If you were to install a Larini system on a 328... | FerrariChat
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If you were to install a Larini system on a 328...

Discussion in '308/328' started by DMaury, Jun 6, 2007.

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  1. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #1 DMaury, Jun 6, 2007
    Would you just go with the sport kit (basically the cat-back) bolted to the factory cats. Or replace the cats with the Larini sports cat as well as the sports system? Or, rather than going with the sports cats, why not just the test pipes? What am I gaining or losing with the test pipes vs. the Larini sports cats?

    Also, if you play with the product catalogue on the Larini site, if you select your 328 as a Euro model, they give you the option to buy their headers. Can you buy these same headers, as well as the rest of the Larini system and install it on a US 328? If so, are there any benefits?

    To be honest, I'm more concerned with sound that performance gains, as it will surely be minimal. I was just wondering if changing the stock headers makes any sound or flow difference if you're also replacing the rest of the exhaust system.

    Does anyone here run a Larini on their 3x8? How is it set up?

    Thanks
     
  2. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,406
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #2 BigTex, Jun 6, 2007
    Man. let us know how you r experience goes, new headers are coming up for a lot of 308 owners,..... if they know it or not.......
     
  3. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,406
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #3 BigTex, Jun 6, 2007
    on your original question, old cats are old cats...most likely expended...I'd go with the new hi po units that are out there.....
     
  4. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #4 DMaury, Jun 7, 2007
    So, rather than replacing the old cats with just test pipes, you'd recommend the Larini cats?

    And in either case (assuming my stock headers are in good shape) would you replace these as well, or just clean and ceramic coat them?

    BTW, Jim Lindsey is going to do the job. You recommended him to me when I first got the car, and we've spoken a few times and sounds like an honest man. He gets the car early to mid next week.
     
  5. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2006
    4,866
    Atlantic Beach Fl
    Full Name:
    Stuart K. Hicks
    #5 climb, Jun 7, 2007
    A thread about five pages back has a sound clip from an '80 308 with the Larini system and no cats.

    Can't seem to be able to post it here but you can find it.

    Might ask him.

    Sounds amazing and i want one now.
     
  6. sammyb

    sammyb Formula 3

    Jun 23, 2006
    1,861
    Where wife tells me
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    Sam
    #6 sammyb, Jun 7, 2007
    One point to consider is that if you remove the cats and replace with test pipes, the car cannot be sold to anyone in California. If you plan on keeping the car forever, obviously this is not a concern.

    You also might have trouble finding a shop that will remove the cats, since doing so (and getting caught) is usually around a $5,000 fine in most states.

    That being said, removing is a good way to go, since it reduces weight and very slightly increases hp and torque. Plus it rids the car of a consumable part.

    There's nothing wrong with replacing with performance cats, and is a very good way to go if you want to maintain compliance in all 50 states. The performance difference between hi-po cats and no cats is extremely minimal, but the performance difference between worn-out cats and either option is pretty large.
     
  7. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #7 DMaury, Jun 7, 2007
    Well, I'm in Louisiana, where they don't even do emissions tests (at least in the rural Parish I live in), but I do see the point of the problem with resale to another state. I always tell myself when I get a new classic car that I'll never get rid of it....and then in 3 years I do.

    And I do have a local mechanic who will do the replacement, removing the cats.

    Looks like I'm going with the test-pipes.

     
  8. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2006
    4,866
    Atlantic Beach Fl
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    Stuart K. Hicks
    #8 climb, Jun 7, 2007
    I had test pipes put on recently.

    The guy that did them said that they are three way cats and without the air pump the cats will just keep burning up.

    He used flanges from cats and just handmade test pipes.

    Charged me $500 or something and did it in like three hours.

    car sounds better and runs stronger.
     
  9. Hans

    Hans F1 Veteran

    Feb 17, 2006
    7,734
    Hilversum, Netherlands
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    Hans Teijgeler
    #9 Hans, Jun 7, 2007
    If you do decide to go with an aftermarked exhaust, consider the X-OST. A shop in Maranello, very near the Ferrari factories, supposedly started by a bunch of ex-Tubi employees.

    I bought mine from them directly. Very nice polished stainless steel. I've got a 1974 Euro GT4, so no cats, obviously.

    I paid around 800 euros for the exhaust (NO HEADERS).

    To me, this is VERY good value for money, and only 60% of a comparable larini system.

    They have exhaust systems for many designs, including the 328 if I am not mistaking.

    www.x-ost.com

    Do a search on youtube. There are several sound clips there.

    And could someone please explain to me what these test pipes are???? Again, I've got a no-emission controlled euro model, with no air pump or other crap, so I don't think it is applicable to me. Just curious....

    Thanks

    Hans

    P.S. The X-OST was many, many lbs lighter than the stock muffler, which really weighs more than a boat anchor...
     
  10. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #10 DMaury, Jun 7, 2007
    Hans, where did you buy your X-OST from? I see the price at Ricambi, and that's the exact price that the Larini is selling for from them direct.
     
  11. Hans

    Hans F1 Veteran

    Feb 17, 2006
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    #11 Hans, Jun 7, 2007
    I got mine from X-OST themselves. VERY pleasant and correct people to deal with. True to their word.
     
  12. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #12 DMaury, Jun 7, 2007
    Can you give me a link to their website (I tried google, and the only one that I found was in Italiano!) or a number to reach them at?

    Thanks, I'll surely check them out as well.
     
  13. GT4fore

    GT4fore Karting

    Dec 7, 2006
    102
    Mt. Airy, Maryland
    Full Name:
    Gary
    #13 GT4fore, Jun 7, 2007
    Here ya go. My 1980 308 no cats, no air pump, no EGR, Larini sport exhaust. Just the way Enzo intended. Engine compartment is a lot cooler now. My car is registered with historic tags, no inspections required. No smog check, no safety inspections. :-}

    http://home.comcast.net/~gt4fore/308.mp4


    GT
     
  14. ALUMINUMYELLOW328

    ALUMINUMYELLOW328 Formula Junior

    May 30, 2004
    381
    Bergen County, NJ
    Full Name:
    Rhett R Arcilla
    #14 ALUMINUMYELLOW328, Jun 7, 2007
    Contact Daniel Pass over at Ricambi! He carries the X-OST product!

     
  15. jonesdds

    jonesdds Formula 3

    Aug 31, 2006
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    SB,CA & Park City UT
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    Jeff
    #15 jonesdds, Jun 7, 2007
    +1-I got the X-ost with hyperflow cat(328-1 cat). Definite weight loss, beautiful, and feels like a little better throttle response. Oh, and sounds awesome!

    Jeff
     
  16. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2006
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    #16 climb, Jun 8, 2007
    That sound clip of GT4Fore's has me sold on the Larini. Until i hear something better i'm not gonna budge.


    I saw a site for the Larini that wanted 600 or 800 Euros.

    I drove one with a Tubi..sounded nice that Larini sounds exotic though.
     
  17. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #17 DMaury, Jun 8, 2007

    That sounds wonderful! I think you sold me.
     
  18. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
    10,213
    San Antonio
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    Russ Turner
    #18 snj5, Jun 8, 2007
    I really do not like many OTC exhausts (including many Larini) that I have heard, but I gotta say that this GT4fore installation really sounds very good, if only a bit loud.
    Very nice sounding exhaust - good tone and note.
    GREAT color, obtw - Rosso rubino?

    best
    rt
     
  19. PWehmer

    PWehmer Formula 3

    Oct 15, 2002
    1,733
    Surrounded by Water
    #19 PWehmer, Jun 8, 2007
    Jim is a Tubi dealer.
    My 328 had Tubi headers and muffler that Jim sold & installed. It made music-nearly everyone commented how good it sounded.
     
  20. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
    10,213
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    Russ Turner
    #20 snj5, Jun 8, 2007
    Do you feel the tubi headers made a difference in sound or performance? Any comments on them? -- I just got a set myself, not yet installed.
     
  21. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #21 DMaury, Jun 8, 2007

    I haven't spoken to Jim about the Larini system (I did speak to him about a Tubi before I found out about the Larini) but the sound and the cost almost have me sold. Do you think it would be against policy for him to install the Larini as he is a Tubi dealer?

    Also, I'm interested to hear if anyone thinks the headers made/make a difference.
     
  22. GT4fore

    GT4fore Karting

    Dec 7, 2006
    102
    Mt. Airy, Maryland
    Full Name:
    Gary
    #22 GT4fore, Jun 8, 2007
    $2100 (shipped) for the Larini sport exhaust and the two stainless Cat test pipes. The installation was a simple bolt on, took me less than and hour. BTW, the test pipes had the bungs for the temp probes. Very happy with the sound and temp reduction in the engine compartment

    GT
     
  23. PWehmer

    PWehmer Formula 3

    Oct 15, 2002
    1,733
    Surrounded by Water
    #23 PWehmer, Jun 8, 2007
    An owner of a well driven '89 328 rode with me and commented that once the revs were over 4K that is had more pull.

    The only mods on the car were the full Tubi and a K&N filter.

    One thing to consider is that a Tubi has more name recognition then other systems. Helps resale.
     
  24. DMaury

    DMaury Formula 3

    Mar 27, 2007
    1,993
    Ponchatoula, LA
    #24 DMaury, Jun 16, 2007
    Well, I went ahead and ordered the Larini sports system with the test pipe. Keeping the stock manifolds.. I ordered the system from Ferrari Parts Exchange, and they are shipping it directly to Jim's shop.

    I hope to have it back in about 3 weeks or so, then I'll let you all know how it sounds. I may even have to do one of those video posts ;)
     
  25. Hans

    Hans F1 Veteran

    Feb 17, 2006
    7,734
    Hilversum, Netherlands
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    #25 Hans, Jun 17, 2007
    www.x-ost.com

    Click on the American flag in the right-top corner of the page for English

    Hans
     
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