Hey guys,

So there’s all sorts of opinions I’ve been reading, but none of them really answer my specific question. So hopefully you guys can shed some light and/or your experiences.

My question is this:

For the VQ35DE…
Which setup is better specifically for our engines…
Y-Pipe Cat-Backs or X-Pipe Car-Backs?

I’m not necessarily asking which is better for horsepower I’m asking which would make the engine most happy?

Currently, I have an HKS Cat-back on my Z with Berk Test Pipes. But I’ve grown tired of the sound.

So Im going to get an invidia. Just not sure which

the invidia n1 is a y-pipe to dual exit
and the invidia Gemini is an x-pipe to dual exit
(Essentially dual exhaust)

As many of you know the HKS is also an X-Pipe to dual exit.

So I’m just wondering would my engine run better using a y-pipe configuration since that’s how it’s designed factory?
Or would it really not make a difference?

A part of me wants to switch back to the Y style and see how different it run’s compared to the dual exhaust catback.
I’d probably do an HR Y-Pipe with the Invidia N1

But if it really doesn’t change anything then I’ll just go with the Gemini Dual.

I feel like my car is a little sluggish in the low rpm’s. And my friend has a completely stock z and it feels more peppy down low. It’s not faster but it just feels like the throttle responds so much better.

So I’m just curious to see which is ultimately better for Naturally Aspirated VQs.

thank you guys for checking this out!

My engine modifications are:
AEM Cold Air Intake
Motordyne Plenum Spader
Berk Resonated Test Pipes
HKS Hi-Power Dual Exhaust

 

It's just personal preference to the sound, butt dyno is only going to "feel" different based on sound alone

 

Your engine will be "happy" if you've gotten it tuned with those modifications. Has that happened?

 

The different setups do about the same thing: minimal gain without tune (as was pointed out above). I have an original S-Tune on my 33 and gave away another one to the buyer of my Z33N. Sounds good but sans tune, hardly noticeable power gain (despite supposed 8-10bhp gain.

 

Ok, is the HKS authentic? That's an H-pipe not X, pretty sure all 3 are.
You have the Hi-power I assume?
It may be the test pipes you are tired of, the Gemini will sound close to the HKS I have.
Any single that isn't OEM style sounds like a civic, the loss of torque you have is the intake, get a different one or get an 06+ box preferable.
ALL CAI will lose response, and gain HP in the higher revs, the ideal intakes are the ones shaped like OEM.
My favorite out of the ~7 intakes I've had is Stillen, then 06 box.