DeTomaso Mailing List: December 99, Message #194

Paul wrote:

>Any one tried, liked, dislikes, too loud, too quiet, too much harmonic =
vibration around 2200rpm, not enough vibration around 2200rpm,PPC's  new =
Stainless Steel exhaust and muffler?? 

>>>I had the opportunity to spend some time with the prototype pair.  I shot 
the photographs which subsequently appeared in the Pantera Parts Connection 
ad in Profiles. 

Larry sent a set of stock factory GTS tailpipes back east to a custom exhaust 
maker who whipped up a prototype using his own muffler and exhaust tips, 
based on the ANSA pipes.  When it came time to install them on PCNC member 
Lee Scales', they didn't fit worth a damn and required serious brute force, 
hacking, and profanity on the part of the local exhaust shop.  But that was 
to be expected; the whole point was to learn what needed to be corrected.  
(Supposedly the lessons learned have been incorporated into the production 
pieces; Larry has now installed a set on his wive's white GTS, apparently 
simply by bolting them up.)

The resulting pipes looked extremely ugly in certain places (the flanged 
portion had to be cut off and brutally re-welded in a totally different 
position) but once the car was on the ground, you can't see any of this, and 
they actually looked quite nice.

As we'd never actually heard them before, we didn't really know what to 
expect.  I for one was EXTREMELY surprised to discover how quiet they are--in 
fact I'd go so far as to say that they're the only pipes I've ever heard 
which are as quiet as the stock, non-GTS tailpipes.  Well, perhaps just a 
tiny bit louder, but only a bit.

It's impossible for me to speculate regarding their performance with any 
degree of accuracy.  Sure, the larger-diameter pipe has got to be better, but 
I wonder if the mufflers are quiet because they're restrictive, or because 
they're extremely well-designed?  Who can really say without doing some dyno 
testing or something?

The chrome tips bear mentioning--they're actually polished stainless steel I 
believe.  And unlike conventional chrome tips, which are only finished on the 
outside and are thin steel, these are actually fully finished inside and out, 
much like the type of tip that you'll see on a Rice Rocket (except half the 
diameter.)  Also, the tips contain an ANSA-style resonator that gives the 
exhaust a really nice growl.

>They have them advertised for $750 =
a pair in Profiles 2 and I was currious. They have them for Ls and =
PreLs.

>>>I think the L-model pipes are great.  I'm rather dubious of the pre-L 
pipes however.  The "problem" with the PPC exhausts is that the exhaust tip 
is not slash-cut (or baloney-cut) the way the stock tips are.  Instead, 
they're perfectly flat and uniform.  This doesn't look bad on an L-model 
where they stick virtually straight out.  But on a Pre-L, where the pipes 
stick up at a rather jaunty angle, the slash-cut really goes a long way 
towards accentuating the aesthetics.  I think a flat-cut tailpipe sticking up 
at an angle would just look weird and out-of-place.  I've never actually seen 
a set however; this is just speculation on my part.

In short, I think they're well-made, and certainly are the best option out 
there for somebody with a stock exhaust that's blown out, who wants to keep 
the civility of the stock exhaust and doesn't want to run around sounding 
like a 427 Cobra.  If you wanna make noise, then Hall's Big Throats or 
Mind-Train or Borla are right up your alley.  Factory GTS mufflers are 
quieter, but still plenty loud (and expensive!)  Stock mufflers are nice and 
quiet, but also expensive.  These seem to be a very good compromise.

Another consideration would be Marino Perna's long-awaited (but as yet 
unseen) ANSA copies in stainless steel.  These are supposedly identical in 
all respects to the factory pipes, but made out of stainless steel.  They are 
pricy, at about $1500 for the full set (tailpipes and headers) I believe, but 
that's right in line with PPC's $750 for tailpipes alone.

Mike (waiting and seeing...)