Top Speed Bypass pipes initial impression

[F1GP]

Finally got my pipes installed yesterday. Initial impression is the car sounds raspier and there's a slight increase in volume especially around 4000rpms and up.

It took 3.5hrs for my shop to do the install. It was longer than expected because they initially ran into some issues last week with rusted/fused bolts and then the discovery that I was shipped two left pipes. Yesterday they completed the installation but had some minor issues with the pipes lining up perfectly. They ended up trimming the pipes to fit properly.

Despite these issues, I'm pretty happy and the price can't be beat.

Two questions though...is it normal to have a burnt smell after the cat-bypass pipe install? Does this eventually go away?

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by F1GP

Finally got my pipes installed yesterday. Initial impression is the car sounds raspier and there's a slight increase in volume especially around 4000rpms and up.

It took 3.5hrs for my shop to do the install. It was longer than expected because they initially ran into some issues last week with rusted/fused bolts and then the discovery that I was shipped two left pipes. Yesterday they completed the installation but had some minor issues with the pipes lining up perfectly. They ended up trimming the pipes to fit properly.

Despite these issues, I'm pretty happy and the price can't be beat.

Two questions though...is it normal to have a burnt smell after the cat-bypass pipe install? Does this eventually go away?

The smell is likely do to penetrant residue and residuals from the pipe mfg process. It should dissipate after a few heat cycles.

Glad to know it went well. Do you notice any difference in drive-ability, power. power curve...seat of the pants measurements?

[black_box]

my pipes were identical. call topspeed and they are sending another pair

[F1GP]

Originally Posted by shadrach74

The smell is likely do to penetrant residue and residuals from the pipe mfg process. It should dissipate after a few heat cycles.

Glad to know it went well. Do you notice any difference in drive-ability, power. power curve...seat of the pants measurements?

The car feels a little peppier, but it's probably due to the fact that I'm now upshifting at higher revs and driving more aggressively to enjoy the new sound.

[2000boxster986]

Received a left and right pipes from Top-Speed with no issues. Overall quality appears to be good. However like others mine did not fit as well as I was hoping. I had to do some mods. Some of the proper fitment was hampered by the exhaust modes already done to the car before I bought it. I think it's called a Pedro exhaust mod etc... The Pedro mod has the 1" pipes welded to the U tubes and not the muffler inlet. So, they were unmovable, otherwise I might have been able to tilt the U tubes down for a better fit with the hardware received in the pipe kit.
I wound up using 1 3/4" ID x 2" OD reducers and 2" stainless flexible muffler pipe to get everything to work and to assure nothing was overstressed. I don't particularly like muffler clamps and bendable pipe for exhaust mods but check out the pics below. It's a solid fit and there are no leaks. I'm running stock manifolds with pre-cats.
I don't have the car off the rack as yet but did start it up and it sounds good.

[ProjectM96]

Originally Posted by 2000boxster986

Received a left and right pipes from Top-Speed with no issues. Overall quality appears to be good. However like others mine did not fit as well as I was hoping. I had to do some mods. Some of the proper fitment was hampered by the exhaust modes already done to the car before I bought it. I think it's called a Pedro exhaust mod etc... The Pedro mod has the 1" pipes welded to the U tubes and not the muffler inlet. So, they were unmovable, otherwise I might have been able to tilt the U tubes down for a better fit with the hardware received in the pipe kit.
I wound up using 1 3/4" ID x 2" OD reducers and 2" stainless flexible muffler pipe to get everything to work and to assure nothing was overstressed. I don't particularly like muffler clamps and bendable pipe for exhaust mods but check out the pics below. It's a solid fit and there are no leaks. I'm running stock manifolds with pre-cats.
I don't have the car off the rack as yet but did start it up and it sounds good.

I had the same problem with fitment on my stock muffler. The U-pipe did not connect with the TS pipes. I used all the strength I had to force it in place. I had to loosen the catback exhaust as well to move it back an inch. The problem I have now is an exhaust leak. The TS mid pipe end diameters were much smaller than the factory OEM U-pipe. Not even the clamps are enough to close the gap.

[2000boxster986]

Oops, I also had the small pipe diameter issue. Sorry, I had forgotten to mention that in the post. This was another reason the flex pipe seems to work well. Guess time will tell but it's pretty solid. I'm also thinking about adding a small bracket between the muffler and cross member just to assure the muffler doesn't move around on rougher than normal roads.

[dagdisco03]

I'm not sure I follow what you are talking about for a bracket.

Remember that the muffler is mounted to the gearbox and engine as one unit with the rubber damper on the top side of the muffler.

What I am saying is the muffler and gearbox move as one unit you don't want to place a bracket from the muffler to a ridged cross-member. You will break something and have a lot of vibration.

I do like the way the flex pipes came out I did more forcing on mine then I was happy about.

Burning smell went away after about 200 miles. At first you would think the car was going to catch fire it smelled so bad.

[Autocrosser#73]

Originally Posted by 2000boxster986

Received a left and right pipes from Top-Speed with no issues. Overall quality appears to be good. However like others mine did not fit as well as I was hoping. I had to do some mods. Some of the proper fitment was hampered by the exhaust modes already done to the car before I bought it. I think it's called a Pedro exhaust mod etc... The Pedro mod has the 1" pipes welded to the U tubes and not the muffler inlet. So, they were unmovable, otherwise I might have been able to tilt the U tubes down for a better fit with the hardware received in the pipe kit.
I wound up using 1 3/4" ID x 2" OD reducers and 2" stainless flexible muffler pipe to get everything to work and to assure nothing was overstressed. I don't particularly like muffler clamps and bendable pipe for exhaust mods but check out the pics below. It's a solid fit and there are no leaks. I'm running stock manifolds with pre-cats.
I don't have the car off the rack as yet but did start it up and it sounds good.

Very nice photos...thanks for sharing your installation process with us! Where did you buy those flex pipes? I may need a pair too for my upcoming installation.