Ebay headers...updates?

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by j.fro

You're headed down a slippery, somewhat expensive slope, but there are power gains to be had. I've got an 00 S and I've had the Chinese headers on there for 4 years and 60,000 miles. I got CEL's and it took a Softronic reflash last year to eliminate that. The reflash also corrected a lean condition that I got, but only knew about because of taking the car for a dyno test. When I dyno'ed the car, I had the headers, gutted cats, and an EVO intake: 225 HP at the wheels, which put me around 265 flywheel. 15 HP gain isn't too bad, especially for under $400 in parts. Too bad it takes another $750 for the reflash to get things running properly.

What did your power/torque curve look like from low to mid range ?

[Stroked & Blown]

FWIW, I have a set of the chinese headers sitting on the shelf. All the posts about broken header bolts & minimal power gains dissuaded me from installing them.

[harryrcb]

Originally Posted by Stroked & Blown

FWIW, I have a set of the chinese headers sitting on the shelf. All the posts about broken header bolts & minimal power gains dissuaded me from installing them.

THat is a real shame, when I installed it on my 97, I had neither of those problems, if you decide to do it, make sure the engine is cold, sitting overnight, the bolts should come right out. unless someone over torqued them before. the worst thing you might have to do is adjust the holes with a dremel but that's a maybe, I have installed several now and 1 was spot on, 2 needed a slight adjustment and 1 needed more than slight adjustment. You will feel a slight difference in power and it will sound better as well, but only if you take it off your shelf and give it a shot.
Happy Holidays

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by harryrcb

THat is a real shame, when I installed it on my 97, I had neither of those problems, if you decide to do it, make sure the engine is cold, sitting overnight, the bolts should come right out. unless someone over torqued them before. the worst thing you might have to do is adjust the holes with a dremel but that's a maybe, I have installed several now and 1 was spot on, 2 needed a slight adjustment and 1 needed more than slight adjustment. You will feel a slight difference in power and it will sound better as well, but only if you take it off your shelf and give it a shot.
Happy Holidays

Did install these on your '97 or '04 ?

[RandallNeighbour]

I have them on my 97 and my mechanic had no problem installing them. They did give me a nice bump in HP and torque (15 or so) and the Chinese twin chamber exhaust is more throaty than normal.

It was a good mod for me.

[Lobo1186]

see that right there is the reason why. with the 97 as you know has no cats on the headers so no re-flash is needed or aftermarket software. Im glad you are happy with em.. I want to go catless (right now I have only 2 cats headers only) but that software thing will make it tough on me.

[Boxster..S]

hi, I had a 2.7 that I installed a set of header ( B&B)and had lot of problems with cells. I put the same exhaust on a 01 S , 3.2 with a 2.5 cat and extened sensor wires. I also rased fuel pressure .3 bar, the car runs great, +12hp at wheels. PS much better sound and added porsche sport mufler.

[harryrcb]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

Did install these on your '97 or '04 ?

Both cars plus on an 01 S (friends)

[The Radium King]

from the great amount of knowledge that i have amassed from the internet, this is what i think i know:

porsche boxster (other than early 2.5l) has two sets of cats - pre-cats located on the headers, and secondary cats located on the mid pipes.

boxster has two sets of 02 sensors: one set on the headers before any cats to determine efficacy of fuel/air mix, and a second set after the pre- ats on the headers to ensure that the cats are working.

if you put headers on that do not have cats you have four options:

1) live with the cel you get from the second set of 02 sensors telling the computer that the cats are not working.

2) extend the second set of 02 sensors (two wires each) to a location after the secondary cats on the mid pipes. this way the computer will still know you have cats in the exhaust system.

3) fool the o2 sensors. a quick seach will provide several options. if in the us of a you can buy 'foolers' (maxspeed motorsport sell a set, as should most entry-level autoparts stores). these are devices that distance the o2 sensors from the direct exhaust flow. the sensors see less exhaust as a result and think that the cats are there and working. can't find 'foolers'? go to an autoparts store and get a couple of sets of 'spark plug savers' ($6/set) - devices designed to distance the spark plug from the combustion chamber to prevent fouling - same thread pattern as the o2 sensors and bungs; drill them out and use them to distance the o2 sensors from the exhaust flow.

4) get a row flash. all piwis devises come with the ability to flash either row or us. you can buy one yourself ($4k) or find a local mechanic who has one and get it done. benefits are (a) start car without depressing the clutch, (b) computer no longer monitors secondary air pump operation, and (c) computer no longer monitors cat effectiveness (ie, no cel with catless headers).

no rockets, no science. we are smarter than the computers in our cars.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by harryrcb

Both cars plus on an 01 S (friends)

I am astonished by the fact that this type of exhaust configuration produced positive results for you . Best of luck.

JD

[Roy_Josef]

Do these headers work on a '98 2.5 with Tiptronic?