The Magnum RT is a fun ride in stock trim, but since we are gearheads, we can't leave well enough alone. We wanted to hear the Hemi rumble and feel the additional power an aftermarket exhaust can offer, so we installed Borla's stainless steel dual-exhaust kit.
Whether you like the high beltline, lowrider, chopped-top styling of the new Dodge Magnum wagon or not, the performance of this vehicle is hard to deny. With a factory supplied 340 hp on tap, a modern automatic transmission, and advanced suspension technology, this car understandably outperforms a lot of early musclecars with ease. Creature comforts, such as leather seats, automatic climate control, and electronic stability control, also make this car a pleasure to drive in town or on long trips. While the Magnum R/T is a well-rounded vehicle, we at Mopar Muscle feel there's always room for improvement, so we decided to add some bolt-on goodies to this car to see if we could enhance its already great performance.
When modifying a late-'60s musclecar or even a modern car such as the Magnum, the principles are basically the same. Moving air through the engine makes more power, so concentrating on air induction and exhaust modifications is a good place to start. While looking mainly for a performance gain, we also wanted to achieve a deeper exhaust note than the stock exhaust gave us, so we decided to bolt-on an exhaust kit that would achieve both goals. Our research led us to Borla Performance Industries and their stainless steel, true dual-exhaust kit for the '05 Dodge Magnum.
The Borla kit is made from aircraft-quality stainless steel and comes with everything needed to complete the installation. Not only does this make a good-looking piece, but you gain the benefit of never having to buy another exhaust again.
The reasons for upgrading any exhaust are pretty simple. Improved flow means better acceleration, more horsepower, and a more efficient engine. Borla's stainless steel construction also means this exhaust will last far longer, and be more tolerant to rain, salt, and snow than the factory steel system. An added benefit of the Borla system is it is much lighter than the bulky stock unit, which has a large, double muffler and dual resonators. We didn't put the two systems on the scales, but Borla's system felt a good 40 to 50 pounds lighter than the factory exhaust, which will shave some weight from our already hefty wagon. The mufflers that Borla provides will give our car the deeper tone we like, as well as providing more efficient flow than the stock units.
We know the word bolt-on has been touted with every aftermarket trinket or part since magazines have been printed, but, truthfully, another great feature of the Borla kit is it really is an easy bolt-on installation. With the aid of a lift, we had the factory exhaust removed and our new system installed in less than an hour. Flat-backing might add about 30 minutes, but the benefits of this exhaust really make it worth while. Only common hand tools were needed, and the fit and finish of the Borla exhaust was outstanding.
Of course, the best part of this installation was getting to hear the Hemi rumble through a high-flowing exhaust and feeling the additional power when we pressed the gas pedal down. For the money, this is a great upgrade to the already stout Dodge Magnum RT platform.
