To those w/ headers: I had HotShot headers put in about a week ago and I am not crazy about the power gains. $900 for parts/labor is a lot of money for how I feel the car runs. When people discuss the power of headers they make it seem like the power gains are huge. It seems more powerful in high speeds but is slow from a stopped position it takes a little bit to pick up speed. MODS: Injen - HotShot - stock cat. - Greddy catback. Is this because I have an Auto? Or maybe there is something wrong w/ my MAF. Maybe it is just me, I figured I would throw this out there. I will post some pics later if people want to see them.

 

I would've thrown my car on a dyno if I were you. It's tough to judge how much power you've gained if you don't dyno it. You probably lost low end torque but gained quite a bit up high. It's unfortunate that you dropped $900 on this upgrade and your not satisfied with the results. I've been thinking of getting some headers also so thanks for some useful insight. BTW I'm also an auto.

 

I think thats the biggest concern with everyone with Mods for Hp is what have I have gained for what I spent! The only way to tell is to DYNO it before and after. Sorry for your results your but Dyno maybe wrong!!!

 

get a dyno as soon as it is possible. i realize it is more money but it is the only true way to know what is going on. i would be willing to bet that your car is running fairly if not very rich after the headers. most 3.5 dynos after headers have shown this and i experienced the same result with headers on my 3.0.

 

Not to mention that the Injen has big lowend losses and you are an auto which are slow off the line anyway. I would think it has a lot to do with the gearing of an auto as to why you are slower off the line.

I would look into taking off your Injen, even going back to a stock or GAB intake and see how it feels.

 

dyno and tune.

 

I will dyno soon. a week or so. I'm thinkng of getting the apexi controler anyway. What is stock WHP?

 

Would a VB upgrade help this out?

I was thinking about that especially since you can't get the PR CAI anymore, at least i think you can't unless it is used.

 

Your not the only one that says this but why does John from HotShot claim this mod makes the car run leaner?

 

Dont think so... Thats more for faster shifting while racing. I really dont see it helping in an off the line situation




You can try and taking the down tube off of the Injen to make it more like a shortram... I know some people have done it. Just try some different set ups with what you have kicking around if you still have the stock intake.

 

If this is for faster shifting, why wouldn't it help from the line?

 

just get an safc-II ur air/fuel is prolly all f'd up and you could be putting down less hp than before them and once u tune it u should be up about 20whp

 

The valve body does not change the gearing, thats the problem with auto Maximas. From what I remember, our fourspeed auto has tall gears which are crappy off the line. The stick Maximas are obviously five and six speeds with better launching gears.

 

auto gearing just sucks. the vb mod will make the shift feel firmer but the performance of the car will be no were as clsoe as a 5 speed. about a second is gained in 0-60 if you have a 5 speed.

 

I should have got a manual.

 

conver to the manual side

 

What do you think that cost?

 

Last I heard it is much harder to switch 02-03's to six speeds than it is to switch the 00-01's to five speeds...

I think it has been done, but it takes some custom work.

 

I might do it in the future. I just got a new engine so why not if the money is there.

 

If you do all the work yourself probably around 1500 to 3000 bucks depends were you get your parts from. I was thinking if you got rid of the cat which is restrictive, and ran a strait pipe you might feel better gains. Just a suggestion


Sssss im going 5speed soon muahahahahaa i cant wait

 

I heard the main problem with swapping 02-03 to 6speeds is that you have to get a manual ecu because the auto ecu will go nuts cause it looks for the auto tranny

 

Our cats flow well enough, you will not feel any difference with a pipe or highflow cat.

 

Thats just what I remember reading a few times when I came across it. I will look around a bit...

 

Maybe.......

 

Ok, from what I found you need all the normal tranny parts, the ecu and new motor mounts (and a new gauge cluster if you want it to look perfect).

 

That will barely make a difference... the stock cat isn't that restrictive to begin with.

 

Headers are supposed gain throughout the power band (more up top) over stock and even over a y-pipe.

Even if 03Maxima is running rich, and I'm pretty confident that he is, I doubt he "lost" any significant amount of low end tq because of it, unless something else is wrong.

 

I knoW You will gain alot of Hp. but how much Torque gains does hotshot prove? Even with w 3.0L

 

I aint sinking 900.00 into any mod. Headers don't give you the huge hp everyone will make you think. Put your 900.00 into a ING DIRECT account to go toward a new car when its time

 

WOW, because I think headers are a waste of money i must not be an enthusiast. You may think and intake is a waste of money. Does that not make you an enthusiast. My opinion is headers are not worth 900.00 dollars and if you wanna waste 900.00 be my guest. Donate before you call someone a maxima.org *****.

 

So let me get this clear. You support the ORG by modding your car with information you get off the ORG which you don't support financially. Step back and put the crack pipe down.........I use this board for information so I feel it my duty to support it anyway I can............RETARD

 

Bump........

 

being a waste is in the eye of the beholder. remember that not all headers are 900. i paid 525 shipped for my hotshots and felt for that that money and an experienced local installer that it was worth it. i have a couple of dynos floating around after my headers but most are without my power valve which compromises my midrange torque and pushes the it higher in the rpm band. therefore i could not tell you what my torque gains were. there should be some of my dynos in the dyno and all motor fourms.
as for ING, the time to take on risk is when you are young. beating inflation by a few points is weak.

 

Thanks.......

 

If you are not the type to modify your car that is fine. But if you enjoy modifying your car - be it performance or cosmetics, it is worth it. And the headers did not cost $900, they cost $549 plus $40 to ship. Labor was $300.

 

how much of that cost is a new trans? i think my trans is going bad and if i get a new one i wont have to pay for the trans and the work for replacing, just maybe a little extra over the normal price to have it done. how much not including the trans and work? straight pipe does make a little difference, it did for me at least. i notice that i get no traction at all in first gear if im trying to race, before it was no problem except just a little bit. its not the most obvious difference, but when paying attention i can tell. going to the track monday, can report the difference.

 

As I said before. Its just my opinion. And even 550 is to much. Just my .02. I am not flaming or shooting down anyone who has headers or wants headers. I am just stating my opinion not a fact.......

 

Not trying to be argumentative. But, are you not into performance upgrades? Because if you are it is costly. If you are not then that explains your opinion. But for people who are into increasing performance that price is not bad, especially in comparison to the only other alternate.

 

Does anyone know how Does anyone know how to figure out if the MAF is bad. I am slow from the line and my gas mileage on my trip has gone down from 21MPG to 19.3MPG. Maybe that is the reason.

 

car is prob running rich because of the headers, hence the decrease in mpg...

There is one solid peice of evidence you need to get the car on a dyno and tune it.