I just had Stillen Headers installed on my 2006 Z, completing my quest for bolt-on performance. Thus, I decided to make an overdramatic montage with video clips to mark the occasion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKg6j7F2bOo

The headers were flawlessly installed by Chris at Failsafe Performance in Tulsa, OK. He knew his stuff like a true professional, did a great job, and I couldn't be happier. Okay, so I could be happier if there wasn't ice and snow everywhere keeping me from enjoying the new headers. But I couldn't be happier with the job he did.

I can now safely say that the biggest sound difference came from the High Flow Cats - the source of any and all rasp that you hear. The headers, on the other hand, have made the note deeper, slightly louder, and slightly more refined, if that makes more sense. While I haven't been able to really open up on it, it already feels more powerful - WOT at 10mph in 1st just sent me sideways. Even 5th gear felt more powerful than I expected at 2000rpm...

My opinion will be developing, I'm sure, but it will likely be just different levels of happiness. The only thing left on my plate is another eTune or dyno tune to make sure everything's perfect, and then I should be completely done.

 

does that exhaust use a y pipe? if so u should get a motordyne xyz w/ resonator to take that rasp away

 

nevermind i just looked at the pic and it doesnt look like it

 

Matt, that video is MONEY, lol. Loving the overdramatics.

 

Nice video. It was entertaining.

Any way we could meet up once all this snow and ice clears so I can hear it in person? I've been thinking about putting exhaust on mine but I can't decide which one I want.

 

Yeah, it's got an X or an H pipe... not sure exactly which one it is, technically. If the HFCs ever go out, I'll probably snag some Berks, as they seem to be a little less raspy. To be honest, though, the rasp isn't that bad. Either that, or I just got used to it after a year or so of the HFCs. At least now, though - and this might not make much sense - it sounds more like it's meant to be there. In person, it just sounds mean. That's not to say I wouldn't be a little happier without the rasp; I would be. I'm just glad the headers actually helped with the sound instead of making the parts I wasn't elated about worse - that was something I had been worried about. So I'm very happy with it. I'll probably get a flyby video once the weather clears up a bit.

Thanks!

Thanks. Well, I'm thinking I'll try to make it out to the next Oklahoma Z Car Club meet. I've been a member for well over a year now, and have still yet to go to a single event or meet. My schedule sucks. Assuming ever make it, I'm sure that you could hear it in person there

 

Does the Tulsa chapter really meet all the way out in Midwest City?

If so why don't we just go to the same place the OKC people meet, it would be closer.

 

Did you get Ceramic or Stainless? Either way, did you wrap them at all?

 

We Tulsan's need to get stuff going together here in town, rather than driving halfway across the state!

 

Agreed.

You got any ideas?

 

Well, this Spring when the weather is nicer, we can have a get together here at the shop, then head out for a cruise or something.

 

Sounds fun. Any way we could do it on a Sunday so I can go? lol I work thursday friday and saturday nights 8pm-8am.

 

While I haven't been to a single one, I'm pretty sure they meet at the Fuddruckers over by 71st and 169.

Yep, just checked. The main page has a MAJOR typo. I'll let them know ASAP. The OKZCC newsletter has this:
Fuddruckers
South 71st & hwy 169

Again, I could be wrong about which one of them is correct, seeing how I haven't been to one yet. I'll find out.

 

Nothing at all against the OKZCC guys, they are all very cool guys (and a few ladies) but those meets seem to be mostly older 280's 300's. Which are nice, but I'd like to see the 350/370Z guys in NE OK get a little more organized.

 

I was going to go to the one last month but forgot all about it, so I was looking to see where it was again and it said Midwest City and I was like WTF?!??!!??!!? So I just wasn't going to go to them. lol

I like the way you think. :thumbsup:

 

I got the Stainless because I live in a place that snows and rains a lot - really ridiculous weather here in Tulsa. Also, since I don't track my car, heat soak shouldn't be that much of an issue. So no, I didn't get them wrapped. There was a lot of brouhaha over coating or wrapping headers, with various pros and cons associated with each option. In the end, I decided to just not worry about it; I doubt it will be an issue unless I really track the car, which I don't plan to any time soon.

 

I couldn't agree more. The cars are out there - I've seen them... everyone just needs to get more organized. It would really suck to see such a great thing die out. It would also suck if I kept contributing to the problem by not showing up, myself....

EDIT:

I just confirmed on the OKZCC forums - "The Tulsa chapter meets the 2nd Tuesday at Fuddruckers at 71st and Hwy 169."

 

So stillen headers made gains?

 

I don't have the dyno to prove it yet, but I'll go ahead and say yes from what little I've been able to drive my car since the installation. It feels unexpectedly more powerful, so it's certainly not a placebo effect - I can say that much for sure.

 

I'm so pump up, i going to look for a civic to race.