About how much difference does a Y pipe make? How much do they cost, including all pieces, and how difficult are they to install? Are there other performance mods that should be done first? I'm thinking of doing this after FSTB and redline trans fluid. Or would a CAI be better/cheaper? Which would make more difference? I'm looking for relatively cheap, easy performance boosters. Any other suggestions? thanks.

 

I think a y pipe will less noise. Use the 'search' feature up topand find some y pipe and CAI prices and do a 'Dollar/hp' analysis. then you will know which is more and worth it.

 

Get the Y-pipe first. It all depends on how much you want to spend on it. WarpSpeed and Cattman both have stainless versions. Stillen doesn't. WarpSpeed's price is lower than Cattman's. As for installation, it is pretty easy if you're mechanically inclined and have the proper tools. You should gain something like 10-15 fwhp just with this mod alone. Here are some references if you don't have them yet:
www.stillen.com
www.cattman.com
www.warpspeedperformance.com

 

I heard the stillen pipe makes a hissing noise @ the flex joint. I went with a catman pipe, stainless. Cost about $500. A CIA will sound nice and throaty as long as you get one which completly eliminates the stock air intake.

 

If your one of the unlucky ones, like me, you'll get a hissing sound from any of those y-pipes. It'll quiet things down if you use header wrap, but it will not completely make the hissing go away.

 

Thanks, all. It sounds like noise is a big problem with any of these. I have no problem making my car sound a little louder, but I'm not going to be racing too much, and don't really want to draw that much attention...are these changes really THAT much louder, after the header wrap?

 

Hey if you have an automatic transmission i'd save up about 50 more bucks and buy a VB Kit if you dont already have one. When I get the money thats the FIRST big mod i'll get to ensure and faster longer life for my Max.

 

or check out the budget exhaust y pipe for about $200 if you need to save the cash. I don't have one yet but will probably go with this one in a few weeks. do a search for "budget" to find it. It looks good to me. just an idea

 

Craig Mack:

Can you give a little more information about this VB Kit.
I have a '98 Maxima SE and already have replaced the transmission. I'd like to invest a little something to ensure the a long life for the car. Thanks.

 

Without the header wrap, the sound hissing is very obvious at WOT. With the header wrap, you can hardly tell but the noise is still there, just not as loud and annoying. If you already have an intake, it will deaden the hissing because it will become louder with the y-pipe.

 

Jim. This is a valve body upgrade to your auto tranny. I just learned about it and am still learning. What it does it make the liquid that shifts your gears work faster and tighter and strengthens your tranny. It also elimanates downshifting or something. Here ill give u tha link to the website of a maxima enthusiasts who does it: http://www.mobiletek.net I think his name is don...hope this helps.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Even if the y-pipe is a bolt-on, would it be better to weld it? Could that eliminate the hissing sound?

 

the flex section is there so it can move around while you drive so it wont be damaged by vibration(cracked welds)

 

Warpspeed are cheaper for a reason.
I've had problems with mine and I've been trying to get it resolve for over two months. I've finally quit. I'm just going to buy a cattman pipe to replace this one.

 

I have the stillen y-pipe, which is supposed to be the "loudest." This thing is not a supercharger. In normal driving, your engine is not going to feel like it has more torque. When you go to WOT at high rpms, the car will push better. As for the noise, at idle, you will not even know that it is there unless you stand behind the muffler outside the car. The sound at idle is not louder, but deeper. In normal driving (rpm less than 3500) you will hear NOTHING inside the car and a slight buzzing sound outside the car. You will hear a buzzing sound inside when you go WOT above 3500 rpm. For me, noise is not an issue at all in terms of loudness. I do wish that the tone of the sound was different; the y-pipe makes my car sound like there's something slightly wrong with it.

 

I just put the stillen Y pipe on my car last weekend. I noticed the hiss at WOT, at first i thought that there was a leak in the pipe, but then learned that this was pretty typical. As far as gains....eh nothing spectacular, i mean 15 hp is only like a 8% gain in speed, which is a lot for the money you spend but in reality you can only feel it SO much i guess i kinda expected a little bit more out of it, but i'm happy w/how it pulls in the high RPM's and the hissing sound adds a little to your cars overall uniqueness. By the way does anyone know how to check just in the rare case that there is a leak in the pipe? like any symptoms of something i may have done wrong? thanks!

 

BTW, they now have a newly designed flex section. Here's the link for it:
http://www.warpspeedperformance.com/retrofit.htm
It's $46.45 shipped. Just give WSP a call at 866-801-9338 if you want it.