Need new catalytic converter...any recent experience with Fabspeed Cat

[kgoertz]

I took my 02 Targa to the track for an evening last week and as expected the car performed really well. It was a blast (of course). But at the end of the event there was a loud rattling sound from the exhaust. After convincing myself that it wasn't the engine by listening with a long screwdriver I drove home.

I'm 90% sure the problem is with the left-side cat. After digging for prices and reviewing topics on the subject in this forum it looks like I have a few options.

1) Replace the failed cat with a used one. I may be able to get one for ~$500 or so.

2) Replace both cats with the Fabspeed Sport Cat X-pipes for ~$2K

3) Pull out the cats and get a muffler shop to weld in universal cats to the existing pipes

I am in Ontario, Canada which doesn't have any specific rules on aftermarket cats other than having to pass an emissions test. So I don't think that is a factor.

My main questions are around the value (and potential issues) of the Fabspeed X-pipes. Fabspeed quotes ~25 extra HP in their dyno tests, but I am very sceptical of their claims. I also wouldn't mind if the exhaust was a little meaner, but that isn't my main motivation.

Te Fabspeed cats seem like a reasonable replacement to the stock units considering the outrageous price Porsche is asking for replacement parts. I know this has been discussed briefly on this list in the past, but I couldn't find any recent messages.

Has anyone run the Fabspeed cats for a reasonable amount of time? How well do they survive during regular driving and/or track days?

Did you notice any changes to the exhaust note or "seat of the pants" change in power? I found a few comments on the cats setting codes which would obviously be a problem.

At this point I am leaning towards getting a used replacement mostly due to cost. I also read a rumour that 2002 was a bad year for 996 catalytic converters so I'd be looking for 2003-2005 cat's :-)

Thanks in advance

[b-man]

I have the Fabspeed X-pipe cats on my car (and 02 C2). Like you, my factory cats went bad and I thought the price Porsche wanted for new ones was ridiculous.

I *was* skeptical of the horsepower claims too. But after putting them on, I can believe 25 hp. But my opinion is just going by the seat of my pants. Also, because my old cats were bad, there may have been some exhaust flow restrictions in them (e.g., the internal honeycomb shifting around and restricting flow). So the comparison is not scientific at all (i.e, new factory versus new Fabspeed). But again, there is a very noticeable difference in power.

The product is very high quality. I have had them for a while, and run my car all year (in all types of weather). But I don't track it, I do run it fairly hard on the street. I have had no issues with the new cats. I have had no fault codes.

There is a slight difference in sound. The Fabpeeds sound better. But most people would not notice. I notice the difference mostly at very low rpms.

The bottom line is I am very happy with the purchase and would buy them again in a heartbeat.

Let me know if you have any questions.

b-man

Edited May 19, 2012 by b-man

[kgoertz]

Excellent. Thanks b-man. That really helps especially since you had them on the same car. I found a good diagram of the 996 exhaust online and it looks like they changed the cats at least twice. Prior to 2002 it looks like the second O2 sensor is near the clamp that connects with the muffler, but in 2002 it was moved to the catalytic converter itself.

I was hoping for a cheap used cat, but the best I have found so far is ~$400 for one side. And that was for an low-mileage 02 cat but it is still 10 years old. It sounds like a few people believe the 2002 cats were particularly bad so I'm a little hesitant replacing with used.

I'll start looking for a Fabspeed :-)