aarciga

I heard someone comment on here that maximas allready have a free flow exhaust system, so getting a new one is would be a waste of money.

what are other peoples thoughts? I dont wanna go shell out 500 bucks to find out i didnt upgrade very much.

aussie983

iTrader: (16)

The stock muffler is pretty free flowing. Its mainly the emissions stuff that limits the performance. Best bang for buck is just to get a Y-pipe.

aarciga

would a high flow cat be a good improvement?

2kGLE

Go look under your car at the b-pipe and see the crimp where the hanger is. Then, go smack the person who told you it would be a waste of money. Check out Budget Exhaust for a ypipe (~160USD), test pipe (~20), and b-pipe (~160). Add an intake and thats a solid 25whp IMHO. If you hav the cash, get Cattman headers instead of the y-pipe. If you dont want a test pipe, yes a high flow cat is better than stock but not a huge improvement. Just my .02

NYC TAR

iTrader: (2)

OEM cat is also hi flow

it just pre car (the y pipe) and headers that need to be change ( header are more useful for 02-03 max) plus, header comes with y pipe.

aarciga

so it would not be worth getting a new F pipe, but rather just a B and Y

aarciga

I was looking at replacement Y pipes, and on 2kracing they sell a stillen one for nearly $400, why is one 160, and the other so much more? is it that much better or is it jus for the name

ibag8rfan

iTrader: (4)

that stillen one is a total rip off. Get a Budget unless you can afford Cattman. Cattman is over $300 but most people will tell you it's worth the extra money. Stillen has been proven to have minimal to no gains.

BeSeenWithGreen

iTrader: (4)

Any one have link for budget exhaust please? Thanks

aarciga

What would be preferable, a Cattman Y pipe, or a Budget B and Y pipe

aarciga

Also what makes one pipe better than another?

aussie983

iTrader: (16)

Budget is supposed to be SS, but ive heard theres is this small section that rusts easily. This shouldnt be too much of a problem since ur in cali . Check the 5th gen for sale forum. I think i saw someone selling his budget y pipe somewhere in norcal.

aarciga

checked the for sale section didnt see anything about it.. oh well

aussie983

iTrader: (16)

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=361531

SPiG

iTrader: (7)

Replacing cat will do basically nothing unless you have turbo, SC, or N2O. Test pipe is if you want your car to sound worse and smell. Y pipe and B pipe are the best things to replace. Change muffler if you want your car louder. Get a Resonator in the b pipe if you have new muffler. It sounds better IMO.

An F pipe is just another name for a y pipe. F is more descriptive of what it looks like on a front engine FWD while Y is closer to Front engine RWD. Most people on here just call it Y.

http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?MaximaPerformance

aarciga

I am going to get the cattman, can it be installed by me? or should i get a pro to do it?

GreenSeMax

it's not hard to do, but your hardware may be rusted on there, or otherwise seized and in that case you'd want air tools, (air ratchet or impact gun, i used an air hammer to break the nuts loose) It's real easy to put on, and you'll love the results. And if you doubt the test pipe's effectiveness, check this out http://www.customenterprise.com/view.../vts/design004
and I'd recommend the Greddy Evo2, it's stainless, and the straight through design produces more power than the traditional muffler style systems. And it's doesn't have the problems of banging on the floor, supports, or suspension components like cattman has been known to. On the contrary their Y is probably the best made for our cars. I have the stillen and i've had none of the problems people complain about with them. The CM test pipe is nice, doesn't sound bad, i had a bit of an issue getting it to seal because the flange width from the pipe to the edge is too thin, and the inside diameter is huge, much larger than necessary but it is like a resonator, as they advertise.

aarciga

where can i buy a greddy test pipe?

EDIT: also, what kind of HP can i expect to gain with a cattman y-pipe

what kind of hp gain are expected with a budget y-pipe,

MasterAv

I have a Brand new 2k-2k1 Budget testpipe for sale. . PM me if you're interested

maximillus

iTrader: (1)

how good is the y pipe that comes with the cattman headers?

GreenSeMax

most y-pipes of the same diameter will provide similar gains, if anything Cattman's slightly superior merge collector could give you a hp or two perhaps, and greddy doesn't make a test pipe i know of for the max

Maxi113

iTrader: (3)

With a testpipe on you won't pass emissions..Well at least here in Chicago you won't..I have a Greddy Evo Exhaust system with a stil y and it sounds pretty loud and mean...As for hp gains beats me..

Larrio

iTrader: (10)

Thats referring to the stillen headers, not the y-pipe. Their y-pipe shares a similar design to the cattman and the budget, no negligible differences between y-pipes except price.

Numerous members of this forum run the stillen y-pipe with proven gains. I have a 12whp increase with just a stillen y-pipe

GreenSeMax

I have the stillen y, no noises, no banging(which i know is a noise), and after 3 months, one of those all nice and salty it still looks new. no dyno's to proove it but the stillen/test pipe/Evo2 combo sounds great, and pulls hard. Larrio do you have a dyno before/after perhaps?

mdloops

25 WHP?? don't make me laugh too hard...

Larrio

iTrader: (10)

The only file I have would be my most current one done this month (intake, y-pipe, TS ecu). My stock one was a print out and I don't have that one on me anymore, I just remember the peak hp/tq

I like the stillen y-pipe because its ceramic coated

sooner02r1

iTrader: (6)

You also have blue graphics on the side of your car.

BlackBIRDVQ

iTrader: (15)

25WHP is pretty accurate, cause the Ypipe alone is in the vicinity of 15-18WHP on the 00-01 Maxima, we are talking 3.0L here. Bpipe is pretty restrictive right past the resonator where it crimps down to about a 1.5" in diameter and then goes back to like 2.12".

If you wanna buy a Greddy, I'm sellin mine for 250 local, its seeing its 1st winter right now, about year old, its the EVO1- full catback, with no rust.

mdloops

oh. I thought we were talking about 3.5L. I would believe about 20WHP for y and catback on a 3.0L

BlackBIRDVQ

iTrader: (15)

2KGLE has a 00 Maxima GLE with a 5spd conversion on it, he like me and some other .org members knows wtf hes talking bout when it comes down to mods n 5th gens. Ypipe on a 3.5L makes like 8-10WHP, exhaust will make about 10WHP, but you can't just expect 20WHP more with both on a 3.5L, you will be lucky to make 15WHP more with both installed. Ypipe, intake, exhaust make around 215-223WHP on a 3.5L. Headers make alot of power on the 3.5L, and they are still pretty good on Cali Spec DE-K engines- since we have a precat in one manifold and 3.5L has em in both.

GreenSeMax

will 3.5 headers fit a 3.0, other than the likely 02 relocation?

Larrio

iTrader: (10)

its actually the other way around. The cattman 3.0 headers fit the 3.5 also. The hotshot 3.5 headers have been fitted to a 3.0, but not quite the right fit due to o2 sensor locations

dansmax2003

iTrader: (7)

I 've been reading about Y-pipe and other exhaust modifications for months now and i'm thinking about investing some money in my Cali spec '03 Maxima with AT.
The only BIG concern i have is the fact that i have Gold + Warranty which i still haven't used. (knock on wood).
I am afraid that if i touch the exhaust my warranty will go away and this is something that i do not want to happen.

My qyuestion is... has anyone who has extended warranty done a Y-pipe mod on his Maxima and were there any consequences? Also, how hard is to put back the OEM Y-pipe/exhaust in case i decide to take the car to the dealer for warranty work?
And last.... how would a Y-pipe affect the Gas Mileage on my '03 Maxima?

Thank you in advance!

BlackBIRDVQ

iTrader: (15)

Gas mileage will go up, cause the engine will be more volumetrically efficient due to increased power from less backpressure.

As far as warranty goes, they can't blame you headers, exhaust for lets say a check engine light for a MAF sensor, or for anything else. They could blame you for any codes that have to do with cats, or 02 sensors. Thats bout it, everything else is covered- radio, suspension etc. Exhaust repleacement has nothing to do with your radio - bose, blowing up or your climate controll not working. They have to PROVE that the exhaust is what made the part on your car to fail. Most dealers scare people away this way, but they have to be able to prove in court that yes this exhaust system, or Ypipe is what made your POS BOSE head unit go bad. Now you tell me how do you think they are going to do it ? I've has NOS, diff clutches, all kinds of weird crap on my Max when it had warranty still, they have had no problems in doing all the little warrnaty stuff to it.

aarciga

blackbirdVQ-

what are u selling for 250?

whole catback for 250?

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

If things don't work out with Blackbird... I'm selling my GReddy Evo cat-back for $225 plus shipping....

sublimer

iTrader: (7)

I need to replace my muffler so I was just going to get one from Cattman or Frankencar, but is getting the whole catback worth it? Will the gains be worth the extra $$$?

gabe22

i just had my buddy install my cattman y pipe and all i can say is, mmmmm daddy likes!!!! lol ... ive been reading the 3.5's are getting minimal gains but my butt dyno tells me different. i can DEFINETLY feel the torque increase. the install was something i could of done myself and im not mechanically inclined at all... just shot the bolts with PB blaster and the bolts broke lose no problem, fitment was perfect and so far no SES ... headers would be nice but after getting a good price for the y pipe from the org classifieds im completely satisfied with my new mod!!!!

2KmaximaSE

LOL... OK that does it im getting my y pipe very soon since headers won't help my 3.0

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Rule of thumb headers are the best for 3.5s since the have both pre cats in the manifold, and y-pipes are best for 3.0 since they do not have both pre-cats in the manifold.