I will be installing an exhaust on Thursday and had a few questions:

1. Can you remove the exhaust without removing the bumper?
2. Can you remove the O2 senors without disconnecting? I only see a rubber tube coming off the O2 sensors and not sure if they can twist
3. How do you remove the two top bolts holding the cats on the turbo? I can easily access the bottom two but the top two are very crammed. If the bumper needs to be removed, any step by step instructions? Thanks.

 

I just installed my new catless system. You need to remove the bumper, fender liners, and intercoolers to gain access.

 

You need to remove the bumper it takes 10 minutes, jack the car, remove the tailights and mudflaps and then you have about 12 torx screws to remove on the bumper (6 on top and 6 on the bottom and voila.

If it's like the 997.1, it's not mandatory to remove the intercoolers.

As for the two top bolts on the headers, you need a special 13mm wrench that looks like this but 45 degree instead of 90:

 

What about the O2 sensors? Were you able to remove them without disconnecting them?

 

The 02 wires are not really long, as for my self I disconnected them and pull them out of the car with the exhaust.

 

Take your time and be ready to spend a couple of hours on your project.

 

No experience with a 997.2, but I've done the .1 about a dozen times. I can't imagine it's that much different. I never removed the bumper, ICs, fenderwells, etc. To me that extra access would not add all that much to justify the pia factor.
I found the 13mm shorty ratchet very useful for the turbo nuts. I do like those right angle 13mm wrenches pictured above.
The o2 sensors can either be done on the top at their connectors, or at the cat, accessed thru the exhaust orifice after removing the tips.
On a scale of 1-10 in difficulty as a diy-in your garage-job, it's about a 6. Headers on a 930 are considerably harder imo.
If it's your first time, plan on about 4 hours, be careful with the turbo studs, very easy to snap off.

 

Wow. Hats off to you. I just did my catless system yesterday and it took a total of 7 hours with me screwing up here and there
I cannot imagine doing it without taking off the bumpers and intercoolers.

 

Thanks guys. I will try to locate those wrenches. I will also try installing without removing the bumper. If it becomes a PIA, ill remove the bumper.

 

I have a set of pdf. instructions I can send you. If you want them PM me with your email

 

Well, I'm not exactly a novice, but mine was also a .1, may be more involved on a .2.
When you're on the tenth or so time, it takes just a few hours.
When pulling the muffler down on a .1, have somebody pull outward on the bumper lip, it will pop right down. The strap can also be tedious, just take your time.
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Any updates, pics or tips? I kind of want to do this on my own unless its really a PITA.

 

Just had a local Porsche shop install a Sharkwerks muffler and you don't have to remove the bumper.

 

I believe it even easier than a.1 bc you can take it off in pieces bc of the modular design.

 

I did my own on 12' 997.2tts and it took 6 hrs total...I removed bumper and intercoolers ....your really need another set of hands to remove and install exhaust in my opinion....what brand system did you buy