SOLO Performance Needs a Convertible To Make Catback and Axle Back Exhaust

[Drago77]

Originally Posted by Nutbutt

The sound clips don't help. Everyone will be different. I can tell you you won't be sorry with the solo system on a V8 ! I know both V8's and V6's all sound slightly different. Thats the best part about the solo system, the j-pipes allow tuning where the other don't. Not to slight the system you are looking at for sound but the solo system will also allow you a weight saving by not having resonators in the back.

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[Drago77]

Originally Posted by GOINGSOLO2

No sound clips yet, as we just finished designing it today...I will tell you that it sounds FANTASTIC. It is deep and mean, but never intrusive on either the outside or inside. Cruising is only a touch louder than stock...but not much at all and NO DRONE. WOT is simply nasty and yet still never intrusive. We could not have asked for testing to go any better. Expect both kits to be released by the end of June.

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[GOINGSOLO2]

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[HFD15]

Hey Steve can you tell me the difference between your system and the magnaflow axle back. A company here can get and install but I was waiting for ya'lls system thanks Donnie

[GOINGSOLO2]

I really have not heard the Magnaflow in person, so it would be unfair and unprofessional to compare the two. All I can advise you to do is wait for our video/product release and make the decision then, based on your personal preference as to the tone and the other attributes we have to offer. Both our axle back and catback kits have a fantastic deep and refined tone with no drone. To comment on another manufaturer's product would be unprofessional. I hope you understand.

As of right now, and as far as I understand, we are one of only a few, if any other, that have a 100% BOLT ON kit for the convertible that requires no cutting or welding around that rear crossmember specific to the verts.
Steve

[pnyklr]

Originally Posted by GOINGSOLO2

NO DRONE.

God Bless You My Child



-Funk

[SSAINT]

Holy Crap what an amazing system! I got back from Canada late last night after spending Monday and Tuesday with Jeff, Ray, Ron and John while they installed the axle back, cat back without the J-pipes and the Cat back with the J-pipes in that order.

First I'll talk abouth the exhaust, then what AMAZING people the Solo/Zoro muffler team are. This is gonna be a little long...

Ray and Ron were dedicated to only my car for two entire days and spent,
I guess about 20 hours on it. The first one on was the axleback system and I thought I was sold with it even though I wanted a cat-back. It sounds so friggin mean it's unbelievable but it's also louder in the car than the others. It's sound outside the car is very raw and untamed. When Jeff did a couple of drive bys at speed It was crazy. There was a great, straight, dead end, unpopulated road nearby where Jeff was taking videos and man was that a blast.
The next system on was the cat-back without the J-pipes. When I was driving with that one, I thought I made my decision again and was going to keep those. It was quieter in the cabin but definately had a what Jeff referred to as a hum in the 60-70 mph range. It certainly wasn't unbearable in the least and was definately not a drone. I had a Billy Boat system on a '04 Vette I had and it sounded great on the out side but it droned like a mother...At highway speed it hurt my ears after awhile and gave me a headache. I also couldn't speak to the passenger next to me without rasing my voice considerably. All for almost double the price of a Solo system. The no J-pipe cat-back exhaust also sounded awsome on the out side but with a more refined, richer sound than the axle back. When I say refined, don't get me wrong, it's still loud on the out side and absolutely sounds like a muscle car should.
The final exhaust was the Cat-backs with the J-pipes, which is what I went with. Each exhaust was getting better and better but man that system is just friggin AMAZING! In my mind, while they were working on the j-pipe system up on the rack, I kept thinking what a ridiculous looking, unconventional thing to have on an exhaust system. After speaking with the guys for many hours, I now realize the j-pipes are nothing short of magic. On the highway, there is the slightest hint of a hum which I noticed the stock exhaust also had, but I swear on a bible that it is quieter than stock! You also do not see the J-pipes at all when the car is on the ground.
The one main diference I found between the axle back and cat back systems other than their sound is the butt-dyno. It says the cat back gives noticeably better, crisper throttle response than the axle back. Jeff said the real dyno measures the increase by 12 hp if I'm not mistaken. The trade off is if you want the nasty, (in a good way), raw, loud sound go with the axle back. We also compared the weight of the stock system vs. the Solo system and the Solo was almost half as heavy
I have to digress for a second. Prior to driving my car with any Solo product, Jeff took me for a ride in a car that had, I believe, a Solo cat-back on it with the j-pipes. While Jeff was driving it, I was thinking to my self that I just drove six hours for THIS?? It sounded nice but way quieter than I imagined it would be....on the INSIDE!. When I got out of the car and he did a couple of drive bys, I'm sure my jaw dropped. It's just inconceivable to me how the sound can be so different between inside and outside of the car. That is the magic of the J-pipes.
Back to my system. When we went to the dead end road for Jeff to video, we did quite a few start ups, revs, take offs and drive bys both with the top up and down and both are unbelievably AWSOME. It is a deep, loud, throaty sound from the outside and when the car up shifts as it's blowing by you it is crazy good. With the top down, you will enjoy the outside sound of the car a little more than with the top up but still NO drone. But its still when you are standing outside the car and experience a drive by when you truly understand how fantactic the system sounds. If you get an opportunity to hear a Solo system in person, it is positively mandatory that you hear it from both the inside and outside. When on the highway, at cruising speed with the top up, the wind noise from the top is absolutely louder than the exhaust system. That is the magic of the j-pipes. I don't totally understand the theory but I know it's based on something that a guy named Hemholtz came up with about a 100 years ago and has something to do with canceling out certain noise frequencies...I do know that I drank the Kool-Aid and I believe! I also know that the Solo team put MANY man hours into getting it perfect.
Onto the Solo team. Jeff is the owner of Solo as well as Zoro Muffler in Hamilton Ontario and 3 other locations. His father founded and owned the company for many years before him so he absolutely knows exhaust. He is such a nice, down to earth, honest, gentleman that so obviously, passionately cares about his product and his customers. They not only sell performance exhaust but manufacture and sell stainless replacement exhaust for just about any car. It's actually in contrast with the solo performance that these other after market exhaust are quieter and last much longer than stock exhaust. Ray and Ron are the two guys that spent most of the time modding the systems for the Camaro. They also are a couple of regular guys with a HUGE amount of talent but are unpretensious about it. They spent MANY hours tweaking and mandrel bending the pipes for the exhaust until it was exactly right with plenty of clearance around the cross braces that have been the bane of us convertible owners who needed performance exhaust. Ray is a Master jigger creating a "mold" for the future production exhausts.
Sorry this ran so long but I know I would have appreciated if someone else posted this for me to read while shopping for exhaust systems. Do NOT hesitate to buy a Solo product. It is a very high quality system that is very reasonably priced, made by extreamly talented people and the company is owned by a super trustworthy man who truely and passionately cares about his product and customers. GO FRIGGIN SOLO already wouldya?

Glenn

P.S. Keep an eye out for the videos on Solo's upcoming new web site and youtube.

[Jimbabwe]

Very nice writeup. Glad they can get a set built for the vert. I really need to find someone near me to hear the solo system.

[HFD15]

Steve didn't mean to put you on the spot, I understand. I think you need to open a shop in Texas though. I'll be waiting for when it hits and see the price Magnaflow is about 960 installed for axle back Thanks

[Lightrider]

Originally Posted by SSAINT

Holy Crap what an amazing system!

Thanks for the long write-up and especially apperciative of your comments on DRONE and sound with top down. Both big deals for us Vert owners. Greatly appreciated.

[GOINGSOLO2]

Hi SSAINT. Thanks so much for going down to our store in Hamilton and hanging out for a long two days. We really appreciate your cooperation, feedback and efforts on this. Jeff said that Ron, Ray and you had a great time and that everything went smooth and the final outcome was "near perfect" in every respect. It was a pleasure having you at our store and we're so glad that you were part of the process. It's not easy or quick to do this type of work and your patience is very much appreciated. One of the best parts is that after it all you're "very happy" with the sound, looks and performance of your Convertible Camaro. Customer feedback and participation is key to us and once again THANKS from all of us at SOLO!

[SSAINT]

Shit, very happy??? I'm completely satisfied!

[thallman91]

Originally Posted by GOINGSOLO2

No sound clips yet, as we just finished designing it today...I will tell you that it sounds FANTASTIC. It is deep and mean, but never intrusive on either the outside or inside. Cruising is only a touch louder than stock...but not much at all and NO DRONE. WOT is simply nasty and yet still never intrusive. We could not have asked for testing to go any better. Expect both kits to be released by the end of June.

[Without Remorse]

Originally Posted by thallman91

Can't wait to see, hear, and have quoted. Group buy?