it is real easy to swap exhaust, just make sure you have some pb blaster or something for the cat bolts

 

Oh I've thought about it,.. The install cost isn't because I can't do it.. it's because it is a PITA to do.. I usually end up doing the PITA jobs anyways myself,.. but at least I'll pretend I'm going to use a shop at first.

 

Yup,.. just got finished looking over some basic exhaust installs.. most of them said get some PB blaster for the hangers.. which generally prove to be the biggest pain wrestling the exhaust out, and the new in.

On the subject of "install yourself" -- I honestly have but two jack stands,.. I don't have deep well sockets that are needed,.. no torque wrench (I know this isn't necessary really).. no pry bar.. nothing fancy.. basic socket set and screw drivers (a ton of electrical tools though!).

Point being,.. I'll end up spending $60-$100 at the store picking up stands, sockets and other odds and ends.. I do everytime! Trust me,.. I'm BAD at hardware stores.. I can't help myself.

I also know exhaust shops are going to say That's "performance" rate.. of say $70-$90 an hour.. that should take us 2 to 3 hours.. so Your looking at $200+tax. Or some ****. When give me your impact wrenches, your lift.. see how many "hours" it takes me to knock out a BOLT on exhaust lol. About 30 minutes.

I found a good mechanic I like.. AND trust.. but his rates are either $70 or $90 an hour unless it's "non performance" work.. then it's cheaper. I want to say $70 an hour. I think a 100 dollar bill is a fair trade for an exhaust install, even with a weld. As long as they get it done in an hour,.. and let's be honest.. With a lift and impact wrenches among other high dollar tools you can remove a stock exhaust in about 10 minutes,.. Put on the new exhaust in another 10-15.. And cut and weld the resonators in 10-20minutes. All within an hours time.

You BS around, sure it's going to take you 2 or 3 hours.

I say this and haven't called any shops. But I know better by now,.. Every thing I've called and gone in person about quotes.. has drove me to do it myself because the price was so damn outrageous.

IE: My entire 7 speaker install, amps, all new wiring, stripping all the interior out of the car.. new headunit, blah blah.. that took me 5 days .. But saved me 2-3 grand ! hah..

If I go with the DC,.. resonators are an absolute must.. Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to have a crazy loud exhaust, but I don't want the attention,.. and I know what exhaust drone is like (I've had a few mustangs with flowmasters).. it's cool at first, but gets old REAL fast.

Plus I want a nice sound,.. but I also don't want every cop near me to look my direction even driving fairly normally (already bad enough in a polished 350Z lol).. been pulled over twice just for the HECK of it.. no speeding, nothing.. just BS excuses like "oh, we uhh have been experiencing some thefts around here,.. so I just wanted to see what was ,.. uhh.. going on... (illegal stops) basically, simply cause I'm in a nice, fast looking car. I'm no kid either,.. I'm 34 years old (look about 25-26.. but still I drive it easy.. 95% of the time I'm shifting at 2500rpm, no kidding.. ) -- Every once in a while I'll get on it for just a half a minute.. and that's it.

Exhaust will likely push that shift range up (and lower gas mileage -- because of the foot lol).

But that's the fun, right?

I'm rambling.. meh.

 

Don't over think it, I honestly believe you will be happy with the NISMO since I have heard nearly every exhaust setup in person.

 

there is a place here in dallas called jack junkies (jackjunkies.com) and they rent out bays with full tools and lifts per hour... like $25 an hour. see if there is something like that there

 

Do you know how many times I've read that online? lol.. What you guys and ladies call "overthinking" is just my normal brain.

I need to quit apologizing for it though, it's who I am..

Anyhow, I agree 100%,.. Nismo S-Tune is the Exhaust,.. no doubt. I'm just thinking, hrmm.. That DC Sport exhaust for $565 looks very tempting:



Slap some Resonators in there and I have a brand new exhaust for $650 or so with resonators. The sounds with the resonators on that exhaust sound very nice.

The issue is Nismo S tune is not exactly popping up everywhere used for say $650 or whatever. I can and will wait and watch.. but besides this forum and ebay.. Not real sure where to find it. As another said, I'm a bit limited by my budget and the supply of used exhaust.

I certainly don't want to wait a year for exhaust.. and frankly, I'd like to find it within the next month or so..

Odds of a Used Nismo S-tune popping up in the next 3-4 weeks? Odds it will be $500-$650 (650 is about my max)..?

But I know I know.. trust me I know,.. you don't get what you want the first time you usually regret it, even if just a little bit. At the same time, Nismo S tune isn't the ONLY exhaust that sounds good out there.

Exhaust for so many other cars Top out around $650-$800 (and a low end new system would be $250 or so..) Dual exhaust, 2.5" mandrel bent piping, etc. They really jack up prices for the 350Z's,.. Same way it was with my 300ZX 10+ years ago.

Hrmm.. never seen anything like that, But I will certainly check it out -- That would definitely be the way to do it. Even if I took me 4 hours, I'd get out cheaper.

Also doing it myself I am careful.. and I make sure everything is aligned with Perfectionist precision

Advantage Nismo -- It's made for the 350Z (as in, I assume it comes on Nismo's? -- Or is the S-tune an aftermarket period?) --

I know all the exhaust are "made" for the 350Z, but it's different when they literally come off a 350,.. Fitment, etc.

Also,.. I'm not a fan of the Blue/purple anodized tips -- I know they serve a function, maybe they prevent "discoloration?" lol.. And essentially scream HEY, look at me.. I have an aftermarket exhaust, see it's all different with it's color/mix (No offense to those who like that,.. cause it's VERY common on the exhausts out there, so it must be incredibly popular.. and I'm obviously in the minority here).

To be honest,.. I'd like to weld my factory tips onto an aftermarket exhaust.. yeah I like them that much,.. I like the curved lip (instead of straight edge).. I like nothing screaming out on them aftermarket,.. and they are nice and large and fit the bumper cut-outs very well.

However, with the NISMO tips,.. even though they are a bit smaller (I think).. I wouldn't dare cut them off.. Having Nismo branding on a 350Z is much different to me than say Greddy, HKS, or other popular high end aftermarket brands.

Question: It would only make sense for another company to replicate the Nismo exhaust design EXACTLY , to produce the exact sound (it wouldn't be hard to do ...) -- but there doesn't seem to be any "knock-off's" of Nismo exhaust. Seems like someone could make a killing Copying the Nismo design,.. and selling them for like $650 new. I know I'd ****** it up.

 

I have the invidia gemini with hfc's..to be honest it sounds awesome..quiet when you want it to be but loud when you open it up. It def. keeps the VQ tone. I have a couple video clips if you want.

 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Gj5GMxE3u5E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

I like.. but something is bothering my ears. May be the camera mic picking it up wrong,.. but it sounds like it's over-muffled.. Hrmm how to explain this. Best way I can describe it is let's say your exhaust is a pair of 6.5" mid speakers with tweeters. It sounds like the Treble is turned way down on them.. lol.

Bad example, but hard to explain it. It sounds good, don't get me wrong, but it's missing some clarity or something.

IE: Here's a random Nismo clip (probably not the best one out there..)


I've been looking at that exhaust you have,.. and have heard some better "clearer" sounding clips. It's on the list,.. but it's still up there in price. For that kind of money I might as well buy the Nismo.

Now if someone can lead me to a Nismo sound for my budget somehow that's NOT Nismo.. I'm all for it. Closest I've come so far is the DC Sport True Dual exhaust ($550 new):



With a pair of Vibrant 1792 Resonators ($45 x 2) to go just Aft of the X "pipe/link area" --



This is what the DC Sport exhaust sounds like WITHOUT the resonators:


^^^^ Is also a Member of this Forum, btw! ^^^^

You hear that bit of "Rasp" in there? And they are a HECK of a lot louder in person than on these videos hehe.. Plus they have some drone around 3500-4500rpm without the vibrant resonators.. But, with the resonators.. it just about perfects them.. eliminates the rasp, and drone.

And that's for all NEW exhaust (It's also pretty.. not that nice polished exhaust really gets seen.. but it's well made anyway).

I like it keeping the Deep lower range revs.. maintaining the VQ motor spirit/tone,.. and then turning into what I can only describe as "Italian/Supercar" type of sound in the higher RPM's..

It's , so far, my second favorite sounding exhaust (with resonators) -- And even without, if it didn't drone at all.. I'd probably have already ordered them.

So wish there was a big line up of all these exhausts in 350's in a dealership somewhere next to each other where I could turn them all on and have people in them to rev them up side by side haha.. But best we can do when comparing so many exhausts is go by videos,.. and anecdotal reports by others.

 

it was filmed with my iphone so maybe not the best quality lol. i paid 800 new for the exhaust..i love the sound of the nismo as well, but i wanted a true dual.

 

Hrmm.. As I was searching for Nismo exhausts.. I ran across this:

TANABE MEDALION TOURING EXHAUST T70063 - NISSAN 350Z 2003 - 2009

$813 New.

Advertised like so:
And here is a sound clip:


It's deep.. CLOSE to my price range.. Just throwing stuff out there to see if it sticks -- This is all based around my LOOSE criteria of not TOO loud (cop drawing attention (illegal dB's).. Not too raspy.. absolutely cannot drone! -- Deep sound, retains VQ "sound".. etc.

Thoughts? (I already know, Nismo!) -- But until I find one,.. I am going to explore other options,.. I may not find one in the next month or so.. I can't find ONE used Nismo right now on the net - If you can find them.. please link them!

 

Tanabe is good for sure.

Just to throw a grenade into your thinking, this Megan exhaust is one that no one considers but it's very similar in design to the Stillen/NISMO/Fujistubo

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MEGAN-4-Dual...-/331116782646

I actually have seen it in person and heard it too and was impressed with the quality for the money

 

Thanks Waizzz.

I'm still on the Hunt for the Nismo -- That DC Sport with the Vibrant Resonators seems like a good option too.. Just a little concerned if the Resonators take away all the Drone and rasp (more concerned about the drone) -- And I don't want a stupid loud exhaust, not by a long shot.

So you say the Megan exhaust sounds just like the Nismo?

 

Very similar for sure.

You're basically looking at all sounding very similar until you start changing the Cats. For instance, I run the Greddy Evo2 that is really quiet with OEM cats but is way louder with my HFC's I just take it easy when I see the cops.

For your purposes the NISMO will be perfect since it's also not too aggressive looking or sounding so it won't attract attention from the police.

 

^ I put test pipes with my Evo2 and HATED IT! Raspy as fck, money and time wasted. Guess I shoulda went with HFC or ART pipes.

 

Ah that sucks, it's tough to find an exhaust that works well with TP's

 

Say I go with Nismo Catback.. and then put on Test pipes and so on.. Is that going to ruin things?

Also -- What are your thoughts on that DC sports true dual system with the 1792 resonators added?

 

Yes, adding test pipes or hfc will alter the sound. Good or bad is subjective, mine came out bad. So bad, I was embarrass to drive my car around.

Adding test pipes did make it louder and more aggressive at idle but the rasp was killing me at wot. Nismo may react differently than Greddy evo2 with test pipes, it's a gamble you're gonna have to take. Gotta hear it live bc I do not trust YouTube clips... my personal opinion.

 

It's not easy to hear a ton of exhausts on a "stock" car.. then also want to hear them with X, Y and Z test pipes.. even if some big 350 meeting you were a part of was meeting this weekend you'd never be able to get all the info you really needed.

Nismo S tune , so far, in my USED as hell price range at $500'ish (I stick around that number because I know when all said and done on my end it's gonna be another few hundred)... Is becoming, as I suspected, incredibly difficult to find.

If that one guy selling basically the Muffler of the Nismo still is.. what is that REALLY worth used? With just that muffler what else do I need to go with it?

And.. no one really commented on the DC Sport True Dual I've linked a few times. What do you think? I can already say that I'll go with the 1792 resonators from the start,.. but I just don't know if it will drone even with resonators.

Otherwise it looks perfect. Right in my range.. under $600 shipped.. Resonators $48 each shipped.. Then I have a shop weld them in, and pray it works out.

Now, even better is a full catback used Nismo for like $500-$600 either cheaply shipped or with shipping included.

If I push the budget any I'll be taking up welding as yet another "skillset" lol.. My grandfater who passed away has a full on welder .. But I don't think that's something I need to tinker with on relatively expensive equipment.

Bound to be some dude or lady out there selling a Nismo S tune with all the pieces for $500-$600.

Unless of course one of these other exhausts in my price range emits the same sounds.


Lastly,.. I build .. If I go with Catback.. I'll then throw in HFC's (or whatever doesn't throw a code).. Headers.. and work my way around the car as time goes on. The other stuff would be more for performance (best bang for buck.. since the exhaust I'm buying is primarily for sound,.. but I'll get a few hp that the butt-dyno probably won't feel.)

 

Hey guys --

Something popped up.. Looks like it's had better days.. but I think those tips can be cleaned up.

I found what is claimed to be a "Nismo" Muffler/Exhaust.

This
http://www.flickr.com/photos/111739693@N04/12185405956/
Now,.. two things:

1) Is this a different exhaust? IE: Non "S-Tune" and therefore is nothing what I'm looking for?

2) If it's the right piece,.. what else do I need to look for to make a complete set?

If it's real, it's going for $90 and is an hour to hour and a half drive..

Thanks