i would appreciate if anyone could help me with this one..Whats the difference is horsepower between:
y-pipe+catback as opposed to headers+ypipe+catback.

is it worth it getting headers, or is the gain only a few horsepower when u add the headers to the eqation..

thanks everyone for their help
joe

 

I'm facing the same decision.
it's probably a more significant gain with the headers cuz they remove the precats which are pretty obstructive but i don't have any definite numbers.

 

The headers are really only worth it if you own a VQ35DE-powered car. On a VQ30 car ypipe will give you like 10-12 whp and headers will give you 18-20whp. On a VQ35DE headers give you like 30whp. Dunno about the catback.

 

Joe, to be technically proper, there's is no such thing as 'headers+ypipe+catback' because the headers include the two-into-one 'collector' that is essentially the y-pipe itself. In other words, with a set of headers, your dont use/need a y-pipe, it's one piece with the headers themselves.

For your '01, the factory exhaust manifolds are not that bad but the factory y-pipe is abominable so......doing the y-pipe alone will get you the majority of the power increase.

If you had a 3.5 liter, the factory y-pipe was improved a bit and now the exhaust manifolds are more restricted so.....on a 3.5 liter engine the biggest gains are from the headers themselves -which include a revised y-pipe section as I said earlier.

If money is not an object, go with the full set of headers. If you're on a budget, do the y-pipe and be content with the fact that you're not giving up that much to a full set of headers -at the most, 8-10 hp.

As to a catback, the stock Nissan exhaust system is very, very efficient. Even the best catback (ala Cattman) will get you no more than 5-6 more hp so....it may be worth it from the standpoint of aesthetics and acoustics but not that significant from a power standpoint.

My 'bang for buck' recommendation: Cattman Y-pipe & everything else stock.
'Money is no object' recommendation: Cattman Y-pipe & full catback system.
No headers

 

I hated switchin back to my Cattman Ypipe aftar having Cattman headers on my 3.0L, but the deal I struck with a local Maxima driver never had me thinking twice bout the sale. Headers do give you a nice power gain vs a Ypipe on a 01 Max which has SAME manifold on the front bank as a 02 Maxima 3.5L- 01 Maximas have precats on the exhaust maniold- but its only on the front one. 20WHP from Cattman Headers is pretty accurate if not maybe even just a bit more on a 01 Max, this is from my own experience.

 

i wanna thank everyone for their input on this subject...i decided to go with the header+ catback once winter is over.