I'm looking for a catback exhaust for my 2008 Enthusiast Z. I've been given the opportunity to test out new headers. Headers are a big job to install, but If I have them put on, I can obviously keep them so for a job as big as this I figured to do a full exhaust, probably including HFCs as well. Now I just need to decide on the exhaust, but there are so many choices, my head's spinning.

I have some criteria:
Optimized for performance, whether it be power gains or weight reduction. I want to try autox and track racing in the future.
Volume, along with changing the headers and the cats, with the exhaust I choose, how much sound is it going to make? This is my daily driver.
Cost, I'm willing to spend up to $1200 for a catback. Maybe some more, depending on how good the exhaust is.

As for sound, I never fell in love with the stock pipes, so I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever it changes to. I like the sound of the Bassani dual catback but it may not be what I'm looking for. What would you recommend?

 

Since you'll be installing HFC's the headers have to be the short type. Who would want to make those, and why???? Also why headers when your not going with test pipes??? Just curious...

 

The headers are the short type, same length as the HR's manifold. I'm keeping cats to keep the Z street-able. I figured HFCs with a cat back is the way to go. Why the headers? That's easy, I got them for free! I still have to install them though so I want to do a full exhaust setup at the same time.

 

Installing them yourself??? A shop??? Cost???

 

None of this is decided yet. I know a lot of car guys that wouldn't mind helping out, but If need be, I could afford having them installed by a shop.

So, Any exhausts and HFCs you would go with?

 

What's your price range, and is this z your "Daily Drive"?

 

Hi King,
I answered most of these questions in the OP, but I can repeat myself here. ~$1200 for cat back only, and this is my commuter.

 

I don't read these post because of the title, and also folks don't always come back here!

$1,200

Motordyne!

 

My opinion,

Nissan spent a million dollars to develope their H.R. headers. My opinion is that all after market short headers will most likely hurt performance. I think they are also hard to put on & probably expensive. I would sell them.

As far as the rest of the exhaust, I don't know. To me they all sound/perform pretty much the same way.

 

How can new headers hurt the performance? The pipes are longer and I read this is supposed to change the power band. I bet the headers are lighter as well so that's weight reduction.

 

They can't be lighter. If they are longer than I would make sure about the rest of the exhaust system(FIT) because most of them HFC's & cat back are build for a STOCK exhaust system....

 

You're misunderstanding about something here. I said that the headers are the same length as the HR manifold, BUT the pipes are longer. Am I not being clear in my writing?

I'm not getting trolled, am I?

 

Sorry. Most people call those pipes primaries. The reason they might be longer is that there is a history of equel lenght primaries being better.

Good luck then...

Trolled? NO. I was just curious why do all that work & then put HFC's on. I know, be streetable

 

I forgot to mention. My friend who got me the headers to test says that we should wrap them also, to keep the heat in the pipes. So that's another thing I'm planning on doing.

 

they are lighter...stock headers/cats are almost three times the weight they can be replaced with.

not if it's a quality replacement...

The HR header is equal length, so it doesn't need to be upgraded in a sense...

Andre3000 with the tuning that has been done to you car, I'm sure if you dropped the stock exhaust for a quality replacement not only is it lighter. The tuner that tuned you car initially would/could pull a couple horses top end no doubt


So old and naive...

 

Longer primaries take up more space. Might be a close fit. You wouldn't want hot headers too near to some engine parts/wiring. Wrapping them is a good idea. Are you the FIRST to test them?

 

1) Cats are much heavier than test pipes. As far as factory headers & after market, they are apx. the same weight. Who gives a ch!t if one weights two pounds more or not.
2) I stand by my statement that STOCK intakes & STOCK headers are better than any after market ones. I'm excluding long tubes because of no data available for HR.

old & smart..

 

I'm not sure how much I can say at this stage, need to find out if there's any disclosure agreement here. If I get an okay, I'll post a picture of them.

 

You don't have to say anything more & pictures are not requered.

Best of luck...

 

To answer your original question OP....ever looked into Exoticspeed? they are great exhaust systems, (Amuse replica) fit and finish are amazing, and sound great....just my opinion. I have one on my car and love it