I've been through the threads. I've youtubed till my ears bled. I've been pulled in every direction. I want some proven results w/vids proving/disproving rasp, hiss, ricey sounds.

Dedicated readers ONLY. Please don't post: get this pipe/that pipe "cuz itz wut I haz on my Z and it's awesomez"

Here's the scoop:
I have an HR, so DO NOT speak for DE mods.
JWT Popchargers
GReddy Evo 2 dual exhaust with straight pipes welded in where the resonators on the exhaust were.
I want a little more loud with performance as a bonus.

Cause for concern:
Cold start up with about a minute of warm up time before driving, anything WOT above 3k rpms makes the straight pipes sound like a riced out civic. No joke. But once the car/exhaust warms up-sounds like sex-IMO.


Fast forward to :23 seconds!!!!

I want to get some cat replacements to enhance the sound, but not lose the tone I have. Don't want rasp, hiss, or metal rattling sound. Don't really want CEL, but that's not a huge deal. There are no smog laws where I live either. I think Test pipes are OUT of the question because I hate the sound with most exhausts especially since I'm not tracking the car right now. I will not be able to tune my car for a while, I read there are issues with running lean/rich hot/cold without a tune. Fuel mileage doesn't really matter to me since this isn't my daily.

There isn't many before/after vids except with stock exhaust, or full exhaust change which doesn't help at all.

Options:
ART pipes (obviously) were my number #1 choice due to rave reviews, but after hearing almost every combo of exhaust paired with the ART, I noticed some rasp(or ricey sound) on some of the set ups. Not ALL of them, but some did produce a sound I don't want. Except the TDX2 or similar. Price is obviously a huge factor too. But there are a couple used sets out there.

Berk HFCs-A little cheaper than ARTs, especially if used. Was my second choice and I was pretty dead set on these until I read they will barely make my exhaust louder. I don't want to go through the work only to have it sound the same or a tiny bit louder. Also some issues with the "honeycomb" heating up and breaking apart(usually tracked cars), but I don't want a hand me down problem.

CNT HFCs from a 370-Read a lot on here and wanted these, and they were cheaper! Then I find out that 370 guys loved them at first, then hated, then both, then wtf?

Resonated Test Pipes-GTM or Fast Intentions- I read that the FI ones are great, but I don't know for sure. I didn't hear anything similar enough to my set up to make an opinion on these. From what I have read, these are the only Res Test Pipes for the HR. Experiences?

CLIFFS:
Someone please shed some light on your thoughts on what cat replacement would be best with my straight pipes instead of resonators!!


Update Cold Start/Rev Video added below


Thank you!

 

This video makes me think Stillen's test pipes are a possibility, but Idk how they would pair up with the straight pipes... GAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

 

The third clip sounds best to my ears, a lovely exhaust note with the minutest hint of rasp, but on the whole its sounds better than he the others for what its worth.

 

Um, ok? That doesn't help me much, but thanks for your opinion?

 

Any experiences anyone?

 

Help meeeee!!!

 

Cnt hfc will rasp like crazy. I had them, they make the metal too thin in the cat portion

 

THIS is helpful! I was actually talking to a 370 guy about selling me his CNTs.

I think this is why I can't go test pipes either.


Thank you.

 

Bump!

 

Ttt bump! There have to be ppl with HFC/res test pipe experience!

 

Couldn't help but notice your thread listed one above mine at the moment. From what I've learned so far i'd say its safe to say any high flow cat or test pipe will emit rasp, but your exhaust will sound quieter with high flow cats than they will with test pipes, and it won't smell bad. Even DE/HR 350Z's without modified catalytic converters emit rasp in the Cat/Y-pipe area.

https://my350z.com/forum/intake-exha...pipe-rasp.html

 

I actually read your thread this afternoon! It is a very interesting read. It helps me with my situation, but not entirely. Here's why: I backed the Z outta the garage, washed her, then put her back in the garage. I let her warm up a little bit(maybe 2 minutes)-then made a no load rev video (just for my own viewing since I'm not proud of the sound). There was a large amount of "rasp" or Honda Civic fart can sound from the straight pipes not being warmed up. This seems like off topic, but once the car warms up, the sound is gone and it is throaty as hell. I'm asking for experiences with This Product vs. Stock or This Product vs. That Product and reviews with a cat back as the constant and the TPs/HFCs/Res TPs as the variables that can be compared against the same exhaust......that's not stock.... Hope that makes sense!

 

Ah, gotcha. Cold engines typically sound "tinny" or "raspy" when revved because of the nature of the cold components and the ECU compensating for it. It doesn't typically have to do with the exhaust pipes themselves unless they are thin-walled (18+ gauge) stainless steel.

 

My straight pipes must be the exception. They sound great warmed up, and like chit imo cold.

Any other experiences?

 

Top!

 

Bump!

 

So, you hacked up your Greddy exhaust and are now complaining about rasp? The resonators on the Greddy were probably helping, but I can understand the desire for loud and powerful without the rasp.

I was running Momentum headers, ART pipes, XYZ w/resonator, and a momentum dual and literally had no rasp whatsoever. However, after some dyno tuning at Z1, I found out on my setup that straight test pipes got me more power. Proof here (https://my350z.com/forum/intake-exha...-pipes-47.html)

Now with test pipes, I've got some more rasp, but it's not nearly as bad with my XYZ + resonator vs any other standard y-pipe. SOHO motorsports has a unique y-pipe design with a slowly increasing diameter size post merge of the 2 banks; that could be a possible solution.

Your best best for trying to achieve zero rasp (IMO) would be ART pipes, XYZ w/resonator, and putting the resonators back on your Greddy exhaust...if that's not loud enough, ****** a set of headers. That would be the route I would go. It's a pricey one though.

Regardless of the exhaust setups I've heard (besides a full motordyne setup w/ART pipes), nearly all of them had rasp. The ones that didn't really have much were very quiet. It'll really be a trial and error process until you can get it just how you like it.

Best of luck

 

Ya- TOTALLY said I dont like my hacked up exhaust and it's not JUST when it first starts up and I didnt write that in my post.

I'm trying to avoid trial and error since I will be installing with no lift in my garage.

Thanks for your input tho!

 

Bump!

 

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