[The Radium King]

i won't make any quantifiable claims given the following caveats:

- i have no dyno results.
- my changes are done in batches (ie, new tune was done with new exhaust, new intake was done with udp, etc.) so i can't comment on how i can attribute improvements to one specific change or another.
- new exhaust is lighter, so is the benefit in power or weight reduction?
- my changes get done in the winter, with track and maintenance work in the summer, so i cant really provide 'back to back' comparison.
- the butt dyno is an inaccurate thing, easily fooled by engine sound, change in throttle curve, etc.

regardless, first and second gear now feel much more powerful when just hooning around on the street. power gets down harder on turn out (had to relearn a few things ...) and i was hanging with an instructor in a 987.1 cayman running r7s (i was on nt01s) so am happy with the results. i was tracking my trims before/after the change (the 996 tune allows me to run a cayman maf holder with my cayman airbox and removes the last restriction in my intake with 997 plenum and 74 mm throttlebody) and everything trimmed out well within specs (idle trims were naturally a bit higher but low load was fine). butt dyno says that the 996 tune brought back some torque. aside: this may make sense, as the 996 appears to be set up for more torque than the 986 - intake runners are longer, and the rear engine layout is better disposed to getting the power down earlier.

otherwise, the full sino-exhaust without any cats is an earful but DOES mellow over time. fit and finish was satisfactory and a black ceramic finish does reduce temps (and looks mean). the cacaphony is added to by the fact that i removed all the insulation where the roof sits (and remove the two engine carpets when at the track). not so much louder but more mechanical clicks and clacks from the engine. made even more noticeable by rennline transmission mounts. shifting DRAMATICALLY improved with the mid-level rubbers (didn't expect it, but noticably better engagement on an otherwise stock shifter, cables, etc,) and only minor increase in noise/vibration. i have some function first inserts for the engine mount as well, so we will see if stiffer engine and transmission mounts are too much in combination. regardless, the whole setup is still very streetable, even with the coilovers on full stiff - i've found that i can run my stiff suspension on the street if i use 17" wheels (the taller sidewall adds some play to the whole setup).

final steps - thinking 996 intake runners. there should be enough headroom with the 987 engine cover, but don't really want to tap the heads, and would have to figure out how to deal with the fuel rails.