HFC or RES'D TEST PIPES? opinions please..
 

2005 6mt, JWT pop charger, Kinetix V+ plenum( not yet installed), HKS Hi Power TD, 67k mi, all in good working order, Arizona car ( hot outside)

Will need to get emmission teseted starting next year. Sadly do NOT have dyno info for baseline at this time.



Ok, so theres the specifics of the car. My issue is that Im looking to replace the cats when I get my plenum done in a few weeks. ( Prob ECU flash w Cobb or Uprev as well).........

Pete at Intense is tellin me his test pipes are cheap and will give me literally the best bang for the buck, and I love it when people want to save me money. I trust the guy, but want to ask you guys too.

Im concerned with the environment of course and dont want to smell like an open gas can when i drive. ( heard it can get smelly) I also dont want to sound anymore like a brat then I do already w the HKS, and removing the pipes yearly for Emis tests sounds like a drag too. Best youtube clip I heard was with Kinetix cats, but Iwont be going that route ( hear bad things).
Seemd like the test pipes didnt sound too hot to me.


Can you tel i have convinced myself to go with HFC's versus TPs? (I would go the Berk or Crawford route....)

basically, I want to know if theres anything Im missing here, or if theres any opinion that HFC would be a waste altogether etc. Im told they dont flow anywhere even CLOSE to TPs which makes sense of course.


Im interested in streetable, refined classy sound and would like to retain low end power in a full NA car that will not go FI for some time to come.

Anything I need to know? Personal experiences w set ups like mine? Obviously there is no correct answer, please give me your opinions and why you think that way, things you have noticed etc.

You know in the 7 yrs since the z came out this has NEVER been covered. WOW crazy isnt it...

yes, but the threads are not specific. Im asking opinions on my set up based on what I am looking for. There are tons of threads talking about hp etc... Im not askin about that. Im asking people for opinions. If they could, would they have gone HFC if they already have test pipes, etc. " I have HKS and had test pipes and went back to HFCs because..etc" Stuff like that. I am an enthusiast, but I dont wrench on my own car, and Im not a millionaire.. I wnat to buy something, install it, enjoy it, and forget it. Dont want something more on my car to have to baby.

I can look at the threads, see TPs make power, listen to youtube, buy and install and be done. But thats not what Im asking here. I literally spent the entire day at my office searching and fully reading threads as well.

I do not feel that I have the full story with out hearing opinions on my possible set up, based on what I say I am looking for, I hope that clarifies the point of the thread.:)

go with the Volk test pipes. theyre made from dry forged carbon fiber

You may be working with a false premise. What are the emissions test requirement in your state?

If you're getting the HKS then you don't fall into gimme the best bang for the buck category. I think test pipes + install and uninstall and re-insatll for emissions every year= Uprev tune.

Most resonated test pipes still rasp. If you're looking for quality sound, just go with HFC's...HKS + HFC's will be pretty loud.

AZ test requirements:

Read non-diesel under 8500 GVRW 96-newer:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/vei...d/elements.pdf

They do a tampering check, read here about what tampering includes for your state (Read carefully where it says "presence of certain emission control components as installed by the manufacturer," so with that I assume HFCs are not legal either b/c they are not OE type:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/vei/tech.html

You stated you didn't want to switch out the TP or HFC for testing so leave it stock :)

all good responses. Thanks. I AM surely doin the uprev/Osirus here at SRD when I get whatever is to be installed, well.. installed. Just talked to Adrock today about it. Sounds like a better option than the Cobb AP. Guess Ill have to ask around locally ( this place is FULL of worked Z's) about Scottsdale DMV horror stories etc.

sorry, again to clarify Im lookin at a choice between Berk/Crawford HFC and Intense( Top Secret) resonated test pipes.

Price diff is 149 TPs, 500 for HFCs.

resonated tp will have almost the same rasp as hfcs

you just need to be concered about if you can live with the SMELL of test pipes or not.

reading from your OP i would say go with HFC.

check out https://my350z.com/forum/engine/4456...cs-at-mvp.html

they got some awsome prices right now!

thanks, PMd them.

your not gonna pass emissions with test pipes
unless you plan on puttin the stocks back on for your emission test then take the HFC

Berk HFC's sound great and make descent power for your buck...

When you say the smell. Do you mean the smell of un-burnt fuel, like you used to get from a good old carburettor V8 with the cats removed?

bumpin old thread so i can sum it up...
bought berk HFCs, i may post results after they are installed.

seriously??? wtf is wrong with you?? i told you to get Volk test pipes!

:bowrofl:

Or look into the Art resonated test pipes that motordyne just came out with:icon38:.