987-2 Exhaust system explained

[Gert]

Here is some info concerning the exhaust setup of a 987-2, that is the Boxster and Cayman made from MY 2009 to 2012, also known as the DFI, gen2, mk2 or facelift versions.

 

The 2005-2008 987-1 Boxster and 2006-2008 987-1 Cayman have an exhaust system with the primary cats inside the left and right manifolds and the secondary cats are installed inside the left and right exhausts.

 

Although the 987-2 exhausts look pretty close to the exhausts of the 987-1, they are not the same and that is where the confusion starts for some.

The 987-2 exhaust system has , just like the new 981, the primary cats AND the secondary cats inside the manifolds. 

There are no cats anymore in the exhausts of the 987-2, even though it looks that way.

 

Therefore, if you are replacing only the left and right exhaust boxes on a 987-2 with another exhaust -and keep the original manifolds- then you are not deleting the secondary cats.

The only way to delete the secondary cats on a 987-2 is by replacing or modifying the manifolds.

 

More facts :

 

The 987-2 primary cats are 400 cpsi (cells) not 700 or 800. (see picture bellow)

 

The weight of the left and right standard 987-2 exhaust is 2x 6 = 12kg = 26.40 lbs 

The Sport tail pipe+ center pipe clamp +2x strap+ 2xbracket : 3,55kg
Total : 15,55 kg = 34,21 lbs

 

The weight of the left and right CaymanR exhaust (no PSE) is 2x 5,72 kg = 11,44 kg = 25.17 lbs 

The CaymanR tail pipe+ center pipe clamp +2x strap+ 2xbracket : 3,55 kg 

Total : 14,99 kg = 33,98 lbs

 

The 987-2 PSE exhausts weigh 7,6 kg/each = 15,20 kg = 33.44 lbs 

The PSE tail pipe+ center pipe clamp +2x strap+ 2xbracket : 3,55 kg 

Total : 18,75 kg = 41.25 lbs

 

As you can see, it is not possible to save 40 lbs when installing aftermarket exhausts even when they are made in Ti.

 

All the 987-2 (and 981) exhausts are made by Eberspacher whereas the 987-1 exhausts were made by Eisenmann. These original 987-1  and 987-2 exhausts are not interchangable as the intake pipes have a different length and the flanges are under a different angle.

 

There are a couple of versions, but the typical 987-1 standard exhaust weighs 7,9 kg/each = 15,8 kg = 34,76 lbs (excl tail pipe and hardware).

 

 

This is the 987-2 standard exhaust opened up :
There is no catalytic inside.

 

 

 

Here you see the 987-2 manifold showing location of the primary and secondary cats : 

 

This is the primary cat of the 987-2 exhaust system.
Count them yourself :  20 x 20 cells per inch = 400 cpsi and not 700, 800 or ....

 

 

I hope this helped.

Edited December 3, 2014 by Gert

[Ric in RVA]

I know some people have drilled out, collapsed and removed the secondary cats from the manifold and left only the primary cats which are upstream of the O2 sensors.

 

I have not done it yet so can't comment on sound or power.

 

But I will if I do it.