problem w/ fabspeed, need advice

Just had the fabspeed installed. Header, CAI, and muffler. Now here is the problem. 1. one tip sticks out further then the other by about .5 inch. and the shop says the fabspeed tips are not adjustable like the factory ones. We stick the car on the lift and saw that the muffler's welded mounting points made one muffler sit further back by about .5 inch. 2. I hav'nt dyno the car( being a c4, I don't know if there is a shop that can dyno 4 wheels ) but by the feel of the car, it actually feels like it loss power, Quite a bit of it. It does'nt seem to pull as strong as before all this work is done. I've also had the oil changed but the shop overfilled the oil a little, could that be causing the power loss????? Help, need advise from you guys. Peter Liao

Hi Peter: If you did headers and the mufflers, you likely did lose some power,..... Headers on 996's add a little bit on top to the detriment of the bottom and mid-range. Plus, they do lean the mixture out and you should have the ECU remapped to suit. E-mail me and I'll give you the name and phone of an outfit that can dyno your AWD car and help you re-map the ECU.

Called Fabspeed. and Joe can't really offer any assistance other then saying that loss of power is impossible and the tip can be tweeked to fit right. Peter Liao

I lost a bit of low-end power when I threw the PSE on, but got more oomph at the top end. Seems like the ECU has mostly re-mapped itself, but still feel like it has a bit of torque missing. From what I've read this is pretty common. Have no idea what headers would do...

I remember reading on Porsche's website that the PSE does not alter performance in any way - it just sounds better. But hey, I don't have any personal experience with it, so I'm no authority.

This post has been deleted due to it's blatent disregard of the self promotion rules associated with this community. You can access the rules here: http://www.rennlist.org/charter.htm and https://rennlist.com/nospam.htm .

Steve I would like an AWD dyno myself. Are there any here in Portland? And after hearing that Fabspeed muffler I may want to put one on my 996...do you carry them? (You will be racing (SCCA) at PIR on the 27th- can I come over at chat with you about it- I will be working pit crew on Don Hanson's Black 928)

It just "sounds better" when you turn PSE off...huh???

Peter I recently put a Fabspeed exhaust on mine and it also seems to have lost alittle power. Who did your install? By the way mine sounds as though something is lose after it has been running awhile and hot. Have you heard anything like that....does the exhaust have a break in period.

Hi: Yessir, there is an AWD dyno here in PDX at Matrix Engineering. Its a Mustang and IMHO, darned accurate as those folks are quite knowledgeable about how to use it. Call me anytime about your 996.

You know you can disconnect the front wheels and just dyno on the rear wheels alone right? Of course you'll want to do this in future tests to compare apples to apples. If you didn't dyno your car before the installation of these parts how will you know if you lost or gained anything???

Joe: As I mentioned on the telephone yesteerday... My 996 feels as if power loss range from idle to 4k and your only response was impossible. I will go back to check for airleak this weekend. thanks for the advice. Porsche tips have a bolt under it to further adjust only the tip not the connection with the muffler. Fabspeeds does not. However, I will try to have the mechanic play with the tip more before I put the factory tips back on. As you advised, I will wait a couple of more days to see if the car feels better as the Bosch Engine Management System compensates. If not, I think I will simply give up on the muffler and headers and put the factory ones on. I must say, I will miss the exhaust note. Since returning them is probably out of the question, I guess I just bought some very expansive display pieces for my garage. By the way Joe: I did not appreciated the comment " is it a dumb question or a good question." as not all of us are expert tuners/mechanics. I would think that all of your customers questions should be addressed, but again, maybe that's just my way of doing bussiness. Peter

bada996: Nope.. don't feel like something is loose. Just out of curiosity. anybody else on this board w/ fabspeed also feel like they loss power after the install? Peter Liao

Latest development: Just spoke to someone very knowledgeable on the subject and I am going to take the headers and exhaust off. Peter Liao

Peter, Really sorry to hear about your experience - I've been seriously considering adding the PSE. When I saw your first posts, I thought about the Fabspeeds; seemed more economical. Your misfortune saved me a lotta $ and hassle, however. I'm going to skip the whole thing and stick with stock. Again, sorry to hear - I know this must be a major pain. ER

ER: I must say, I definitely will miss the exhaust note.. It sounded awsome. Peter Liao

Peter, What year is your C4? or is it a C4S? I seem to have missed that in this thread if it was stated somewhere earlier. I've told Stephen at Imagine Auto that I'm willing to pay for some dyno time and do testing on parts in exchange for some parts to play with, this might be an opportunity to dyno before and after, component by component and then post the results for all to see... I sent you a PM.

I definately think a chip upgrade would help you. It will really allow your engine to use the additional intake (hopefully you have an intake) and the exhaust. I will caution you that when I first had my exhaust & headers installed I felt like I lost pwer too, but later on found out it was several leaks where the headers connect with the heads. The Porsche gaskets are very thin sheets of metal between the headers and heads, and even though some people say that you can reuse them, I would highly recommend picking up a new set (either at your dealer or www.performanceproducts.com ), as the originals are fromed around the original set of factory headers, and thus you may have some leaks. Goddk luck.

I have Fabspeed mufflers with Stock headers on my 2000 996 Aero - runs great. I didn't have the power loss that you describe, but sometimes sound can be mistaken for horsepower. I also put the Fabspeed cold air intake on and I can feel a throttle difference down low from about 3000 to 5000 rpms...nothing drastic...just perky - more so than stock. I did the air intake about 3 weeks after my mufflers so I could see if I notice any difference by checking each upgrade by itself. I do have a question - do the computers really "re-map" themselves???? Or do they just make the necessary adjustments to meet the ratios in the computer from the factory??? I am not sure I understand this remapping and why would it take time...wouldn't it just adjust the ratios immediately??? For those who may be thinking of Fabspeed....I am happy with mine and I did have a fit adjusting my Porsche oval tips onto the mufflers, but after several tries I think I have them straight. I did do all the install myself and it wasn't too bad. Hope this helps anyone out there.

Sunbrother, that be yer no.1 post. You aint related to Joe are ya?

I have been reading a lot, not posting.....I haven't had anything to add until recently. I have had my 2000 996 Aero for about 6 weeks and I just sold my older turbo. So I am in the process of learning the newer engines and upgrades. I did a lot of the work on my old turbo myself. Not related to Joe....never have spoken to Joe, but the equipment worked well on my car and I didn't want the world to base a decision on one bad experience....of course it is possible that I am the only one without trouble. Check out my cars at http://www.sunbrother.com/porsche

As another option to Fabspeeds some of you might want to check out Monty Mufflers. They are made in Victoria, Australia.