Muffler shop told me "impossible" to put a Flowmaster-type muffler on a 911!?

Hotwatermusic · 03-14-2010, 12:41 PM

After doing weeks of reading and searching on the board here, I finally pulled the trigger on the muffler I wanted (Flowmaster 80 series 1in/2out). But when I took the muffler to TWO different shops here in Austin, both of them told me it was "impossible" to put that muffler on the car and they weren't even going to attempt it. Now, I've seen the pictures here and heard the sound clips, I know it can be done. Yet when I tried to tell them it's been done by countless people, they weren't hearing it. Does anyone know firsthand of a muffler shop any of the major Texas cities (Austin, DFW, Houston, San Antonio) that will (and know how to) put a Flowmaster type muffler on a 911? It's a 1974 with 83 SC motor and heat x'ers/exhaust.

GaryR · GaryR's Garage

Any good custom muffler shop can make just about ANYTHING fit if they want to. All of our SC race cars have a Flowmaster 80 2-in 2-out. The pipes from the collectors back are custom made, and on mine I welded a bracket that pops over the two bottom pulley cover studs. You just haven't gone to a good shop yet. How about a Porsche shop? Is Buckley near you? If they don't do it I assume they know who will.

Hotwatermusic · 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryR

Any good custom muffler shop can make just about ANYTHING fit if they want to. All of our SC race cars have a Flowmaster 80 2-in 2-out. The pipes from the collectors back are custom made, and on mine I welded a bracket that pops over the two bottom pulley cover studs. You just haven't gone to a good shop yet. How about a Porsche shop? Is Buckley near you? If they don't do it I assume they know who will.

I don't know Buckley, are they/he a member here and from Texas? How do the Flowmaster's you've put on your race cars perform? Are you using the FM's mostly for price and weight reduction, or are there any true performance gains?

scottb · 03-14-2010, 01:20 PM

Buckley Racing - 911 Car Prep

Oh Haha · 03-14-2010, 01:30 PM

Those shops just didn't want to take the time. idiots.

Find a muffler shop that has "car guys" working there. Talk to them ahead of time and see if they could have you come before /after normal hours for a "donation".

Just be sure they lift the car correctly so no damage is done. Heck, have them go onto the Pelican site while there and see how it's done.

I still give a blip of the throttle when I pass by the shop that did mine.

andy s · 03-14-2010, 01:49 PM

I had one on my car, which is off now. I can take a pic of it if you need

boba · 03-14-2010, 02:11 PM

Moorespeed in Austin should be able to do it for you.

Also search for 'jpnovak' on this board. He is in Austin and should be able to help you find a shop.

byfdinky · byfdinky's Garage

Exactly, Why do some Porsche owners want to use Franchised places such as muffler,brake and glass shops? I would never take my baby to one of those!

Kidasters · Kidasters's Garage

If you can't find someone in Austin to do it, I bet Mike Callas in Sealy would do it.

Here's the URL - Rennsport: Porsche Works of Sealy,TX

Mike and Warren are outstanding! Mike used to set up the cars for Joel Reiser (of the PCA). He is awesome. Easily the best Porsche guy in East Texas.

Good Luck

Ken

Oh Haha · 03-14-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byfdinky

Exactly, Why do some Porsche owners want to use Franchised places such as muffler,brake and glass shops? I would never take my baby to one of those!

I don't have a Porsche shop nearby, a welder, or a pipe bender. Plus, it was more convenient to do mine on a Saturday morning rather than waiting for an opening and making an appointment at a P-car shop.

There is nothing wrong with utilising what you have if YOU know what is being done.

I use an alignment shop in Flint that is great. I tell them what i need and they do it.

Hotwatermusic · 03-14-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byfdinky

Exactly, Why do some Porsche owners want to use Franchised places such as muffler,brake and glass shops? I would never take my baby to one of those!

That's why I took it to two locally owned and respected muffler/exhaust shops thinking they could do it; I knew from the get-go Meinke or whatever weren't going to even know the engine was in the back. A local Porsche shop, TPWS, refuses to answer their phone or when they do, act as if they couldn't be more bothered to do so, so I won't take it there. Hell, I took the original muffler off myself today in the driveway, just to see how fitting the Flowmaster would work. I know it will, it's just too bad I can't drive it without a muffler to a place so they can see it too. I guess I'll keep looking here in town for a shop that actually wants my business.

RichF · 03-14-2010, 03:07 PM

I have used a local franchise "Big Al's muffler and brakes" many times and they have always done a top notch job also they call back you aback about 3 months after the work has been done just to make sure you are happy. I think you just need to find someone like others have said that enjoys this kind of stuff.

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

Here's proof it can be done. And done quite easily. "Bubba's muffler" welded it up.

josie9 · 03-14-2010, 05:29 PM

This was on a 3.2 with 993 h.e. Sorry for the bad pic.

Hotwatermusic · 03-14-2010, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Carrera

Here's proof it can be done. And done quite easily. "Bubba's muffler" welded it up.

This is interesting because all the other pictures I found here with a FM have it installed with the intake on the bottom and the outtake coming from the top port and bent down to the valance. I see yours is the opposite. Did you do it that way for any specific reason, or is it just the way that worked out best for your car and muffler guy?

rluciano · 03-14-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotwatermusic

A local Porsche shop, TPWS, refuses to answer their phone or when they do, act as if they couldn't be more bothered to do so, so I won't take it there. I guess I'll keep looking here in town for a shop that actually wants my business.

TPWS has been great for me. Matt, Daniel and Chris really want to fix things right. Phone answering can be spotty, but from 10:30-4:30 it is usually answered. And in a true rarity, a couple of times I have told them that they didn't charge enough.

Obviously you haven't had the same experience. But I'd suggest giving them a try.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

in the picture you posted in the begining, which is inlet and which is outlets?

Hotwatermusic · 03-14-2010, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

in the picture you posted in the beginning, which is inlet and which is outlets?

I circled the inlet. Or let me correct that, I circled the inlet very poorly. Photoshop is hard.

jasonlee · 03-14-2010, 09:00 PM

Hotwatermusic,
I can understand your frustration, when I first planned on a flowmaster muffler I went to a local muffler shop that did good work and had a good reputation. When I told them what I wanted to. The owner gave me a song and dance then came up with a price of 1500.00Canadian for the work. I told him he was on crack and left. Couple days later, when to a franchise muffler shop, guy looked at the car, got super excited about what I wanted to do, fabbed it up, welded and in place for less than 300.00 including the muffler. My point, sometimes, just had to keep looking around for the right place.
Good luck

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotwatermusic

This is interesting because all the other pictures I found here with a FM have it installed with the intake on the bottom and the outtake coming from the top port and bent down to the valance. I see yours is the opposite. Did you do it that way for any specific reason, or is it just the way that worked out best for your car and muffler guy?

It's to minimize the pre-bent pipe I bought from Jegs. Camden muffler can't do mandrel bends. So I configured it to use 3 stainless, mandrel bent sections. One 90, and two 45s.