5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

Headers worth it?

Old May 10, 2005 | 08:12 PM
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Headers worth it?

I'm sure this subject has come up before, but I checked up to page 20 and didn't find my answer. Sorry if this is being repeated.

My mechanic tells me that the headers he put on a 5th gen had fitment problems and took him 12 hrs! He told me they don't add that much power either. I think he just doesn't want to be bothered w/ em and shot me a price of $350.

So what's the truth? Every post on headers I've seen claims around 20hp-25hp. Anyone else have fitment problems(hotshot)? Were performance gains noticeable? Is he trying to rape me or is his price on target?
Thanks Guys
Old May 10, 2005 | 08:15 PM
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Cattman headers have fit perfectly on most of the 5.5 Gens that I know of.... and they will give ya the 20-25 whp that you've heard... $350 sounds average to high... someone else posted not too long ago that a place in MA was gonna do it for $240.

Dynoes from Fezzik are here:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....headers+fezzik
Old May 10, 2005 | 08:30 PM
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Thanks puppet. That was a perfect thread. That's the first time I've seen an increase of 30whp form headers.
Old May 10, 2005 | 08:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Bruceman
Thanks puppet. That was a perfect thread. That's the first time I've seen an increase of 30whp form headers.
No problemo... btw, I think ya need to brush up on your "searching".. this was on page 4; lots of headers install info there:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=402323

Old May 10, 2005 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Puppetmaster
No problemo... btw, I think ya need to brush up on your "searching".. this was on page 4; lots of headers install info there:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=402323


Go with the hotshots. I have them and The finish and quality looked great and fittment was good too. + i saved 300 dollars compared to buying the cattmans which aren't even being made as of right now.
Old May 10, 2005 | 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by chris'smax
Go with the hotshots. I have them and The finish and quality looked great and fittment was good too. + i saved 300 dollars compared to buying the cattmans which aren't even being made as of right now.
Don't worry Chris, I wasn't bashing em... I just don't know enough about HS to comment... I know you and Mike (Blackbird) and others swear by em...
Old May 10, 2005 | 10:31 PM
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Man just do the install your self, i heard mike saying it took him like two hours to install headers, i think. Think he mentioned something about being able to swing the engine on the mounts, so that its easier to install the rear cause when looking at the engine the front doesnt look to hard to mount. Atleast on the 3.0 the 3.5 might be crammed, not sure havent spent alot of time under a 3.5. PM Mike(blackbird) about the engine swing thing. I dont think they make hotshots any more but catman is supposedly makeing more of theirs. Man i want headers too, i want the hotshots, i gonna steal Mikes muahahahhahahah j/k Mike.
Old May 10, 2005 | 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Rob01ski
Man just do the install your self, i heard mike saying it took him like two hours to install headers, i think. Think he mentioned something about being able to swing the engine on the mounts, so that its easier to install the rear cause when looking at the engine the front doesnt look to hard to mount. Atleast on the 3.0 the 3.5 might be crammed, not sure havent spent alot of time under a 3.5. PM Mike(blackbird) about the engine swing thing. I dont think they make hotshots any more but catman is supposedly makeing more of theirs. Man i want headers too, i want the hotshots, i gonna steal Mikes muahahahhahahah j/k Mike.

HA you say that now. Wait till you get under there and put those b!tches on yourself and then you'll be cursing and saying "why didn't i just pay a shop to do it". Mike did it so quick becuase he had a lift, air tools, and was a nissan mechanic.
Old May 10, 2005 | 11:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Puppetmaster
Don't worry Chris, I wasn't bashing em... I just don't know enough about HS to comment... I know you and Mike (Blackbird) and others swear by em...

Oh i know, just letting the guy know there are other options available.
Old May 11, 2005 | 05:20 AM
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i'm going with the hotshots and apparently they make a world of a difference according to any member that has them... I was quoted 200 by a shop owner I trust so 350 seems to be too high... i'd say the median point is $250 for headers installation.
Old May 11, 2005 | 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by chris'smax
HA you say that now. Wait till you get under there and put those b!tches on yourself and then you'll be cursing and saying "why didn't i just pay a shop to do it". Mike did it so quick becuase he had a lift, air tools, and was a nissan mechanic.
Yup. Crazy to do it without air tools. A lift makes a big difference.

Took a day to do mine with help without the lift. Rear bank is a biotch.
Old May 11, 2005 | 11:52 AM
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is there any power difference between the cattman and the the hotshot headers?
Old May 11, 2005 | 02:35 PM
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just wondering if nissan has the right to void our warantee w/ headers installed. I remember a nissan tech told me that an intake would void the powertrain warantee.
Old May 11, 2005 | 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Shogunsc4
just wondering if nissan has the right to void our warantee w/ headers installed. I remember a nissan tech told me that an intake would void the powertrain warantee.
Basically they hae to prove that the mods done to your car caused a fault but with nissan unless you rich and can afford a legal battle, yep they'll say they void your warranty, hell with nissan service YOU driveing the car voids the warranty.
Old May 11, 2005 | 06:56 PM
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can u find a cattman headers for 02 max cheaper dan 800 buckzz
Old May 11, 2005 | 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Rob01ski
Basically they hae to prove that the mods done to your car caused a fault but with nissan unless you rich and can afford a legal battle, yep they'll say they void your warranty, hell with nissan service YOU driveing the car voids the warranty.
Well, headers are technically illegal since its considering tampering with emissions equipment (pre-cats) so I think they'll definitely have something to say with regards to that and not so much the powertrain warranty (although, I need to go look over those terms again).
Old May 11, 2005 | 09:33 PM
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headers shmeders u guys are just funny...Turbo is the way...
Old May 11, 2005 | 10:09 PM
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Not if we want to stay n/a
Old May 11, 2005 | 10:11 PM
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you keep your headers if you go s/c smart guy
Old May 11, 2005 | 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Maxima260
...Turbo is the way...
ehhh he said turbo, in which case you wont be able to keep the headers smarty pants ...
Old May 11, 2005 | 10:38 PM
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oh how did i miss that post? i just scrolled down fast i guess, but how the heck did i miss all those colorful a33's
Old May 11, 2005 | 10:39 PM
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Rainbow hmmmm
Old May 11, 2005 | 10:41 PM
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Whatever, I still think a majority of the people here (myself included) do not have the know-how or resources to deal with turbo and the issues it brings.... N/A is more than enough... just keepin it real here...
Old May 11, 2005 | 10:47 PM
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Not only that but N/A feels more like an accomplishment ... I've always been a fan since I couldn't ever afford F/I, and well, to think the money I spent N/A could have gone to pressure, but now I'm just an n/a junkie ... my fix comes with normal atmospheric pressures, (590 torr) Yes, I'm high elevation ..
Old May 11, 2005 | 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by NmexMAX
Not only that but N/A feels more like an accomplishment ... I've always been a fan since I couldn't ever afford F/I, and well, to think the money I spent N/A could have gone to pressure, but now I'm just an n/a junkie ... my fix comes with normal atmospheric pressures, (590 torr) Yes, I'm high elevation ..
I absolutely agree with ya there... I've been trying to do my homework in the AM forums.... just lurking about...
Old May 11, 2005 | 11:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Maxima260
headers shmeders u guys are just funny...Turbo is the way...



do some reading here before you laugh it up.

Turbo is the way huh?
Old May 12, 2005 | 07:40 AM
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You guys are all wrong.....SPRAY IS THE WAY!!!!
Old May 12, 2005 | 12:19 PM
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Are the HS headers CARB approved? Anybody know?
Old May 12, 2005 | 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Mass_Media
You guys are all wrong.....SPRAY IS THE WAY!!!!

Thats just cheating

IMO on 3.0 the only way to unlock the true pontential of the car is through FI
Old May 12, 2005 | 05:24 PM
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for those of you with a full cattman setup didnt anyone dyno the car to see what you got from it
Old May 12, 2005 | 07:46 PM
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If the guys that have both cattman and hotshot headers are happy w/ their product, the question is which system delivers the most gains? Any of you guys w/ hotshots get on the dyno yet?
Old May 12, 2005 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Bruceman
If the guys that have both cattman and hotshot headers are happy w/ their product, the question is which system delivers the most gains? Any of you guys w/ hotshots get on the dyno yet?
This question will never be answered.
Old May 12, 2005 | 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Epacy
This question will never be answered.
What I don't understand is why you wouldn't want to jump on the dyno to know you got what you paid for. I'd want to make sure I got at least 20whp gain.
Old May 12, 2005 | 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Bruceman
What I don't understand is why you wouldn't want to jump on the dyno to know you got what you paid for. I'd want to make sure I got at least 20whp gain.
Well, people have dynoed their cars with headers, ya just won't get a one to one comparison of headers on the same car because its just not feasible to buy 2 sets of headers, install one, dyno, pull em off, install the other, dyno, etc etc. You get the picture. I have dynos of a 2002 6 speed with Hotshot headers if ya wanna see em. PM me your email address and I'll send ya the files that I got from Larrio.
Old May 13, 2005 | 07:31 AM
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Originally Posted by chris'smax
Thats just cheating
And....?
Old May 14, 2005 | 06:55 AM
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Ya i want to see the gains...the headers and the Techno ECU are going to be my first upgrades on my 5.5th 6 speed. I would love to see numbers.
Old May 14, 2005 | 07:15 AM
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Cattman told me his headers give about 25whp on a 02-03, and work much better on a VQ35 than VQ30. I haven't dynoed anything yet, but the sound is awesome.

I doubt there is a significant difference in gains between Hotshots and Cattman's. I was buying lots of stuff from him and got a 10% discount if I bought the headers too, so for me it was worth it.
Old May 14, 2005 | 08:23 AM
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lets say i have an hi flow intake and exhaust.. im about to put headers and ill probably take out the resonator. does my cat cause a lot of restriction?? is a high-flow cat worth it??
Old May 14, 2005 | 09:10 AM
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Originally Posted by JaMdMax97
Ya i want to see the gains...the headers and the Techno ECU are going to be my first upgrades on my 5.5th 6 speed. I would love to see numbers.
Then search for Fezzik's dynos... they're on here somewhere... it'll be well worth it...
Old May 14, 2005 | 09:11 AM
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Originally Posted by OneAway
lets say i have an hi flow intake and exhaust.. im about to put headers and ill probably take out the resonator. does my cat cause a lot of restriction?? is a high-flow cat worth it??
No... its not... minimal gains, according to most... but then again, I've never tried it or seen dynos (probably cuz it hasn't been worth it).

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