Exhaust sytems

[thatguychad]

Originally Posted by Chuck W.

I am not sure what you did when you "welded open" the PSEs. The default to the valve is open... the louder position. If you welded the valve open you may have set them to the quieter position.

The previous owner had the exhaust installed and it was welded when I got it. There were no vacuum-actuated valves installed, so if the weld was removed (which we did), the valve freely moved (and quite easily.)

The reason I removed the weld, initially, was because there was a rattle internal to the exhaust. We removed it, played with the valve to determine the "loud" setting, then put a little spot weld to hold it in that position.

[Need_for_speed]

Originally Posted by Chuck W.

I installed the TopSpeed Cat Delete pipes. They were $160 shipped from TopSpeed. It improved the sound (IMHO) but still is not as good as the FDMs. The install was easy but I have heard that the cat delete pipes could cause heat issues to the drive shaft rubber boots.

I am not sure what you did when you "welded open" the PSEs. The default to the valve is open... the louder position. If you welded the valve open you may have set them to the quieter position.

Chuck, By drive boots you mean the rubber cv boots, right? Haven't heard this before. Do the deletes take a different path closer to the boots? Do they get hotter than the secondary cats?

[Chuck W.]

Originally Posted by Need_for_speed

Chuck, By drive boots you mean the rubber cv boots, right? Haven't heard this before. Do the deletes take a different path closer to the boots? Do they get hotter than the secondary cats?

I got this information from Steve Tinker that seems to know what he is talking about. Below is a link to his posting on the topic.

http://986forum.com/forums/444517-post14.html

His post is a result of a thread I had started regarding my installation of the cat delete pipes;

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/56660-added-secondary-cat-delete-pipes-topspeed.html

[BRAN]

Originally Posted by Chuck W.

I have gone from the stock 2001 S muffler that came on the car to a 2003 S muffler modified by FDM (FD Motorsports » Fister Exhaust – Boxster) to an OEM Porsche Sports Exhaust (PSE). The FDM had the best sound by far and I liked the larger tips. But, the PSE is special. I ended up deleting the secondary cats to get some sound out of the PSEs. No drone at all with the FDMs. The other two being stock also had no drone.

Congrats Chuck...love that PSE! It is on my to do list as well
Did you get the valves etc. as well (probably not really necessary, I guess) ?

[CrisZenithBlue]

There is a bit more to the Fister than the Pedro exhaust mode. Both have the bypass pipes but the design is a bit different (not sure that makes any difference to the sound though). Supposedly the fister has more tricks up its sleeve but not exactly sure what they are. One thing I have noticed is the fister has a little metal mesh welded inside the input tubes of the exhaust on both sides. There might be more but that's the only thing I was able to see.

In terms of sound they are different. Fister is a lot more raspy which I love. I had a Pedro exhaust some time ago and it didn't sound as good. Granted I had all 4 cats back then and that had a negative impact. I only had the fister with the 2 main cats and I know it makes it louder and makes it crackle and pop.

This is my 3rd muffler so if I had to do it all over again it would be the fister with the cat delete pipes no doubt about it. It's a mod I will never regret and makes my day every time I drive the Boxster.

[glenf]

do any of these systems add horses at all?

[CrisZenithBlue]

very little.. removing the second set of cats and adding a muffler with better flow (aftermarket ones probably work better for that) adds a little. also, by doing that you shed some weight which is great. not with the Fister thought.. i think its the same weight as the untouched OEM, it felt heavy in my hands.

i probably shed around 40lbs when i removed the cats and had this light muffler from Top Speed. car felt a little bit quicker but not by much.

if you want to add noticeable power with exhaust mods you have to get sport headers and tune the ECU otherwise it all seems negligible. Porsche is known for putting restrictive headers on the Boxster to keep the power down, we don't want it to be a 911 now..

most of us have done it for the sound more than anything. if you get it right it really transforms the car for the better but i will say that i am just about DONE with exhausts and rusty bolts!!

[Ciao]

I too just received my 2001 Box-S and my research shows Fabspeed, though a bit expensive for headers, and exhaust with tuned computer is best upgrade for sound and performance

[CrisZenithBlue]

thats true but things get expensive with Fabspeed. Good system thought if you could snatch it used from someone but they dont come around very often.

keep in mind when adding less restrictive headers (especially cheaper Ebay ones) things get a lot louder and drone shows its ugly face especially with a cheaper muffler as well.

[Fintro11]

I went with top speed exhaust with secondary cat delete, cost just over $500 sounds amazing

[batshapedheart]

I LOVE my Fabspeed, but I've never heard the Fister exhaust. That is until this weekend when I get to hear Chris'

[coreseller]

I have a combination exhaust on my 993 of both Fister Stage 2 Mufflers and a Fabspeed X-Pipe with 200 cell Sport Cats. Again this is on my 1996 Porsche 911, not a Boxster, I'm posting to relay my opinion and experience with both manufacturers since over the years I have purchased a dozen or more different exhaust set-ups. With the Fisters you send them your muffler and they rework it and ceramic coat it if you wish then send it back to you, not too pricey but not cheap ($480 w/o coating plus shipping), well worth it IMO.

Here's a pic of the Fabspeed X-Pipe with the Sport Cats under my 993, it doesn't do justice to how beautifully they are made:



Fister's website for Boxster exhausts: FD Motorsports » Fister Exhaust – Boxster



With Fabspeed they are definitely not cheap, I can say that their craftsmanship and quality are unmatched, EXCELLENT products!!!!

Here's a vid of my old Box with a B&B exhaust, it was both pricey and droned lol:

[CrisZenithBlue]

your fabspeed sounds pretty amazing man i wont argue with that! but it's a bit too rich for my blood

[CrisZenithBlue]

thats what i paid for the Fister and for what it is i think it's not too expensive considering zero drone, great craftsmanship on the bypass pipes fitting and best of all its your OEM muffler so that thing will last forever.

[Boxtaboy]

I've also got a Dansk cat back muffler...

[Need_for_speed]

I was doing some exhaust research here on the forum and one of the best suggestions was to do the Fabspeed secondary cat deletes and just leave the rest of the system stock. At $600, it seems like a cheap and easy approach to drop some weight and pump the sound a bit. Plus, you can always add other components later.

Also thstone recommends the $300 Topspeed muffler, and I trust his opinion as he drives and races his box like The Doctor intended. Check out his build thread. Awesome stuff.

[Chuck W.]

Originally Posted by thatguychad

We removed it, played with the valve to determine the "loud" setting, then put a little spot weld to hold it in that position.

Gotcha..... You are correct. The PSE are great looking but lack the right sound. Thus, thus the secondary cat delete (IMHO) is a must.

Originally Posted by BRAN

Congrats Chuck...love that PSE! It is on my to do list as well
Did you get the valves etc. as well (probably not really necessary, I guess) ?

Thanks. It was a lucky find on eBay.

I didn't install the switch for the valve control. Besides being a challenge to install I would have left it on the loud position all the time anyway. It would be cool to have just to make it a "complete" install.

Originally Posted by Need_for_speed

I was doing some exhaust research here on the forum and one of the best suggestions was to do the Fabspeed secondary cat deletes and just leave the rest of the system stock. At $600, it seems like a cheap and easy approach to drop some weight and pump the sound a bit. Plus, you can always add other components later.

Also thstone recommends the $300 Topspeed muffler, and I trust his opinion as he drives and races his box like The Doctor intended. Check out his build thread. Awesome stuff.

Take a look at TopSpeed's secondary cat deletes. I bought a pair from them last year for $160 shipped. Email them and let them know you are a 986 Forum member. I don't believe that the Fabspeed pipes are worth $400+ more that the TopSpeed ones.

[Need_for_speed]

Thanks Chuck!

[smshirk]

They all drone at some level. The Fabspeed is best as you say. It delivers some additional performance. That being said, your best bet is to keep your stock exhaust and invest in a new intake. After market intakes deliver a beautiful sound that
Makes it really hard to keep your foot off the accelerator just to get the rush of sound right behind your ears. I wish i had not put the fabspeed exhaust on my car. I had the intake first.

[smshirk]

When i said performance increase i should have qualified that by saying only if you invest in the complete replacement, headers, cats and all. The cat back won't give you anything extra but noise