I am trying to figure out if it would be worth the expense to just install a y-pipe only to my AE. There really isn't anything in the FAQ's about it and I have gotten only a couple of differing opinions so far. Is a y-pipe only beneficial if you get the full system, or can it be that way as a stand alone?

 

y pipe is the best bang for your buck mod. I use to run one with a stock exhaust and k&n cone filter and the power gains were very noticeable. Get it IMO.

 

its for it for the price.

 

11-13whp no other mods IIRC, ie best-bang-for-buck besides N20.

 

I am guessing that since I have the Berk Intake as well that it can only benefit even more?

Also, soonerfan was mentioning that many muffler shops will not do this mod because it is illegal. How did you guys get it installed?

 

although its best when combined with atleast an intake..
alone you will notice some pretty good mid-high end gains..

 

Do it yaself... or get some local Org members to give ya a hand....

I'm getting one too...

 

If you don't want to do it yourself, then go to a small muffler shop, not one of the big franchise muffler stores. Ask them to do it, and that you'll pay cash, and that no receipt is necessary. That way they can't get in trouble for taking off the cat's, since there is no written proof that they did the work.

 

Haha, local org members? They are just about nil around here, lol.

So the cats do come off with the install, that was another question i had.

How about sound changes, will I notice any difference?

 

I think he meant the pre-cats, but I'm not so sure the pre-cats for the 5th gens come off when ya replace a y-pipe.... it does make sense if they do though... anyone else here know?

 

one precat will be removed but the other stays in place. the main cat is not affected unless you choose to replace it with a hi flow cat or test pipe.

 

I thought the Ypipe had 2 pre-cats in it? Or was it only one?

 

Thanks for the info guys...

 

Fed-spec y removes 2 pre-cats...cali-spec y removes 1 pre-cat. But supposedly both have the same gains.

 

shift vq is right about the cali-fed spec. i was always under the impression that fed picked up gain since most fed spc 4th gen owners gained more power from a ypipe alone.

 

well since there is already a y pipe thread, i figured i would post my question here lol

which is better, warpspeed or cattman? or are they pretty much the same?

 

What did ya mean by "better"? Performance? Quality?

This is what I think based on everyone else's comments over the past few months, Cattman, Cattman, & Cattman... in terms of quality, fitment, durability and customer service. Performance wise, I'm not sure, I think its debatable. I was initially gonna save money and get a WS, but apparently some 02 owners have had trouble with em and I heard they aren't good to deal with either... holding out for a Cattman now... when I have the money...

Does WS have a stainless y-pipe? Last I heard it was only in aluminized steel... just wondering...

 

Danmista, if ya have the time and money, forget the y and just get the Cattman headers.... I'll be happy to live vicariously through you and everyone else with em....

 

like everyone else said..its the single best performance mod you can do.
there are two precats on the fed spec that are removed. as far as the legal issue..the main cat does not work until it warms up. thats what the precats do. but after the main one is warm and working the precats are only restricting air flow. so bottom line...the y-pipe is only an emissions "violation" for a few minutes after start up. thats why all makers of y-pipes have this disclaimer - "Note: This part is designed for racing only. Use of this part on the street or highway is a violation of federal law in the United States. We sell this part on the condition that it be used in a legal manner."
if any shop removes emmision equipment its violating the law and can get fined. and if a shop will do it they will charge more then you paid for the pipe. best way is to do it yourself. its a pain in the @ss but worth it.



here is a comparison pic of the stock and aftermarket pipe. notice the one precat on the front bank of the stock pipe. the rear bank precat is under that twisted part of the pipe. the precats and bends are VERY restrictive. and the precats and heat shields make the stock pipe ALOT heavier.

 

well i was just looking for a good y pipe that had good fitment, and good performance, and it seems the y pipe is better, and i wish i had the money for headers, but man, college and my apartment isnt cheap

 

mine is a WS and i have had no problems with it. no rust spots or anything. ive had it on since feb

 

I guess we don't really have to worry about a whole lot of snow/salt on the ground around here... although we're about due for another "bad" winter, by DC/VA standards....

Anyways, I'm guessing your WS is aluminized steel? I dunno... I've been on the fence for a long time.... and at this rate I really might cave and get the WS...

 

I feel ya.... I'm in school too...

 

yes aluminum. just get it already. i might even help you install it.
you wanna see my hyperground this weekend?

 

There's a *BIG* difference in the amount of labor to install and uninstall if you need to go to a dealer between the ypipe and headers. Anybody can slap on/off a ypipe, but personally I'd ONLY pay someone to install the headers at this point in time.

As far as the Cattman vs. Warpspeed, I actually considered purchasing one of the WS pipes, so I went to their website to find out more details and saw the Cattman bashing about half-way down and was turned off. I'll never buy from WS, since that's an example of the kind of business they run. Just my personal opinion though.

 

Haha... I'm working on it man... anyways, as for the hyperground, not this weekend... I got 2 midterms next week and Michigan is gonna beat ... I mean... play, Purdue, so I have lots to do. Also, I might be hookin up with Irish to buy his yellow PIAA fogs... but I do wanna check it out sometime soon... will keep ya posted...

As for installs... along with the y-pipe (that I will get soon), I have struts/springs sitting in my garage too... just waiting for a free day to get everything put on.... so I may try to get some of the local org guys to help out... thanks...

 

Thanks Ice, that was one of the many things I heard about WS too... but since it was only limited to what other people said, I didn't mention that. As far as headers go, yeah, I do realize the high costs, in terms of time, difficulty of install, making things emissions "legal", A/F management, etc, and that's precisely why I can't afford to do it right now, among other things....

 

Also, here is a good comparison of intake cone vs. intake cone + ypipe on a 4th gen..5th gen should be even higher:

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/504
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/519
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/522

 

I have the Cattman Y-pipe and B-Pipe. I can vouch for fitment, quality and customer service. Unless you have a lift, I would let a shop do it. I tried and stripped one of the bolts (it's a ***** working under the car). Brian Catt posted some info here a while ago about mfg of his Y-Pipe and there appears to be some real differences in how the Y-Pipes are manufactured besides stainless steel and mandrel bends. Cattman sounded best to me (you get what you pay for), and I'm very happy with the product. I couldn't find a muffler shop to do my install, but I did find a speed shop close by that did it for me, no questions asked, for $50. I have noticed mid range power increase and I love the way it sounds. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Budget Y pipe is good too ..and cheap...
goto www.budgetexhaust.com
The prices are Canadian dollars so it turns out to be really cheap in the end for those folks in the US.

 

I've heard mixed things about Budget... but maybe we shouldn't believe everything we hear right?

 

I asked questions about the WS pipe and here is the thread:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=339703

Based on that thread, I will not be getting a WS. On top of that, the few emails I sent trying to get answers to questions either took 5 to 6 weeks to reply or none at all.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Another good link including install directions:
http://www.vqpower.com/v2/article124.html

 

Thanks Sohailb, that's the discussion I've been basing my comments on too....

 

I just had my budget y and b pipe installed on my 4thgen. Very happy with it, cheap but the y pipe is a bit loud with the b pipe at about 2-3000 rpm but it sounds nice from 3000 to redline, may sound diffrent on a 5th.

 

a y pipe is a great modd mann u can get it buy it self but the onbly problem is that if u put it on u might have ur SES light come on. it means ur o2 sensor is getting a bad reading it doesnt happen to all but it's very possible it will happen to urs

 

How many people here have had O2 issues after putting the Y-pipe?

 

not me. My WSP was of good quality on the welds and o2 bungs. The only problem I had was a slight ticking growl above VI switchover and a off-beat hissing sound from the flex section when accelerating under load. Also, since the pipe is more thin, there is more Y-pipe noise when the weather gets cold, sorta like the sound you make when you blow over the top of a bottle, only quieter.

 

Do no buy from warp speed. I got a b pipe from them and brought it to a muffler shop and the guy laughed at me. It was no where near the shape and he could not use any of the piping. I ended up disputing the charges on my credit card because dallas would not return my 15 messages about the problem and getting it returned. I was very disappointed.

 

So you were stuck with a brand new b-pipe that you paid full price for that was completely useless? That really sucks... if ya really never tampered with it, maybe you could call the Better Business Bureau on him or something... I dunno... never had to deal with that... but its an idea...