Exhaust

[Henry hill]

Was wondering what other people would do. 87 911 Carerra Targa, 90k miles. In for clutch, Major tune up, sensors, and fixing the rust. Was going to go with a B&B muffler and headers but with the rust issue I figured it's more important to get rid of the rust before I get the exhaust! Kinda blew the budget fixing the rust that was meant for the exhaust. I really like the sound the new muffler would give the car, but was wondering if the headers are really worth it. If I get the muffler and skip the headers, the muffler would be no good if I decided to get headers one day in the future. I was thinking of just getting rid of the cat, putting on the muffler and calling it a day. Is there really that much of a HP gain with the headers? I have a 6 banger Lexus ES. 350 that I think out of the hole would burry the Porsche? Just thinking that extra 2k that the headers would cost could be used for the car in another place sooner or later. I had my fun banging the gears last year and doing extra wear on the car and think from here on out I'm just going to take it easy on it and enjoy it. Just cruise and hop on it once in ah while! Lol

[Stonestreet]

I'm sure experts will chime in, but I'm in a similar position to you. My plan was to do the exhaust, but I also had to throw money at getting other items ship shape. Finances being what they are, I plan on getting the fabspeed cat bypass and bolting it up to the stock muffler until a few months from now when I can get a muffler upgrade and SW chip. I think in terms of value it's the best plan. I'm interested to hear what the experts have to say though.

Marc

[88coupe]

I just upgraded the exhaust on my 88 and am very happy with it. I really wanted headers but for budget reasons I went with the M&K premuffler and 1in1out muffler. Not cheap either, but I'm very happy with my choice. Great sound, less weight, and more power. At the same time I put in a SW chip. This forum really helped me in my final decision. I'm a new porsche owner and the upgrades were a great addition.

[mreid]

The need for heat is what causes the high header price tag. Otherwise, you get a nice set of OBX stainless headers for less than $400 and you're good to go. My entire exhaust cost me less than $600.

I think a performance exhaust and some other tuning mods on your car would really wake it up.

[Roswell]

Originally Posted by Henry hill

Is there really that much of a HP gain with the headers? I have a 6 banger Lexus ES. 350 that I think out of the hole would burry the Porsche?

IMHO, your porsche, dialed in, without headers, should bury the Lexus out of the hole.

[Henry hill]

Roswell, I know what your saying, but the Lexus has 300HP, the thing cooks! Now on the highway is a different story. The Porsche seems to have a little more guts, but I've gone 120 MPH in both and for some reason the Lexus feels safer. I guess the Lex is my daily driver and I don't really have that much time behind the wheel of the P car to judge it yet. The wife just gave the o.k. To finish it of properly! So I do see headers in the next few weeks! I'm not really interested in heat, never used it once last year. Never tried to use the heat yet. So would I order the headers without the heat from B&B to save a few bucks?

[Henry hill]

Mreid, don't see any headers on their Web page that would fit my car.

[Henry hill]

88coupe, how do you like the SW chip?

[88coupe]

Love the SW chip. Easy to install and worth the $$. My car was a CA car so I also benefited from disconnecting the brown wire that further retarded timing for emissions. Noticed a smoother idle the first time I started it with he chip. Basically it woke the car up from idle to redline. Nothing drastic, but a very welcome extra push.

[mreid]

Here is my 3.6 engine in my 1974 911:



I went on eBay and bought a set that looked like they would fit that had 1 5/8" primaries. Those headers, a Magnaflow muffler, and a few exhaust bends were all that were required. If you don't have a welder, take it to a local shop. My entire exhaust was less than 1/4 the price of the B&B headers by themselves.

[Henry hill]

Nice looking!!

[Storage Man]

Originally Posted by 88coupe

I just upgraded the exhaust on my 88 and am very happy with it. I really wanted headers but for budget reasons I went with the M&K premuffler and 1in1out muffler. Not cheap either, but I'm very happy with my choice. Great sound, less weight, and more power. At the same time I put in a SW chip. This forum really helped me in my final decision. I'm a new porsche owner and the upgrades were a great addition.

Hey 88 ,

Are you running a cat?
Where are you in CT, Would like to hear your exhaust for planning my next upgrade.

[88coupe]

Storage Man- I'm in Simsbury and no I'm not running a cat. Using the M&K premuffler instead. I'd be more than happy to show it to you. Just let me know and I can PM you my address.

Chris

[redridge]

I wanted to keep my heat.... on my targa I ran a gutted cat and some M&K gt3 exhaust... Its way to LOUD! On a coupe it may be fine... but on a targa, I couldnt hear myself think. Plus, no cats means bad fumes smell...

On a Targa, Leave the cat on, get a nice set of mufflers and a chip... youll loose some torque but you can get it back if you put some baffles in. Love how it sounds now...

[yazhound]

hmm, I have a targa and just installed Fabspeed cat by pass on an 88. Do not have any additional fumes, odors etc.. Juat that alone has increased the performance and reduce running temp.

I spoke with Steve about the alternatives in this area and he said most gains were found with the chip and by pass and very little additional gains received by muffler swap. Not much wt reduction there as good mufflers are constructed with high grade SS. So, I have not yet installed my chip as I just got it back from Steve after having it reprogrammed to meet the new set up.

[Dodge Man]

In many states, 76 up cars have to have OEM exhaust CATs or TEs to pass inspection every one or two years. IMHO A CAT "Test Tube" and a chip will probably be the best bang for the buck. A CAT "test tube" can easily be replaced with the CAT for inspections. There are also high flow CATs if you are not into the CAT R&R for inspections. A whole new exhaust system will risk the interest of the SMOG inspection station tech. You need to have to a "certified/approved" replacement exhaust system in many states. Where are your papers? A new muffler to get the "sound" will fly like an eagle thru inspections because it is after the CAT. Best of luck.

[88coupe]

Yes that's a good point Dodge. Depends on your state. Here in CT any car older than 1989 only requires a VIN check. No emissions or inspections.

[Henry hill]

We'll the headers are ordered and the muffler is ah comin! Was told today to research a new Mass Flow Air Sensor verses a new chip? Looking for any comments good or bad on this as I have no clue yet! Why not do both? Which would be more beneficial? Thanks again for the help!

[McLaren-TAG]

It was a nice surprise for me since my 86 has SSI's. To pass emissions in PA, any car that's older than 20 years requires only a visual check, or if it's driven less than 5k miles a year it is completely exempt. So yeah, check your state laws thoroughly.

[Lyle O]

Henry,
Get the SW chip. He will fully remap the profile to accommodate the higher flow exhaust system, and you will feel this way more than a MAF sensor in your Motronic system. See the thread here for some background. I have an '87 and the chip gave me the most noticeable performance improvement of any single change to my engine from stock. Shoot me a PM and we can connect sometime...I am local to you.
Lyle.
Promax MAF 3.2