i have heard that adding a y-pipe, cat, b-pipe and muffler may be more harm than good. that it may free up too much air and lose h/p. is this true?

 

You won't gain much power from a Y-pipe or b-pipe unless you're using

 

the y doesnt do smak for 2k2-2k3- where are u going to get more air to free up from your stock headers?- Aftermarket headers could free up more air but then the question is : where are you gonna get more air from? you intake? lol-
all these parts
generate hp efficiently through forced induction-
and there are no 3.5 turbo's yet

 

the backpressure our variable muffler
generates/releases gives us torque- works in conjuction w/ our variable intake-

 

From all I've read the Y can get you gains of up to 16 HP what could that be from?!?!
Brian Catt talks about it all the time.

 

A Y-pipe on a 2k2+ maxima will not get you 16HP. There is a reason Stillen never released a Y-pipe for that vehicle. They released headers with the Y-pipe.

 

thats what you will get from a y on a 4th gen. on a 5th gen you will probably get around 12. 4th gen y pipe remove 2 precats and 5th gen only remove one.

 

You sure about that? On my 2000 5th gen max. it removed 2 precats. My OEM y-pipe was also federal.

-Honey

 

02-03 Y-pipe removes 0 precats...

 

my fault, i should written all 2k1 and cali spec 2k have one precat removed.

 

Bigger is not always better.

You have to "right size" your intake and exaust as to:
1. Not restrict flow and
2. Keep the flow at high speed (enough to "keep the pipe full")


You do this by first getting rid of all the sharp bends and crimps, then upsize depending on how much air you engine can eat.

For the 3.0L Looks like 2.25 - 2.5 is the best size if the pipe is a uniform diameter all the way back. I would guess you wouldnt want to go any bigger than 2.5 on the 3.5L. If you boost you push more air and need more room!