96max

Hi, anyone know if this thing is any good, I found one used for quite a descent price. Please give me your opinions, Thanx.

fnkmaster

i got the same thing... i think its definitely worth it. only thing is that if you dont have a y or a catback... ur going to notice quite a loss in low end torque. but once u get past about 2.5k-3k rpms, u will see the difference in the pull.

96max

alrite, thanx =)

SLC I30t

iTrader: (1)

is that going to be true on most exhausts? I don't have a y pipe but want to get into an exhaust system... where should I start? I have an intake... what next?

fnkmaster

i believe the effect is going to be similar on all the exhausts. i have a part custom part hks exhaust system, and it did produce a difference, but the real deal was when i got the y pipe and the bigger cat. right away i noticed the gain in low end torque once again, the whole bogging feeling was not there anymore. but i'd definitely suggest a y pipe and cat.

SLC I30t

iTrader: (1)

Where can you get a larger Maxima cat? Whats the benefit?

fnkmaster

u can get it from Random Technologies... checkout www.custommaxima.com for a good price. i got mine from mufflerman cos it was a little cheaper. benefits, bigger cat = more air can pass out freely. hence a boost in hp. hope this helped.

SLC I30t

iTrader: (1)

I have heard, and I don't know if you did this, but people removing the pre-cat. and it making life harder on the cat. and all of the check engine lights involved? Or did you just leave the pre cats?

fnkmaster

i removed the pre-cat. absolutely no problems, no engine light nada. i did wonder about the codes though, cos the engine light did not come on for me, but i didnt really bother much. i did reset my ecu just in case. i should probably do it again and make sure there are no error codes.

SLC I30t

iTrader: (1)

I just read on a thread that some one had experienced Cat overload, and their sensors were going nutso. But if you put a larger cat on it. I guess it can take the stress and heat of being the only one?... How much have you put into your exhaust?

fnkmaster

yep having a bigger cat does help. as for cost wise... lets see...
y pipe = $195
2.5" cat = $130
b pipe = $180
exhaust = $200
connector from b pipe to cat = $40
all this plus labor.

SLC I30t

iTrader: (1)

You got some aswesome prices for your stuff. I assume (not to sound stuck up) that you didn't go with stillen. Those prices are just sweet. I've gone with stillen just because they have a good rep for quality, and I know that I can deal with them if I have a problem. I have tried a few other companies and just trying to get an order placed was a hassle. Where do you get your equipment from?

chris j vurnis

I wonder if the typically boomy sound in aftermarket mufflers at low RPMs is caused by turbulent flow in the muffler -- And then turbulent flow inturn causes a reduction in torque???

fnkmaster

y pipe = budget exhaust (www.budgetexhaust.com)
b pipe = courtesy nissan (www.courtesynissan.com)
cat, b pipe connector = mufflerman
exhaust = jrp (toronto, canada, www.jrponline.com, 905-564-8805) --> ask for steve
let me know if u got any other questions!

fnkmaster

well pretty much. look at it this way, you have the stock piping (y, cat, b pipe) and then you have a 2.5" piped exhaust with an even bigger tip. now if ur piping were uniform throughout, it would flow out with the same pressure unlike the earlier case (hence no throaty noise, but a deep growl).

SLC I30t

iTrader: (1)

Chris---I have no idea. But it sounds like a question for Daniel B Martin. Yesterday he answered like 20 posts about super chargers for me.

Dave B

IMO, the stock cat is perfectly fine. 1.5 years ago, I bought the stock replacement RT cat. The inlet and outlet are 2.6". The stock cat inlet and outlets are 2.6". When comparing the two cats and looking through them, they look EXCATLY the same. I noticed no real difference in performance with my RT cat. Two weeks ago I pulled off my RT cat because I thought one of the "bricks" had become loose and was rattling. I reinstalled the stock cat and I noticed no difference in power or sound. This confirmed for me that a "performance" cat is pretty much worthless for the later model Maxima. Some cars do benefit from performance cats, but the Maxima doesn't.

Running a 3" cat is completely worthless unless you're running a 3" y-pipe pipe and 3" exhaust along with a power adder. You need to keep the exhaust uniform in size to keep exhaust velocity and scavenging up. Running too big of an exhaust and/or an oversized cat will kill velocity and will increase turbulence inside the exhaust affecting torque and sound (resonating). Unless you are running a blower with a small pulley, the stock 2.3" piping (y-pipe, b-pipe, cat) or aftermarket 2.5" B-pipe (it actually measures 2.4" internally) are fine. 3" piping is ideal for 320-380 hp, not 170-260hp. 3" piping flows nearly the same amount of air as a dual 2.30" exhaust.


Dave

SLC I30t

iTrader: (1)

So basically you are confirming my thought that too much freeflow is bad... For lowend power. Am I understanding this correctly?
1 last question. You don't think that a larger cat is neccessary when removing the precats?

fnkmaster

from what i was told, when u remove the precats, a bigger cat aids in emissions. either way it doesnt matter as u should probably let the car run for a little while before going for the inspection.

Dave B

The precats are on there to improve catalytic "light off". Due to thier close proximity to the motor, more heat is generated therefore they warm up much quicker than the primary cat. This quick "light off" allows the motor to run cleanly on start up. This is why you see many new cars like the WRX running a cat literally after the turbo or the Acura RSX or Celica running the exhaust manifolds on the rear of the motor instead of the front like in their past designs. The shorter the distance from the motor to the cat, the quicker the cat warms up, and the quicker the car runs cleanly. I think Nissan would have run true cats right off the manifolds if they could have, but the space is limited so they had to use two very small cats and a large one.

By removing the precats, you are increasing the time it takes the primary cat to warm up. This is why some modded Maximas don't pass emissions. Once the cat warms up (1 minute) the car is running very cleanly. There isn't more "load" on the cat without the precats.



Dave

SLC I30t

iTrader: (1)

Thanks that help illeviate my fears of upgraded exhuast.