DesignTek upgrades are something we’ve been fitting more and more lately, and for good reason. They offer a solid balance between performance, sound, and usability, especially on classic air-cooled cars.

Recently, we’ve been fitting a range of DesignTek exhaust components to our own 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster. It’s been a gradual process rather than a single swap, allowing us to really see (and hear) how each part contributes to the overall setup.

Why We Chose DesignTek

The 1989 Speedster is already a special car, lightweight, raw, and very much built for driving. But like many older 911s, the original exhaust setup can feel a little restricted.

That’s where DesignTek comes in. The goal wasn’t to completely change the car, just to bring out more of what’s already there.

If you’re considering something similar, you can explore the full range here:
https://www.design911.com/b/designtek/

Starting at the Front

We began by fitting upgraded heat exchangers as part of the process:
https://www.design911.com/porsche/911-1987-89/porsche-exhaust-heat-exchangers/?brands=94246

Alongside this, we also introduced a DesignTek GT3-style rear silencer into the setup:
https://www.design911.com/p/exhaust-muffler-silencer-rear-box-with-valves-sports-gt3-style-designtek-porsche-911-1975-89/?source=doofinder

On our 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster, combining these components made a noticeable difference straight away. While the heat exchangers lay the groundwork, the DesignTek GT3-style rear box is what really starts to shape the character of the car.

Refining the Flow

Next, we moved onto the cross-over pipe:
https://www.design911.com/porsche/911-1987-89/porsche-exhaust-cross-over-pipes/?brands=94246

This is one of those parts that quietly makes a difference. By fitting a DesignTek cross-over pipe, the system feels more balanced, and the exhaust note becomes smoother and more consistent.

The Biggest Change

The most noticeable upgrade came from the rear silencer:
https://www.design911.com/p/exhaust-muffler-silencer-rear-box-with-valves-sports-1-in-2-out-designtek-porsche-911-1975-89/?source=doofinder

We fitted a valved DesignTek sports exhaust, which completely changes the character of the car. With the valves closed, it’s still perfectly usable on the road. Open them up, and it sounds exactly how you’d want a 911 Speedster to sound: deeper, sharper, and far more engaging.

Watch video here

How It Feels Now

After fitting these DesignTek components to our 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster, the difference is clear. The engine feels a little freer, but more importantly, the whole driving experience is more involving.

It’s not about chasing huge power gains; it’s about making the car feel right.

Final Thoughts

Working through this setup on our own car has shown just how well DesignTek parts work together. Each component adds something, and when combined, they create a noticeable improvement without losing the character of the original car.

If you’re looking to upgrade your own 911, it’s worth taking a look here:
Design911.co.uk

For us, continuing to fit DesignTek parts to our 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster has been a straightforward way to get more out of an already brilliant car, without overcomplicating it.