95 TT Exhaust Mod Down, Test, X pipe, aluminum or stainless

[SMZ300zxTT]

I've been itching to upgrade my exhaust. I'm not super familiar with everything on the vehicle. The vehicle has factory cat back Stillen aluminized exhaust. The car has been upgraded and rebuilt and has JWT 530BB turbos which have 5 bolt downpipes. If those connect to factory exhaust the down pipes are probably 2.5" and connect to a factory exhaust set up. I want to keep the factory Stillen exhaust setup. I'm thinking about going with 3" stainless steel AMS downpipes to Labree 3" test pipes with high flow cats to a 3" - 2" Labree resonated x-pipe.

Is going to the 3" going to produce a difference in performance or will the 2.5" bottle neck in the x pipe to the factory Stillen exhaust impede performance?

Should I make a big deal on going with stainless steel and paying the extra money? I like the idea of buying something durable that I know will last for a long time. The car is my weekend vehicle and stays garaged. I know most vehicles come with aluminized exhaust from the factory and it seems to last forever. What is the consensus on this topic?

[itsa300zx]

Boo!!! for AMS down pipes, I suggest going with the best and get some specialty Z super split 3" DP. 3" to 2.5" test pipes to mate up with your stock cat back.

[SMZ300zxTT]

Boo!!! for AMS down pipes, I suggest going with the best and get some specialty Z super split 3" DP. 3" to 2.5" test pipes to mate up with your stock cat back.

Are AMS no good? I was looking about the future upgradability of the parts. The test pipes are the expensive part and not so much the x pipe. I liked the idea of trying to maintain a emissions legal vehicle, thus keeping high flow cats. If the exhaust were to need replacing in the future and I wanted to go to 3" it would be cheaper to change out the x pipe and not everything back. Will it really make any difference either way? I want to accommodate the factory installed Stillen exhaust but want to ensure a easy and cheap upgradeability if I wanted to move up to 3" down the road.

[itsa300zx]

AMS Canada are known to have fittment issues and are more than likely a copy of a reputable brand and made in China.
I can't say from personal experience, but I here the 3" DP makes a big difference to the 2.5" DP. I will be going the route once I upgrade turbos. SZ also makes test pipes with hi flow cats. Check out their site, great guys to deal with.
(PS I don't work for them, just from my own experience.)

[SMZ300zxTT]

Interesting. I'd hate to spend hundreds of dollars to have fitment issues to have to spend more money elsewhere. I looked at Speciality Z's parts and as far as price goes they are pretty high. I assume great quality and service come with a price in most cases. I haven't heard much about AMS but Speciality Z seems the way to go.

[NolimitZ32]

3" will let your turbos breath better. AMS are ripoff artists that produce subpar parts! As a general consensus if you buy AMS (Canada) you are very likely to be shunned by the entire community for supporting a thief.

[SMZ300zxTT]

Wouldn't want to be shunned by the entire community when I'm just getting started. To me though they are either quality parts and they do what is intended or they don't. AMS sounds like a pretty unreliable company from popular opinion. I wouldn't want to chance my car or my purchase with that. So apparently Speciality Z the most popular company to go with.

LaBree looks like a good company also. Any knowledge about them?

Another thing, the car is a SMZ (Stillen Motor Sports) would it be dumb for me to dump the 2.5" aluminized cat-back Stillen exhaust for larger 3" exhaust? Is there more noticeable power by upgrading the entire system to a 3" than bottle necking from a 2" to a 3"?