The new Cattman Performance stainless steel y-pipe for the 02-03 Maxima and I35 is now in stock and ready to ship.



I had these test for fitment and power by Godspeed Performance in the Detriot area. I'm waiting to get the actual results from them so that I can provide more numbers and graphs soon. What I do know by word of mouth is that on an automatic 02, bone stock (no intake), our new y-pipe added 6-7 wheel hp to the peak power and an 8+ hp margin in other areas of the rpm range.

Please don't torch me for lack of documentation, I'm not making any bizarre claims and we'll have some "evidence" soon for those who prefer to have more data. I just wanted to get something up for those who have been following the development of this part, now that its ready.

We didn't expect this part to make huge power because Nissan's done about all they can to squeeze out the last drop, but fortunately we were able to improve on it. We went into our testing cautiously, having seen another brand of 02-03 y-pipe run into issues on the forum, because we wanted to be certain that our design made power before going into production. At this point, we're confident that these make a reasonable amount of power even if some of the details are missing.

Despite the scant amount of information, based on established patterns I can say that the part will make more power on a 6-speed, and it would have made more power if added after an intake. Its fair to estimate that most intake-equipped cars should add 9-10 horsepower somewhere on their rpm range from this y-pipe, with manual transmissions doing a little better.

Maybe the best news is that the introductory price on these will be $325, which is $25 less than out other y-pipes. The picture above illustrates that there is a little less tubing involved on the 02-03 version, so we can pass that savings along.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

I don't have an 02/03 but figured i would be the first to respond. Bout time! No tq gains? Any loses throughout the curve? Might be a lil early to release it without true actual data to back it up??

 

Thanks for noticing, but lets just set the discussion about the lack of test results aside. For all those who really need to see the results (not criticism of that, I'm the same way), pretend you haven't seen this yet! I have enough information to make me confident enough to sell them, and that's why I started the thread.

Not hiding the torque figures, I simply don't know what they are. Torque is derived mathematically from HP, so if hp went up there had to be some impact on torque.

However, this will not be enough information for many to be confident enough to buy them, which I understand completely. I'm not sticking my neck out because there is no concern that the dyno data will contradict what I've said, I will simply supplement this with more information later.

So, for those who have indicated they're ready to buy whenever these are ready, give us a call at 800.759.9920. For those who want to wait for more information, I understand completely and will provide that when its available. [I will get faxed copies soon that I can pull some #s from, and then the color copies will arrive later in the week by post and I will scan those for display.]

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

Will the y-pipe itself make the car noisy?

 

Since whenever someone posts and says "I don't have a dyno yet..." there's inevitably a slew of "where's the dyno!" posts, let me go ahead and say THANKS! I'd rather get a little info then have to wait until all the numbers are available.

 

not to hijack...just a thought...the only way to remove the 2k2/2k3 pre-cats is with headers, corrrect?

 

Is this a DIY job? I've never done anything like this but am fairly handy with a wrench... any special tools needed? Will I have to remove large, gaping portions of the engine to get this installed?

Or should I just have it done? About how much (ballpark) to get this installed?

Will this affect my inspection? I'm talking "technically" and "legally"... will this result in the removal of something that could possibly make me fail inspection?

Is that hole an O2 sensor? Are all the sensor mounts there? No drilling, cutting, etc?

Where can I find how much to ship this to NH??

And THANKS!! It's great to see new mods coming out for the max!

 

The amount of noise increase depends on the exhaust being used. Performance y-pipes are not very noticeable with a stock exhuast, but if added to an aftermarket exhaust that doesn't have a pretty robust resonator in the mid-pipe (i.e. its reasonably loud already), the y-pipe makes it significantly louder and in many cases the tone becomes much harsher and less mellow.

This is a matter of taste, but our Cattman catback exhausts are designed specifically to be used with a y-pipe without getting significantly louder, and they also hold a nice deep tone.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

I'm definetly interested since I would never put
headers on a street car- Great price you'll have my business once the dyno's come out and some imput
as far as sound/noise- i have a rather large resonator/ stock muffler so it may not be an issue though

 

Its a good question. Yes, only headers get rid of the pre-cats, but note what happened when someone experimented with eliminating the front pre-cat on a CA/NLEV VQ30 -- basically no effect. Pre-cats don't take that much power.

For a header design to be effective, it has to do a lot more than get rid of the pre-cats because they are a bit of a red herring, i.e. just not that relevant (at least with normally aspirated engines).

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

What about the change in length of the piping on the rear bank. The stock one is equal lenght, why not do the same?

 

The 02-03 y-pipe will be the easiest of the series to install because the fittings are all very accessible, with no reaching up into the engine compartment to get at downpipe nuts. Getting the car up into the air is a real advantage, but if you can find a lift to use, this isn't too complicated.

If you're paying someone, it shouldn't take more than an hour and a half, and I think that most could do it in less time than that.

The part is not CARB-certified, and I don't know Federal law well enough to tell you how they'd look at it, but what I do know is this. This part does not eliminate or affect any aspect of the car's emissions system. Both pre-cats remain in place and the main cat does too. Legally, I don't know, but "philosophically" there's no reason for this thing to be illegal or to affect the emissions output of the car in any way.

The hole is for the O2 sensor. You just screw it in.

These are relatively light and compact, so shipping shouldn't be too expensive, but I cannot determine that precisely from here. I doubt that it will be a deal-breaker, but you can get that information from my ordering service (800.759.9920) when you call to purchase.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

would you be willing to do a group deal for fellow max.org guys?

 

i lost interest in my car for a while but i think i may get back into it and buy one of these. probably within the next few weeks.

 

Actually, we did this research about 5 years ago when we were designing the first y-pipe. Common sense suggested that an equal length approach would work best. Dyno tests said not only was that wrong, but the equal length design did not make as much power as the asymmetric y-pipe common today.

Funny thing is, when Stillen came out with their first y-pipe several months after ours, they took the equal length "do-nut" approach and made theirs that way for a year or two, telling everyone that their design was superior to ours, made more power, etc. as a result. Simply wasn't true, and when they re-designed and went to a two-piece, the donut quietly disappeared.

My take on symmetric vs asymmetric exhausts is that equal length designs (symmetric) do have value, but it has to begin at the manifolds. If there are stock manifolds or a header design with significantly unequal primary lengths, the exhaust pulses come out "scrambled" rather than distinct. When this is the case, there is no value in equal length secondaries because the effect that they are intended to perpetuate didn't exist in the first place. In a case like this, the asymmetric design we use makes more power.

BTW, the equal length, "do-nut" stock y-pipes are not new to the 02-03, they have been around since the '99 CA/NLEV y-pipe but the loop is covered with shielding and you can't tell its there.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

sweet.. thanks brian.... can't wait for some numbers... put me down as definitely interested if they put up 10+whp (i have an injen intake and greddy evo exhaust)....

 

can't wait to hear more on this, makes me a little more motivated to save up and do headers/y-pipe/catback...if only a company other than Stealin could make a set of headers... Please don't even start to bombard me with angry comments defending the thieves, Steve Millen's actually come to our tech school and donated a fixed up 200sx (pos still...), but as soon as hotshot...or cattmann??? makes a set i'm on the boat

 

Always nice to talk directly to "The Man" - we expect from u what you've delivered all along to our maxima community- great high-end quality products- Now please continue to update more information on this y- because we've been waiting a while for one that actually works- thank you

 

First, that's for the Moderators to decide NOT you.

Second, although technically you're correct, Cattman is a PAYING advertiser to this board and PIONEER for our small aftermarket, so we cut him slack. He doesn't abuse it and only posts when a NEW product is being released.

Next time, just click the "Report Post to Moderator".

 

This is good news for us 2k2-2k3 owners. Now I'll start saving

 

nicely said....

 

I have to start saving again...

 

start saving?!?!?....you know how sometimes you call up a store wanting to order something but hope they are closed, just so you can get over your urge. well i forgot that cattman was in different time zone. i should be receiving mine in a few days....

 

Cattman, Please give me an e-mail at jae-r@snet.net I need to ask you a couple of questions about the y-pipe before placing an order. Thanks.

 

1234567890

 

lol!

will

 

Knowing that it will make my car extremely loud with the muffler I have, I still want this for some reason... gotta start putting the pennis in yet another jar.

 

cattman, i do have a question, which really doesn't matter cause i already ordered this late nite. but it was something that my friend, who is pretty car savvy was bugging me. something about the correct ratio for pipe length is a 3.75:4 ratio. something of the sort. that this has been proven time and time again as providing the best flow. i'm not that savvy to defend your product, so maybe you can chime in. either way, i've seen you grow from when you first opened up, so i didn't doubt buying this, especially 5 minutes after you posted it

 

Probably a good time to note that "I'm not really an engineer, I just play one on television..."

There are certain rules of thumb, but few apply everywhere. If I understand this correctly, I think you're saying that when there are two secondary tubes coming off of a V6 engine, their lengths should match these ratios. There are a lot of other variables involved, e.g. the friction of the tight equalizing bend is a significant factor. I'm also wondering if the one your friend is referring to applies to V8 engines, the ratios suggest it might.

I think the original Stillen y-pipe must have been fairly close to this ratio (the rear downpipe with the donut in it was still not as long as the front one) but it didn't seem to create an advantage.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

"*****" only has one "n".

 

Haha.. ah yes.

 

 

But what he says about the stock E/manifolds does make some sense. I still wait for a few people to dyno before I form more of an opinion. With the WS Y dynos it confirmed my original thoughts. Also back then we didn't know about the ecu detuning that we info on now.

Right now we have several new products out or being released soon. At the same time we have no independant data on any of them. The next 6 months should be very interesting to say the least. I should have some money I can drop on the car next spring, by then we should have some solid data.

 

Hang on a second... I can see you're not being critical, and I'm not reacting in a hostile way, but if I understand the comment correctly, I have to disagree with the suggestion that our new y-pipe is "identical" to the Warpspeed version. The general configuration of our new VQ35 y-pipe is consistent with the prevailing model followed by all (but developed and sold by Cattman Performance exactly 5 years ago), but that is where the similarity with the Warpspeed pipe ends.

Isn't this all about making power? Ours makes pretty good power. I didn't follow the previous controversy, but from what I hear it doesn't seem that the two products are identical in that respect.

You never would have heard of the Cattman VQ35 Y-pipe if I wasn't satisfied that it made reasonable power. The design of this pipe was a continuation of the design elements that have always been unique to the Cattman Performance y-pipes. In fact, it confirms the effectiveness of those differences because in a marginal performance situation (i.e. with an engine that is much more refined than its predecessors) the Cattman pipe -- with all the extra details that some might consider unnecessary -- appears to have the advantage.

Its the details that add up. I think our two greatest advantages are the use of appropriate tubing diameters that maximize hp over the entire rpm range, and a racing-grade (that is, a gradual merge with finished interior surfaces) 2-1 merge collector. There is also some effect from using a friction- and turbulance-neutral, interloc-lined flex section that is the same ID as the tubing. Lower interior friction is an additional advantage that results from using annealed 304 stainless tubing from the Rath Mill (smoother surface) and the bending skills of Burns Stainless (even, un-rippled bends). To my knowledge, none of the other brands include any of these features, and certainly not all of them.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

I didn't understand all of that, but it sure sounds purrty.

(plus I wanted to bump to make sure everyone saw that)

 

did anyone else buy one besides me....ups says it arrives on monday...

 

I cant seem to find it on the website. Can someone please show me the way.

 

just call them up. you're not gonna find out any MORE info about it.

 

I know, I was just thinking we could order from the site.

 

I'm placing my order on friday.