M97 exhaust manifold design, power loss, torque gain?

M97 exhaust manifold design, power loss, torque gain?

Author
Discussion

f0xy

Original Poster:

158 posts

197 months

Wednesday 5th June
quotequote all
Edit lost post content

Edited by f0xy on Friday 28th June 09:40

E-bmw

9,976 posts

159 months

Wednesday 5th June
quotequote all
I stress that I am no expert, however my thoughts would be that you have fundamentally changed the way the engine breathes, and in doing so you seem to have made losses & gains.

These aren't necessarily going to be where you want them unless the exhaust is specifically tuned for what you want.

Although someone more knowledgeable than I may well be able to tell you how to get what you want where you want it at the other end of the engine breathing cycle.

On a different note, if the car is used on the road and your MOT tester is on the ball it won't pass an MOT again.

stevieturbo

17,530 posts

254 months

Wednesday 5th June
quotequote all
It's maybe an optical illusion, but the header tubes look massive compared to the exiting system ?

And the collectors themselves, perhaps not the prettiest thing either ?

Is that supposed to be a proven setup ?

How does it compare build wise compared to standard ? Do the two sides remain completely separate on the factory car ?

f0xy

Original Poster:

158 posts

197 months

Wednesday 5th June
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
I stress that I am no expert, however my thoughts would be that you have fundamentally changed the way the engine breathes, and in doing so you seem to have made losses & gains.

These aren't necessarily going to be where you want them unless the exhaust is specifically tuned for what you want.

Although someone more knowledgeable than I may well be able to tell you how to get what you want where you want it at the other end of the engine breathing cycle.

On a different note, if the car is used on the road and your MOT tester is on the ball it won't pass an MOT again.
It's more so to determine what these flat six engines "like" or "dont like" really - it is a new subject for me. Ive come from a high compression, ITB, straight six world where good, developed factory manifolds exceed the task and just work. MOT isn't an issue, its not a road car, its a circuit car:



stevieturbo said:
It's maybe an optical illusion, but the header tubes look massive compared to the exiting system ?

And the collectors themselves, perhaps not the prettiest thing either ?

Is that supposed to be a proven setup ?

How does it compare build wise compared to standard ? Do the two sides remain completely separate on the factory car ?
They look bigger in the picture than they are, as they're ovalled at the head then work back into round for the collector. They arent the worst I've seen, they merge cleanly internally with nothing out of the ordinary or strange shapes.

I'd say proven lightly... I've yet to see any real data for any exhaust setup back to back on Boxster/Cayman, however I'm only starting along this path. People buy these "eBay/Toyosport" headers as they are cheap and decently enough put together, not cheap thin stainless - and the original ones rust/rot away.

All models run seperately to the back from factory, just the route they take differ between 986 and 987. The (older) 986 runs the route I chose to take as pictured, however the 987 used a non-equal length manifold with an incorporated cat, which then through the wheel arch instead, directly behind the shock absorber. I didn't really want to run this route - as putting a red hot (larger diameter) exhaust next to expensive suspension isn't going to do much good when it is only used flat out on circuit. Here are the original items:



The factory back boxes have a balance pipe between them and various internal cross baffling, which still remains. I did keep the back box with the mindset of it has made factory power, and is obviously designed for that (or more, being the same internally on a 3.2/3.4L), so really the only variable left is the headers or 986 style route.

The headers are so cheap and the fabrication done myself so I'm not overly concerned about that side of it - just doesnt really add up at the moment.

stevieturbo

17,530 posts

254 months

Wednesday 5th June
quotequote all
And do you have any dyno graphs from when it was completely standard exhaust ?

Perhaps something in there cleaned up the area in question, or perhaps it is just inherent in the engine ? intake ? other ?

f0xy

Original Poster:

158 posts

197 months

Wednesday 5th June
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
And do you have any dyno graphs from when it was completely standard exhaust ?

Perhaps something in there cleaned up the area in question, or perhaps it is just inherent in the engine ? intake ? other ?
This isn't my graph, but its a completely standard car, of the same model with the same 2.7L engine.



My intake, throttle body, etc are stock. It's not driving a PAS pump any more either

E-bmw

9,976 posts

159 months

Thursday 6th June
quotequote all
Just a point of note, as they are on different dynos can you really compare them?

I would say not, the only REAL comparison would be a stock dyno printout from your own car & then another printout from the same car with the mods you have done.

I am sure you already know that, just sayin'.

TwinKam

3,169 posts

102 months

Thursday 6th June
quotequote all
Speak to 'phazed' on here, he knows his way around 986s & 7s, having recently swapped out the entire exhaust system on his track Boxcart for some impressive looking plumbing.

LennyM1984

764 posts

75 months

Thursday 6th June
quotequote all
There is a Porsche Engine Builders group on Facebook (Jake Raby, Hartech etc are all on there). If you explain what you are trying to do and what you are seeing, I am sure you will get some thoughts/opinions

Twolane

80 posts

27 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
With the sizeable difference in the shape of the torque curves between yours and the stock engine, I’d be looking at the diameter and length of the headers. Lots of stuff online explains the science behind it all.

SturdyHSV

10,225 posts

174 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
I feel like this is the same question you were asking anyway, but have you potentially just created a rise in torque between 4,000 - 6,000, and then it returns largely to 'normal' above that?

It sounds like you've spent some time optimising fuelling / timing, so you're potentially making a bit more than originally and just happen to have a particularly good patch of VE in that RPM range presumably thanks to the exhaust manifolds, or perhaps the engine naturally makes a bit of a peak in that range, which Porsche deliberately map out with timing for component life and a smooth feeling power curve etc.

I know you know, but without a back to back on that dyno of it stock, you're ultimately just guessing getmecoat