Torn between the 2....would the extra hp be worth the extra money that it would cost for the header itself and the amount of labor that would need to be spent to install it???

Also does anyone have any rough guessimates on how much more hp would be gain over a y-pipe. Keep in mind these would be install with a catback exhaust.

 

i'm personally going ypipe....not $$$ situation ....but rather everyday driveability....headers are LOUD period....and honestly the gains that aren't so great for the nuissance- But If you are making a N/A track beast then it would make sense to sqeeze every little pony out....

 

I'll don't think the headers are much louder than the y pipe. In fact I think that although at certain rpms they sound a bit louder, overall they sound better. Hard to describe but the sound is more appropriate, sporty, or whatever word fits best.

One of the most important considerations is do you want to mess with the emissions system. It's much easier to return replace the y pipe with the stock one than put the stock exhaust manifolds back on.

John if you want to hear the headers shoot me a pm.

 

I would LOVE for somebody to test a stock VQ35 Max w/Cattman y-b pipe combo then take it back to stock, and test with HS headers...

The end price is practically equivalent, this includes parts/shipping, labor/install.

The Cattman combo is a lot more stress-free, the install is straight-forward, and you don't have to modify the mod before you install it.

As far as I can tell, the HS headers is basically an aftermarket exhaust manifold, with a y-pipe already welded on. Here I thought, the stock exhaust mani was already flee-flowing, but I will let other more knowledgeable orgers chime in on that one.

Fernando.

 

Joe, I'm sending my car over to Jeff 2 weeks from today. You can also shoot me a pm.

 

Do you have an audio recording of the header sound? As I mentioned in another thread, this aspect is probably the most critical in determining whether or not I jump on the header bandwagon. If you need an email address I'll PM you mine. Let me know. Thanks.

 

I don't have an audio recording. I'm willing to set up a time and meet whover wants to come and hear the header in person. If anyone wants to make a sound clip at that time that would be great. My problem is my work situation. I'll be very unavailable for the next 2 weeks starting Monday.

 

save your money and your ears get the cattman y-pipe works good on mine and I haven't seen any headers yet that are worth the doe

 

very true i was lookgin into headers but it seems not enough gains for moeny and the relocatins of O2 sensors msut be a pain as well i decied on teh Cattman y-pipe soon.......

also how did u get a 13.6? 1/4 mile...what mods do u have

 

I have cattman y-pipe b pipe and rear custom cold air + 3 timing 5-30 sintec and the right brake-in (drove it like I rented it from day one) did that on the stock tires. the headers are not a good idea if you still want warrenty PS this site needs work did they not pay there bill?

 

That's a really good 1/4 time...makes me want to get that y-pipe! I hope the headers make similar gains. (more actually)

 

I have the HS headers and I love them... sound great and while i have not put it on a dyno, the cars pulls much harder starting around 3000rpm- redline. headers and much better on an 02-03 than a 00-01 because your pre-cats are in the manifolds not the y-pipe like ours... ]

If I had a 3.5 it would be no question, headers.

 

Just installed my hs headers last weekend. No Question. Headers. Why just do it half way and do the y when you can do both in one shot. Plus, wait till the pull off your pre cats and look inside. Then tell me its not worth it.



Headers. Period

 

i think cattman sells a package headers+y-pipe for maximum gains, and you get a discount for this, pluch cheaper shipping.
from reading previous threads for the last 6 months, headers alone will give you about 20 whp, and y-pipe alone about 12-15 whp.
i plan on saving some money, and getting this combo for one-stop-job for the weekend, plus maximum gains.

 

Are you far from Philly? Thanks.

 

HS & Cattman headers include y-pipe, you can't get headers without the Y. I gained a full second and 10 mph with just the HS headers and Budget test & b-pipe, stock muffler.

 

ok. so you can get the y-pipe by itself to use with stock headers, but when you buy headers they come with the y-pipe automatically?

 

No No No, the Hotshot's are designed exactly like the cattman, and fit very well. I can honestly say i am happy with my choice

 

Does anybody know if installing the Cattman y-pipe will negatively effect the emission systems in the long term, especially when the check engine light comes on? Im going to install the y-pipe and just take it off when I go for an emissions test.

 

Correct and there is a huge difference on the 3.5 not like the 3.0L

Here is a pic of my HS's.

 

What is the differenc on the 3.5? And can you pass emissions with just the headers/cat back/cai?

 

I've had my hotshot headers since they came out basically.


Unlike a ypipe, paying for headers is a decent bit of power, and it's not as loud as you think, in fact y pipe to me is a waste of money since it hardly was the restriction in the first place with 5.5 gen, the pre cats were.


I say save your money, unless you want to bother with headers. I had the ypipe previous, and went with full headers, and totally satisfied with the difference, the sound is great and nothing to much of a PITA for daily driving.

 

Are the pre cats in the exhaust manifold for the 3.5 engines and not the y-pipe? I was told the pre cats on the 2003 max are in the y-pipe.

 

upstatemax
How has the CM highflow Cat worked out for you? Was it worth the money?

 

wow.. that looks d@mn good

 

are hotshot the same design as cattman?
I have heard of some fittment issues with hs, but NONE with cattman.
i know cattman is VERY good stuff, and i want ot make sure HS is the same quality, and performace.
From what i'v seen in the pix here, HS look very good indeed.

 

Part#:NS3017

Application: Nissan Maxima

Year: 2002-03

Engine: V6

System Components: Includes 2 headers and one secondary with flex-pipe. System also includes 2 center copper gaskets,cat.gasket, all necessary hardware and O2 relocation wire kit.

Finsh: Thermal ceramic coating
Color: Hi gloss Silver

Price: $549.00 US Dollars

This is from HotShot web-site. I don't see anything for y-pipe. Is the "one secondary with flex-pipe" same as y-pipe?
Does this price sound right, i thought headers+y would be close to $800-900.

 

They are absoultey not the same design.

Never were. Cattman is symmetrical and equal length piping, also is entirely stainless steel.

Hotshot makes good headers, i never had problems. You really can't always get the answers you want on these forums. I can only let you know mine are great, and cant speak for people who complain. Then again, i had mine professionally installed by a great installer, what can i tell you.

 

3.5 engines have precats as part of the exhaust manifold. Putting just a y-pipe on a 3.5 leaves the precats in place. Headers would remove the precats.

On a 3.0 the pre cats are in the stock y-pipe. Replacing the y-pipe removes the precats on the 3.0.

 

00 Fed spec Maximas have one precat that is in the Ypipe.
00 CALI spec and 01 Maxima has 1 precat on the front exhaust manifold (which btw is the same manifold as a 3.5L including the cat) and 1 precat in the Ypipe.
02-03 Maxima has 1 precat in the front and 1 in the back manifold, with nothing in the ypipe.

All Maximas have the rear MAIN cat- only on the FED spec 00s is that main cat monitored by a 02 sensor behind it. Cali spec 00 and up Maximas do not have a 02 sensor behind that cat- its behind the precats on the manifold and Ypipe. This is why I recomend buying a DUAL output O2 simulator for the DUAL precat cars and SINGLE output simulator for the Fed spec 00s.

01-03 Maximas have no EGR valves and they are the eassiest cars to put headers on since you do not have to worry bout pluming back the EGR pipe back into the exhaust like on the 00 cars. If you do not route the EGR back into the exhaust you will get a check engine light.

Ypipe on a 02-03 Maxima is worth MAXIMUM of 6WHP due to better flowing exhaust piping. Its only on the 00-01 Maximas that it makes around 12-15WHP. Headers have NOT been proven on the dyno yet, but it showed substantial gains on my car vs just a Cattman Ypipe- I have HS headers on my 01. Headers have gained as much as 25WHP on 3.5Ls vs stock. You can pass emissions with headers in states that do not have a visuall inspection.

Anyone ask any more dumb questions will get banned.

 

2002-3 Maxima 6spd- around 210WHP stock, Ypipe and Bpipe along with CAI will give you about 15WHP all togheter if you are lucky. So 225WHP which is bout right for your mods will not net you 100MPH traps and 13 second ETs. Brake in period and Synthec (which is really not even synthetic btw) have nothing to do with you 1/4 mile. I estimate 14.1 if you know how to drive it right, with around 97MPH give take 1MPH. In order to run the time you say you run- you would need to remove around 200-300lbs off your cars weight. Oh did I say ?

 

Ok, now I want to know if one should go $550 for hot shots, or wait and pay $8-900 for the New cattman headers, if they ever come available.

Lets pretend that the cattman are able to deliver +1 or 2 hp over his old design.

 

unless you are making a track car, i cat see paying double the price for cattman vs hs. this is just my opinion. the 1-2 hp difference b/w hs and cattman is just not worth that much more money. the leftover $ can be put to good use by buying exhaust components, or getting a proper header install.

 

I thought the new cattmans were already dynoed and they showed upwards of a 10whp gain in the mid range as well as some minor gains in the upper rpm range. Plus I heard they were gonna be stainless unlike the HS which are ceramic coated. If that is the case I will be going for the cattmans myself.

 

On the 00 Cali both the precats are in the y-pipe.

 

so far its been good. I am dealing with an exhaust leak at the moment, I dont think it is comming from the cat, if it is, I will be going with the test pipe...

 

Has Hotshot worked out those 02 sensor location issues?

 

What exhaust setup do you have on your car besides the Hotshot?

 

what was the issue? i am trying to decide between hs and cattman, and need to get all my facts straight.

 

Budget Test Pipe, B-Pipe w/resonator and stock muffler. I do have a Vibrant straight through which I have tried numerous times, but my best times have come with the stock muffler and the most noise with the Vibrant muffler.