PSE self installers!

Hey all, Who here has installed their own PSE (or Fabspeed or Dansk for that matter)? My PSE is on its way from Suncoast Porsche. I got Loren's instructions off that 'other' site, and it seems fairly straightforward. I had hoped to do it myself, but my 944 mechanic is laughing at me for even attempting it. Does anyone have experience removing the stock exhaust themselves and installing an aftermarket one? Any 'gotchas'? Thanks, David '03 C2

Changing it out is no big deal, but if you don't have the right tools-including a lift, don't even bother. I am assuming that you are not going to be installing the bypass switch. As there is nothing magical about changing out a set of mufflers, I took mine to the local Midas shop - $75.00 and 1 1/2 hours and they were done. Well worth the money....

thanks, DaveMo, Actually, I was going to back it up on ramps, and borrow an articulated socket. What else am I missing? David

The mechanic used a lot of WD-40 to spray on the bolts before he loosened them. They could be a little rusted. Just another reason to have someone do it. If you shear off a bolt, you end up with a whole new set of issues.....

Problem solved! I just spoke to my Porsche tech. He was either going to bring beer and a lawnchair to watch me do it, or do it himself on a lift with the proper tools. I chose the latter. I might even have it in before the next PCA autox! Next week is going to go really slow!! David

It's cool that you're getting it done, but just FYI it's really easy to do. I have very little mechanical experience, but I put mine in and then later re-installed the stock exhaust. I didn't really have any issues. (This is just the mufflers only of course). I put mine on stands (just the rear) both times. Have fun with the new exhaust.

Thanks nova, That's what I WOULD really like to do, but my tech kind of scared me off. He's a great guy, and he sure as hell doesn't need any extra work, so I'm not questioning his motives. He started mentioning 'S' wrenches which of course I don't have. Bottom line - I'd do it myself, but I always welcome a chance to hang out at that shop - what with all the race cars and neat old 911's. David

nova, Why did you change back, too loud? Still have the PSE?

Oil its easy takes about 1 hour if your not installing the electronics. 1. Take off 3 13mm nuts on the side of the mufflers. Don't take out the long nuts that goes through the bracket and muffler. That bracket is bolted to a bracket that is bolted to the engine. The nuts I'm talking about connect the muffler bracket to the engine bracket. 2. Remove/ loosen the clamps that connect the muffler to the cats. Its 16mm and slide out the pipe. 3. Remove rear tire and remove the muffler from the wheel well. 4. Remove the long bolts and bracket then bolt them to new muffler 13mm 5.Take out clamps for tips 16mm and put tips on new muffler. then install in reverse.

the bolts on mine were so badly corroded that i decided to hold off on changing the exhaust. i changed the tips at about 30K miles, and that took me an hour with a cold chisel to cut off the rings holding the exhaust tips on. the bolts in the rings were so badly corroded that they wouldn't budge at all. that's what new england winters do to untreated steel!

I changed mine one late afternoon after work. Car already had 15k miles on it. No issues whatsoever. OTOH, if a tech offered to do it for pizza and beer, I'd have taken him up on it .

Ok, so now I'm doing it myself after all!! Turns out the tech who offered to install it for me had a motorcycle accident yesterday, and will be out for a while A concussion, broken rib, and bruised liver. I'm glad he's not hurt any further! Hopefully, it will go as seamlessly as Palting and jetski suggested! On another note, I found that nothing sticks to Rejex! I put my race tires on, and wanted to ensure that the pebbles they grab won't scar the fender wells, (they totally pockmarked the 944) so I put tape on them. Even duct tape barely sticks to the Rejexed panels! Wow! David

Too loud/aggressive for my taste. I sold it to another rennlister.

HELP!!! After reading all the posts regarding PSE, I was sold until I e-mailed my local dealer today to get a price for the parts and install. I almost fell off my chair at their response. Please take a look and help me understand what they are saying because it seems to contradict what the posts are saying is involved in the install. The messages are from my rep who spoke to the shop guys: My Original Message: Car is fantastic, thanks for taking my money! OK so I have had it a little over a week and now I want to consider adding PSE. Can you please get me the "Prestige" best deal (Brandywine, Sunset and other dealers are offering it at $1499) on PSE and cost to install w/ and w/out the electronics. From Rep, Message 1: "I'm mot sure what you mean by "with or without the electronics", but $1500 for labor is on the nose, plus $2200 for the parts. The exhaust is not a simple bolt-on system, there is a wiring harness and a bunch of actuators and other assorted things that are involved and you do not get the button inside the car that lets you turn the system on and off, like in the factory installed C4S cars. Please let me know what you would like to do. My response:Thanks for the info. The $1499 is the cost of the parts, not install. Installs supposedly are running no more than $200 per many threads on Rennlist. Also, I was under the impression that the Button (electronics)could be installed for an increased cost (I wouldn't install them anyway). Can you double check on the labor, sounds totally off. Rep Response #2: "I just spoke to the shop foreman, he told me a minimum of 12 hours of labor - the wiring harness goes through the whole car, the flappers are computer controlled and open up at 55 miles per hour - like I said, it is not just bolt-on stuff.

PSE lists for around $2,200 for the parts, and to get the full install with the electronics and vacuum system is around 8 hours labor or $1,000+ (they do have to run the wiring harness from the engine compartment to the fuse panel--and take apart a lot of the interior--and hook up the vacuum system). I strongly recommend getting only the mufflers installed, which cost me $100 at an independent Porsche shop. Brandywine has an ad in Excellence, and PSE is $1,499.

The PSE is a direct replacement for the factory exhaust. The mufflers are the same shape with the same brackets and hook up the same way. The only difference is that there is an additional outlet on the muffler with a vacuum controled switch to alter the flow to control the sound level. The vacuum actuator is in the "on" position, therefore, if you install the mufflers without the electronics the PSE just runs open all the time without any problem. I bought the PSE from Brandywine for $1499.00. My local Porsche dealership installed the mufflers in 45 minuites and charged me $70.00. The mechanic said that if I wanted to install the electronics in the future, it was no problem and would run 6 to 7 hours labor. Around $600.00. He stated 80% of their customers do not install the electronics. I have had mine for a month now and absolutely love it!!! I would never want to turn down the volume, so no electronics for me. It sounds like your shop is uninformed or (hopefully not) trying to pull one over on you. You can order the PSE and install it yourself or just go the any muffler shop and tell them to switch out the mufflers. Its that simple. You will not regret it. Good luck.