Who would win?

[blinkwatt]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Actually, the secondary cat bypass pipes that Fabspeed sells replaces the set of cats that are connected to the muffler (which the 97-99 models also has), so in theory, you could probably also install them, but then you wouldn't be running with ANY cats on the car anymore, and so that would be illegal. The 00+ models still have a set of precats that are connected to the headers, so you still technically have cats if you install the fabspeed bypass pipes on the 00+ models.

The manifold - 2nd catpipe(1st on a non e-gas) mounting points differ from the non e-gas to e-gas so I don't think the 2nd cat bypass pipes would fit on a non e-gas anyway. The opposite end that connects to the 'u' pipe should fit though(since the mufflers are interchangeable from 97-04.5').

how does the B&b exhaust make the car produce less power?

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by blkboxster

how does the B&b exhaust make the car produce less power?

Porsche's engineers and their subcontracted engineers are hired to specifically design and tune the exhaust to cancel out the resonance and to maximize performance (ie. not lose power). They do this very well....witness all the other aftermarket exhaust makers that may make good sounds, but fail in canceling out the annoying resonance drone.

The ones that cancel out the resonance best are the aftermarket ones that actually are shaped just like OEM exhaust (eg. the Dansk units, the original Cargraphic units, among others).

Most of these aftermarket exhausts claim that they give you 10-15hp just by bolting them on, but in reality, actually makes the car LOSE power. Witness that in the post above, even with the freest flowing muffler (no muffler at all), the car still made slightly less power at certain points than when having a muffler installed, so it proves that the car needs a little back pressure to give maximum power. The key then, is how to design a muffler that creates that maximum power potential while still doing what a muffler should do- cancel out the drone.

Simply put, B&B did not put the extensive hours of research the OEM engineers/designers would have in designing the muffler. They simply would examine an OEM muffler, utilize a universal fit can that gives more sound, weld on the appropriate mounting brackets/u-pipes to make it fit at the OEM mounting points, put on some nice shiny dual tips, and then call it their sports exhaust, and market it for the aftermarket.

However, don't sweat it. I'd say that at the end of the day even a 4hp loss is not a big deal if you enjoy the extra sound you get from the muffler.