Ebay exhaust (pics/vid)

[mnc-i]

EVOMIND,

For the 2000 model year Porsche equipped US models with two catalytic converters per side (four total). The additional cats were called warm-up catalytic converters.

I have a 1999 Boxster (only two catalytic converters) and I have a muffler system I purchased off Ebay.

I really don't think there is a difference in the Ebay mufflers for 1997-1999 Boxsters and 2000-2004 Boxsters.

I paid about $300.00 for mine (including shipping) and a muffler shop installed it in about an hour. The only issue was that the mechanic had to wait for the OEM exhaust system to cool down before taking it off.

The Ebay muffler sounds great, it weighs considerably less than the factory muffler and my rear trunk doesn't get as scorching hot as it used to. A win, win in my opinion.

MNC-I

[evomind]

Originally Posted by mnc-i

EVOMIND,

For the 2000 model year Porsche equipped US models with two catalytic converters per side (four total). The additional cats were called warm-up catalytic converters.

I have a 1999 Boxster (only two catalytic converters) and I have a muffler system I purchased off Ebay.

I really don't think there is a difference in the Ebay mufflers for 1997-1999 Boxsters and 2000-2004 Boxsters.

I paid about $300.00 for mine (including shipping) and a muffler shop installed it in about an hour. The only issue was that the mechanic had to wait for the OEM exhaust system to cool down before taking it off.

The Ebay muffler sounds great, it weighs considerably less than the factory muffler and my rear trunk doesn't get as scorching hot as it used to. A win, win in my opinion.

MNC-I

Mine is also a 99. Im not worried abt the cat back so much, enough ppl have commented here and provided clips, Im more interested if anyone has done the cheap header install also and what they experienced with a full setup of these parts.
Thanks for the input!

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by evomind

Mine is also a 99. Im not worried abt the cat back so much, enough ppl have commented here and provided clips, Im more interested if anyone has done the cheap header install also and what they experienced with a full setup of these parts.
Thanks for the input!

The word cheap and headers should never be used in the same sentence. Aside from better sound, a slight increase in power and more importantly a significant reduction in weight, the catback plays a less crucial role in the overall scheme of upgrading of one's exhaust system. When one starts to get into the issue of aftermarket headers and cats, it requires a much more methodical approach than simply purchasing components off of eBay. In short, there's no easy or inexpensive way to improve upon the oem header/pre-cat set-up without sourcing high quality headers and cats. Keeping the vehicle OBDII compliant is also another concern and altogether different discussion.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

The word cheap and headers should never be used in the same sentence. Aside from better sound, a slight increase in power and more importantly a significant reduction in weight, the catback plays a less crucial role in the overall scheme of upgrading of one's exhaust system. When one starts to get into the issue of aftermarket headers and cats, it requires a much more methodical approach than simply purchasing components off of eBay. In short, there's no easy or inexpensive way to improve upon the oem header/pre-cat set-up without sourcing high quality headers and cats. Keeping the vehicle OBDII compliant is also another concern and altogether different discussion.

Believe it or not Im better versed at modding cars than I show here, but most of the cars Ive built or modded were between 70-100k. I can justify a 4k exhaust system on a car that costs that much. Im not going to spend 4k for an exhaust on a 12k dollar street car regardless of the badge.
I don't care if the welds crack in 4-5 years, I don't care if the 2k dollar headers produce 12hp and the CC produce 5 or 6.
When you say there isn't an easy way to improve on the stock headers unless buying the expensive tuner shop headers can you tell me why? Inlet/outlet sizes too big/small? Is there a restriction in the CC header design that prevents flow in the upper rpms?
Back to my original question, does anyone have real experience with the CC headers and if so, what? Im sure there are people here who have installed them regardless of the stigma. lol
Maybe someone can tell me they have used them and feel like the car picked up a little after install, maybe they will tell me theyre junk, I don't know, that's why Im asking.
Its only a 2.5, Im not looking for miracles here, as long as it doesn't hurt performance and enhances the sound Im happy. Anything extra is a bonus.
That said, im sure the stock cats are a bigger restriction than the stock or CC headers could ever be, hence why I asked abt the cats.
Remember, the tuner shops have to make money too and Ill bet their shop rent and mortgage on their house is bigger than CC's overhead.
Again, Ive paid A LOT of money to tuner shops over the years, I understand you generally get what you pay for, but a Porsche boxster is hardly exclusive. There are a lot of them out there and I cant see paying what they want for these little, abundant headers.
Besides all that BS above, Im short of funds these days so its CC or nothing on my Boxster.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by evomind

Believe it or not Im better versed at modding cars than I show here, but most of the cars Ive built or modded were between 70-100k. I can justify a 4k exhaust system on a car that costs that much. Im not going to spend 4k for an exhaust on a 12k dollar street car regardless of the badge.
I don't care if the welds crack in 4-5 years, I don't care if the 2k dollar headers produce 12hp and the CC produce 5 or 6.
When you say there isn't an easy way to improve on the stock headers unless buying the expensive tuner shop headers can you tell me why? Inlet/outlet sizes too big/small? Is there a restriction in the CC header design that prevents flow in the upper rpms?
Back to my original question, does anyone have real experience with the CC headers and if so, what? Im sure there are people here who have installed them regardless of the stigma. lol
Maybe someone can tell me they have used them and feel like the car picked up a little after install, maybe they will tell me theyre junk, I don't know, that's why Im asking.
Its only a 2.5, Im not looking for miracles here, as long as it doesn't hurt performance and enhances the sound Im happy. Anything extra is a bonus.
That said, im sure the stock cats are a bigger restriction than the stock or CC headers could ever be, hence why I asked abt the cats.
Remember, the tuner shops have to make money too and Ill bet their shop rent and mortgage on their house is bigger than CC's overhead.
Again, Ive paid A LOT of money to tuner shops over the years, I understand you generally get what you pay for, but a Porsche boxster is hardly exclusive. There are a lot of them out there and I cant see paying what they want for these little, abundant headers.
Besides all that BS above, Im short of funds these days so its CC or nothing on my Boxster.

For starters, poor quality and cracking, less than optimal size primaries, and loss of catalytic converters are juts some of the problems you'll encounter with the Pu Pu platter headers. How are you going to get around the issue of having no cats, emissions compliance and CEL's ? Just trying to help.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

For starters, poor quality and cracking, less than optimal size primaries, and loss of catalytic converters are juts some of the problems you'll encounter with the Pu Pu platter headers. How are you going to get around the issue of having no cats, emissions compliance and CEL's ? Just trying to help.

C'mon, you can weld cats in, simple, or clamp. I imagine its easiest to put them right after the headers. I don't know, how did the guys who have done it and are running it do it?
I KNOW people on this board have done it, hence Im looking for their feed back.

Do we know what optimum size primaries should be?

Im actually not that worried about cracking as the welds looked pretty good in the pics.
I don't understand the whole "the sky is falling and many babies will die" over asking for real first hand experience with kung pao headers.
That's all Im doing is asking those that have done it who have first hand knowledge with them.
I know nobody wanted to try the pu pu platter cat back. Im sure they were told the system would rust in about 6 months, the muffler would blow out, itll sound like Pu Pu, er I mean crap, and it will damage your engine, and the drone will drive you to batsville. That wasn't the case but the pro tuners were still taking peoples 1500 dollars for a better system indeed. The question is how much better?

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by evomind

C'mon, you can weld cats in, simple, or clamp. I imagine its easiest to put them right after the headers. I don't know, how did the guys who have done it and are running it do it?
I KNOW people on this board have done it, hence Im looking for their feed back.

Do we know what optimum size primaries should be?

Im actually not that worried about cracking as the welds looked pretty good in the pics.
I don't understand the whole "the sky is falling and many babies will die" over asking for real first hand experience with kung pao headers.
That's all Im doing is asking those that have done it who have first hand knowledge with them.
I know nobody wanted to try the pu pu platter cat back. Im sure they were told the system would rust in about 6 months, the muffler would blow out, itll sound like Pu Pu, er I mean crap, and it will damage your engine, and the drone will drive you to batsville. That wasn't the case but the pro tuners were still taking peoples 1500 dollars for a better system indeed. The question is how much better?

Based on my experience optimal size primaries range between 2.00 to 2.25 from the flange straight through to the merge collector. As far as cats are concerned, the oem pre/cats are 400 cell, and if the secondaries share the same part as a 996, they can be as high as 600 cell. Unless you plan on sourcing set of high quality, low cell cats like HJS or Emetec (plan on spending big, big bucks), there's no sense in trying to reinvent the oem set-up.

With regard to the Charlie Chan muffler, understand that I was the one who first discovered it, and later passed the info onto the forum. It's decent design, especially for the money, and to date no one has reported any major problems to speak of.

I have a custom 9ff catback on my vehicle with almost 3.00 inlets and even larger outlets. The sound is ripping, and there's not a hint of drone at any rpm. That said, you get what you pay for.

In any case, I spent extensive time researching and experimenting with different types exhaust components and configurations, to include a catless system. before arriving at my current set-up. I'm happy to pass my advice and experience along to those who are interested in hearing it.