996 header update ? or not ? and which one...

I am looking to update my exhaust to get a little bit more sounds out of the engine. While I am ready to take a guess on the exhaust, I see a lot of headers and here I am afraid to do more bad then good. I see on ebay some $100 header made in china, and all sort of different looking no-brand headers in the $300, then all the way on top there are the fabspeed and big brand at $1300. The price range is so wide I don't know what to think.. topspeed header at $299 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT $87 headers !!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsc...item519173a885 no name but still $1000 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsc...item562a34c88b By the way, are the OEM gt3 header fit on a 2003 996 c2 ? If you can send me some pointer, links to which header are worth anything or not that would be great.... I also read bunch of thread saying the header update will bring nothing. I think an old RUF thread was saying that RUF could not improve anything on the header part and the only thing that could be done is change the sound via exhauust update. oh last one.. any DYI stock exhaust modification, i mean opening it up and clean it up

Philooo, if you search here under exhaust upgrades, you will find tons of info, including sound clips. Changing the entire system on our cars is a fairly easy DIY. You will get the most noticeable sound improvement from changing the mufflers, rather than the headers. You can drop a significant amount of weight off the back end of your car by swapping out your stock system for a quality aftermarket system. The sound improvement from a quality aftermarket exhaust is dramatic...I go out of my way to drive under bridges (with the windows down), just so I can hear the wonderful sounds. The stock sound of our cars is a little disappointing. The EVO cold air induction system makes a huge difference in the sound of your car under acceleration...almost as much as the mufflers, and more than the headers. The following mods will improve the sound of your car (in this order): mufflers, cold air induction, high flow cats, and headers. Do yourself a favor and don't buy the cheap ebay headers...you might actually lose power. If you search here, you will find the story of a member who installed the cheap ebay headers and had the car dyno tested afterward...he lost power. The "Suncoast" headers were the ones that he found showed a gain on the dyno. Buy quality parts...you get what you pay for. You can find great deals on Ebay, 6-speed, and here on quality aftermarket parts. Lots of guys return their cars to stock, prior to selling. I bought all of my mods used for about 50% of the new cost. Don't expect huge power gains from the N/A mods. All of the mods that I have done, maybe have given me a 10% gain. A lot of the mods will shift your power band up higher in the rpm range, especially headers. If you want tons of power for your money, forced induction (aftermarket turbo kit or supercharger) is the way to go. The following post, has the sound clips: "Exhaust sound clips (PSE, Fabspeed, B&B, GHL, Ruf, and more)" it will be on the first page, near the bottom, if you search "996 exhaust upgrades". Disclaimer: I am just a modaholic. I am not an expert on fluid dynamics, mechanical engineering, race engine design, etc. You have members here and on 6-speed that are experts...guys from Fabspeed, TPC, etc. that build and race the cars we love.

BTW-IMHO, the existing Porsche headers (exhaust manifolds) that come on your car are just as good as after market. Change your mufflers for better sound and your cats (low restriction) for slightly better performance.

IMO headers won't do a thing for increasing the sound. Cat delete pipes or different mufflers or the PSE hack is what you need to look at.

Changing the headers does change the sound. I noticed it was much quieter and had a lower tone. I installed 997 X51 headers.

PSE hack/FisterD's are the best "bang for the buck" only downside is there is no weight savings but the sound is damn nice!

Judging by what you are looking for (additonal sound) doing the PSE hack or picking up some used PSE cans will be just what the doctor ordered. My car came from the factory with PSE but I pulled the wire/connector that controls the baffling so it is louder all the time. I love it.

Design and build your own.

Ewwwwww Ahhhhhhh !!!!!!! I'm real bummed Akrapovic doesn't make 996 exhaust systems but makes 997's. They are some sweet titanium exhaust system manufacturers.

I think the PSE hack might be the way to go. I am looking at some exhaust on ebay, I'll keep you posted if I land something. I am a bit scared to do the PSE hack myself as I see the added pipe need to be at a very specific angle or there could be some fitment problem as the space is so limited in the engine compartment. I see some muffler in the $300, so I'll try that way first as it will certainly cost me the same $300 to do the hack.