Thunderbird Borla Club Members

[MerlotBird04]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

I had Borlas installed a few weeks ago from a local speed shop when the weather gave us a break from the never-ending ice and snow. I wonder how long Borla will continue to produce this kit for our birds. Love the sound.

When paired with the K&N Typhoon CAI (69 series) in installed yesterday, there was a noticeable kick in performance gain and a little more growl (not too much though). I plan on looking into the SCT X3 (new version from the xCal2) with a few dyno tunes later this spring after the snow stops falling and the X has been on the market for a few months to work out any kinks. The LiveWire flash tuner from SCT looks interesting too, but I've heard the LiveWire has been nothing but trouble (local SCT dealer won't even sell them any more). It all starts with a great set of pipes though - Borlas seem to fit the bill well. Vrooom!

[Daktari]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Hi to everyone,

I see there are quite a large number of folks who have opted for the Borla system over the stock.

I was wondering how many of the Borla Club actually overide the automatic gear changing and use the 'manual' shift mode as a regular thing, mainly with the aim of allowing the engine to rev higher than it would do using the auto selection.

I know this has been stated quite a few times in the past and I have seen dyno read-outs that show us that there is only an increase in h.p. with the Borlas at around 6,000 revs. I believe the rev limiter cuts in around that same figure.

Both h.p. and more importantly torque are better with the stock system up to around 4,000 revs and this is the area where it would be most used. I am basing this not on my figures but on info I have read in back posts on this subject.

I can see that the Borlas give a nicer back view of the car and to some folks, they might sound better than the stock. I had some Aero tail pipes welded onto mine which look good and cancel out some of the high pitch sound because they have extra resonators in there. It kind of leaves a more low end rumble. I also am about to fit the True Rev induction kit which will slightly increase h.p. at lower revs and also alter the sound slightly. I will write in again once I have that fitted and report on the new sound/performance if there is any difference.

Back on the Borla thing again. It seems to me that to high rev the engine in an attempt to find the extra horses that the Borla provides over a long period would only end up in thrashing the engine an awful lot.

How many Borla converts force their engine to rev to 6,000 on a regular basis?

This is a very informative site and the more I read the back posts, the more curious I become so I hope no one minds me asking questions like this.

All the best, Gordon.

[Ray]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

I got the Borlas for the lifetime warranty, and for the look. The stock exhaust didn't look "roadster" enough to me. In my case, the sound was an added plus. I love the way they look, and the sound they make. I don't know if they added any performance increase or not. I didn't notice any difference. On the other hand, when I had my computer updated by Ford, that definitely improved the performance. That I did notice!

[Daktari]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Hi Ray,

What is this about having the computer updated by a Ford dealer? This is the first I've heard about that possibility. Any chance of more info on what is involved and how much approx would that cost?

Just being curious again. Thanks, Gordon.

[Ray]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Gordon, there's a discussion about this somewhere. I'll see if I can find it. When some people here had their cars repaired for a COPS problem, the Ford technician also updated their computer at the same time. Everyone who had this done said their car ran much, much better. I went to my Ford dealer and asked them to apply all the updates that were available for the computer, even though I didn't have a COPS problem. It cost me around $100 to have done, but it was well worth it. It made a huge difference in performance. I see you also have a 2003. Might be worth doing. There's also a TSB for 2003s for the transmission. Tell them your transmission shifts harshly, and you should get that one for free.

[BeckyBlueBird]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Add me to the list. I got mine February 15 and had them installed the same day. My Ford dealer wouldn't install them either (sorry so-in-sos), but I found an automotive shop that charged $100.00 to put them on. I don't think they are lined up the way they are supposed to be, but I still love the sound.

[BeckyBlueBird]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

P.S. MY MOTTO: If you are gonna have a fast car, it needs to sound fast! I also want to add the CAI.

[Lonestar]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Add me to the list. I got mine February 15 and had them installed the same day. My Ford dealer wouldn't install them either (sorry so-in-sos), but I found an automotive shop that charged $100.00 to put them on. I don't think they are lined up the way they are supposed to be, but I still love the sound.

Take your car to a local muffler shop and they will probably be able to get them lined up for you for not much $$$$.

[Daktari]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Hi there,

Thanks Ray for the computer info. I will be taking mine in for a service soon so I'll ask them to do the computer up-date at the same time.

As for the transmission, mine seems to be fine at the moment so I won't even mention that at this stage. It is worth keeping in mind for the future though just in case something does go wrong.

Thanks again, Gordon.

[doubutsu]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

i had Borlas installed on my black 05 about a month after getting her. got my bird on Jan 15, 2005

[MATBird]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Ray, or anyone who may know:
Is there a computer update for 2002 Birds, or just 2003 and above, since these are different engines?

[Ray]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Ray, or anyone who may know:
Is there a computer update for 2002 Birds, or just 2003 and above, since these are different engines?

Julie and Barb have 2002s and had their cars updated.

[BOBBARLY]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

BOBBARLY (BOB M) 2003 TORCH RED - BORLAS & CAI - LOVE THEM

[Bird03]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Some people have reported that they have improved shifting by simply disconnecting the battery until the computer loses the learned shifting and reverts back to the default pattern.

I wonder if updating the program is really helping or that it's just the fact that the old learned shifting got dumped when a new program was installed.

Has anyone cleared the program first and then taken their car for a reprogram and noticed an improvement?

[Balzout]

Re: Thunderbird Borla Club Members

Add me to the list; I installed the Borlas and a CAI - Sounds awesome!

I wonder if updating the program is really helping or that it's just the fact that the old learned shifting got dumped when a new program was installed.

Has anyone cleared the program first and then taken their car for a reprogram and noticed an improvement?

I disconnected my battery and didn't notice any improvement in shifting.

That is probably the only thing I would improve about this car...the shifting is very unpredictable, sometimes its too soft, sometimes its too harsh (like when putting it in reverse). I might take it in to the dealer and see if they will re-program it for free...