I have been doing research on the headers and y-pipe for my max. The reason being is because i am worried where i am going to put all 4 of my O2 sensors when and if i get it. My car is cali spec and all i see out there is fed spec y-pipe and headers. can someone please help me out with this problem?

 

yea just put two o2's in and then reset your CEL. that might work.

 

^^Lol

Buy a front exhaust manifold from a 95-98 (or 99 fed), and a y-pipe, or get a fed spec header/y-pipe combo (waste imho) and get a dual O2 simulator from baker electronics to take care of the 2 post cat o2's on your car, the front two will go in the fed-spec y-pipe as they are needed for engine control, the o2 sim will take care of codes for the rear 2, you can read the header sticky in the 5th gen section for more info, most of that applies to your '99 ca spec

 

ok scratch the headers, cause i looked at my car just now and i was like no i dont want to do that to much work. so now i just want the y-pipe, which one should i get and would i be able to put the two O2 sensors on like i did the stock y-pipe?

 

Especially considering that all that work for the rear one is only good for 5 hp if that

However, dude, you really need to do the fed-spec conversion to see much of a gain, the front manifold on your car is the only one that has a pre-cat in it, and once you take the y-pipe out that fron't manifold is easy as pie, seriosuly just remove the fans (2 second job) and than the heat sheild and manifold, it's cake, trust me.

 

If you are a 99 california spec, you need to buy a front exhaust manifold from a fed spec to get any gains from a y-pipe. It is not a hard job at all, as I watched Kev do it on my car a few months ago. Definitely well worth the time and $.

 

ok so tell me guys, point me in the direction to the products, gimme some links to which u would suggest for good headers and y-pipe. and an affordable price too. and also this conversion stuff im not so familiar with it so can u also tell me what i need for that as well? thanks guys much appreciated

 

For all your header/Ypipe combo questions:
http://forums.nycmaximas.org/showthread.php?t=20592

like the others said, buying a fedspec front runner would be sufficient enough for increased airflow + an aftermarket Y. also using O2 simulators to avoid the CEL.

if youre interested, i do have my fedspec front runner for sale as i went with OBX headers.

 

Cattman headers + O2 simulator FTW!!!

 

So you are saying that an aftermarket y-pipe does nothing for 99 Cali specs? Please elaborate.

 

It will only eliminate the rear pre-cat, than you will have one just on the front back, ugggh

 

It does nothing if you haven't replaced the front header with a fed spec one.........

And as far as products go, get a front header for $30 or so on the .org and any y pipe (budget, warpspeed, cattman, etc.). They all do the same thing, except Cattman's quality and CS is superior to Budget and Warpspeed. Cattman FTW!

 

For full gains and no SES light, this is the way to go.

 

Saying it does 'nothing' couldn't be further from the truth. Gains are realized with a ypipe, just not as much. Back in the day when I was in the market for a ypipe, I distinctly remember asking Cattman this question. He claims that only 2 to 3 HP is lost by not having the front precat removed. This was 2+years ago though, so I'd call Brian directly and hear it straight from the horses mouth as he may have new information.

I agree though, a front Fed spec exhaust manifold can be had for $40 shipped and is the way to go IMO. R&R of the exhaust manifold is pretty easy as well. If I had to do it over again, this is the road I would go down. Every horsepower counts in my book.

 

Haha true, except for the $ it just makes sense to replace the front manifold. You will see some gain with a y-pipe, but even more with the fed spec conversion.

 

ok so u all are saying that all i have to do is replace the front header with a aftermarket header and purchase a good y-pipe which would be cattman? and then do a fed conversion? to get the most gains? i mean what about the rear header? would it make a difference or no? and where would i get the fed conversion, and is it a kit or does it have to do with splicing wires? srry to make it complicated guys just want answers, cause the most confusing thing is this fed conversion thing. thnx for ur help

 

All the Fed Spec conversion consists of is a Front Exhaust Manifold (header) from a 95-99 fed spec. and an O2 simulator. This will eliminate the precat in the exhaust manifold and the O2 simulator will simulate an 02 sensor so you dont get a SES light.

A rear header is not necessary, as there are no precats to restrict flow. You only need to get the front header from a fed spec 95-99.

Cattman Y pipes are known for their superior fitment and quality, but Budget and Warpspeed are cheaper alternatives. If you have the $400 for Cattman, do it, but if you only have $200, then go with a Warpspeed/Budget.

To get the most gains, swap the front header with one from a fed spec, get an O2 sim to kill all codes, leave the rear header alone, and get an aftermarket y pipe. Hope this helped to clear it all up.

 

yea i get it now, but one more thing, all i want to know is where to get the simulator?

 

I got mine from Cattman Performance. $20 shipped IIRC. Check out his group deal thread, maybe it's listed......

Or just do a google search, plenty will come up. Also ebay.

 

is it a plug and play simulator or does it consist of splicing wires?

 

You need to splice a couple of wires.

 

O2 simulator circuit for one or two secondary O2 sensors; all Maximas, I30s, I35s; reg. $28, SALE PRICE $23

I looked up the O2 simulators on google and cattman popped up on chicagomaximaclub.net and i copied and pasted.

So my question is what would i need for my car, are they both the same simulator, srry guys i got confused cause it says O2 simulator circuit for one or two secondary O2 sensors

So what ima do is order the fed header but really my car is cali spec, and then order a cali spec y-pipe from cattman? Am i right?

 

O2 Simulator is capable of simulating 1 or 2 O2 sensors. Depends on the individuals situation.

Once you get a Fed spec front exhaust manifold, you then order a Fed Spec ypipe.

 

in my case i would just simulate 1 or 2 sensors?

 

Youre simulating two O2 sensors to make it appear that you are still a cali-spec car to the ECU. You can also get the Dual 02 sim from www.bakerelectronix.com for $26 I think. That is where I got mine.

 

Ok where would the simulator hook up to? which O2 sensors.

 

The one one the front pre-cat/REAR O2 SENSOR B2 (RED) and the bottom pre-cat/REAR O2 SENSOR B1 (WHITE).

 

and then once those are hooked up to the simulator, i just need to mount the simulator somewhere in the engine bay?

 

Yes, out of sight from any 'technicians' and away from heat.

 

ok, u think when i get the fed front header, it will bolt on the same as the cali and have the heatshield too, or would that be up to the seller? for the heat shield i mean. and also, if i got a aftermarket header vs. stock fed exhaust manifold, would it make much difference?

 

If you're handy you can get o2 sensor bungs from speedway or jegs or summit and weld additional bungs onto your y-pipe. I did this when I fabricated my own Y-pipe when my flex pipe and frot section took a crap-stupid salt!

 

I believe the heat shields are different, so you'll have to request/buy that too.

As for aftermarket headers, yes, they offer additional HP over a ypipe. Small difference HP wise, but a lot of difference money wise.

Based on your questions, it would seem that you aren't capable of installing headers. So avoid the extra expense of headers and the added expense of installation, and stick with your plan of a Fed Spec ypipe+Fed spec exhaust manifold+O2 simulator.

 

I can already forsee your next question....

Here's how to wire up the O2 simulator. The instructions that come with it aren't the best.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ight=simulator

 

haha i love you guys......no homo...lol