sounds way better that the 3.6. Stock and aftermarket.
The new 3.6 works just fine, but it feels slow in the twins and sounds like a 4 cylinder. That’s just the way it is in my opinion and that’s OK. Yes we know it’s not a Camaro, but it should at least have the Camaro specs if this is the motor they are going to use, or at least try and bump up the torque. The chassis and gearing makes the tow rating not just the engine. With the right set up, you can make just about anything pull 7,000 lbs. Just look at the trucks that tow jumbo jets. They aren’t making huge power, are very slow, but they still tow those 150,000 lb planes just fine. It’s all about a vehicles purpose. The twins have a nice tow rating, but I would not want it for a primary tow vehicle.
The Colorado/Canyon V6 makes more horsepower than the 454’s from the 80’s and 90’s in the 2500 and 3500 SIlverados, but I’d still rather tow 7,000 lbs with one of those old trucks any day no matter how crude they may feel as compared to these modern trucks. It’s all about the torque and chassis. Even the Honda Ridgeline built on a minivan chassis can tow up to 5000, but just like the twins, I wouldn’t want to do it on a regular basis.
I completely agree the $800 should be spent elsewhere in this application. But look back at the 2003 through 2007 Infiniti G35 coupe. That model ran a single pipe from the cats back into one muffler with dual outlets and those were some of the best sounding stock V6’s to ever grace the automotive world.
I just think when it comes to the twins, GM has not brought them up to what they need to be in order to replace the need for a 1/2 ton when the time comes. Hopefully the next gen will be. I also hope one day we can get a true mid-size truck in the category of the old Colorado or S10. Those were much easier to live with if you didn’t quite have the need for a full size truck.
I have also got time with the new 4.3 in a buddies truck. He can not wait for the lease to be up per he hates it.
The time has come and gone for the cost savings of a 4.3 anymore.
If you need balance shafts then it shows you took the cheap way out wit a 90 degree engine.
This is a mid size truck that Dan how 7000 pounds gas and 7700 Diesel and at 4500 pound if you need to tow anything bigger get the proper size truck off it.
God I have seen too many idiots towing more than they should. This includes the idiot in the Dakota that was so over loaded the went into wheel hop and would have rear ended me if I had not pulled up and drove around the cars in front of me on the berm.
Sorry I have oned, driven and worked on every gen of the 4.3 and I appreciate that you like it but to me it is and has been a waste of time.
The vast majority of these vehicles ride around empty as people who really haul generally get the 3/4 ton.
Also if you have not driven the new 8 speed you will find it has much more bottom end and does not need to spool to 3000 rpm to gain torque. The last 3.6 Colorado was a disappointment with the 6 speed.
The bottom line is the 3.6 is more than enough for a truck this size. Sure it could use a little more of each HP and tq but we will always say that. Like I stated this not a Camaro and trucks are going to have to change in ways you do jot like if they are to meet future CAFe.
You will find most full size duties will be put upon the 3/4 ton as the refs are less there.
The truck aslobwill don be going DOHC just to meet emissions anyways. I read where an un named GM engineer stated they have reached the limit on the two valve and tighter rewards will force them to move to 4 valves to clean it up more.
scott3 which 4.3 are you referring to ? I have owned the old 4.3 and the new direct injection 4.3 and the latest 4.3 is completely different ,It is a great engine ! I also own a 3.6 it is in my 2015 Chevy Colorado .