You have a LOT of choices when it comes to late model Corvette exhausts, in price, quality, sound, and reputation. It would seem that every possible need and niche had been filled, so when we heard about Burns Stainless’ new “NhB” exhaust for C6 Corvettes, we wondered what their game was.
You see, Burns has built a solid gold (stainless?) reputation in the hardcore racing market, providing exhaust components and bespoke systems for some of the fastest race cars on the planet. They don’t crank out an endless array of bolt-on exhausts for every car under the sun – instead, they concentrate on creating parts as close to perfection as you’re likely to see, and they’ve only made a select few complete systems.
“After designing a lightweight system for the street that would meet our exacting standards, we have decided to return to our roots and offer a ‘no-holds-barred’ system for competition Corvettes,” explains company founder Jack Burns. Designed for 2006-2013 Corvette Z06 models, and 2009-2013 ZR1’s, the NhB is an over-axle system made from 3-inch mandrel bent 304 stainless ASTM-269 18-gauge US-made steel, with a pair of Burns’ ultralight SM-300-450-17 4.5-inch repackable mufflers. The system is TIG-welded with argon gas backpurge for joints that are impurity-free and crack-resistant.
To keep things light, instead of the normal Corvette quad tips, the NhB system ends in single 3-inch tips on each side. The system tips the scales at just 25.5 pounds – half the weight of the stock exhaust components – and the single tips have an additional benefit for racers at tracks with noise limits and trackside decibel meters: They’ll accept turndowns that can be angled away from the noise sensors to keep within compliance without compromising performance.
If you’re looking for a true race system for your C6 Z06 or ZR1, check out the Burns Stainless NhB system – at a street price of under $1,300, it’s a chance to own a no-compromises piece of automotive art that’s as beautiful as it is functional.