Muffler Replacement 944 NA

944rook · 944rook's Garage

I have a buddy with an ANSA un 7822 universal muffler. He has it on a 280 ZX and it sounds nice. I can get a deal on this but my concern is installing on my car. The length is 26 inches total with a 4 inch tip so the muffler would fit but have to be installed after the bracket to ensure the exhaust tip is back of the bumper. There would be no support rear of the inlet. I have seen lots of rice burners with this instal. Will it fit and will it last? If not any suggestions on an alternate?

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

prepare for a loss of power and very annoying noise.

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

If you are really set on changing the muffler for sound, go with the Borla XR-1. Expensive, but sounds great on my car. It is defentley loud though, enough that people turn heads now looking to see whats coming. By no means an annoying or obnoxious loud however.

I really didnt feel a noticable loss of power.

If you are really concerned about fitment, take it to a muffler shop and have them mount it for you.

944rook · 944rook's Garage

This is a free flow muffler so shouldn't there be better power? I have the original muffler right now. The sound should be similiar to the 280 ZX.

Is it better to replace with a flowmaster or magnaflow to ensure no loss of power?

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

The 944 will sound much different i think. There is a big argument usually over back pressure and whatever loss or gain in power you would gain from a free flowing exhaust. Usually most will say you will loose that low end grunt in favor of 'maybe' a little more highend power.

The Borla XR-1 i have on my car is a straight through design, i have not noticed any difference in power.

Rmills944 · 10-12-2005, 06:36 AM

I have the Speedforceracing system on my 84 and it sounds amazing. It's a little loud, and uses the Borla XR-1 muffler. The power gain was questionable, but it sounds MUCH better than the Magnaflow I had on there before.

944rook · 944rook's Garage

Thanks for the input- Borla XR-1 it is! I think the WILKSPROM chip will address the low end drop in power. I drive mostly highway so a really loud muffler would be a problem but it would need to be really loud as my sound system would probably drown out.

Thanks guys.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by 944rook
a really loud muffler would be a problem but it would need to be really loud as my sound system would probably drown out.

Why not install one of those fake blow-off-valve noisemakers too? woowooo!

The argument with free-flow mufflers is that Porsche designed the 944 exhaust system so that a small amount of backpressure is needed in order to get the optimal performance. 2.5" pipe - what the 944 comes with from the factory - is just about as big as you want to get with the NA motor, because any bigger and you'll lose low-end torque... which is what the 944 desperately needs.

It's true that Wilk's PowerProm will give you a lot more useable low-end torque (and high-end HP), but why cancel that out with a loud, annoying, free-flow, rice-burning coffee can?

If you want a REAL upgrade - one where you can FEEL an improvement - get the PowerProm, and then start work on the suspension and braking systems. Bigger swaybars gave the most noticeable improvement on my car.

From what I've read over the years, the only headers/exhaust upgrade for the 944 that actually gives you more power is the Billy Boat (B&B) setup, but that stuff is EXPENSIVE. Probably not worth the power-to-cost ratio. One route you might consider is leaving the muffler as-is and ditching the catalytic converter for a less-restrictive resonator (or even a test pipe, if you feel like sticking it to the authorities).