Test Pipes on stock exhaust
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 49
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From: North VA
If I get test pipes they should be 2.5'' right? And then i will have to get a 2.5'' catback once I decide to get one. Is 2.5'' good for this car or would i see more power if the exhaust is 3'' piping. Also, is there a low end torque drop with 3'' piping? Sorry, im a Z n00b... for now 
Originally Posted by m1james@bellsou
sparco555
Sounds like you're looking for some nice sound improvement with perhaps some performance improvement to go with it. I've searched the exhaust forum a ton and there seems to be a lot of disagreement on whether or not test pipes sound good, Some say rasp, some say no rasp and so on.
It's not a small job to install so you want to be happy after laying under your car a couple/few hours.
Things to consider whtih TP's
-sound
-rasp
-drone
-smelly exhaust
-throwing CEL
-cracking
-failing emissions test
High Flow Cat's may provide what you are looking for and avoid some of the above pitfalls.
Here's a link to a post I made on the HFC subject with sound clips and measurement before and after installation of Ultimate Racing HFC's
https://my350z.com/forum/intake-exhaust/200485-ultimate-racing-hfc-install-and-oem-comparison.html
The clips don't really represent the measured difference per the sound meter. The HFC's added volume, sound deep and muscular but are not too loud. No CEL, look similar to stock and they don't stink. Read it before you go TP's as you want to be happy with your mod.
Good luck.
Sounds like you're looking for some nice sound improvement with perhaps some performance improvement to go with it. I've searched the exhaust forum a ton and there seems to be a lot of disagreement on whether or not test pipes sound good, Some say rasp, some say no rasp and so on.
It's not a small job to install so you want to be happy after laying under your car a couple/few hours.
Things to consider whtih TP's
-sound
-rasp
-drone
-smelly exhaust
-throwing CEL
-cracking
-failing emissions test
High Flow Cat's may provide what you are looking for and avoid some of the above pitfalls.
Here's a link to a post I made on the HFC subject with sound clips and measurement before and after installation of Ultimate Racing HFC's
https://my350z.com/forum/intake-exhaust/200485-ultimate-racing-hfc-install-and-oem-comparison.html
The clips don't really represent the measured difference per the sound meter. The HFC's added volume, sound deep and muscular but are not too loud. No CEL, look similar to stock and they don't stink. Read it before you go TP's as you want to be happy with your mod.
Good luck.
Wow thanks a lot for the great info! You da man!
If you want test pipes, I suggest getting test pipes without resonators and also getting a y-pipe at the same time. You will have a little bit of rasp, so you will need to weld on a resonator on your stock b-pipe and the rasp will go away. I can get you titek test pipes if your interested, very good quality. Search for it and you'll find the link.
I have Invidia TP's and it doesnt necessarily sound raspy but more like a tin can. Kinda of like a broken civic but only at first and now its going away. I like it and its worth it.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
Originally Posted by blasian
Mine doesn't rattle 
Honestly if I'm at lets say 25% throttle it'll have rasp from 3-4k, other than that it sounds stock. Louder, but sounds stock.
Plus its one of the biggest weight drops... Each cat is a little over 26lbs plus the brace. Each test pipe weighs a little over 5lbs maybe? The box the test pipes came in was pretty much destroyed by the weight of the cats.
One other thing, it will vibrate more since that brace isn't on but its not all that bad. Noticeable but nothing drastic.
Honestly if I'm at lets say 25% throttle it'll have rasp from 3-4k, other than that it sounds stock. Louder, but sounds stock.
Plus its one of the biggest weight drops... Each cat is a little over 26lbs plus the brace. Each test pipe weighs a little over 5lbs maybe? The box the test pipes came in was pretty much destroyed by the weight of the cats.
One other thing, it will vibrate more since that brace isn't on but its not all that bad. Noticeable but nothing drastic.
The bracket is there for a reason. There's lots of posts on the subject of cracking TP and HFCs. That's why I went Ultimate Racing HFC that have the OEM design and have had no reports of cracking.
Originally Posted by m1james@bellsou
OEM cat's are not 26 lbs each. OEM cat's weigh just over 13 lbs each. The bracket, maybe a pound. Test pipes tend to rasp and throw CEL which most people dislike.
The bracket is there for a reason. There's lots of posts on the subject of cracking TP and HFCs. That's why I went Ultimate Racing HFC that have the OEM design and have had no reports of cracking.
The bracket is there for a reason. There's lots of posts on the subject of cracking TP and HFCs. That's why I went Ultimate Racing HFC that have the OEM design and have had no reports of cracking.
I've actually heard HFC at one of the Z meets and they rasp too... Not nearly as bad as test pipes but they do have some rasp to it. Lucky for me, I have an 03 so a CEL is not a problem... From what I've seen on the boards, seems like the bracket is there to support those heavy cats. Probably going on a year on my test pipes and no cracking
Originally Posted by blasian
Could have sworn someone posted the weight of 26lbs per cat. There sure as hell don't feel like 26lbs total, I had a hell of a time carrying them. Hell, my dad gave me this odd look when he tried to push them over with his foot. Hell, maybe I'll weigh them next time I go back home.
I've actually heard HFC at one of the Z meets and they rasp too... Not nearly as bad as test pipes but they do have some rasp to it. Lucky for me, I have an 03 so a CEL is not a problem... From what I've seen on the boards, seems like the bracket is there to support those heavy cats. Probably going on a year on my test pipes and no cracking
I've actually heard HFC at one of the Z meets and they rasp too... Not nearly as bad as test pipes but they do have some rasp to it. Lucky for me, I have an 03 so a CEL is not a problem... From what I've seen on the boards, seems like the bracket is there to support those heavy cats. Probably going on a year on my test pipes and no cracking
Hey hows it going blasian. I still havnt gotten the test pipes! I am still looking for a killer deal.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
Originally Posted by blasian
Could have sworn someone posted the weight of 26lbs per cat. There sure as hell don't feel like 26lbs total, I had a hell of a time carrying them. Hell, my dad gave me this odd look when he tried to push them over with his foot. Hell, maybe I'll weigh them next time I go back home.
I've actually heard HFC at one of the Z meets and they rasp too... Not nearly as bad as test pipes but they do have some rasp to it. Lucky for me, I have an 03 so a CEL is not a problem... From what I've seen on the boards, seems like the bracket is there to support those heavy cats. Probably going on a year on my test pipes and no cracking
I've actually heard HFC at one of the Z meets and they rasp too... Not nearly as bad as test pipes but they do have some rasp to it. Lucky for me, I have an 03 so a CEL is not a problem... From what I've seen on the boards, seems like the bracket is there to support those heavy cats. Probably going on a year on my test pipes and no cracking
Originally Posted by m1james@bellsou
I saw the 26lb per OEM cat figure posted somewhere too. I think is was on the 350ztech forum. I weighed one myself from my 2006 and it was 13.2 lbs if I remember correctly (listed in my post on the HFC install). My guess is that it was inadvertinately listed as per cat and it is per pair. Either way, you're saving a lot of weight when you remove the OEM cat....just recommend HFCs to cut down on pollution as we all need to breathe once in a while.
Before I was racing in BS I had some eBay $80 test pipes with resonators. The sound is noticably different, especially at WOT, and it's actually a beautiful sound. Add an intake and wow, very throaty sound, nice.
Looking for a killer deal, go to eBay. Mine were like $86 shipped. Even if the resonators go out after 10k miles, I'm only out $86. lol And being that they aren't even on the car, they aren't getting any mileage on them.
Shoot, I guess I'd even sell them for $65 shipped, I'm not using them.
Looking for a killer deal, go to eBay. Mine were like $86 shipped. Even if the resonators go out after 10k miles, I'm only out $86. lol And being that they aren't even on the car, they aren't getting any mileage on them.
Shoot, I guess I'd even sell them for $65 shipped, I'm not using them.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
Originally Posted by blasian
It is possible that they changed the cats after 04... I just checked an Nissan parts store and they have cats listed as 03-04 and looks like a different set of cats for 05 too so it seems like they are a different part. I think the 05+ use different O2 sensors as well. Maybe the 03-04 cats are heavier *shrugs*
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