Has anyone added test pipes or straight pipes in place of the catalytic coverter but left the stock exhaust from the cat back? Does it improve the sound or power? Good or bad?

 

Exhaust is louder with a raspyness around 3200 RPM, the smell is noticeable, and there is definate power. I'd get someone to put the test pipes in unless you have an impact wrench or a lift.

 

Don't know if you have followed the previous threads on Test pipes, but Test Pipes without a Small Resonator - sound like hell in the drivers compartment. Actually they sound from the outside like the DVD The Run

This is not Prauge, CZ

Cheers Amy -

 

I am really starting to like the sound of mine, I guess it is subjective.

 

Really? Come to a So. Cal. meet and lets swap for a bit.

 

doesnt the stank go away after a while? and how raspy are we talking? like buzzing bee rice raspy?

im waiting til spring to instal mine and im keeping the stock exhuast. hmmm, if it sounds as bad as people say, then imma end up taking it off. i like the stock sound.

i actually noticed that the sound is a little deeper after i moved my intake from the front of the car to a short ram setup for the winter. real nice after 4k.

 

Stink will never go away, ride in any car without cats and it stinks. When you remove the cats you are removing the part of the exhaust that eliminates the stink (and environmentally harmful emissions) but not many people seem concerned about that for some reason.

 

Not many people care about the harmful emissions because there are millions of vehicles that emit clouds of harmful emissions with cats on. The Z is held to a higher standard from the factory due to new emissions laws. I can smell my neighbor's '67 mustang from my kitchen table. So people probably rationalize away the harm of removing cats by this, or some similar logic.

 

I also like to cut down rare tropical plants from the rain forest and make clubs for baby seals and use the rest to roast whales on... is that bad?

Back on topic, the sound really isn't that bad, it's just that one part around 3200 rpm where it gets raspy. And I love the sound of the short Injen CAI setup too!

 

high flow cats are showing more gain. the exhaust seems to "touble" with high flow cats rather then have a direct flow.

High flow cats may be slightly more, but, they do have more gain to them, no raspyness when installed properly, no stinky smell (some dont like it), and come with a CARB cert.

available at http://www.performancenissanparts.com for $500 for my350z members.

 

I heard about that disruption in flow in the exhausts. Do you have any dyno's of the random cats vs. a test pipe setup?

 

"touble"? You lost me. More gain than test pipes, or cat-back?

 

I had previously taken out the resonator from the stock exhaust and knew I was going to overpower the stock mufflers capability but installed the test pipes anyway. As expected, the sound is absolutely HORRIBLE!!! The rasp is unbearable around 3200 rpm and 4500 rpm until the exhaust is very hot. Even then, its noticeable. If you install the test pipes, leave the resonator in your system. I am searching frantically for aftermarket exhausts. IMO you will not be able to install them without air tools. I did not have a lift but used jackstands and borrowed impact air tools.
I can't describe how much more power there is. My car is MUCH FASTER than before. I would think that 10hp is easily feasible with the test pipes. Just awhile ago I was crusing in 3rd at 3000rpm's and dropped it to 2nd and spun the tires so hard i had to let off to get ANY traction. This is possible stock but it felt sooo much stronger than before. Put em in!

 

so test pipes with factoryexhaust i where its at?

 

no, high flow cats and either stock exhaust or aftermarket exhaust..

the high flow cats add 5-8 HP with stock exhaust
the high flow cats add an additional 10-14 HP to an aftermarket exhaust.

 

i have factory exhaust and test pipes.. i installed them myself in 2 hours w/o air tools.. i like the sound.. i can feel the gain.. does not sound like a coffee can civic if thats what some are trying to imply

im curious how this will sound with some other type of exhaust besides borla

 

Hmmm. I am really leaning towards hi-flo cats and a y-pipe, while leaving the stock muffler. I bet the gains are nearly as good as a full exhaust while being significantly quieter. Problem is, an extra $300 gets me the full exhaust...

Who's got the best price on y-pipes? (I have only really seen the fujitsubo one at a reasonable price). And exactly how much of a bottleneck are they stock (anyone have a pic of a stock y-pipe?)

 

do you guys have the extra mounting "tab" on your test pipes? i think a lot of the noise at low rpms is coming from the test pipes without that extra tab. i could be wrong, im just guessing here.

as for emissions.....my tiny 3.6 is nothing compared to most 5.0's out here and not to mention those big diesel trucks that are all over the place. and of course lets not forget the lovely fumes ford puts into the air. i just love the smell of rotten eggs in the morning on my way to work. mmmmmm. i just feel bad for the poeple that live in that area and smell it all the time.

 

not sure what tha is supposed to mean, all I am saying is that I sorta like how mine sounds, is that allowed??