Another chip question...

[Rick Lee]

I have been reading up on this and am looking for opinions on chipping a 3.2 Carrera. Autothority's chip sounds like what I'm looking for, which is more low-end torque. Weltmeister seems a little cheaper, but I hear theirs offers more on the high-end of the tachometer. Who has had good results and with which chips? And who thinks I'm just looking for a way to burn money? Thanks.

[dad911]

If your looking for ways to burn money, I have a Mass Air Flow for 3.2 w/computer (not just chip) cone filter and wiring harness, removed from running engine about 1 year ago.

just make me a ridiculous, overpriced offer!

[nhromyak]

Well... You already heard from me.

For everyone else. I have the weltmesiter. The power band change doesn't come on until ~3500 rpm. My butt dyno said it was faster.

I was reading over the Tech Bulletins II from Excellence. Bruce Anderson specifies that he and Jerry Woods got better upgrades changing the exhaust than the chip. The chip really shows itself when the exhaust is changed.

He goes on to say (as KurtB found out) replacing the cat with a Euro-premuffler and adding a free flowing muffler (of course this was Jerry Woods 1 in - 2 out design) this comes within 1 hp lower than adding SSIs and a free-flow muffler.

So the euro-pre muffler and muffler upgrade added ~ 11 hp. The SSIs added ~12 hp and the best chip change added 7 hp (not sure on this actual number).
I can hardly wait for my Bursch to arrive!

[Rick Lee]

So what can I do to my exhaust and still pass VA's emissions inspection? I don't want to throw a bunch of money at an exhaust or SSI upgrade. But if there's a way to remove the Cat and skate through the emissions test, I'd be interested in that.

[nhromyak]

I understand the car will pass smog without the cat, however, you will need some persuading to get by the visual inspection. Atleast I do here in CA.

[ChrisBennet]

Gutting the cat wil get you by visual inspection and is cheaper than a straight pipe.
Chris

[Thomas Owen]

Richard,
First of all, you can pass emissions without the Cat. We have a visual here in Arizona, and for the past 2 years the guy has stuck the mirror under the drivers seat and given my car the nod. When you get on the rollers and have to accelerate( if you have that part of the test) do it in 4th or 5th and the engine will still be idling. My car has not failed yet. No cat, Weltmeister, and a Bursch.
Good luck

[Rick Lee]

I've never even heard of a visual inspection. I know in VA one must out the car on the rollers, but I haven't had to go through emissions since that test went into effect. This sounds like a cheaper way to go than a chip. So what improvement can I expect from removing the cat -- and what exactly should I replace it with -- just any old pipe?

[Thomas Owen]

The pipe I had was made by Bursch and is called a 'test pipe' I believe.