kjurkic

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshow72

Hi,
I was talking to a mechanic I have done lots of business with in the past about my 928 (he has not worked on the 928, but I wanted him to do a few things for me). I told him that I was thinking of putting a Y pipe on it, and removing the cat (it is an 82, and in my state nothing older than 83 needs to pass emissions). He told me he thought it was a bad idea because the car was made a certain way, that engineers at Porsche had sat down and planned how to get the most power out of everything, and changing anything would throw all of that engineering off. Granted, he is not specifically a Porsche mechanic, but I trust this guy a lot. What he is saying makes sense, but I really don't know. I read about you guys tweaking and changing everything.
Thanks,
Joe

Just like any other occupation, mechanics vary from incompetent/indifferent to incredible/enthusiastic. Where your mechanic is wrong is saying that Porsche already engineered the best they could into the car - this is bull****, as EVERY mass-produced car in existence is a result of compromises needed to cover all possible operating environments including climate, weather, traffic, roads, various legal and regulatory environs, marketing/sales req's, and the realities of the production line and component suppliers. If you desire the ultimate performance engineering, you get a McLaren or a 917.

If you have a 928, and are willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort, or reliability, or possibly violate federal or state regulations, you can "re-engineer" your 928 to whatever level of performance you desire.

Speed cost money, how fa$t to you wanna go?

It's not that your mechanic is necessarily wrong; but he isn't necessarily right either. If he told you, "I won't do that because its illegal (for me to do) in this state" I would be more confident in his abilities. From what you describe, he sounds more like a stock parts-changer, rather than a trouble-shooter. This does not make him a bad mechanic, he's just not a "car guy"

ROG100

Plenty of 82 cars here in TX with the Y pipe fitted. Great performance boost.
It can be fitted with a hiflow cat as an option if you require. Here in TX its not required.
Y pipe in aluminized steel is $380. In SS its $560.
Cat is $190 and the instll kit is $50.
Roger

Jim bailey - 928 International

Roger you might wish to look into the Texas Laws a bit more....for example.."Texas law prohibits any person from selling, offering for sale, leasing, or offering to lease any vehicle not equipped with all emission control systems or devices in good operable condition. Violators are subject to penalties under the Texas Clean Air Act of up to $25,000 per violation. Buyers are advised to have the vehicle checked for all required emission control devices prior to purchasing a new or used vehicle.

A vehicle may not be legally sold if its original engine has been replaced with another certified engine but without the related emission control components. Tampering includes the failure to install the emission controls associated with an engine configuration. ...... " They have no sense of humor at all

mark kibort

and that was my point as well. The porsche 928 was well engineered and alll the periferal stuff to make them smog legal in whatever country they were bound for, has NOTHING to do with the synergisitc enginering implied!
He is a moron for saying something that is not true. something like Mobil 1 is the oil that is recomended the only one that will work in the porsche. Or to ONLY use Cheveron, because it is certified by porsche. etc etc, ad nausium.

the difference between ignorance and stupidity is that ignorance can be taught.
This kind of mechanic usually cant be taught, because they think they know it all.

as far as advising to do the mods? Jim is absolutely right, if i were him I would be saying to keep it all stock and enjoy it! If you want to modify it to be faster, then you do the things that keep it legal, or you do it yourself.

mk

JHowell37

The reason most mechanics don't want to touch "modified" cars is because is because there's a good chance the owner did the modifications them self and screwed something up. Then they take the car to the mechanic to fix it which usually entails the mechanic having to spend a lot time (and their time=$$$) trying to diagnose the issue. And that is time the customers don't want to pay for especially if the mechanic can't come up with a solution.

As for the catalytic converter I see a lot of beat up **** going down the road belching out smoky foulness and that is through a catalytic converter. My car is otherwise in an excellent state of repair and I don't feel guilty about not having cats on it. I'll put them on next year when it's time to go trough emissions again, but until then, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. There are far worse things polluting the air.

ACG

Hi Nicole,

You are right on the mark. Here is another dilemma coming up for Porsche.....

There is new CAFE requirement (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) which is fast approaching. CAFE is not directly related to the EPA emission control requirement. However, the CAFE requirements will have a tangential impact on emissions. The intent is to increase the average fuel economy of the nation's new car and light truck fleet from present levels with the 2011 model year and to reach 35 mpg by the 2020 model year.

The new CAFE requirements are based on wheelbase. Smaller cars are required to make relatively greater fuel mileage improvements. Unfortunately, the typical Porsche with its relatively short wheelbase faces a tough challenge. Porsche are currently exempt from the gas-guzle tax. However, Porsche has aready indicated that it will not be able to meet the CAFE stage requirement in 2015. Their products will most likely be subject to the gas guzzler tax penalty during that time.

Link:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/06...-says-porsche/

Bill51sdr

This is something a lot of people don't seem to understand. It is illegal almost everywhere to tamper with/remove emission control devices. I believe it is a federal law. When California began exempting cars '78 and older from being smogged it did not state that applicable laws were exempt as well. Those guys putting mega-block chebbies in their '77 Malibu have a rude awakening awaiting them if they come upon a LEO intent on ruining their day.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Correct being exempt from TESTING does not mean that smog laws do not apply... I recently bought a 1970 Ford Maverick it has a transplanted 302 V-8 4 speed it is exempt from testing and as long as the engine is 1970s needs little to be legal. Yet it is difficult to work on because I do not KNOW exactly what year the engine is or details about camshafts etc. and some of the wiring is poorly done... I will probably end up pulling the engine /trans and rebuilding and cleaning things up ....Not an issue if I do it as a hobby quite a problem if I pay a mechanic $100 per hour

smudaaar

You guys need to move to michigan... unemployment may be at 8.5% but........ when I drove my 74 firebird(race car) around with just headers 3" exhaust removed a cop just game me a slap on the wrist. (just got done putting the turbo 400 back in from rebuild) I doubt 25% of cars/trucks in MI are 100% stock. I've driven my race cars around with the hoods removed and the engines sticking up 1/2 way to the top of the windshield...... In MI if its too loud your too old!

Abby Normal

If you don't modify your 928, the terrorist win....

MGW-Fla

That made me laugh out loud!

While I love the environment, this thread is kinda depressing thinking about why I enjoy owning my 928, err, driving my 928, and now I'm gonna feel guilty about it? And I agree with the post that commented about the cars driving down the road looking like they are mesquito foggers, all legal of course cause they are 1972 Caddies or such & are exempt. They still have the original 36 year old cat installed, but those rings went away 15 years ago. Somehow thats ok though right & I'm an evil doer ruining my planet cause I removed my cats??

I remember back 10 yrs ago when we had emissions testing here in Fla. It was only for the more populated counties. Funny cause the adjoining three county's residents flooded Jacksonville's roads every damn day coming here to work in our city. Yet they didn't have to pass any annual testing or pay any fees, but I sure did cause I lived in the county Jax is in. One year my 911 didn't pass the 1st go round, & I remember thinking about how cars older than a certain year were exempt! Yet, aren't those older cars the ones more likely to be doing the polluting?? It was all just a tax & who they could get away making pay it!

Finally, they did away with the requirement all together once the govenor was no longer in office who had instituted the program. Come to find out, the company who ran all of the testing facilities just happened to be a personal friend of the governor!

Jim bailey - 928 International

This one was fun...."for Violations of Clean Air Act
Contact: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

For immediate release: June 5,2000; Release # 00-06-03


BOSTON - A car dealership and repair shop in Brunswick, Maine, has agreed to pay a $7,700 to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the company violated the Clean Air Act by tampering with a vehicle's pollution control devices.

According to a consent agreement and order filed this week, Brunswick Ford Sales removed the core of a burned-out catalytic converter and failed to install a new one, which left the car without adequate pollution controls.

Tampering with emission control devices or changing the original elements of a vehicle's certified emissions configuration and design can result in excess tailpipe emissions of air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxide.

"Car repair shops, particular those that deal in new cars with efficient pollution control devices, are well aware of the Clean Air Act standards regarding emissions," said Mindy S. Lubber, Regional Administrator for EPA New England. "Brunswick Ford knowingly sent a car onto the road that would add to our nation's air pollution problem. They are now paying a price for that." ............

Perhaps points out why some business concerns try to limit exposure to such potential fines.... also worth mentioning that installing aftermarket cats is a minefield as well. This fine was for ONE VIOLATION !... $7,700

mark kibort

And global warming is inevitable and cyclical. Those volcanos put out more of the polution we are trying to stop in the US over a day, than the enitre US produces currently in a year!

we (mankind ) is going to burn up by the sun if we dont leave this doomed planet anyway, so why fight it. CUT OUT THE CAT and enjoy life!

mk

Abby Normal

ManBearPig don't like facts and will have you racing a Prius in the near future...

SeanR

If I understand it correctly here, an automotive shop may not take off the cats or emissions controls, that is against the law.

But an individual may do so because he did not pay someone to perform this.