3.2L aftermarket exhaust questions

[ghnat]

I want to put a new exhaust system in my 87 Carrera. Stainless Steel would be my choice. The engine is stock for now, but I would like to get lots more ponies out of it.

Question: I heard SSI diameter MAY be too small for the 3.2? If so what else would be a good heat exchanger candidate?

Also, what would be a good muffler? I am thinking dual inlet and outlet? I want a system that will not have any odd resonance and will sound sweet.

If I go this route what about emissions? Would it pass in GA?

Thanks for any advice...

[Tim Stevens]

I moved from Atlanta about two years ago and my car had no problems. I have a GHL muffler and a test pipe. The sound is great. I think I did gain some horsepower but it was difficult to say if it was because of this set up. I did some other things at the same time. I am very happy with my set up and would recommend it to you as well. I have been approached many times at he track wondering what type of exhaust set up I have. Good luck and I hope this helps - Tim

[kepperly]

Do you still want heat? if not get a set of Bursche headers and Bursche one in one out muffler. Cheap won't crack like stainless from B&B and sounds good too, especially with a Steve Wong chip. I love my trips through tunnels. If you want heat leave the factory heat exchangers on put on a Bursche cat TEST pipe and muffler.

Keith Epperly 87 slant nose turbo look carrera cabriolet

[chuckr]

Greg,
I have also been looking for an exhaust for my 89 Carrera.
Do a search here, you will get lots of very good info. The Dansk
is a good choice for the muffler and bypass or headers. SSi's
are always a good bet, I have not heard anything about them being too small. they are popular. As far as the emissions, as far as I know, if your car is properly tuned you should not have any problems.
Good Luck
Chuck

[ghnat]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll search for other posts on exhaust mods.

If I do go aftermarket heat exchangers what happens to the O2 sensor?

[Por_sha911]

I enjoy my B&B exhaust and muffler system:


I've been told that the B&B mufflers aren't the best (splitting) but I've never heard of problems with the headers and I have no problems with my system. I've also been told that the B&B system is loud but the 2 in / 1 out is not all that loud. It seems that 2 out is where it gets loud with most systems.
O2 sensor is on my system.

[IROC]

I have SSIs and a Dansk dual outlet muffler on the '88 3.2 in my car. I don't think the SSIs are too small in diameter. Especially on an otherwise stock engine.

If you can live without heat (which I did for about 8 years here in Alabama), then headers are the way to go. I would recommend "George's headers" (aka European Racing Headers) over the Bursch. Not stainless, but you can get them Jet Hot coated. You also have your choice of 1 5/8" or 1 3/4" if you're worried about the sizing.

Mike

[jpachard]

1 1/2" ID is perfect for a 3.2. Bigger is not always better as far as exhaust goes. In fact, I gained hp when I went from B&B's(1 5/8" ID) to the smaller Bursch ones. A 3.2 in stock form needs a bit of back pressure and optimized scavenging to reach it's full potential. My stock 3.2 with 1 1/2" headers, custom chip and cup airbox makes 219RWHP and 195ft/lbs of torque. That's around 250Hp at the crank, depending on your calculation for drivetrain loss.

Cheers, James

[zerort]

Mine with gutted Cat. Not loud at all and the motor is finally free. Nice power and sound.

[Scooter]

I have done a ton of research on this, mostly right here on this board. In my research, I found the overall educated consensus to be that SSI's are fine, but do not provide a power increase over stock. I went with a euro premuffler, Dansk dual out sport muffler and SW chip. I won't even get into an HP discussion, but seat of the pants tells me that the car is much more responsive and enjoyable to drive. I first put the premuffler on; it felt a little less restrictive and the noise level did not have a noticeable change. I then installed the sport muffler; this is where I did see a noticeable change in both response and sound volume/character. It sounds louder and more aggressive outside, while inside the cab is still pleasant. Then I installed the chip; this is where things really came together and the car seemed to have a rejuvenated life. I really hope this does not turn into a “to chip or not to chip argument”, as this topic has been hashed and re-hashed so many times on this board that it would be a waste of time to discuss again.

SSI’s have a certain “cool” factor, which made me think long and hard about them. Also, the heat is much better than stock, which is a definite plus since I live in cooler climate. GHL’s would give a performance boost I believe (due to larger diameter pipes), but the heat is not as good as with the stock exchangers. I have also found issues with water getting into the exchanger, causing a steam effect in the cabin, resulting in fogged up windows.

MAF is another option, but more pricey $$$. If interested, do a search, it is an interesting read.

Bottom line: unless your stock exchangers are rusted out, my research lead me to believe the best performance/price option for a 3.2 is to keep the stock exchangers and add a pre-muffler (not bypass pipe), sport muffler and chip. Ultimately though, do what YOU want, not what others tell you to do (me included).

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I have SSIs and a Fabspeed muffler on a modified SC engine that is just short of 3.4 liters. It dynos at the equivalent of 290 hp at the flywheel, so apparently the SSIs aren't choking it any...

Stephan

[ghnat]

Wow, this is what I wanted. I love this board.
Thanks for all the input guys... I think I will scan the archives some more, do more reading and then make my decision.

Some sweet setups you guys have. Makes my feel like I have a slumer mobile...

[BGCarrera32]

I'll chime in as I'm in the same boat...I wanted to do something different as well. I went with a Fabspeed cat-bypass, a Steve Wong chip, and have a Fabspeed dual out muffler on order. I think the consensus is the SSI's are top drawer, but you probably don't gain much for the money except power at the top end (high rpm) with track use and the such. Seems like the best bang for the buck is a cat bypass, chip, and sport muffler or dual out.

Brain dump:

Dansk sounds really nice but I have had build quality issues with their dual out (incomplete welds) hence my switch to Fabspeed, B&B mufflers are garbage but I've heard good feedback on their headers, GHL is o.k. but has had its share of comments on cracking, Fabspeed is bulletproof but I'm still waiting for mine, some guys swear by the Monty unit, SSI is a work of art but they don't build a 911 muffler that I am aware of, and nothing is built as solid as factory Bischoff in my opinion, Bursch is cool on 914s.

Try to ride in as many 911s in the local club as you can and ask what they have for exhausts before you plunk down the dough. As for those that claim their system is bulletproof and crack free, ask how many times its been on the track and run hard (i.e. gotten hot).

-BG

[Jeff Alton]

Try SSI's with a Triad dual out muffler. Sounds great.

Jeff

[Silveresrty911S]

I've got the stock exchangers and a (real euro-premuff) thanks to Scooter84 and a Steve Wong chip. I'd have to say the chip made the most difference but the pre-muff helped with lowend and sound benifits
I still havn't sent the chip back to Steve to re-map for the pre-muff but it runs great. I think there might be some small gains in performance and sound in a non-stock muffler but right now mines perfect for long trips and the occasional AX/DE

[JeremyD]

I did this about a year ago - and from all the research I did - if I remember correctly - the SSI's or Headers are good - but you get the most bang for the buck with the premuffler and sport muffler (insert name of your favorite brand here).

I went with a Dansk Dual out - and a Dansk premuffler with an O2 bung and Steve Wong chip.

Nice addition - no resonance - lowered the exhaust to a nice burble and scream above 5000 rpm's. Be careful with some options/combinations - some have an annoying buzz at certain rpm's. Fun project though!

[JeremyD]

Oh and mine has been to the track 5-6 times - Sebring 3 times - and it get's plenty hot in Florida... No issues with my SS Dansk...

[911Velocity]

I have a set of SSIs for the winter when I need heater and a set of racing headers (jethot coated) for the summer. The engine is a supercharged 3.2 with well over 400 rwhp. I am using a Dansk dual in\ out stainless muffler and I find it to be fine. The car sounds like a loud superbike and revs and runs like one too. The people who recommended the system dyno everything they support so I know this system works.

Best regards,
Gerry

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Jeremy964
I did this about a year ago - and from all the research I did - if I remember correctly - the SSI's or Headers are good - but you get the most bang for the buck with the premuffler and sport muffler (insert name of your favorite brand here).

I went with a Dansk Dual out - and a Dansk premuffler with an O2 bung and Steve Wong chip.

Nice addition - no resonance - lowered the exhaust to a nice burble and scream above 5000 rpm's. Be careful with some options/combinations - some have an annoying buzz at certain rpm's. Fun project though!

Jeremy,

Did you do a before and after exhaust gas comparison?

Pat

[JeremyD]

Sorry, no - no more testing in Florida...