Just a couple quick questions about which header to choose to go along with the Motordyne Shockwave and ART Pipes im about to purchase for my 2004 Z. Anyone here running this current setup with either of these headers? Has anyone had any fitment issues with either of these two headers? Is one better than the other? Thanks guys

 

The best header you can get is PPE, but all name brand equal length headers are the same. Just so you know its about a 7 hour job for not much Hp.

 

hey Conway, yeah i know its a lengthy job time wise. I just wanted to get all the exhaust work done first and get the initial tune done. I have a Vortech Supercharger sitting in my garage off of my old Z collecting dust lol. My old one didnt have any other mods other than the Vortech, thats the way i had bought it. I wanted to do it the "right way" i guess ud say. I know headers will make a difference when my setup is complete so to me its worth the timely install. As for the PPE brand, im not familiar with them. Could u maybe post a link and i can check it out? Im not doing a longtube, just shorties along with the Motordyne ART pipes.

 

PPE is long tubes, if you are looking for the best cheap headers look or a set of HR headers they are proven for 600whp on boosted performances mid mount. But good luck on your ventures in the end any header will be better than the crappy stock DE manifold.

 

Ok yeah, i'm guessing that's why i didn't come across them if they are long tube. I'm not at all looking for a cheap set per-say, dropping 1000 or so on a good set of headers to me isn't a problem. I was more concerned if anyone had any problems with either of the two brands i had narrowed my decision down to. Thanks for the info though Conway, i appreciate it bud.

 

Having just gone thru this experience myself....go with Tomei, they are the best short headers and fit on the engine and in the engine bay like they were born there with plenty of clearance and no issues. Both headers you posted are good, but I've seen all 3 sets in person and have installed 2 (long story) Tomei has the others beat by a landslide, not to mention their kit is 100% complete minus the header nuts.

 

Oh, and one thing... If you install these yourself, do yourself a favor and get a torque adapter as they are impossible to torque without it lol.

 

Oh awesome, thanks for the info DarkZ, im glad someone chimed in that has had experience with installing headers. Thankfully i wont be doing them myself, a couple members of my family own a garage and do alot of performance work so im good there and ill definitely look into the Tomei headers, 100% fitment success and clearance pretty much sold me. What mid pipes did u use in ur setup, im already sold on the ART pipes but im just curious. Thanks again bud.

 

I'm using Z1 HFC at the moment, I'm most likely gonna stick with cats because I like the stock exhaust note and not too raspy or high pitch. Since I'm on the Borla exhaust I'm pretty much where I wanna be sound wise, except for the hissing but the exhaust came with the car. If I ever feel like spending $3k I'll get one of the JDM exhausts.

 

yeah i also like the stock exhaust note as well, but when i heard the shockwave i loved it. This isnt a daily driver for me so i wanted something with a little more noise

 

I like the shock wave but it doesn't sound anything like stock the only ones that I know of that retain that VQ growl are Fujitsubo, HKS twin muffler and Borla. Mine hardly gets driven 1000-3000 miles a year but I'd like it to be civilized, all my mods meet that criteria, that's why a lot of my suspension is Nismo because I want something functional that won't annoy me when cruising around lol.

 

yeah i hear that, i drive mine about the same...only a few months out of the year here in NY state where i choose to drive it. Shockwave sounds mean at WOT, but wont be nearly as loud as my catless STi was so ill be sort of in the middle

 

Long Tube Headers are where all the gains are at. Like above PPE is probably the best. If the motor is out of the car I would do headers alot of money can be spent elsewhere. Shorty headers are just a tad better than factory exhaust manifolds are far as gains are concerned. On most cars not just Nissan/Infiniti. In my eyes it's like going from a 2.75 inch intake tube to a 3 inch intake tube. It's miniscule in the real life difference. Or a 175 degree thermostat vs a 170 degree thermostat.

 

That is what most people like to think but it isn't entirely true... long tubes only make more because they eliminate the cats. They aren't some magical set of tube lol, show me a dyno of some good shorty headers with ART pipes vs long tubes that show a significant difference (10hp+) then I will start believing the hype, otherwise it is just that.
I am absolutely sure Tomei put more R&D in than PPE.

 

Watch this I know its on a LS but still give you an idea of what you can expect on a V6.

 

Post #320
https://g35driver.com/forums/intake-exhaust/393523-ppe-engineering-longtube-headers-22.html

He does have a set of cams mind you.

 

The only basic difference is the gain in the 4-6k range, both cammed runs had about the same peak which only reinforced what I was saying. Long tubes will have a broader powerband but in the end the car will have the same peak gains.

 

I'm seeing anywhere from 10-20 hp/tq gain in the mid range. I would say that is significant. There is much more to it than peak power, the average power with the long tubes will be much better and the car should be faster. It's up to you if you want to believe the "hype". I know I do.

 

I like my cats, and let's be honest, this car ain't getting a whole lot of power in N/A form. With a supercharger (which is what I want to get eventually) I really don't see the point of having long tubes. I refuse to run without cats and have my car be loud AF, I'm passed that point in life.

 

I'm not fighting the mid-range gains by any means but just as a thought my previous Z was trapping 105 with stock headers and cams. So is it a huge gain, enough for me to abandon having cats.....no, not worth it.