So, I am looking to upgrade the Max's engine for a few extra ponies. I already have my handling needs taken care of, now I just need a bit more power so I pull from any stock 2000 max. I already created a custom WAI that sits behind the battery using a Dryflow AEM filter. I was looking into NWP intake spacers that have been said to add about 5whp. Is there any other (preferably) bolt on that would be noticeable to go along with the NWP or instead of it?

The $500 is just for parts, I can install (most) everything myself. Thanks for your input guys!

(Yes, I have read other forums, but I want a direct opinion from people who have had experience with the upgrades.)

Thanks!!

 

Cat back exhaust or headers.

 

headers or y-pipe and catback.

 

catback and spacers

 

y pipe is a must, headers if u can find a pair used on here.

a catback wont do much if anything for power but some sound might be nice

id say try and get ur timing advanced if u havent, its cheap and made a difference on my max, not huge but for the money its not bad.

and if u havent replaced plugs or maf yet, check and see if u have the updated ones, a bad maf will "drain" you of more power than ur mods will add.

ive been looking into the spacers too. i havent made up my mind yet tho.

only thing id say to stay away from is an udp. ive had mine for years and i dont think the teeny tiny power increase was worth the trouble and money. imo

 

I have headers, and added spacers later on. I have dyno'd before and after. I gained in the neighborhood of 25 hp in the midrange with the spacers. Spacers was the best 200 dollar mod I have ever done.

 

I already replaced the (faulty) MAF and got new plugs about 15,000 miles ago. I am trying to find someone in Bay Area, California to advance my timing. Nissan dealers won't touch it, let alone talk to me. I found one shop but the guy is very sketch and he wasn't really into the idea of doing it for me.

I didn't want to mess with an UDP unless that was the best option. Thanks for the input on that.

Has anyone installed the NWP thermal spacer on there car and had results?

 

Y Pipe

 

Those are power gains from just the spacers?

Midrange power gains like that sound perfect for what I am looking for. I don't need anything super expensive or excessive. I am not using it for track, just really spirited driving on open roads.

DO you by chance have the dyno file saved that you could email/pm me? Thanks!!

 

since those obx headers are around 400 shipped, i'd start there

 

run one, stock except for udp and injen POS intake.

run nine, headers and catback with test pipe tuned with greddy blue. oh, injen POS replaced with my custom short ram.

run twelve, added spacers did not retune. Replaced the test pipe with a cattman fastcat, some timing was added after the headers being tuned but I doubt the timing added that much horsepower into the equation since the ECU appears to be pulling timing.

 

Well I am sold on the NWP spacer. What is a good suggestion for headers on a 2000 max. I know there is the EGR issues. Any easy way around that?

 

i dont think NWP makes spacers for 00-01s. Even if they do make them, i dont think they'll make any difference since the 00-01 manifolds are made of a polymeric composite...whereas 02-03s are (cast aluminum?)

 

run one, stock except for udp and injen POS intake.

run nine, headers and catback with test pipe tuned with greddy blue. oh, injen POS replaced with my custom short ram.

run twelve, added spacers did not retune. Replaced the test pipe with a cattman fastcat, some timing was added after the headers being tuned but I doubt the timing added that much horsepower into the equation since the ECU appears to be pulling timing. DONT UNDERSTAND THIS BUT OH WELL LOL

 

They do now! http://forums.maxima.org/group-deals...01-maxima.html NWP just came out with them.

 

My gains are not due to a decrease in temperature. My manifold is still way too hot to touch, thanks to the heat from the headers. Aaron's posted gains were on a stock car IIRC.

 

Air intake + Catback = around 5 hundi if you look around.

 

So, back to my original question, is Aaron's spacers going to help at all on a fairly stock '00 Max? If I won't notice anything at all, I don't feel like it would be worth the money (as I said before, I am not going for the extreme, nor track racing).

Anyone else try these spacers on an 00-01 max?

 

I think someone near you is trying to sell his headers and stuff.
Anyways, I think header+y-pipe combo is good for 3.0. I haven't seen any dynos for 3.0 with spacers so Im not sure if I would recommend that.

 

for $500 get some headers and an Safc... you'll be good to go

 

+1, and a dyno tune.

 

From what I understand, thermal spacers on a 2000-2001 wont make much of a difference, if any.

Is this true?

My thoughts exactly.

Can someone please verify this?

 

 

 

hence why so many people point towards the headers+y-pipe direction. the spacers are proven for vq35 and just a little bit for vq30de, so i wouldn't expect much for the vq30dek too.
gain some ponies and bad*ss sound is a win-win in my book

 

The plastic intake does not absorb heat, so why would anyone spend time and money to install a thermo isolator?

I've got a 5.5 gen with an aluminum intake, so I'm buying the NWP isolators, but if I had the plastic intake of a 5th gen, I see no point.

 

increase the runner length and the plenum volume

 

<-------------- take this guys advice from post 20

 

Y-pipe and a catback probably the best bang for the buck in the 3.0 add in the GAB and you're good to go. Everyone is saying headers but start with the basics if its power you're after headers and the stock catback is not worth it IMO unless you want it quiet. Just stick to the basics for now and when you're craving more power (which you will!) get the headers and a tune... then V-2... then NOS lol. Once you start you won't be able to stop so start saving your pennies.

 

Not trying to say you're wrong by any means, but wouldn't increases from those two variables be a distant second to increases realized from thermo isolation? Phenolic isolation seems to be the NWP claim to increases.

I do recall from my earlier hot rodding days that runner length and plenum volume can be adjusted to fit the needs of a particular motor. The part I do not recall is under what conditions one should increase\decease either runner length or plenum volume.

Does anyone recall? I'm also wondering what percentage of gains one can expect when optimized?

 

sorry for the noob question but i got my ypipe and catback and was looking to get my car tuned but where or how do i go about doing this?

 

i so disagree with this but hey, ur opinion... 1st, what good Y-pipe and catback can u get for under $500??? 2nd, Headers and a tune is probebly one of the biggest power adder for a maxima other than FI IMO............... the guy could just do with a 75shot and be guranteed to pull off from the regular 3.0L 5th gens

 

A used Cattman y-pipe (only 3k miles on it) cost me $125 shipped and a brand new Tsudo catback was $140 shipped last year. Put the parts on myself, and only spent a total of $265 for both. Very happy with both purchases.

 

Warpspeed Y and Megan catback will probably run right around $500. I don't dissagree about headers if I only planed on spending 5 bills thats not what I'd chose but its just my opinion. I'm just guessing here but I bet the power gains would pretty similar with either headers or y and catback. Now headers and a catback well thats a different story.

 

Search for and call some dyno shops. Ask them about air/fuel mixture tuning. I suggest you do a little searching on the topic here in the ORG so you have some idea of the cost and how the procedure plays out. That way you will have some idea if someone tries to take advantage of you.

Most places are good and actually enjoy sharing the knowledge with someone new to the sport.

 

I thought headers only come in combo meaning you have to get the y-pipe with it because it might not bolt up to stock. Anyways... you dont have to change the whole catback, just the b-pipe and keep the stock muffler because I think there was a discussion that talked about how well it flows

 

I haven't seen a set of headers for the Max that didn't come with a "y pipe."

 

or you can just give me the $500 and i can show you what i would get lol

 

If it were me Id have to say some headers, spacers, or complete new exhaust system.

 

on the egr codes issue, im not sure what others have done. what i did was take a stock manifold and my hotshot headers into any basic muffler shop and had them weld a little pipe about the same size and location on the header, and then pretty much just had the egr tube mate up with the new pipe on the header. no need for any expensive work or anything fancy.

it was cheap and i havent thrown any codes related to the egr.