Performance Exhaust for 3.2

[mtnfir]

I am wanting to upgrade my stock 3.2 exhaust to something with more ummmph, horsepower and torque. THe question is, what is best option up to about two grand. I have searched this board and not found anything really difinitive. Several factors I want to keep in mind are: keeping the heat working since it's a daily driver, keeping the catalytic converters working since I'm a tree hugger, and not making it toooooo much louder since my wifey drives it more than I do. What do ya'll think. A post I read stated that GHL was the best for turbo, what about normally aspirated? ALso, If there are any mix and match do it yerselfers who have verified dyno HP gains, I would like to know about those too.
Many THanks

Lastly, once I get the performance exhaust, I want to get the performance Wong....chip.

[mb911]

there is so much info on this. Search and you find lots of good info.. I am to biased so can't answer subjectivly

[Oh Haha]

Yes, do a search and read the results.




ps. I hear M+K makes a very nice muffler.

[rnln]

I have 1 in, dual out Borla and I love it. Kind of lound.

[efhughes3]

Toss the cat, go with B&B headers w/heat and a Flowmaster two in/two out. My car passed Texas emissions with no cat. We're maybe not on par with Calif, but somewhat rigid nonetheless.

[Zef]

The Wong perf chip is a must if you want to catch all the possible uhmmmmf from the exhaust mod...

[RarlyL8]

The only challenge presented is retaining the catalytic converter. That fact limits both the configuration of the system and the power output.

One thing you might consider is using the old standard SSI exchangers or some stock early exchangers and add aftermarket cats, one for each bank. The cats could run parallel (one on top of the other) in place of the stock muffler with a tailpipe on each side. I don't know how loud that might be but it would add performance when compared to stock.

Something like this:

[rusnak]

Back in the old days (around 2000 I think) GHL had a website that showed all of the major mufflers cut open so that you could see what they actually put in the mufflers, and how they were made.

I came away pretty much disenchanted with all mufflers except the original Porsche one. I think over the long haul most aftermarket mufflers lose their batting, rust or fall apart, or develop rust holes. I thought about getting the Ruf twin tailpipe muffler, but at the time it was about $1,200. In retrospect, that was probably the best way to go. You get Ruf muffler tips, and a trick lower valence with an exhaust hole cut out on the right hand side to boot. If anyone ever re-introduces something like the Ruf 3.2 muffler kit, you gotta jump on it.

[mb911]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Back in the old days (around 2000 I think) GHL had a website that showed all of the major mufflers cut open so that you could see what they actually put in the mufflers, and how they were made.

I came away pretty much disenchanted with all mufflers except the original Porsche one. I think over the long haul most aftermarket mufflers lose their batting, rust or fall apart, or develop rust holes. I thought about getting the Ruf twin tailpipe muffler, but at the time it was about $1,200. In retrospect, that was probably the best way to go. You get Ruf muffler tips, and a trick lower valence with an exhaust hole cut out on the right hand side to boot. If anyone ever re-introduces something like the Ruf 3.2 muffler kit, you gotta jump on it.

gotta remember allot of those test's are for propaganda anyhow

[89911]

Unless you remove the 3.2 system entirely, your really just buying some more noise and show, maybe a little less weight with a different muffler. The present system is one big bottleneck into a catalytic converter.

[mnmasotto]

I just went through the same process. I ended up going with a Fabspeed premuffler and a M&K 1 in 1 out muffler. Steve Wong recommended the M&K to go with his chip. The cost was less than $1000. If you want to keep your cat, subtract $280. The quality/workmanship of the M&K is TOP NOTCH! The sound is incredible. The sound is slightly louder at idle. I notice no db difference above 3000 rpm. However, the sound is much improved. My wife and neighbors love it.

As for for HP. To get any significant HP increase out of a 3.2 you may have to go with SSI's. In my experience these are much louder and have too much drone.

[Jason Porter]

The GHL headers w/heat and cats is very nice, fairly loud, and a bit over 2K. But like buying the Porsche or TV or golf clubs of your choice, buy the best and cry once. I think the great Gene Berg used to say that...

[mb911]

Originally Posted by 89911

Unless you remove the 3.2 system entirely, your really just buying some more noise and show, maybe a little less weight with a different muffler. The present system is one big bottleneck into a catalytic converter.

I have a bunch of customers that have noticed decent hp gains with just muffler and chip changes. www.911chips.com shows bunches and bunches of dyno runs with different combo's

[KCinBR]

Originally Posted by mnmasotto

I just went through the same process. I ended up going with a Fabspeed premuffler and a M&K 1 in 1 out muffler. Steve Wong recommended the M&K to go with his chip. The cost was less than $1000. If you want to keep your cat, subtract $280. The quality/workmanship of the M&K is TOP NOTCH! The sound is incredible. The sound is slightly louder at idle. I notice no db difference above 3000 rpm. However, the sound is much improved. My wife and neighbors love it

I have had this setup for about a year and a half............no regrets. The chip makes use of all the unused RPM's below 3k which makes it much more driveable in traffic. I also get complements about the sound from people who are not Porsche people or even car peoplefor that matter, so that should be an indication that the M&K is one sweet sounding muffler.

[dmwallace]

FWIW - on my 3.2 I decided to start with just an incremental improvement so I ordered a Steve Wong chip and a Fabspeed euro-premuffler/cat bypass from our host and left the stock muffler on with the idea that it could be replaced later. There was a definite improvement in the exhaust note (deeper and slightly louder) and the car seems to have more mid-range pep. In my state there was no longer a requirement for a cat after x years so no more emissions tests are needed. Note that you can continue to use the O2 sensor with this approach.

My mechanic at the time told me that the SSI installation on the 3.2 cars requires some oil line replacements, which in my case I had just had replaced to fix oil leaks.

Good luck with your decision!

Regards,
David

[kepperly]

I had a b&b on my 87- single in twin out. I hated the resonance especially with a cab. I took a lession from the old days and went with the very reasonably
priced Bursch and Bursch test pipe ( testing still underway). Then contacted
Steve Wong and found the perfect running 3.2. I have even sent the chip back for detuning since 93 octane is no longer avaiable here and am still VERY happy with the cobination.

Keith Epperly
87 slant nose turbo look carrera cabriolet

[RideShoot&Drink]

Cat bypass + sport muffler + chip(maybe). Everything else is a waste of money without engine work, imho.

[KBOUSTANI]

i have the same car and i am about to do the same set up.mine is soooo quite now,with the upgrade you have done does it sound throaty and more peppy

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by RideShoot&Drink

Cat bypass + sport muffler + chip(maybe). Everything else is a waste of money without engine work, imho.

I'd beg to differ with you. I had what you describe, and then went to B&B headers. Much better from mid-top end.

[RWebb]

"keeping the catalytic converters working"

- Good for You! Most of the advice above ignored this important criterion. Besides RarelyLate's idea, you might investigate what P AG did on the Boxster & 996 - they used a new convertor technology that gives higher flow - not sure if they used more than a single cat per bank.

But increasing the flow thru the cat is the way to get more hp w/o increasing the pollution from you motor.