[70eldo]

Maybe a question for pjohnesq as he has the ML-V's...?

When converting the stock single exhaust to a double (in this case to V) and the Magnaflows, does it give more noise?

I mean, I like it quiet at cruise speeds as I drive up to 800 Miles a week on the freeway :shhh: . I would hate a constant roar but would appreciate a roar when I floor it...:lildevil:

Any insight on that?

 

[odysseus]

If you currently have the single exhaust, you've got a 3.2L with a single 2.5" pipe. Going to the V exhaust adds TWO 2.5" pipes, and IMHO is not recommended for that motor. You'll loose cylinder scavaging, due to much less backpressure, and will actually loose low and mid-range torque. A much better match would be the stock setup for the 3.6L car, which has dual 2" pipes, for a 28% increase in flow. The mufflers would not give much more 'tone' though. You could easily add magnaflows for that, though.

My aftermarket Borla exhaust for the 3.2 sounds very sporty, but is relatively quiet on the highway. It uses dual 2" pipes all the way back (same as a stock 3.6L). The tips are way too big IMHO, at 4", though.

 

[70eldo]

Thanks for the tip on the backpressure. The workshop I would have it done by are experts at this, so I presume they will come up with the right size of pipes and any other kind of solution to the performance. Besides the pie size I was just curious about the sound as some of you guys out there already modified their exhaust.

 

[RobertCTS]

Thanks for the tip on the backpressure. The workshop I would have it done by are experts at this, so I presume they will come up with the right size of pipes and any other kind of solution to the performance. Besides the pie size I was just curious about the sound as some of you guys out there already modified their exhaust.

I have the 3.6 with the CTS-V exhaust. The sound is a mellow low tone. It's much nicer that the original pipes. It still passes as a Cadillac and not a Hot Rod.
Price was a big factor too. I paid $30 for the exhaust and $75 for the install.
You just can't beat that.

If you have the 3.2 the 3.6 dual exhaust might be a better choice. They would be more plentiful too and probably cost less. You could later swap out the OEM 3.6 Mufflers for something else like the MagnaFlow.

How accessible is this stuff in Holland/Germany?

 

[TripleOught]

If you currently have the single exhaust, you've got a 3.2L with a single 2.5" pipe. Going to the V exhaust adds TWO 2.5" pipes, and IMHO is not recommended for that motor.

correct me if i'm wrong, but i thought the stock 3.2 has a single 2" pipe, not a 2.5" like the v. is that a typo or am i incorrect in that?

i just ordered the borla duals for my 3.2. should be here today and i'm going to throw them on asap and give a full report and some vids this week.

3x0

 

[pjohnesq]

Maybe a question for pjohnesq as he has the ML-V's...?

When converting the stock single exhaust to a double (in this case to V) and the Magnaflows, does it give more noise?

I mean, I like it quiet at cruise speeds as I drive up to 800 Miles a week on the freeway :shhh: . I would hate a constant roar but would appreciate a roar when I floor it...:lildevil:

Any insight on that?

Since Ody already answered the exhaust question, I'll address the "sound" portion of you post....First, go to cadillaqfaq.com..I have a sound clip of my 3.6 with Magnaflow and a Volant and when it had stock pipes..Dubbed stealth has a sound clip of his 3.6 with Magnaflow, Volant and ML-V exhaust mod...At about 2500 rpm there is some drone that is a little louder than norm....you can still have a conversation, and if your radio is up at a nice level, you can't even hear the drone..if you are cruising with your windows open , the wind clearly drowns out the exhaust, just to give you a reference point....As far as when you floor it, sweet..I've had people ask me if my CTS is the one with the Corvette engine..I say nope...they get a little confused with the sound...You can still drive down a quiet street in your neighborhood without feeling like your car is very loud....Check out the sound clips though on cadillacfaq.com

 

[odysseus]

correct me if i'm wrong, but i thought the stock 3.2 has a single 2" pipe, not a 2.5" like the v. is that a typo or am i incorrect in that?

i just ordered the borla duals for my 3.2. should be here today and i'm going to throw them on asap and give a full report and some vids this week.

3x0

The stock 3.2L has dual 2" pipes leading to the resonator, just like the 3.6L. Where the differ is the resonator exit. For the 3.2L, there is a single 2.5" pipe that goes from the resonator to the muffler, with a 2.5" tail pipe.

The Borla basically converts to dual-in, dual-out resonator, with 2" pipes all the way back, similar to the 3.6L. This gives about 28% increase in flow over the single exhaust, and the mufflers give a sporty sound. The Borla install is very easy. I had my old system off (it's all one long piece) and the Borla on in about an hour, in my garage, with only jackstands and handtools. The clamp system on the Borla make it very easy to install, adjust, and clamp down. It's a very sweet system.

The hardest part was finding the nerve to cut the rear bumper cover for the passenger side muffler. You want to do this right the first time!

 

[TripleOught]

god i can't wait to put this beast on...like you said i just wish the tips were slightly smaller than 4". ah well...it was exactly what i wanted otherwise.

you may have told me this before in your message, but did you notice a difference in MPG with the borla vs stock?

 

[odysseus]

The first thing I did was reset the MPG and go on a 200 mile trip. I got 27 mpg where I used to get around 25.5 (cruise at around 75 mph). I left it alone, and over the past 2000 miles, my overall average is 23.5 mpg, but most of it is highway driving. I used to average about 22.5. If I can keep out of the throttle (love that sound) I'm sure it would be better.

Overall, it gives a little better mileage (0.5-1), a little more power (probably no more than about 5-10 HP), and a great sound. It's pricey, but overall, I don't regret installing it. It fits with the overall mods I've done. There is no way I would have kept the stock quiet single exhaust! If it had duals, like the 3.6L, I would have likely simply got stainless tips, or maybe new mufflers.

For those with the 3.2L on a budget, the used stock 3.6L dual exhaust is a very inexpensive upgrade (same 2" pipes as the Borla).

 

[Smokin' 04 CTS]

I wanna find a V-exhaust for cheap! Too bad there are only a handfull of V's in my area and they are all stock. I also can't see myself driving to LA or SF and lug an exhaust across the state.

ANYONE IN FRESNO HAVE A V-EXHAUST THEY WANNA GIVE UP??

 

[DDS rollin a CTS]

So with all this talk about using the stock 3.6L exhaust as an upgrade for those of us with the 3.2L, anyone have one lying around they want to give up? I live in Indianapolis, IN so central Indiana would be preferable, but I'd be willing to drive a bit further if the price is right and you'd be available on weekends! Up until the end of last week I was going to get an old stock V exhaust, I guess I'm glad that fell through now that I've read this thread (unless there's someone who wants to start arguing with Ody about what's best for the 3.2)!

 

[70eldo]

Thank you so much for all the support! This really helps!
I have no idea how hard it is going to be to get the parts here in Holland or Germany. There will most probably be hardly any used 3.6 exhaust around here. In fact, CTS's are sold by the hundreds in Holland in Germany, so it's quite an event when you meet a fellow CTS driver on the road here. We salute eachother . But pipes can be custom bent and mufflers and resonators can be ordered...

I will check around here and keep you posted.

On my 70 Eldo I have a dual in&out straight through Camaro dampener. Originally it had a dual in and single out too. Too sophisticated... It sounds like a deep roaring beast now! Especially when cruising at 30 along the boulevard it resonates. But that's nice on that car but not on the daily driver CTS. I think I will go with your suggested setup. Like you describe it it is within my 'standards'

 

[RobertCTS]

Thank you so much for all the support! This really helps!
I have no idea how hard it is going to be to get the parts here in Holland or Germany. There will most probably be hardly any used 3.6 exhaust around here. In fact, CTS's are sold by the hundreds in Holland in Germany, so it's quite an event when you meet a fellow CTS driver on the road here. We salute eachother . But pipes can be custom bent and mufflers and resonators can be ordered...

I will check around here and keep you posted.

On my 70 Eldo I have a dual in&out straight through Camaro dampener. Originally it had a dual in and single out too. Too sophisticated... It sounds like a deep roaring beast now! Especially when cruising at 30 along the boulevard it resonates. But that's nice on that car but not on the daily driver CTS. I think I will go with your suggested setup. Like you describe it it is within my 'standards'

The CTS exhaust is really straight forward. Not many bends. I think a muffler shop with a fab shop could easily make you one.

 

[mandoer]

I have the 3.6 with the CTS-V exhaust. The sound is a mellow low tone. It's much nicer that the original pipes. It still passes as a Cadillac and not a Hot Rod.
Price was a big factor too. I paid $30 for the exhaust and $75 for the install.
You just can't beat that.

If you have the 3.2 the 3.6 dual exhaust might be a better choice. They would be more plentiful too and probably cost less. You could later swap out the OEM 3.6 Mufflers for something else like the MagnaFlow.

How accessible is this stuff in Holland/Germany?

How difficult was the install of the CTS-V exhaust into the CTS 3.6? Is this a home job without much undue effort?

 

[RobertCTS]

How difficult was the install of the CTS-V exhaust into the CTS 3.6? Is this a home job without much undue effort?

Everything lines up pretty well. You need a TIG welder so not a DIY for most of us. The cut is right behind the Oxy Sensors. There's several threads on this.
You need to heat up the V hangers and pull them down or they vibrate against the bumper.

 

[AsAkAs]

...I also can't see myself driving to LA or SF and lug an exhaust across the state...

Haha, I drove 3 hours to get mine, and 3 hours back with the rear end of the exhaust hanging out of the back of my parent's durango lol

 

[mandoer]

Everything lines up pretty well. You need a TIG welder so not a DIY for most of us. The cut is right behind the Oxy Sensors. There's several threads on this.
You need to heat up the V hangers and pull them down or they vibrate against the bumper.

OK tks... looks like a search for me for an installer who knows how to do.

 

[RobertCTS]

OK tks... looks like a search for me for an installer who knows how to do.

Show this pic to the muffler guy. He will understand where the cut is.

 

[mandoer]

Show this pic to the muffler guy. He will understand where the cut is.

Tks... appreciate your help.

 

[TripleOught]

man...look at them poor rusty cats...