Ceasars Chariot

iTrader: (16)

(Cattman or Stone Racing) 1995-1999

Hey guys, the headers have been out for a while now. Wanted to find out what 4th gen owners have them, your thoughts (performance/sound). If you dont have them, but have some old threads saved, post up a link.

From what I understand, lots of these have sold but I only know of ironlung, and optimus having them.


Thanks

MrEous

iTrader: (11)

I got the Stone Racing headers prototype v.2 back in January.

Install was a bish...not for the novice...took us 10 hrs.

I would recommend it to someone that is looking for every bit of bolt-on hp/tq available to the VQ30 without going f/i.

I just don't talk about it much because I don't think it is a truly worthy mod to the less power-hungry modders out there.

Gains are about ~5hp/tq over a y-pipe...so the $$ scares away a lot of potential modders. Nobody has firm #s to support the ~5hp/tq claim so it's as much a guess to me as it is to you. Cattman claims more along the ~10hp/tq.

If I were to do it again I would get the Cattman headers...you really can't go wrong with ceramic coating as he does. The welds on the Stone Racing Headers (that I know of) are very primative to say the least.

So all in all...if you want to get headers then go for Cattman.

-Jeff

Ceasars Chariot

iTrader: (16)

thanks jeff, sounds good .. there must be only a handful of org members with headers if that ?

the list
1. MrEous - Stone Racing

Ceasars Chariot

iTrader: (16)

bump - still looking for others

JeffesonM

iTrader: (5)

I believe with some minor modifications the Hotshot headers could also work on the VQ30. Poke around in the 5th gen forum... there's a thread there about using VQ35 Hotshot headers on the VQ30-K.

Don't know if they'd be better or worse than Cattman, but they're certainly better than the Stealin ones.

Nismo_K

bump.......

MrEous

iTrader: (11)

Just an FYI on the VQ35 Hotshot headers. From what I understand they get great gains over just a ypipe for the VQ35.

Reason?...The VQ35 ypipe doesn't remove the precat like it does for the 4th gen. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Cattman should be the #1 choice if anyone wants to subject themselves to a hellish header install. (lol)

JeffesonM

iTrader: (5)

good info, thanks

optimus310

iTrader: (1)

The Hotshot headers don't have the EGR plug, which is something us 4th gens must have. You will have to have a shop weld one for you. Also the location of the 02 Sensors are incorrect so you'll probably get a code from that. For the money you are going to spend making the hotshot headers work, you might as well go with cattman.

People who have cattman headers, that I know are
Y2KSESteve
Iron Lung
Max4lyfe
and me

We all seem to like our headers as far as I know.

Dave B

This I totally agree with. When comparing the gains of Hotshot headers on 3.5VQs to those of 3.0VQ you must consider the fact that the Hotshot headers are removing the 3.5VQ precats just as the Federal y-pipes do for our Y-pipes. A Federal-spec y-pipe on a 4th gen 5 speed will see about 10-12 peak whp with some portions of the powerband seeing 15-17whp. A y-pipe on the 3.5VQ only replaces the piping after both precats therefore these y-pipe only see about 5whp. The Hotshot headers on the 3.5VQ are seeing about 15-17whp with powerband gains up to nearly 20whp. Some things to consider though:

1) The 3.5VQ is a larger displacement motor therefore it will make marginally more power than the 3.0VQ, mod for mod.

2) The 3.5VQ employs variable cam timing which improves midrange/topend performance therefore the engine can make more use of the power and show strong gains.

IMO, you're not going to see huge gains with headers over just a y-pipe on a 3.0 VQ. I have no doubt there are gains, but I'd estimate they'll be in the peak 4-5whp range and maybe 6-7whp powerband. The reason I say this is because the guys that have been to the track with their 3.0 VQ headers are not showing big gains in MPH or reductions in ET.

My biggest worry with headers would be the rear bank and exhaust leaks. Most of us understand the work required to get the rear header installed and I think the last thing I'd want to deal with would be removing the rear header to fix a leak. You're talking about a 10 hour day.

As usual, I could just be talking out of my a$$ and the Cattman/Hotshot headers could possibly show some serious gains over the y-pipe on a 3.0 VQ, but I really doubt that. Until then, we'll have to wait and hopefully someone will do a legit y-pipe vs headers dyno comparison.


Dave

Ceasars Chariot

iTrader: (16)

the list

1. MrEous - Stone Racing
2. Y2KSESteve - Cattman
3. Iron Lung - Cattman
4. Max4lyfe - Cattman
5. optimus310 - Cattman

optimus310

iTrader: (1)

wow thats a big list. I promise that if no one comes through with number I will dyno mine with headers, then with just y pipe that is still sitting on my garage. Im just gonna wait until it gets colder. Maybe by November

808_Pimpn_max

iTrader: (9)

i've got the Cattman headers...I LOVE THEM!!! The sound they make w/Greddy Evo are well worth the buy. It was a B**** to install, not for the novice!!!

Ceasars Chariot

iTrader: (16)

is the sound a big difference at Wide Open Throttle ? i hear it takes the raspy/buzzy sound out of the exhaust versus the y pipe

max4lyfe.

Yea these headers kick @ss.

808_Pimpn_max

iTrader: (9)

nope not at all...the car sounds TUNED instead of the fart can sound...like a lower toned version of a 350Z

Larrio

iTrader: (10)

I have the HS headers in my closet right now, just waiting to finish the TS ecu test run and i'm going to try fitting them onto the vq30de

Also, I know of a 2k (Hnda_Etr) running the cattman headers and he still had to relocate the 2 rear o2's to the b pipe. Also, the HS headers come with two o2 bungs for this.

Ceasars Chariot

iTrader: (16)

larrio let me know how it goes, nice max too !

Dave B

One of these days someone will dyno their 4th gen with the y-pipe and then with the Cattman/HS headers. Only then will we truely know if these things are worth the money. As of now, the track results aren't suggesting the 4th gens with headers are any quicker than one with a good y-pipe.


Dave

Larrio

iTrader: (10)

thanks I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. The TS ecu is already on its way back from japan.

the cattman and hs are practically the same, considering that both require you to relocate the rear 02's (99 and up)

Ceasars Chariot

iTrader: (16)

well this looks like this is it, not many members with them.

the list

1. MrEous - Stone Racing
2. Y2KSESteve - Cattman
3. Iron Lung - Cattman
4. Max4lyfe - Cattman
5. optimus310 - Cattman