Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-13-2013, 02:02 PM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 28
Garage
Upgrades: Fabspeed Maxflo and IPD Plenum

For the past several months, I'd been hearing a very noticeable "clanging" noise coming from my exhaust around 2k rpm during acceleration/deceleration. It'd been really bothering me (along with the squealing brakes that I still need to address) and I had pretty much concluded that it was not any cat heat shielding like others have reported. I wasn't sure where exactly it was coming from (from the headers to the tail pipe) and since there are 4 cats and a muffler it could've been any one of those items.

I'd read a lot, listened to youtube videos of different setups, and settled on a Fabspeed Maxflo system. I installed it this past weekend and am so happy with the results. I also had ordered an IPD plenum and larger throttle body and installed it the next day. So, with both of those, the engine should be breathing a little easier.

The installation of the exhaust was really not that hard and I was able to do the removal/installation by myself. I was a little nervous about rusty fasteners so I sprayed all of them down with PB Blaster the day before which helped in getting them off. I started by just loosening every nut/bolt, just making sure they all budged and weren't frozen with rust. I began with removing the bent pipes that connected the secondary cats to the muffler. Then actually thought about how I was going to remove the muffler... I'd read Fabspeed's removal instructions (which have you remove these bolts on the outer ends of the top mounting bracket) as well as several others that said to remove the rear bumper. It looked almost impossible to reach the bolts in Fabspeed's pictures that they remove, and I didn't see how removing the bumper would help. The easiest way I found to remove the muffler was to remove the 2 long bolts that connect the top mounting bracket of the exhaust to the transmission mounting bracket. You can't really see them, but you can reach up and feel them and get a socket with an extension on them. Much easier... (Also, you can see in the photos, but the little "wire bracket" on the bottom of the transmission exhaust mount no longer does anything. I just hadn't removed it yet when the photos were taken.) I then completed the installation and couldn't be happier. It sounds great! If you've listened to clips of it on youtube like I had, you probably thought that it doesn't sound that different than my stock exhaust and that it wasn't worth it since it's not that different. Also, in some of the videos, I didn't like the airy "fizzzz" sound that it made when you take your foot off the gas... Honestly, these videos don't do it justice. Plus, my original complaint, the clanging, is gone. All I get now around the 2k rpm range is beautiful backpressure "pops". I no longer cringe. It sounds awesome under bridges too. Anyway, just happy and thought I'd share my installation experience and thoughts.

Now the IPD... Installation wasn't bad. It was a little time consuming for me just trying to align and clean everything. I'd also bought some MAF cleaner and took the opportunity to clean mine at this time. Don't forget you need a T20 tamper-proof bit to remove it... I'd read that where the IPD silicon tube connects to the throttle body, people have bent up the metal bodywork tab slightly to prevent any tears. I did the same when I saw mine hitting it. Also, to attach the silicon hose, my kit didn't come with any new adjustable clamps and my original ones were too small, so off to the store to get some. I can look on mine to see if I can see the size if anyone is interested which I bought. Those, the MAF cleaner, and the tamper proof bit were the only things I needed to get. Just take your time, don't hurt your back with all of the bending into your engine bay, and enjoy!

My impressions after everything: I'm really happy with the upgrades. I don't have any before/after dyno info. It was raining the night after I got the exhaust on and I did the IPD the next day, so I really can't say what each of them added individually and I'm sure that information has been debated and discussed in other threads. Also, I apologize for the long winded posts... I'm usually like that, but I'll try to make up for that with pics, since everyone likes pics!
















Last edited by TheProspector; 03-13-2013 at 03:21 PM.
TheProspector is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2013, 02:19 PM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Barrie, Ontario
Posts: 92
Wow..looks awesome! Great write up by the way!
58ceramicgreen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2013, 02:37 PM   #3
Certified Boxster Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
Everytime that I crawl under my car and see the stock exhaust I yearn for a setup like this. Looks great!
__________________
1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
thstone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2013, 03:56 PM   #4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: california
Posts: 111
i also have a rattle on cold starts for about a minute, how much was this maxflo setup and did it include new cats?
juicepro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2013, 08:18 AM   #5
Registered User
 
dagdisco03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: CT, USA
Posts: 104
Garage
I keep thinking I'm going to pull the trigger on the Fabspeed. Does it sound better at idle? When you are cruising at a single speed is it near silent like the stock system? You also have headers or is that still stock?
__________________
2000 Boxster S
dagdisco03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2013, 09:13 AM   #6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 28
Garage
Thank you so much for the nice comments.

I will add that now, being able to hear the engine and exhaust, my driving experience has become so much better. The audible feedback from the car has changed the way I drive, which is something I wasn't expecting. Before, I believe I would lag the engine or shift too early just not being able to hear.

juicepro - Your rattle sounds different than what I had been experiencing. Mine would really only be noticeable after the car had warmed up just a bit. Fabspeed exhausts aren't inexpensive. If you just want to rid yourself of the rattle, check the heat shielding on your cats; the fasteners can rust or otherwise fail... The Maxflo system deletes the secondary cats. Though the video is old and they've made quite a few changes since filming, here's a good video by Fabspeed themselves explaining: Fabspeed Motorsports Porsche 986 Boxster Maxflo Muffler Explanation Video - YouTube

dagdisco03 - I don't believe you will be sorry if you bought one. On startup, the Maxflo immediately sounds different: nice low growl, then a low rumble as it idles... At static highway speeds, you definitely can hear the exhaust. I wouldn't call it a "drone", it's just very different in that you can hear your exhaust now. My 986 S stock exhaust was dead silent (aside from the clang). If you get the Maxflo, I guarantee you will start planning your routes to find ones that have bridges or overpasses you can drive under. It just sounds so smooth and tough. Oh, I kept my stock headers and primary cats. Fabspeed headers/sportcats were just more than I wanted to spend, and I didn't want to mess with O2 sensors, check engine lights, possible backpressure and hp loss issues, or more pollution with a catless header setup...


Last edited by TheProspector; 03-14-2013 at 10:31 AM.
TheProspector is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page