lol. ill drink to that.

 

You don't have to get a Y-pipe, but it would be a good idea because the inlet diameter is much larger on the RS-R. The RS-R has a 80mm inlet (3.14 inches) and the stock diameter is only 60mm (2.36 inches). The JIC Y-pipe has two 60mm inlets converging into a 80mm outlet, which matches perfectly with the RS-R. Tanabe has a 70mm outlet, which is not good for the exhaust flow when matched up with the RS-R.

Test pipes are better for performance, but the difference is so small you won’t be able to notice unless you’re FI (forced induction). The big difference between test pipes and hi-flow cats is the sound. The test pipes will be much louder and most have some raspiness. Rasp really bothers some and to others it isn’t really a big deal. You should try to hear a 350z with test pipes and see what you think. You should also know that both test pipes and hi-flow cats are not street legal. It doesn’t matter what brand, even though some brands say they are legal. Here’s an actual quote about the Kinetix hi-flow cats, “SMOG legal, pass emissions, no CARB #.” The most important thing in that statement is no CARB#. It is true that you MAY be able to pass emissions, but when it really comes down to it they are illegal. The only legal cats for our car are the OEM cats that come with the car. The only way you can replace them is if your cats are damaged, and if that’s the case then you must replace them with OEM cats. In CA this can be a big problem, but other states are not so stringent.

With that being said, if you still want to change the stock cats I would recommend some hi-flow cats. They will perform as good as the test pipes, won’t be as raspy, will still be loud, and they won’t stink as much as the test pipes. Test pipes will stink because there is no kind of filtering of the exhaust fumes. If you get hi-flow cats you won’t have to change them back to the stock cats when you get a smog check. For your setup you can get the Ultimate Racing or the Helix cats. They are both 60mm, which will match well with the JIC Y-pipe providing an efficient exhaust flow.

As for headers, I think you will be disappointed with the results considering the high price tag of parts and installation. They will not provide huge gains, but they will take a huge chunk out of your wallet. If money is no object then feel free to get them. The Nismo headers are nice, but I would recommend the Crawford headers. I have read many positive reviews about them and they seem to have the most R&D. They are also cheaper than the Nismo headers.

The above setup would be very loud, so I hope that is what you are looking for. You should know that setups like this have the tendency to drone at cruising speeds, which can get annoying over time. You will notice that you have to speak up if you try to hold a conversation while driving, but to some that could be looked at as a good thing. Hope this helps guide you to an exhaust system.