Exhaust system question

[pinkius]

Currently the only engine mod on my 97 max is a CAI..I want to put in a new exhaust and i'm looking for some advice. I've been looking at this one http://www.warpspeedperformance.com/nissan.htm <--the 3" $695 one at the top. What do you guys think?

[A.Tech]

Warpspeed, Magnaflow customs and Greddy are the ones all us Maxima users go for. They are the best sounding ones for our car and some are kinda expensive like the Greddy Sp2 catback but it is worth it in the end.

Another nice sounding exhaust but not long lasting are pacesetters. For some reason they rust fast and don't last longer than a year in say a winter climate but they sound amazing.

Also, get a Y-pipe well worth it and you can gain a good 5HP (crank)if you do maybe more due to the pre-cats being taken out.

[KnowMan]

Hello, there. I have some other ideas, based on my own experience. I had a GReddy on my '98 Max, good quality, single sharp-looking oval tip, subtle but stong sound, far better than anything I'd heard.

When I got my '01 Max, lived with the stock exhaust for three years, then shopped extensively. I came down to FrankenCar and Cattman - FrankenCar.com and Cattman.com.

Spoke with both owners. FrankenCar was my first choice, but he was temporarily phasing out operations - I think he may restart it, but I don't know for sure. Bruce Cattman was very helpful, so I took his system - cat-back. Not quite as finished looking as FrankenCar's systems was depicted, but it was an easy installation. It has a deep, mellow sound. I like a system with a little bark, and this one is very authoritative, without being obtrusive.

These are two options I liked. I've had the Cattman for over a year and a half. All is well. Have a K&N Filter Charger on the intake end of the Max, and it seems a pretty good balance for slight performance and mileage gain.

Good luck.

KnowMan

[Beancooker]

Okay, you have a '97. The exhaust is a good upgrade. Warpspeed is a decent company. Their parts are good. Not as high of quality as Cattman, but not bad. Dallas, owner of Warpspeed is a worthless pile, and if you have any problems, he will give you the redneck runaround.

A Y-pipe is absolutely critical. There is a WAY higher gain than 5hp. In a VQ35DE (2002-present), you will get a 5hp gain. You have the VQ30DE (96-2001), and the gains are dynoed at 20-30HP, depending on what other mods you have. (The Dyno results are from people who actually use these, not some BS from the manufacturer) I can not stress the fact that for our cars, the Y-pipe is the best HP for the dollar mod.

Pass up the 3' pipe. You will lose too much bottom end. Unless you are going to go turbo, or S/C. If you are not planning on having forced induction, the 3" is way too big. N/A, a 2.5" is as big as you want to go. 2.25 is a decent size for keeping the all around power. Freeing up the flow, by replacing the Y-pipe and switching to a high flow cat, will give you more power than opening up the pipe to a 3".

If you need any installation instructions, look here: zerothread/215223

[pinkius]

I just ordered a Cattman Y-Pipe, I'll keep on piecing together parts of the exhaust as I get the money..and I'll stick with Cattman, I don't like rednecks =p

[markd248]

As beancooker said, go for a 2.5" piping unless you have plans to supercharge or turbocharge you car. Otherwise you will see a lose in low end power.

[pinkius]

Oh, one more thing just for clarification..how exactly do you supercharge a car?

edit - wasn't very clear..I mean what makes a car qualify as "turbocharged"

[MinisterofDOOM]

Supercharging and turbocharging are similar, but not completely the same.Both involve forcing more air into the engine (which, combined with more fuel, makes more power). Superchargers are powered by the engine itself--a belt runs to a pulley on the supercharger to turn it. Turbochargers are powered by exhaust gasses: they actually have two turbines, one on the exhaust side for power, one on the intake side to feed the engine.

And since the engine is breathing in more air with a forced induction (turbo or supercharger) it benefits from a larger diameter exhaust when breathing out as well.

[pinkius]

Supercharging and turbocharging are similar, but not completely the same.Both involve forcing more air into the engine (which, combined with more fuel, makes more power). Superchargers are powered by the engine itself--a belt runs to a pulley on the supercharger to turn it. Turbochargers are powered by exhaust gasses: they actually have two turbines, one on the exhaust side for power, one on the intake side to feed the engine.

And since the engine is breathing in more air with a forced induction (turbo or supercharger) it benefits from a larger diameter exhaust when breathing out as well.

thanks for the info, very helpful

[A.Tech]

20HP? hmm, I was always told 20HP if you did the headers as well... I have never seen 20HP proven for just a Y-pipe...

[maxhopper]

I've only seen claims of 9hp from a y-pipe alone, but I've been wrong before.

I can attest from personal experience, the y-pipe does make the single biggest difference in how the 3.0 performs (as opposed to an intake or under drive pulley). After the y-pipe, a good intake and a good cat back exhaust will benefit you most in the power department.

[raymundojr]

Its largely involved in the effect of the transmission as like the borla exhast has a lot of difference in the Y-pipe.