Original 1977 911 Turbo Stay w American Heat Exchangers or European system

[930philturbo]

I'm the owner of a very original 77 Turbo. Engine is currently out and my original American heat Exchangers are shot, cross over pipe welded more than a few times. I have a pair of used heat exchangers in decent condition but of course 40 years old and new cross over pipe is back ordered and very $$$.

I know when car was new Porsche had to rush to design a system to comply with US emissions. I've read that the US cross over pipe is in terrible location and can crack if driving through rain storm. Of course thermal reactors were replaced with headers many tears ago,

I can buy all new Euro heat exchangers and cross over pipe all in SS mfg by Dansk from Parts Wise an European Co in the Netherlands. Shipping is going to be $$$. Has anyone bought these parts in the past and if so how did they fit and workmanship?

I'm reducing the weight of the whole system this way, this was the system originally designed for the car. But are the purists going to kill me if and when I sell the car?

[66cal912]

I wouldn't hesitate to go with the original European, or late 1987-1989 USA exhaust system. The only vulnerability that I've found is the large "J" pipe as its called, which connects both left and right exhaust manifolds/heater boxes with the cross over pipe. It can hang low at the rear where it bolts up to the turbo and scrape if your car is lowered, so care should be taken on driveways or speedbumps. If it hits hard, it can crack it at the large flange that merges the front cross over pipe from the right manifold with the left exhaust manifold. Other then that its way more legit then the USA exhaust, I swapped my 1979 out in a similar manner years back. You should be able to reuse the 1977 stock muffler if yours is in decent shape. I refinished my stock 1979 stock muffler and capped the waste gate inlet into it.

Here is a picture of mine, installed, after doing black ceramic coating.

[zakthor]

Wow I think your car is hawt.

Like Ben I switched from usa '79 exhaust (with belt driven pump) to a later exhaust (actually from 92 turbo), got a wastegate muffler and needed a new jpipe.

Swap gave more power, more torque low down and supposedly less heat in engine bay. The swap also meant the car lost its really crazy lagged 'hard boost' feel that these cars are notorious for. When I got it the boost was really nuts - undrivable light switch (partly because of original weak rear torsion bars: press back in seat, rear sag and need to strain to see out windshield). The original junk is on a shelf for the next owner.

IMO: Biggest bestest change on my car was to get the stiffest torsion bars and then lower. Stock springs and ride height were a disaster.

[RarlyL8]

The answer to your question depends on how this car is to be used.
If it is a garage queen valued for originality you should source and install a nice used USA system. They are out there as many were removed with low miles.
If the car will be driven occasionally and better drivability is desired I would install a Euro/late US system.
If you do not intend to sell the car anytime soon and it is driven and you want more power I would install headers. The USA system is so bad, and our headers are so good that the net is an honest 75HP with a 700rpm reduction in lag and an extra 100ft/lb of torgue down low where you never had it before. This is with no other changes.
No matter which route you take I would put your feelers out for a nice used USA system to keep in a box to hike up value when it comes time to sell.

[66cal912]

Most of the US system Turbo exhaust pieces just popped up for sale here on the classifieds, if you do a search others have the same parts for sale in decent refinishable shape.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/1135284-911-930-parts-lot-mostly-exhaust-some-914-bits.html

Good luck!