Finally installed the complete exhaust system

I've been looking at boxes with my Fabspeed exhaust and headers for over a month now in anticipation of getting them installed. I've been a bit gimpy recovering from shoulder surgery 6 weeks ago and my mechanic's main guy to install it has been off work on TDI with a broken wrist. Well I finally felt good enough to do it myself - I couldn't wait any longer. I'll have to say that it was much easier than I anticipated - especially the headers. The hardest part was dealing with the rusted bolts for the exhaust ring-clamps for the exhaust tips. I re-used my polished tips as they're in perfect condition. I actually had to use a grinder to get the bolts off of both tips and damaged one of the ring-clamp brackets. I had to polish up my sheet metal skills and customize the damaged bracket so that I could re-use it. I checked everywhere yesterday (Napa, etc.) and nobody has an exhaust clamp that would work. My other option would be mail order from Porsche parts in Honolulu and that didn't excite me much - I wanted it done now Doing it myself was quite fulfilling. My mechanic has been putting me off for weeks and he would charge me full pop (in trade for Pilates lessons for he and his wife - so no biggie). It only cost me 4 hours of my day yesterday (2-1/2 if I didn't have to wrestle with those rusty clamp bolts) and left me with a huge grin when I fired her up. I have a long history of playing mechanic - rebuilding engines, etc.. - but not much experience on P-cars. It was a golden opportunity to finally install my engine protection plate as well. Now for the results. I am so happy I chose these modifications! The sound is awesome! It sounds like a true exotic car now and the throttle response is incredible. I have yet to really open it up, but I will take it for several drives this week. I have been warned about losing some bottom end grunt with exhaust mods. I've also been told that if you match the exhaust with an appropriate intake, there will not be any bottom end loss. There is definitely a mid and top end increase - it revs faster and pulls a little bit harder. And then there is that incredible sound... Problems: already mentioned the clamp bolts at the exhaust tips, experienced one leak at a clamp between muffler pipe and cat pipe which was easily fixed by repositioning the clamp, and had to grind off a corner of the protection plate where a bolt hole wasn't lining up properly. All in all, it was a relatively easy task. My main point? If you're thinking of going with an aftermarket exhaust system, go for it. I am very pleased with the results and I think you will be as well. A slight caution, it is a little loud... but I live in the country! I'd love to take it for a drive today on my favorite mountain road, but I have to go to my studio to finish taping and texturing drywall... what a fun Sunday - not.

Steve0 Awesome, Nice3 job, can you possibly create a wave file for us to listen too ? Love to hear it... Enjoy...

Stevo, Nice work, keep us posted on the ride. Gary

Stevo, Welcome to the world of sports exhausts -- that sporty sound really Rocks! Glad to hear you did it yourself. Always remember that you'll take the time and patience to do it lovingly and right so much more than someone who you pay to do it. They will never care as much as you. Besides, it's very fulfilling to do it yourself whenever possible. Now, get out there and enjoy that great sounding 996! Mark

One more good side effect - there was quite a bit of intake noise from the fresh air intake. When I installed that I understood why Porsche made such a "vault" of an intake box - to quiet it down. The good news is, with some real sound coming out of the exhaust, I don't notice the intake noise like I did before. Both sounds seem to go well together. I can't wait to scream it out on the highway!

The update you guys asked for: Now that I've taken her out and stretched her legs, there is a noticable increase across the board. The bottom end is a little better, the mid is much better as is the top end scream. The best part of all I believe is the smoothness of the power delivery and the throttle response. There are no flat spots any longer. Smoothness of power is greatly enhanced and that is the best way I can describe it. I know many of you guys will say that aftermarket mods don't yield much in gains and the dynos can prove that. But there are things that do not show up on a dyno. I have had many years experience dyno'ing race motocross bikes and the bikes that score the highest on the dyno chart are not necessarily the ones that feel the strongest or have the most useable power. I feel a MUCH better performing engine pushing my car and I am very pleased with the results of my limited investment in aftermarket parts. And the sound is utterly amazing! I don't have the equipment to record it to share with you guys, but I wish I did. I'll ask my son if he has anything that can help. I hate to even say this, but it sounds like a Ferrari - a realy throaty, raspy growl. Resonance is at a minimum or inconsequential. I really like the improvement over the Lexus-like quietness of the stocker exhaust setup. The headers hang a bit lower than the stockers which is a concern for me - I've mentioned my less than desirable road going up to my house with it's ever materializing surprises. I'm just going to have to be on the lookout to protect them. I don't know how tough they are, but the stockers are practically bullet proof. I hit one hard once on a rock and it barely left a scratch. I was sweating bullets looking underneath to see what happened...

Stevo, Very nicely said. And I whole-heartedly concur with getting rid of the "Lexus-like" exhaust sound for something truly sporty. And as a side note, I also noticed much smoother delivery of power across the entire RPM band once the sports exhaust was installed. Something you're really going to like next: the deeper and throatier sound after those things "burn-in" after you put about 500 miles on them. The sound dramatically improves even more! Enjoy, Mark