I installed test pipes on my car (factory exhaust) thousands of miles ago with no problems... A couple weeks ago I started hearing an exhaust rattle, and what sounded like an exhaust leak. I though no big deal and figured no big deal and maybe I just blew out a gasket or something... today I looked under my car and found the problem.

My factory Y-pipe is leaking really badly through the braided expansion bulge on the drivers side. It's gotten to the point where you can see a little bit of exhaust, and it sounds like a go kart exhaust under the car... it rattles really bad from about 1800-2000 rpms. Sucks. Anyway. Even with liquid wrench and a breaker bar I had some trouble getting off one of my cats so I had to drill the bolt on the factory cat... so no installing the factory cat and getting a dealership repair.

Looks like I need a new full exhaust system... and quickly! Any suggestions on where to buy from either NW or online? I'll probably do the install myself.... might switch to HF cats at the same time. I want to keep under $1100 if possible (if not, it's ok) for the exhaust with y-pipe. I know it's highly subjective, but any recommendations on an exhaust setup?? Both this Z, and my last Z were running stock exhaust.

 

If you don't mind it on the louder side, look at Altered Atmosphere...I like the way their stuff sounds, and you can hear it on their website before you buy.

http://www.alteredatmosphere.com/mm5..._Code=350Z_EXH

 

Nice... I'm thinking about switching to high flow cats at the same time since I'll have the exhaust off anyway... that way I'll have to clean off my tail pipes less often. Haha. So I'm thinking I'm going to up my budget to 1500 ish.

 

Considered a bunch of things... we'll see how I like it. Nismo ordered and keeping the test pipes for now. Problem solved.

 

Did you order the Nismo exhaust yet? I was thinking that you could buy my '07 exhaust off of me for cheap. It has the revised Y-pipe for better flow over the '03-'06. I might be installing my Nismo exhaust this weekend so it would be avalible relatively soon.

If you did order the Nismo, then that's a good choice. I really liked it on my '03. quite enough at low RPMs to keep the neighbors happy, but loud enough at the highere RPMS to really make you prescence known.

 

Yeah... I already ordered my Nismo. It sounds like I made the right choice. Did you notice much of a sound increase for everyday driving? I'm hoping my exhaust won't be too mellow... although I like the idea of not annoying the neighbors too.

 

If you keep the RPMs low and short shift before 2.5k, it's only slightly louder than the stock exhuast. It sounds best under load from 3k and on. For the first few months I would find myself intentionally running it into that range just to hear/feel the noise. The deep rumble fills the cabin, but never gets too loud to be annoying IMO. The 'ol butt dyno says that it does make more power, although I have not been able to verify how much. One problem that I did notice w/ it is that since the mid pipe is significantly wider than the OEM it will just tap against the lower crossmember that's shaped like an 'M' or a 'W' (depending on your perspective) but only when going over bumps. Nothing major, but sounded cheap. I fixed it by loosening the cats and using the adjustable range in their mounting points to lift the exhaust system just a fraction of an inch which was enough to take care of that issue.

 

Edit: never mind you already bought one

Buy my invidia g200 $600 its basically new.

 

Thanks for the tip! Looks like they can't ship out my Nismo until tomorrow. I guess the install will have to wait until next week.