I alwasy had this idea of having upgrade one on each side.. one on the intake side and one on exhaust..

in my case i got a true flow OEM replacement filter and i am going to get the MD spacer for intake.. on the exhuast side.. do you guys think i can benefit more with an exhuast or header?

for the exhuast i was thinking about the helix and header strup.

good thing about exhaust is that i can put it on myself and also still use it if i ever go turbocharge. header will leave me only the option to put a stillen supercharger on it.

from what i see exhaust usually gives more power up top while the header is more towards low to mid.. which is what i want.. is this pretty much the case?

I know on most case the MAS or MAFT (honeycombs etc) are usually restrictive.. are our stock ones the same ordeal?

 

If you’re looking at exhaust mods, consider the order and ease of installation. If you’re going to be under the car for header installation, may as well do test pipes at the same time (depending on your budget). If I look back and had a chance to do my exhaust again, I would replace the headers first.

 

cool that was my initial plan header first.. i am going to take it to AAM and have them installed and tune it a little with the plenum.. at least to make sure my car is running good.

I think doing the header and test pipe will make the car too loud.. i like to keep it quiet so that when i do gun it.. no on can really hear it.. i don't want to draw too much attention.

 

Well if you dont want to make you car LOUD steer clear of test pipes.

 

I think you also have to consider your driving style/what you do with your Z..

By installing headers 1st, as I have (Strup) you will get nice gains in the mid range but hardly anything at the top end because the bottle neck of the stock exhaust. I was +25HP at 5500 rpms and only +6HP at 6500rpms. Other people who have gone with headers first will tell you the same...

I hit up a lot of backroads with twisties hence my decision for that mid range power. If you are racing, you need that top end power so you might be better off with a true dual exhaust.

Also, depending on the headers you select, you are looking at an install of 3-6 hours with an experienced mechanic..... maybe even longer in some cases. Exhaust install is an hour tops!


Good Luck!

 

True dual, I wish I could post my dyno but my TQ curve is perfect all the way up to about 6k then drops off a little.

 

RNL323 what mods did you have when you had this big drop of in power with the headers??

i put a drop in k&n and installed some megan headers at the time and felt more punch all the way to redline.

Next i instaled a y pipe and the top end was more refined. I guess i would not tell unless i dynoed it.

thats kinda wierd??

my headers are the same design as DC sports and alphaworks, and nismo.

In fact i took my headers over to fontana nissan and compared them to there nismo headers and they are designed nearly identical. the salesman was surprised i got it for 190 shipped and called over a few mechanics to check it out.

i even went back because one of the mechanics wanted to test drive it.

we first drove a new 2005 z manual and then drove mine and mine was alot faster, noticably faster.

so my question is if you put an exhaust on after the headers???

i just bought a y pipe because the nismo exhaust only puts out a few ponies to the wheels, i determined the y pipe was super restrictive. even the exhaust note changed a little.

i'm just curoius on whet you did and how much diference there is in just installing a y pipe compared to the entire exhaust.

let me know i'm curious!!

 

LODOSS - good choice with getting the Motordyne plenum spacer! not sure which year Z you have, but if it's a later model Z, with the "Revup" engine, you should seriously consider the MREV kit over just a spacer. It'll deliver much more performance. otherswise, then consider the iso thermal spacer kit over the basic spacer kit.

As for your exhaust mod concerns, if you're looking for the most bang for your buck there, then definitely get headers before exhaust. The performance gains you'll get from the headers - especially torque gains - definitely outshines the gains you'd see from just a performance muffler. And, yes, as others have mentioned, the Strup headers have been proven over and over with independent dyno testing to deliver what they say they will, and even more in some cases!

with regards to test pipes, Strup is also in the process of making their own test pipes. Should be coming out very soon, and I promise you we'll be the first ones to have them! - but I know you mentioned about keeping your car a little more on the stealth side, and test pipes will increase the exhaust volume, no doubt. The Strup headers will add a deeper growl under the hood. PM me if you are considering both the Motordyne and Strup mods - I can hook you up with a deal!

 

Exhaust noise is subjective, but if you want a quiet exhaust system, do NOT duplicate my signature.

 

danimaldaisy-

JWT Popcharger
Motordyne 1/4 spacer

Then

Strup headers

You should definitely dyno to see where your power is and if it drops off a but. My car pulls hard as well but when I get around 6000rpms I can feel it start to taper off. It's proven on my dyno. I wish I could post it but I just moved and now I can't find the d@mn thing!

Headers and a y-pipe or cats/test pipes will all make good power, the problem is the stock exhaust because all the exhaust gases that you freed up will bottle neck at the single pipe for the exhaust. A TD will let the gases flow all the way through with no bottle neck thus free flowing inhale and exhale which leads to power all the way through!

I'm probably going to add a Borla TD in the next couple of months or a custom exhaust by a local Z tuner.

Props to Dave and partshippers.com for hookin it up with the Strup Headers!!!

 

I would do header and test pipes and a y-pipe....you could get all that for around $550-600.

-TopSpeed Headers ~$250
-TopSpeed TestPipes ~$100
-Misc. Y-Pipe ~$200-250

Thats what I would do and then get an exhaust after that....like the Gruppe-M exhaust

 

I have a 05 so won't need the MREV kit. i have been quoted 800+ for the strup header and installed which i think its a pretty good deal. i will get the MD spacer first from you soon.. as soon as i sale the apex rev/speed meter. But i am really waiting for the Z mag results so i can pick in between the AAM and MD.

I think i am going to get the strup header.. i don;t do a lot of racing.. i juat like the drive/sensation.. so the mid range tq and hp would be great.

 

Are you sure about the stock exhaust??

It flows pretty well. and a few manufacturers are saying that they only get 1-2hp by replacing it from the y pipe.some even loose power

I strongly suggest you get a y pipe first to see if it solves the problem.

I got mine of ebay shipped for 90 bucks.
I know there are alot of brands that range from this up to 300 bucks but they are all the same part in ebay just a diffeent box.
Yeah i took a real chance on it and crossed my fingers but when i opened the box and checked the welds ect i was happy with it and installed it. I got more top end.
so you might get you're top end back.
when you take of the y pipe you can see how restrictive it is. and it looks even worse when you take the heatshields off to look at it.
the exhause piping is larger that the pipig on the y pipe because it is choked at more than one point.
But hey if you really like the borla then get it. I just think you can save that money and get some more goodies.
Later on i plan on getting a JIC exhaust, but not yet.

and second my order in parts was k&n drop in, headers, y pipe and then the plenum spacer.
I hope that helps.

as for now all i want are some pullies and cams.

and later a LSD with the 3.9 gearing.

By the way i have to look it up but there is a pulley kit with all black pullies for even more low profile look.

I'm going as low pro as possible.

I just hope i don't get that loss on the dyno.

It could be the stock cams!! don't they drop off at 6000-6200 rpm??

You might be cranking out all you can. And if you are making that kinda power you might change that with an exhaust that flows too freely.

Id try the y pipe and if it doesnt work for you you can always sell it for probbably what you got it for or even more.

I'll get it dynoed when i can but i'm out of cash I am in the middle of purchasing oem hid kit from jun before he runs out and i have to pay through the nose from the dealer.

Let me know what happends weather you go for the y pipe ot the entire exhaust system.

 

cool i;ll think about the y pipe too.. i would not mind saving some money on getting generic brand megan topspeed etc y pipe headers... but if it is going on the car for years.. i want something that i know will last.. i don';t want to get something on it and later on.. something goes wrong with it and it takes me forever to figure out what the problem is.

basically i am going for header, drop in filter and plenum for max tq gain in low and mid range for min amount of money .. think this combo will provide plenty of fun for me =p and hopefully be able to keep up with the stock evo;s and sti's

 

The y pipe is stainless steel. It cant rust
You would have to run over something to ruin it, and the chances of this happening are remote, even if it did happen you would just scrape it.
also iv'e been looking around for info on pullies and it seems the only one that makes power is the crank pulley. I wouldnt get the othet pullies because they make no power and you have to purchase a shorter belt.

I think this will be my next mod. I gotta find one at a reasonable price and it has to be black in color to look stock.