328: Change entire US exhaust system for Euro | FerrariChat
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328: Change entire US exhaust system for Euro

Discussion in '308/328' started by dinonz308, May 9, 2025.

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  1. dinonz308

    dinonz308 Formula Junior

    Nov 26, 2017
    867
    Full Name:
    Dean
    #1 dinonz308, May 9, 2025
    Hi All,

    Just wondered if it's possible to replace the entire US exhaust system with a Euro spec one (manifolds, pipes, muffler etc.) or is the vehicle itself different regarding mounting points etc?

    Dino
     
  2. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,785
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    #2 Steve Magnusson, May 9, 2025
    Last edited: May 9, 2025
    What are you trying to accomplish? If you did that, it would probably be best to eliminate the air injection system also (since the euro headers don't have the protective insulation). You could get 90% of the (very small) "benefit" of doing that on a US 328 by just replacing the cat with a test pipe for 5% of the cost - or is someone giving you a complete euro 328 exhaust system for free?

    They did a very good job of making the euro vs US performance difference very small on 328 (for example, unlike the 2-valve US 308, the air injection system on a US 328 causes virtually no power loss during warm-running). The euro 328 is rated at 270 hp and the US 328 at 260 hp -- but a lot of that 10 hp difference is in the compression ratio difference (euro = 9.8:1 and US = 9.2:1) so, at best, you might gain something like 3~5 hp (because you aren't changing your compression ratio).
     
    ChevyDave likes this.
  3. dinonz308

    dinonz308 Formula Junior

    Nov 26, 2017
    867
    Full Name:
    Dean
    #3 dinonz308, May 10, 2025
    Last edited: May 10, 2025
    My car is a bit of a mix spec wise. It's a Middle East spec car, and as such has a Euro engine with metric gauges, but has the US safety features (larger bumpers, side intrusion beams) as well as the US exhaust system but I believe Middle East spec did not include the cat despite having the US bumper with the ventilation for the cat.

    Was trying to improve the sound (improve, not make louder like a lot of exhausts) and one option was an ANSA unit, and they come as a full Euro kit. I have ANSA sports exhausts on other cars, and I like the sound (a deeper tone rather than a raspy sound). I just don't know if any mounting points are different between the 2 where this would be problematic or whether it can be done.
     
  4. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,785
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    #4 Steve Magnusson, May 10, 2025
    Last edited: May 10, 2025
    In the 328 Spare Parts Catalogue, your 328 is referred to as the "SA Version" (Saudi Arabia Version) -- it is like a euro, but with some US systems/pieces (e.g., you also have the US fuel evaporation control system). Since it came with a test pipe like you noted = an aftermarket US version muffler (like an ANSA brand) might be your better option for sound "improvement".
     
  5. dinonz308

    dinonz308 Formula Junior

    Nov 26, 2017
    867
    Full Name:
    Dean
    #5 dinonz308, May 10, 2025
    Yes - it has a mix of bits. Even the gauges are mostly Euro, with the US tach that has the brake failure lights. I think the oil cooler is like the US model rather than Euro - but things like that make me wonder if it's there for exhaust clearance issues, or is that mounting more of an extreme weather option for SA and Death Valley/Arizona weather?
     
  6. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,785
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    #6 Steve Magnusson, May 10, 2025
    Could be just to get the better US insulation in the rear trunk area. If you check the 328 SPC, the US trunk insulation is another thing that your SA version got. And the insulated US exhaust headers and insulated interconnecting exhaust pipes would help that, too.
     

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