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So several years back I purchased and installed a FABSpeed header/ exhaust system in my 1990 964- it included their "heat exchangers". I live in Colorado so having heat is a REQUIREMENT, not a luxury. The heat exchanger design on these FABSpeed headers really don't work- after several specialist have looked at the system, they all come back telling me everything is in working order (the rest of the system is working- the flaps open properly etc) but they all feel the heat exchanger boxes themselves are simply too small and don't really cover the header pipes enough to really generate enough heat. Now as you know- the original OEM system produces fantastic heat- and quickly. I was used to driving 6 blocks and getting decent heat that early- and usually had to turn the heat off it produces such volume- now- I have to wait for the heat vents to blow luke-warm at best heat after driving for nearly 30 minutes- THAT's how poorly they work. They do NOT defrost my window in poor weather. FABSpeed has offered to take them back and add larger heat exchangers to them- for $1000 (!!?!?!)- but since the original design doesn't work- and I really don't want my car down while I ship exhausts back to them (on my dime) to fix something that is really their poor design in the first place- I'm looking at replacing them with something else. It's a dual exhaust system now with sport cats- so I need something that is set up for dual exhaust that I can have my local muffler shop fabricate piping to join to what I replace it with. I was looking at 964 Turbo system- that seems like it might work- and 993 systems that seem like it has been a complete re-design from Porsche- the outlets don't seem to be anything like my system has. Does anyone have any ideas what systems would work on a 964? I'd very much like to keep "most" of the FABSpeed system- as it was quite expensive and works well otherwise- but I really need heat. I have a very talented muffler shop that can do custom work- so I'd be interested in what system will fit with dual outlet's out the back on either side- unlike my original system that has the cross-over pipe joining the two systems into one...
Any insight or ideas would be greatly appreciated- I have massive buyers remorse with the FABSpeed system.
Can the muffler shop modify the heat exchanges to make them larger?
I've been thinking over ordering these headers, but after reading this they won't work for Michigan. I also need heat.
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That's one of my solutions- see if my muffler shop can enlarge the exchangers to ad more surface area to heat the air- but it's complicated because they would also have to install access tubes for one of the mounting bolts for the exhaust (like on the originals) and that really complicates the welding- otherwise I'd just have them take a side off and move it over- fill in the blanks. I wish it was that easy- but I'm going to go by next week and see what they think- so I'll update then. Yeah- if you live in Michigan- I don't think these would work at all- and the folks over at FabSpeed act like I've done something wrong on the install because they insist they provide enough heat. Again- 3 Porsche specialist tell me it's their design- just not big enough with enough surface area passing over the hot pipes to have adequate heat make it down the tubes to the cabin.
993 heat exchangers with the inlets flipped on one side (forget which, passenger?) seems to be a decent solution in my readings. But if you're going to go OEM why not just go back to the original factory setup? Will it mate to the Fabspeed mufflers? Have been thinking about this as well vs just leaving my stock header / heat exchangers alone. Interestingly, the stock system provides quite a bit of heat even with the rear blower delete.
So several years back I purchased and installed a FABSpeed header/ exhaust system in my 1990 964- it included their "heat exchangers". I live in Colorado so having heat is a REQUIREMENT, not a luxury. The heat exchanger design on these FABSpeed headers really don't work- after several specialist have looked at the system, they all come back telling me everything is in working order (the rest of the system is working- the flaps open properly etc) but they all feel the heat exchanger boxes themselves are simply too small and don't really cover the header pipes enough to really generate enough heat. Now as you know- the original OEM system produces fantastic heat- and quickly. I was used to driving 6 blocks and getting decent heat that early- and usually had to turn the heat off it produces such volume- now- I have to wait for the heat vents to blow luke-warm at best heat after driving for nearly 30 minutes- THAT's how poorly they work. They do NOT defrost my window in poor weather. FABSpeed has offered to take them back and add larger heat exchangers to them- for $1000 (!!?!?!)- but since the original design doesn't work- and I really don't want my car down while I ship exhausts back to them (on my dime) to fix something that is really their poor design in the first place- I'm looking at replacing them with something else. It's a dual exhaust system now with sport cats- so I need something that is set up for dual exhaust that I can have my local muffler shop fabricate piping to join to what I replace it with. I was looking at 964 Turbo system- that seems like it might work- and 993 systems that seem like it has been a complete re-design from Porsche- the outlets don't seem to be anything like my system has. Does anyone have any ideas what systems would work on a 964? I'd very much like to keep "most" of the FABSpeed system- as it was quite expensive and works well otherwise- but I really need heat. I have a very talented muffler shop that can do custom work- so I'd be interested in what system will fit with dual outlet's out the back on either side- unlike my original system that has the cross-over pipe joining the two systems into one...
Any insight or ideas would be greatly appreciated- I have massive buyers remorse with the FABSpeed system.
Phil from Fabspeed.
I am very sorry about your experience. I am going to shoot you a message. I would love to help I just need a little more detail. I do not want your car to be down as well.
I know exactly what you are dealing with as I have the same issue. But it doesn’t get cold enough here to worry about it.
The issue is that the fabspeed exchanger only covers 4 of the 6 headers.
I spoke to my local exhaust shop and they said they could increase the size of the exchanger to cover all 6 headers pretty easily. The exchanger is only a stainless box so not that complicated. It shouldn't cost $1000.
I have the BBE heat exchangers mated to a GT3 muffler, see below pic.
They provide quite a decent amount of heat, which is required here in the UK.
But I'm thinking of swapping them out for 993 Gillet heat exchangers to downsize the pipe diameter for better torque and maybe also fit some CATS.
It will require some funky routing of pipework, but I think it's possible...
Billy Bout Exhaust heat exchangers mated to 997 GT3 muffler loud pipes...
Search my name. Had the same issue with fabspeed. They only box 4 out of 6 primaries. My car sat idling for an hour and never built up enough temperature to matter.
either modify the heat exchangers to include all primaries or try a different set. The fact that fabspeed hasn’t changed the design by now is just lazy
01-21-2020, 11:35 AM
FABSpeed headers- need new solution
