Headers vs Muffler Upgrade
 

Hi all,

I'm looking to put some headers on my MY00 2.7 and wanted to get some advice on weather it is worthwhile to change the remainder of the exhaust.

Where do the performance increase lie, in the headers alone ie is the standard Boxster Muffler System efficient.

I'm not concerned about the exhaust note....more interested in performance.

Cheers

If I recall correctly, Jake Raby said the stock muffler has a decent flow rate and most aftermarket mufflers give minimal HP gains if any. (Correct me if I'm wrong please)

More free flowing headers will help with power increases over muffler change.

Just curious, but do you have to have yearly smog testing in Australia?

A well designed after-market muffler will most certainly give you better sound, and, perhaps, a bit more hp. However, combined with a set of well engineered headers that incorporate longer, equal length primaries that flow into a true merge collector, together with higher quality, low cell catalytic converters will certainly result in an increase in power. Keep in mind, this application involves a delicate balance, wherein only products with excellent workmanship and designed can be utilized in order to avoid CEL's and maintain proper back pressure.

HEADERS!!!!!...... Stock exhaust. Done.

Hi aussieboxy

I am another Australian Boxster owner, first time posting, I've been a visitor for the last 18mths ever since I got my Boxster S.

As for your exhaust, personally I would leave the muffler alone and go with ebay extractors and cat bypass pipes.

I installed the ebay extractors about a year ago, a little more torque through the low to mid range, top end improvement is debatable. I just did the bypass pipes a week ago, had them custom made on a mandrel bending machine out of 50mm (2 inch) stainless to match the extractors. This did make a difference to the power that I could feel.

I hope this helps. Also, where are you in Aus? I'm in Perth myself.

You have to know where you want to get to
 

and how much you are willing to spend before changing anything as there is a real risk of spending money for the bragging rights to say you did rather than actually improving the car. Or you can create improvements in one power range but subtract in another that turns out to be more important in your driving.

Just throwing some random parts that look good bought off the web isn't the way to your ultimate goal which should be to improve the car's driveability in the way you intend to drive it.

Rather go at it with a first this and then that and then finally this other thing. And when you are finally there, don't look at the total price tag because you could have bought a new 3.4 for the same AU$.

Some specific thoughts on making the car go faster . Its all the tips I've picked up over the years.

I'll frequently suggest renting some track time and working with an instructor to learn the capabilities of the car you have and improving your driving skill. Then asking those at the track what they did to improve their cars, did it work and why.

My 2.5 was in many ways more fun to drive than my 3.2 because I could put my foot down longer and harder. The 20% more power didn't help the fun factor as much as I thought it would.

+1 on track time. Anyone can make any car go faster but if you can't drive it's pointless.

Thanks guys
 

Thanks for all the feedback guys I really appreciate it.

To answer some of your questions:

JWADE - No we don't have annual smog testing. Where I live in Queensland we don't even have anual mechanical testing as they do in other states....something we call roadworty's

Daniel R - I'm from Brisy mate.

Mike - Thank for the link & tips. I agree with you entirely. I'm not really interested in tracking my car...it's my daily driver so I'm really just looking to have some fun doing a couple of minor things. Already had ECU upgrade & de-snorkled so just tinkering really.

Will probaly just go with some good headers & see how that pans out.

Thanks again guys. Have a great day.

Cheers