Need advice on complete new exhaust setup
 

My head is spinning from reading everything I have on exhausts in this forum and I'm looking for advice. Here's my "problem".

Birthday just passed and my wife is pushing be to treat myself to a new exhaust system. She likes the stock sound but really wants something more aggressive. When I told her what it might cost she just said I deserve it and just do it(I'm keeping her). I also want the sound but more importantly I want the performance.

I intend to do headers, test pipe, and exhaust but want to know if thats the way to go. I think a test pipe eliminates the hi flo cat option...right? From reading other threads I'm pretty convinced I'm going to install it myself and save $$$ that I'd rather put into a good exhaust system.

Ok...so there's the "problem". Suggestions/Advice?

This is my favorite exhaust. I just bought it yesterday and will be switching it out this weekend from what I currently have.....also switching from Vortech to Greddy TT...hehehehe.

Anyway, here is a sound clip. This is javi's ride. He does not have headers, but I think he has test pipes. You can pick up this exhaust up for about $950 shipped. It looks bad AZZ because the exhaust tips look like potato launchers....looks very agressive from behind. You should gain about 5-7hp with this exhaust. It is also a good exhaust if you choose to go turbo or supercharged later. BTW, I have a set of top speed headers for sale.......Only $250. The headers will give you about another 10-12hp.


http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=4286943527

Frankiep,

You should check out the New HKS Hi-Power exhaust. The exhaust sounds great and from what I have been reading everyone seems to like the gains they are feeling. The exhaust looks nice as well. :) Let me know if you are interested in the exhaust :)

My co-worker had a Stillen Catback installed in his 2003 350z, and now his new 35th Aniversary edition.
I wanted something less expensive and really was looking at Borla or Nismo, because there was a dealership near my home that would install the Nismo, and a performance shop near work for the Borlas.
I went with neither because I found a shop located near my home along the way home from work Z-World, and my co-worker MADE me order Stillen, which ironically the shop recommended as well.
Both said QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY.....and my coworker and I got into big debates over this.
In the end, after 2 weeks of debating with my co-worker I had Z-World order the Stillen and I love the sound.
Both my co-worker and I are in our early 40's and hate the ricey, buzzbomb, fart sounding Civics etc out there....
I didnt want anything raspy either.....we also have a co-worker who drives a Maserati with one of those Ferrari engines who parks near us to compete with...so lets put it this way...I AM VERY HAPPY with the sound, looks, and quality of the Stillen.
I also noticed much better performance.
I went into this whole exhaust thing with low expectations...and came out very very happy.

Doesn't anyone have an opinion on a full system.....header to exhaust?

No company sells a full system (headers to exhaust). You will have to piece it out.

that is true, but you can buy the complete exhaust system in parts from the same company....example, nismo....this way, your piping all matches up correctly. take this into consideration if your going to mix and match your in out diameter sizes :)

From what I read, the headers are a pain to install, expensive to install, with minimum power gains and horrible sounding.
At least from what i saw on these forums.
I was considering headers until I read what was posted.

go for what you like the looks and sound of....performance wise will make zero difference.

A catback + Y pipe = performance of a true dual

The HKS would be a great choice, Stillen is nice as well, and Fujitsubo.....anything else, IMHO, given your demographics, will be too loud for you (HKS being the "loudest" of the 3 I mentioned). Mat these with a good set of high flow cats (everyone knows my favorite!!!), and you'll have a terrific sounding and performing setup that will last.

Don't bother with the headers until you get serious and do cams

Choice for headers and high-flow cats are easy, get the crawfords if you have the cash. Don't get test pipes, it's risky, sounds horrible, and the gains arent that big of a difference from high flows.

Exhaust, IMO get the new HKS exhaust if you have the Cash flow, or go with the Injen if you don't want to fork over the extra dough.

I personally like my exhaust the best but good luck finding someone to make one like it for you.

Some good input now..thanks. A few comments/questions.

I'm aware that I have to piece the whoe system together.

I thought headers would be worth some more power and great sound but it sounds like not. I'm remembering back to when I put headers on my 1976 280z. The sound was awesome and there was a noticable performance gain. If the cost and the hastle of installing them aren't worth it, I can easily exclude them....for now.

I also thought test pipes would help performance but I read in another thread that they sound like crap (too raspy) so I had already decided to leave those out too.

Am I correct that high-flow cats replace my existing cat, instead of a test pipe?

Can a catback + Y pipe really = the performance of a TD exhaust?

Can a catback + Y pipe really = the performance of a TD exhaust?

Yep - it absolutely can and does :)

The order of the exhaust goes headers/manifold, cats/test pipes, Y pipe, mid pipe, rear muffler section

Here is a pic of the Ultimate Racing high flow cats installed so you can see how it bolts up:

http://www.z1auto.com/images/350zCat04.jpg
http://www.z1auto.com/images/350zCat01.jpg

and here is the Ultimate Y pipe:

http://www.z1auto.com/images/350zYpipe01.jpg

ive heard awesome things about the ultimate racing high flow cats, plus they are a lot more reasonably priced than the crawfords and less bulky it seems. If you want to save a couple hundred bucks for basically the same performance grab a set of those! And like Z1 said, you can get the same performance from the Y pipe style exhaust, personally i prefer the sound of a true dual though.

If I'm reading this right, the only exhaust mod you made was the Stillen catback and performance improved and you love the sound. Wow! I'm same age and agree with you and your buddy sound. I'm also a believer in paying for quality the 1st time.

Does anyone have a sound clip for the Veilside all Titanium exhust? I am contemplating getting either this or the Fujitsubo Titanium exhust. I really like the sound clip for the Fujitsubo exhust from Adam and just wondering what the Veilside would sound like.

get the invidia true dual. its quiet enough, throaty, and beautiful. I have topsepeed headers and high flows...if i could do it again id prob spend the extra money for the alphaworks headers though. 20 to the wheels! craziness. I would go alphaworks or crawford if u have the money...otherwise my setup is nice and cheaper. Topspeed headers=300$ shipped, invidia true dual catback=900

I was out today Zainoing my car and all of my neighbors came by to drool over it.
One asked if I had done "something" to my car, so I asked "why do you say that?", and he said I heard you pull out the other day and it sounds alot different, alot better!
Hows that for a testimonial?
This morning two people we walking their dogs and when I stopped at a 4-way stop they waved and I waved, as I looked in my rearview mirror they had stopped walking and watched me drive the whole way down the block and the one guy was making gestures to the other person obviously about the car...and the other had a jawdropping look on his face.
:)
Even the cops who direct traffic where I work drool over this car.
Nissan..., Zaino, and Stillen...ya did good!

since your wife likes the stock sound and wants a more aggressive sound, I would recommend the Nismo. I have the injen straight tips and its not too loud, but you can tell it is louder than stock. :D

BAD NEWS...amazing how quickly priorities can change. I was out for a ride the other night in Woodstock Ga and got hit with LIDAR doing 59 in a 40. I wasn't even trying. Just cruising and not paying attention to speed. Of course my Radar/Laser detector never went off because he told me he shot it right at one of my headlights.

I went out yesterday and bought an Escort ZR3 Laser Shifter and an 8500 X50 (blue). Bought both at Hi Fi Buys...the ZR3 was $299 and the 8500 was $339. I'd love to install myself but just don't have the time. A kid at Best Buy who did a great job installing the same on my buddies' Audi TT is willing to do it for $100. I hope to have it done within a couple of days.

Unfortunately this will force me to wait awhile on the exhaust, but should give me plenty of time to know exactly what I want when I'm ready. Thanks for all the input and advice.

The Escort will definetly pay for itself. It's a fantastic radar with awesome range and selectivity (usually only comes on when there is a cop around). As for the laser shifter I have yet to buy it, but it sounds like a great mod as well. Maybe when police start using Laser more in my area I will consider it.