Cattman VQ30DE Headers are ready
Cattman VQ30DE Headers are ready
The new Cattman header/downpipe sets for the VQ30DE Maxima/I30 are ready and should arrive at our warehouse on Thursday. Although they will fit all VQ30DE engines, the O2 ports are set up for all 1995-1998 Maximas/I30s, and 1999-2001 Federal emissions. They do not have the O2 sensor ports for the 1999-2001 Maximas/I30s with CA/NLEV emissions (but the next batch will include these elements).
The headers are made of carbon steel because stainless was unaffordable, so they have been coated inside and out by HPC Coatings, to give them the valuable thermal containment properties and corrosion resistance of stainless, plus much lower friction along the tubing walls; they also carry HPC's lifetime warranty. Overthick flanges, equal length secondaries, a beautiful under-the-hood appearance, and the sound... Once you've heard these, you'll find out just how nice this V6 really can sound, its pure ecstasy.
The set is complete from the engine to the cat, replacing the stock manifolds and y-pipe. There is no possibility of using just the headers with another y-pipe. It is not a scheme to make your y-pipe obsolete, it is because the front and rear downpipes on a y-pipe are not of equal length (nor do they need to be since the tubing upstream from them is not equal length); even if that wasn't an issue the top of the downpipes are so high that there isn't room for the primary runners top extend down from the heads.
I have a set on my old 100+k '97, and did a before and after dyno, comparing the headers with a stock y-pipe. The car had an intake and exhaust. Many will wish that was a comparison with a performance y-pipe, but the circumstances were limiting at the time and there was no possibility of a three-way test. Since it had to be one or the other I decided that the stock pipe is a better baseline since aftermarket y-pipes vary in the power they make.
On my somewhat tired engine, a non-ceramic-coated prototype added 16+hp at peak, 18+ hp off-peak, at the wheel. I've heard some pretty rediculous claims for y-pipes over the years, but under similar circumstances I would expect around 10hp more at peak, 12hp more off-peak, so my crude reckoning estimates a 40-50% power advantage over the "typical" performance y-pipe on a car with basic bolt-ons. I'm sure there will be a fair bit of testing once these are available.
For a copy of the graph and a spreadsheet with the #s in table form, write me at bcatts@earthlink.net. Based on my experience the HPC-coating should add an additional 2-3 hp. They will certainly do better on a stronger engine (particularly the 225hp versions) and should really open things up for seriously built motors. No point in further speculation, but I won't be surprised if 20hp gains are pretty commonplace and no matter what anyone may say about their y-pipe -- and I know y-pipes as well as anybody since Cattman was first to market with one five years ago -- they don't make anything close to that kind of power under normal circumstances. Nissan's stock header design is not that bad, and 18-20hp is a significant accomplishment.
Price is $750, and a full gasket and hardware set is an additional $20 (includes the two manifold gaskets). There are only about a dozen uncommitted sets in the batch that I expect by the end of the week and orders can be placed in advance at 800.759.9920. We will not charge credit cards until shipped.
That's about all the information I can provide. I'll be available to answer questions through Thursday, but have to leave the country on business till later in the month -- I'll be in touch, but won't have the time for correspondence I do now. Pictures will be available if these get here before leave on Friday, but I don't have any with the silver ceramic coating yet. These are not mentioned on our current website, but will be on the new one, which is in the final stages of development.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
www.cattman.com
bcatts@cattman.com
The headers are made of carbon steel because stainless was unaffordable, so they have been coated inside and out by HPC Coatings, to give them the valuable thermal containment properties and corrosion resistance of stainless, plus much lower friction along the tubing walls; they also carry HPC's lifetime warranty. Overthick flanges, equal length secondaries, a beautiful under-the-hood appearance, and the sound... Once you've heard these, you'll find out just how nice this V6 really can sound, its pure ecstasy.
The set is complete from the engine to the cat, replacing the stock manifolds and y-pipe. There is no possibility of using just the headers with another y-pipe. It is not a scheme to make your y-pipe obsolete, it is because the front and rear downpipes on a y-pipe are not of equal length (nor do they need to be since the tubing upstream from them is not equal length); even if that wasn't an issue the top of the downpipes are so high that there isn't room for the primary runners top extend down from the heads.
I have a set on my old 100+k '97, and did a before and after dyno, comparing the headers with a stock y-pipe. The car had an intake and exhaust. Many will wish that was a comparison with a performance y-pipe, but the circumstances were limiting at the time and there was no possibility of a three-way test. Since it had to be one or the other I decided that the stock pipe is a better baseline since aftermarket y-pipes vary in the power they make.
On my somewhat tired engine, a non-ceramic-coated prototype added 16+hp at peak, 18+ hp off-peak, at the wheel. I've heard some pretty rediculous claims for y-pipes over the years, but under similar circumstances I would expect around 10hp more at peak, 12hp more off-peak, so my crude reckoning estimates a 40-50% power advantage over the "typical" performance y-pipe on a car with basic bolt-ons. I'm sure there will be a fair bit of testing once these are available.
For a copy of the graph and a spreadsheet with the #s in table form, write me at bcatts@earthlink.net. Based on my experience the HPC-coating should add an additional 2-3 hp. They will certainly do better on a stronger engine (particularly the 225hp versions) and should really open things up for seriously built motors. No point in further speculation, but I won't be surprised if 20hp gains are pretty commonplace and no matter what anyone may say about their y-pipe -- and I know y-pipes as well as anybody since Cattman was first to market with one five years ago -- they don't make anything close to that kind of power under normal circumstances. Nissan's stock header design is not that bad, and 18-20hp is a significant accomplishment.
Price is $750, and a full gasket and hardware set is an additional $20 (includes the two manifold gaskets). There are only about a dozen uncommitted sets in the batch that I expect by the end of the week and orders can be placed in advance at 800.759.9920. We will not charge credit cards until shipped.
That's about all the information I can provide. I'll be available to answer questions through Thursday, but have to leave the country on business till later in the month -- I'll be in touch, but won't have the time for correspondence I do now. Pictures will be available if these get here before leave on Friday, but I don't have any with the silver ceramic coating yet. These are not mentioned on our current website, but will be on the new one, which is in the final stages of development.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
www.cattman.com
bcatts@cattman.com
Not DAVEB the parts guy
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,549
Originally Posted by Cattman
I've heard some pretty rediculous claims for y-pipes over the years, but under similar circumstances I would expect around 10hp more at peak, 12hp more off-peak,
Oh and....
Good to hear the option is out there but wouldn't install of these headers be pretty pricey? Who installed the headers on your car? How much did it cost and how long? My mild steel stillen Y is getting a bit tired.
ZuM
ZuM
Originally Posted by Cattman
The new Cattman header/downpipe sets for the VQ30DE Maxima/I30 are ready and should arrive at our warehouse on Thursday. Although they will fit all VQ30DE engines, the O2 ports are set up for all 1995-1998 Maximas/I30s, and 1999-2001 Federal emissions. They do not have the O2 sensor ports for the 1999-2001 Maximas/I30s with CA/NLEV emissions (but the next batch will include these elements).
The headers are made of carbon steel because stainless was unaffordable, so they have been coated inside and out by HPC Coatings, to give them the valuable thermal containment properties and corrosion resistance of stainless, plus much lower friction along the tubing walls; they also carry HPC's lifetime warranty. Overthick flanges, equal length secondaries, a beautiful under-the-hood appearance, and the sound... Once you've heard these, you'll find out just how nice this V6 really can sound, its pure ecstasy.
The set is complete from the engine to the cat, replacing the stock manifolds and y-pipe. There is no possibility of using just the headers with another y-pipe. It is not a scheme to make your y-pipe obsolete, it is because the front and rear downpipes on a y-pipe are not of equal length (nor do they need to be since the tubing upstream from them is not equal length); even if that wasn't an issue the top of the downpipes are so high that there isn't room for the primary runners top extend down from the heads.
I have a set on my old 100+k '97, and did a before and after dyno, comparing the headers with a stock y-pipe. The car had an intake and exhaust. Many will wish that was a comparison with a performance y-pipe, but the circumstances were limiting at the time and there was no possibility of a three-way test. Since it had to be one or the other I decided that the stock pipe is a better baseline since aftermarket y-pipes vary in the power they make.
On my somewhat tired engine, a non-ceramic-coated prototype added 16+hp at peak, 18+ hp off-peak, at the wheel. I've heard some pretty rediculous claims for y-pipes over the years, but under similar circumstances I would expect around 10hp more at peak, 12hp more off-peak, so my crude reckoning estimates a 40-50% power advantage over the "typical" performance y-pipe on a car with basic bolt-ons. I'm sure there will be a fair bit of testing once these are available.
For a copy of the graph and a spreadsheet with the #s in table form, write me at bcatts@earthlink.net. Based on my experience the HPC-coating should add an additional 2-3 hp. They will certainly do better on a stronger engine (particularly the 225hp versions) and should really open things up for seriously built motors. No point in further speculation, but I won't be surprised if 20hp gains are pretty commonplace and no matter what anyone may say about their y-pipe -- and I know y-pipes as well as anybody since Cattman was first to market with one five years ago -- they don't make anything close to that kind of power under normal circumstances. Nissan's stock header design is not that bad, and 18-20hp is a significant accomplishment.
Price is $750, and a full gasket and hardware set is an additional $20 (includes the two manifold gaskets). There are only about a dozen uncommitted sets in the batch that I expect by the end of the week and orders can be placed in advance at 800.759.9920. We will not charge credit cards until shipped.
That's about all the information I can provide. I'll be available to answer questions through Thursday, but have to leave the country on business till later in the month -- I'll be in touch, but won't have the time for correspondence I do now. Pictures will be available if these get here before leave on Friday, but I don't have any with the silver ceramic coating yet. These are not mentioned on our current website, but will be on the new one, which is in the final stages of development.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
www.cattman.com
bcatts@cattman.com
The headers are made of carbon steel because stainless was unaffordable, so they have been coated inside and out by HPC Coatings, to give them the valuable thermal containment properties and corrosion resistance of stainless, plus much lower friction along the tubing walls; they also carry HPC's lifetime warranty. Overthick flanges, equal length secondaries, a beautiful under-the-hood appearance, and the sound... Once you've heard these, you'll find out just how nice this V6 really can sound, its pure ecstasy.
The set is complete from the engine to the cat, replacing the stock manifolds and y-pipe. There is no possibility of using just the headers with another y-pipe. It is not a scheme to make your y-pipe obsolete, it is because the front and rear downpipes on a y-pipe are not of equal length (nor do they need to be since the tubing upstream from them is not equal length); even if that wasn't an issue the top of the downpipes are so high that there isn't room for the primary runners top extend down from the heads.
I have a set on my old 100+k '97, and did a before and after dyno, comparing the headers with a stock y-pipe. The car had an intake and exhaust. Many will wish that was a comparison with a performance y-pipe, but the circumstances were limiting at the time and there was no possibility of a three-way test. Since it had to be one or the other I decided that the stock pipe is a better baseline since aftermarket y-pipes vary in the power they make.
On my somewhat tired engine, a non-ceramic-coated prototype added 16+hp at peak, 18+ hp off-peak, at the wheel. I've heard some pretty rediculous claims for y-pipes over the years, but under similar circumstances I would expect around 10hp more at peak, 12hp more off-peak, so my crude reckoning estimates a 40-50% power advantage over the "typical" performance y-pipe on a car with basic bolt-ons. I'm sure there will be a fair bit of testing once these are available.
For a copy of the graph and a spreadsheet with the #s in table form, write me at bcatts@earthlink.net. Based on my experience the HPC-coating should add an additional 2-3 hp. They will certainly do better on a stronger engine (particularly the 225hp versions) and should really open things up for seriously built motors. No point in further speculation, but I won't be surprised if 20hp gains are pretty commonplace and no matter what anyone may say about their y-pipe -- and I know y-pipes as well as anybody since Cattman was first to market with one five years ago -- they don't make anything close to that kind of power under normal circumstances. Nissan's stock header design is not that bad, and 18-20hp is a significant accomplishment.
Price is $750, and a full gasket and hardware set is an additional $20 (includes the two manifold gaskets). There are only about a dozen uncommitted sets in the batch that I expect by the end of the week and orders can be placed in advance at 800.759.9920. We will not charge credit cards until shipped.
That's about all the information I can provide. I'll be available to answer questions through Thursday, but have to leave the country on business till later in the month -- I'll be in touch, but won't have the time for correspondence I do now. Pictures will be available if these get here before leave on Friday, but I don't have any with the silver ceramic coating yet. These are not mentioned on our current website, but will be on the new one, which is in the final stages of development.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
www.cattman.com
bcatts@cattman.com
Originally Posted by Dave B
Thank you. I don't know how times I've read where people say a y-pipe is good for 18fwhp+ on a stock VQ. Pretty much 12fwhp is the most you'll see. Sure, there are some that have gained over 12fwhp, but that is a very rare occurence, but like everything on this Org, it becomes the "word of God".
Oh and....
Oh and....
Well, obviously we're in the business to sell y-pipes too, and they're great, but they don't any more make 18hp than somebody else's recently advertised headers make 30.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
Originally Posted by 1MAX2NV
I have a CA spec 99. Does your headers reuse the OEM pre-cat? If not, I'm pretty sure it will trip the CEL.
Getting to your point about there being an emissions issue that would trip the CEL due to the absence of the pre-cats -- yes, that is true, but there are plenty of workarounds for that sort of thing.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
Originally Posted by ZuMBLe
Good to hear the option is out there but wouldn't install of these headers be pretty pricey? Who installed the headers on your car? How much did it cost and how long? My mild steel stillen Y is getting a bit tired.
ZuM
ZuM
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
All YOUR grammer belong to me
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
Brian,
Thank you for making a longtube header for the Maxima. It's great to see someone step up to the plate, research and get stuff made for our cars. And while $750 is a lot of money, it is actually a very fair price for a nice set of full length headers.
To those looking for the best performance gain for the buck, the Y-pipe is and always will be the best bang for the buck. Warpspeed sells them mandrel bent w/4 yr. warranty for $190. But for those gearheads, these headers would be sweet.
Good job Brian.
Thank you for making a longtube header for the Maxima. It's great to see someone step up to the plate, research and get stuff made for our cars. And while $750 is a lot of money, it is actually a very fair price for a nice set of full length headers.
To those looking for the best performance gain for the buck, the Y-pipe is and always will be the best bang for the buck. Warpspeed sells them mandrel bent w/4 yr. warranty for $190. But for those gearheads, these headers would be sweet.
Good job Brian.
Good job but endorse the competition? Poor form Craig, you should know better.
Originally Posted by Craig Mack
Brian,
Thank you for making a longtube header for the Maxima. It's great to see someone step up to the plate, research and get stuff made for our cars. And while $750 is a lot of money, it is actually a very fair price for a nice set of full length headers.
To those looking for the best performance gain for the buck, the Y-pipe is and always will be the best bang for the buck. Warpspeed sells them mandrel bent w/4 yr. warranty for $190. But for those gearheads, these headers would be sweet.
Good job Brian.
Thank you for making a longtube header for the Maxima. It's great to see someone step up to the plate, research and get stuff made for our cars. And while $750 is a lot of money, it is actually a very fair price for a nice set of full length headers.
To those looking for the best performance gain for the buck, the Y-pipe is and always will be the best bang for the buck. Warpspeed sells them mandrel bent w/4 yr. warranty for $190. But for those gearheads, these headers would be sweet.
Good job Brian.
good job cattman, can't wait for the first FI person to get'em and dyno with'em 
All YOUR grammer belong to me
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
Originally Posted by Confused
Good job but endorse the competition? Poor form Craig, you should know better.
Longtube Headers are not Downpipes, so I was just expressing my opinion about both.
Originally Posted by Craig Mack
Is this Brettville, or America? Last time I checked I could endorse what I want within the boundries of the constitution. But that wasn't even my intent. I guess I gave WSP a 1-up b/c everything has gone perfect for me with them. In no way did I slam Brians pipes or try to take away from his business, becuase his pipes are high quality and its obvious since many people buy them.
Longtube Headers are not Downpipes, so I was just expressing my opinion about both.
Longtube Headers are not Downpipes, so I was just expressing my opinion about both.
BTW, For those looking to see those Dyno pics mentioned above check VQpower.com
Originally Posted by Craig Mack
Brian,
Thank you for making a longtube header for the Maxima. It's great to see someone step up to the plate, research and get stuff made for our cars. And while $750 is a lot of money, it is actually a very fair price for a nice set of full length headers.
To those looking for the best performance gain for the buck, the Y-pipe is and always will be the best bang for the buck. Warpspeed sells them mandrel bent w/4 yr. warranty for $190. But for those gearheads, these headers would be sweet.
Good job Brian.
Thank you for making a longtube header for the Maxima. It's great to see someone step up to the plate, research and get stuff made for our cars. And while $750 is a lot of money, it is actually a very fair price for a nice set of full length headers.
To those looking for the best performance gain for the buck, the Y-pipe is and always will be the best bang for the buck. Warpspeed sells them mandrel bent w/4 yr. warranty for $190. But for those gearheads, these headers would be sweet.
Good job Brian.
Thanks Craig,
I do appreciate the encouragement and don't take your comments about the Warpspeed pipe as a slam at all. That said, I think there is a point to be made here about the critical role of materials.
$190 may seem like a great deal for a y-pipe -- and obviously it makes more power than the stock one, which is the primary point -- but how much better could it be? $190 buys you a y-pipe made out of aluminized steel tubing, which is a very poor material for this part. Y-pipes are subject to a lot of heat and stress, and unless mild steel is ceramic coated, it has a variety of shortcomings (compared with stainless steel) with these three probably being the most significant, in terms of factors that directly influence performance:
-very high heat transmissivity, meaning it conducts heat rapidly, lowering the temperature and velocity of the exhaust stream and heating up the engine compartment. The former is a significant power issue, and the latter can contribute to the heat saturation of the engine. Both of these factors rob power.
-corrosion, in the sense that even if it doesn't fall apart in four years, the interior of the uncoated pipe will be so rough within a relatively short period of time that it will significantly increase the friction along the tubing walls (exhaust pipes rust from the inside out because the chemical environment is much more acidic inside and it combines with condensation everytime your car cools off). Rust and scaling on the inside of the tubing robs performance due to the increased friction.
-durability, because when the steel is not ceramic coated on the inside, the heat cycle is much more extreme, putting particular stress on the steel and welds, which causes the material to become more brittle and greatly increases the likelihood of eventual stress fractures. Whether the pipe is covered by warranty or not, the use of uncoated mild steel tubing (no, the layer of aluminum does not really count) will without any question result in a far higher rate of rust-through and weld fracture than ceramic coated carbon steel or stainless steel. Very few people keep their cars for four years, and I'd be a bit surprised if the warranty was transferrable, so don't assume that if the warranty is 4 years, the pipe will last that long in harsher environments.
So, if we're going to contrast headers with y-pipes -- a worthy discussion that will play itself out many times now that headers are available -- the comparison is better made with y-pipes that are of similar quality. Depending on the brand, those can be purchased for roughly $300-350.
And in case anyone interprets this as me slamming Warpspeed (or Budget for that matter), that is not my intent. My comments are related to the materials, irrespective of brand. I believe that both companies also make stainless steel y-pipes as well, so its a matter of customer choice -- we don't happen to give our customers that choice because we firmly believe it is the wrong one.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
All YOUR grammer belong to me
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
I would just like to add I've emailed Brian in the past with some newbie questions and he always answers me with a freakishly detailed answer. For example, I emailed him a couple years ago about his pop chargers velocity stack vs. the new ice cream cone style. He gave me a response that was like, twice as long as his above post. I thought he copy/pasted, but after reading it, he wrote it all himself.
Thats the way it should be done, and I hope your nerves arent fried Brian.
Thats the way it should be done, and I hope your nerves arent fried Brian.
Nice 
An MEVI,5-speed, JWT ECU, and now headers (with cat-back to finish it off) combo would be the baddest NA power from the VQ30DE. And you still would have Nissan's bullet proof reliability and longevity. I salivate profusely at the possibility
DW
An MEVI,5-speed, JWT ECU, and now headers (with cat-back to finish it off) combo would be the baddest NA power from the VQ30DE. And you still would have Nissan's bullet proof reliability and longevity. I salivate profusely at the possibilityDW
In the end there are those that need raw dyno graphs... I will only speak of the headers once i see headers vs. aftermarket y-pipe... As of right now, there are only stock y-pipe vs. aftermarket headers... If there is a significant enough difference to justify the price difference between the $Cattman header combo vs. the Y-pipe, i might have to switch over eventually...
LEMAR
LEMAR
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,344
Sounds good. I'll wait for the second batch with the correct O2 ports for 1999-2001 CA/NLEV and you can elaborate on the workaround I'm interested in getting rid of the pre-cat.
I'm interested in getting rid of the pre-cat.
Originally Posted by Cattman
My original message was typically long, but in it I mention that although they will physically fit, these are not configured (in terms of O2 ports) for the 1999-2001 CA/NLEV cars.
Getting to your point about there being an emissions issue that would trip the CEL due to the absence of the pre-cats -- yes, that is true, but there are plenty of workarounds for that sort of thing.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
Getting to your point about there being an emissions issue that would trip the CEL due to the absence of the pre-cats -- yes, that is true, but there are plenty of workarounds for that sort of thing.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
wow...if i can sell my y-pipe for like 125-150, this will only cost me abou 625-600....
and if u think about it, its basically 500-550 dollars for headers which is normal for honda's and such? or do they not have to buy a y-pipe? *rambling*
anyway, few questions just to make sure, this is obviously a 2.5 piping for y-pipe area right?
also u said it makes a very aggressive sound? u mean like a V8 or what? can u produce any sound clips? I'm very interested in this but really want to know what kind of sound it makes because i bought a very quiet catback to get away from the heavy exhaust sound...dont want to bring it back...
and if u think about it, its basically 500-550 dollars for headers which is normal for honda's and such? or do they not have to buy a y-pipe? *rambling*
anyway, few questions just to make sure, this is obviously a 2.5 piping for y-pipe area right?
also u said it makes a very aggressive sound? u mean like a V8 or what? can u produce any sound clips? I'm very interested in this but really want to know what kind of sound it makes because i bought a very quiet catback to get away from the heavy exhaust sound...dont want to bring it back...
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 182
Originally Posted by meccanoble
wow...if i can sell my y-pipe for like 125-150, this will only cost me abou 625-600....
and if u think about it, its basically 500-550 dollars for headers which is normal for honda's and such? or do they not have to buy a y-pipe? *rambling*
anyway, few questions just to make sure, this is obviously a 2.5 piping for y-pipe area right?
also u said it makes a very aggressive sound? u mean like a V8 or what? can u produce any sound clips? I'm very interested in this but really want to know what kind of sound it makes because i bought a very quiet catback to get away from the heavy exhaust sound...dont want to bring it back...
and if u think about it, its basically 500-550 dollars for headers which is normal for honda's and such? or do they not have to buy a y-pipe? *rambling*
anyway, few questions just to make sure, this is obviously a 2.5 piping for y-pipe area right?
also u said it makes a very aggressive sound? u mean like a V8 or what? can u produce any sound clips? I'm very interested in this but really want to know what kind of sound it makes because i bought a very quiet catback to get away from the heavy exhaust sound...dont want to bring it back...
Does it sound good?
Originally Posted by Nashua_Night_Ha
If you willing to pay 500-550 for headers... how about keeping your y-pipe and get the stone headers for $450 shipped?
Does it sound good?
Does it sound good?
Originally Posted by meccanoble
lol, that doesnt sound bad either but i need to see you make your headers sound all good like mr. cattman does...made me a believer with his speech...luckily i'm constantly broke or my car would be a bigsadler part II.
BS
Originally Posted by ivelweyz
maybe we should ask BUDGET to buy a set of these, reproduce them, and sell them at half price???
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
Originally Posted by Cattman
Yeah, that's a really great idea. Kick the people in the teeth who invest in innovation and parts development, and the only survivors will be the companies that are able to make cheap copies. Won't that be fun?
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
His just kidding I hope
Originally Posted by Nashua_Night_Ha
If you willing to pay 500-550 for headers... how about keeping your y-pipe and get the stone headers for $450 shipped?
Does it sound good?
Does it sound good?
Actually, no, it doesn't sound good at all. Anyone who thinks they can design a decent set of headers around a stock or aftermarket y-pipe shouldn't be allowed to design a muffler tip, much less a set of headers. It cannot be done. To fit with the elevated downpipes of a current y-pipe design, the primary tubes would have to be so short they'd be worthless. And even it the downpipes were lower, the tubing leading from the header flange to the 2-1 collector would still be unequal length, which defeats the whole purpose of headers.
If the Stone header people want to sell their parts on this forum, have them buy a banner and promote their product on its merits instead of sniping at my thread with empty statements like the ones you've made. Oh, by the way, wouldn't you be the same Nashua guy who's selling these on the Accord forum? Do you own a Maxima?
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 182
Originally Posted by Cattman
Actually, no, it doesn't sound good at all. Anyone who thinks they can design a decent set of headers around a stock or aftermarket y-pipe shouldn't be allowed to design a muffler tip, much less a set of headers. It cannot be done. To fit with the elevated downpipes of a current y-pipe design, the primary tubes would have to be so short they'd be worthless. And even it the downpipes were lower, the tubing leading from the header flange to the 2-1 collector would still be unequal length, which defeats the whole purpose of headers.
If the Stone header people want to sell their parts on this forum, have them buy a banner and promote their product on its merits instead of sniping at my thread with empty statements like the ones you've made. Oh, by the way, wouldn't you be the same Nashua guy who's selling these on the Accord forum? Do you own a Maxima?
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
If the Stone header people want to sell their parts on this forum, have them buy a banner and promote their product on its merits instead of sniping at my thread with empty statements like the ones you've made. Oh, by the way, wouldn't you be the same Nashua guy who's selling these on the Accord forum? Do you own a Maxima?
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
It is a FREE capitol world not a Microsoft Monopoly. FREE market will decide. Wait till you see the dyno.
Nashua.
Originally Posted by meccanoble
wow...if i can sell my y-pipe for like 125-150, this will only cost me abou 625-600....
and if u think about it, its basically 500-550 dollars for headers which is normal for honda's and such? or do they not have to buy a y-pipe? *rambling*
anyway, few questions just to make sure, this is obviously a 2.5 piping for y-pipe area right?
also u said it makes a very aggressive sound? u mean like a V8 or what? can u produce any sound clips? I'm very interested in this but really want to know what kind of sound it makes because i bought a very quiet catback to get away from the heavy exhaust sound...dont want to bring it back...
and if u think about it, its basically 500-550 dollars for headers which is normal for honda's and such? or do they not have to buy a y-pipe? *rambling*
anyway, few questions just to make sure, this is obviously a 2.5 piping for y-pipe area right?
also u said it makes a very aggressive sound? u mean like a V8 or what? can u produce any sound clips? I'm very interested in this but really want to know what kind of sound it makes because i bought a very quiet catback to get away from the heavy exhaust sound...dont want to bring it back...
Some answers...
The tubing is metric, so I'd need to check the ID of the y-pipe tubing when they arrive. I'm not sure what the header design includes, but do not assume that 2.5" is the correct diameter for a y-pipe -- in the case, bigger is not necessarily better, as we quite prefer the results we get from 2.25" y-pipe opening into a 2.5" exhaust. This even holds true with our new 02-03 y-pipe for the larger VQ35. Ours makes power, but I've heard that others do not.
You can't make a V6 sound like a V8 (you can't make it sound like a straight 6, for that matter), but I think it comes as close as you're going to get in tone. Its important to note that this has nothing to do with volume -- it didn't seem any louder than a y-pipe, so there is no reason to fear it being "too loud" -- its all a matter of tone. What you have now will simply sound better, not louder.
If someone really wants it loud, they just run it with a loud exhaust, and the inverse is true for someone like you (or me). I don't like a loud exhaust, and the headers sound very nice (to my ears) with the Cattman catback system. The best way I can describe it is that a y-pipe makes kind of a blurred sound compared to the headers, which make a sound that keeps the individual detonations more distinct. Even though I don't want a loud exhaust on my car, I'd like to hear these with a loud exhaust, because it would really stand out.
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
Originally Posted by chigga
are you guys going to be making some for us 2k2's and up??
Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance
All YOUR grammer belong to me
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
Brian,
By saying "individual detonations vs. y-pipe blurrr" are you talking about a toned burble (Cobra like) (your longtubes) vs a monotone huuuummmmmm (standard performance ypipe)? For instance, with my flowmasters 2 chambered setup, my car sounds raw and burbly at idle and creeping up to speed from a stoplight, becuase the muffler gives me an echo effect, with a raw/dirty/brash tone. If I keep my ears peeled, I can hear the exhaust echo'ing *almost* like a higher pitched, baby cobra when I accelerate. At idle it's pretty distinct. Will the addition of your longtube headers over a standard Y-pipe make this burble at idle/casual acceleration louder and more distinct? A great example of the burble i'm talking about can be found on any V8 Mustang 5.0 or Cobra with Flowmasters....now obviously our cars won't sound anything like a Cobra, but you get the idea of what kinda "burble" i'm talking about. I hate the monotone BaaaaaAAAAAHHHH that most imports give off (especially the 4 bangers) and want to have that echo'ed "alien ship" like burble that only a "V" shaped engine can give off.
Now, sound at full throttle....I have noticed that with most 6cyl. engines, the exhaust just kinda sounds like a loud BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, whereas V8's have that distinct musical note. At least this is the case for my car and even my friends 3.8L F-body Camaro with my same setup. I assume even headers won't change the loud blare into a more toned, musical, muscular note?
Finally, power...what about us supercharged guys? Do you think we will see a significant power increase w/these over n/a guys, especially those of us running 10+psi? And do you think the small diameter of the piping will choke off some of the power potential for boosted VQ's?
-Thanks in advanced for answering my "descriptive" questions....I know I p!ss off a lot of guys here with my obession with exhaust note and V8's.
By saying "individual detonations vs. y-pipe blurrr" are you talking about a toned burble (Cobra like) (your longtubes) vs a monotone huuuummmmmm (standard performance ypipe)? For instance, with my flowmasters 2 chambered setup, my car sounds raw and burbly at idle and creeping up to speed from a stoplight, becuase the muffler gives me an echo effect, with a raw/dirty/brash tone. If I keep my ears peeled, I can hear the exhaust echo'ing *almost* like a higher pitched, baby cobra when I accelerate. At idle it's pretty distinct. Will the addition of your longtube headers over a standard Y-pipe make this burble at idle/casual acceleration louder and more distinct? A great example of the burble i'm talking about can be found on any V8 Mustang 5.0 or Cobra with Flowmasters....now obviously our cars won't sound anything like a Cobra, but you get the idea of what kinda "burble" i'm talking about. I hate the monotone BaaaaaAAAAAHHHH that most imports give off (especially the 4 bangers) and want to have that echo'ed "alien ship" like burble that only a "V" shaped engine can give off.
Now, sound at full throttle....I have noticed that with most 6cyl. engines, the exhaust just kinda sounds like a loud BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, whereas V8's have that distinct musical note. At least this is the case for my car and even my friends 3.8L F-body Camaro with my same setup. I assume even headers won't change the loud blare into a more toned, musical, muscular note?
Finally, power...what about us supercharged guys? Do you think we will see a significant power increase w/these over n/a guys, especially those of us running 10+psi? And do you think the small diameter of the piping will choke off some of the power potential for boosted VQ's?
-Thanks in advanced for answering my "descriptive" questions....I know I p!ss off a lot of guys here with my obession with exhaust note and V8's.