ththcolumbus

iTrader: (1)

I currently have original stock exhaust on '97 SE w/5 spd with 126K miles (lots of highway). I am researching alternatives to the stock exhaust system. I am concerned a full cat-back system may be too loud at 3000 rpm on the freeway. I still need to be able to carry on phone conversations while on the freeway. Just replacing the muffler may not add any performance though. Has anyone used the newer pressure regulated mufflers that the post '00 models use in conjunction with a b-pipe (to eliminate the resonator) with good results?

Kevin Wong

Yes, many of us 4th gen drivers have done this. I was probably the 3rd person to do so. I have a Stillen Y-pipe (goes from the headers to the catalytic converter), stock cat, Stillen B-pipe (no resonator), and the 5th gen muffler from a 2000 Maxima. My car has a lot more grumble when you throttle it, but with the windows up and cruising its still quiet. Performance has a notable increase and ride comfort is not suffered at all. My brother's stock BMW 3.28 is much louder in both the interior and exterior.

The Y-pipe will give you the most gains all around the power band (RPM's). The muffler on the other hand will give you about an average of 3.5HP (mostly above 3,500 RPM). If you want to keep your Maxima quiet, stay with an OEM muffler. 4th gen, 5th gen, I30, and I35 mufflers will keep the car quiet. I'm not sure if the Sentra, G20, or altima mufflers fit or not. Anyways, the 5th gen mufflers usually go for $100-150 on the .org. It is not a direct bolt-on however...the connection flange is too long on the 5th gen, so a muffler shop can hack it and weld you a new flange.

breaux124

iTrader: (1)

How much difference in sound will a bpipe without a resonator make, if you keep the OEM muffler?

maxspeed96CT

iTrader: (9)

Y get a 5th gen muffler it might give you a 1/2hp gain, plus the dont look right unless you get a hole because 5gens have 2 tips and 4th have one, but i would get a y-pipe and a b-pipe still.

AssyrianRacer

Its not loud with an aftermarket Full Cat Back, You only hear a sliet humming untill you floor it, just like the intake

cleanmax02

I have stillen Y, test pipe, b-pipe, muffler and it's loud. I've actually been kinda looking for a stock muffler because the drone on the freeway annoys me now, especially for long trips.

Krash513

I just ordered my complete exhaust, budget y- and b-pipes and a 2001 muffler from warpspeed for $130. Ive seen threads about the muffler being better than an aftermarket one. Ill keep ya posted when i get mine on.

Brett

Jr'sMaxima

$130????????? I though the Y alone was $150!!!!!! Man if they got a deal going Im jumping on this! LOL

Weasel

iTrader: (2)

Uh... how? Retail should be at least three times that.

breaux124

iTrader: (1)

I think he means that the Muffler from Warpspeed was $130. And he already had bought the other parts.

Krash513

Hahaha yeah im sorry guys, what i meant was that i got the budget ypipe for 160 shipped, the b-pipe for about 173 shipped and the muffler for 130 shipped from wsp. Sorry for the confusion. Now does anyone know where i can get that metal shielding that goes around the tips of the 2000 muffler?


Brett

ththcolumbus

iTrader: (1)

When you say Stillen Y, b-pipe, and muffler, what brand of muffler are you using?

Jr'sMaxima

He means stillen.....as in the brand!

Kevin Wong

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....t=muffler+dyno

BeJay1 use to have a dyno plot comparing the 4th gen and 5th gen. Overall, the 5th gen had good gains all over the 4th gen. Free-flowing mufflers on the hand tend to do nothing (sometimes even losing on the bottom) but they make up on the top end. Of course you run into the higher decibels with a free-flowing muffler.

The way I drive, it only made sense to get the 5th gen muffler. I rarely rev past 4,000 RPM...Maxima's redline is pretty low, and I like quiet/performance.

BEJAY1

iTrader: (19)

I still believe in b-pipe's with a smaller resonators. Nearly identical performance as straight through but no increased noise at all.

Courtesy has their SS for sale again
http://www.courtesyparts.com/secondtier_a32.html

And Warpspeeds Aluminum model
http://www.warpspeedperformance.com/nissan.htm

breaux124

iTrader: (1)

My concern for the resonator isn't performance but more for undercar clearance. I live in a community with lots of large speed bumps, and because I'm lowered with B&G's my stock B-pipe scrapes. Its the resonator part of the B-pipe which just barely scrapes.

So to increase clearance I'm considering a B-pipe without a resonator, but I don't want to add much noise. So does a non-resonated bpipe with a stock muffler change the sound much?

BEJAY1

iTrader: (19)

Can't answer the non resonated w stock like you first posted. But clearance is the primary reason I switched b's - not performance. I got an extra 4" of clearance just by getting rid of the OEM coffee can. No more fear of angled driveways, curbs, and even small medians.

breaux124

iTrader: (1)

What B-pipe do you have?

Also, doesn't Courtesy's B-pipe rely on you to still use the "s" part behind the Cat? I'm pretty sure Warpspeed and Budget extended the bpipe and added an O2 sensor bung to remove the "s" piece. Or is this a new design for courtesy?