so this weekend after waiting a month for my custom maxima headers to get here i undertook the task of removing my crossmember and getting the stock manifolds out. With that done i went on to start installing the custom maxima manifolds. They fit just fine and im pleasantly surprised with the craftsmanship of the pieces. Things were going well until i went to bolt the y-pipe up. It doesnt fit! The rear flange is tweaked and doesnt line up with the manifold studs. Needless to say im f***in pissed!

I knew i could expect shotty fitment for only $200 but still this is crazy. Too make a long story short, dont make the mistake i did. Save up and get the OBX or Cattman. I wish i had.

But on a positive note i did get the opportunity to press in my new ES motor mounts

 

^^^ I don't believe you would've been anymore pleased with OBX... that's how it works bro... happened to me too... I tell ppl if u easily get frustrated with fitment problem the pay 4 times extra to not have it... I believe everybody knew there would've been fitment issues

 

i suppose so but its just sooo close to going in and its frustrating as f***. If it wasnt stainless id be able to cut and re-weld the ish myself.

 

you should have left all the bolts loose until everything was together. In fact, i would suggest doing that anyway. get everything loosely bolted together and then tighten the bolts

 

gemner, if only it was that easy. ive got everything as loose as it can go without dropping a manifold on my face and it still doesnt fit right. ive tried everything so now i need to find a shop around here that can cut and weld stainless steel.

 

dam im glad i decided against these now...u would think cm would fit this issue

 

Use a jack. Step back, Calm down. Find a jack and force it on if you absolutely have too. They make them where they WILL fit, just a complete pita to do. Not like installing headers was already pita enough.......

Take a second, Shoot some pics, and see how it is.

 

me too, i came so close to getting these for my 01 ae also.

 

yea i was one click away then researched more and between headers a safc apexi to keep it in tune and o2 sims for the secondaries i figured 700 isnt worth it for the power gains......i rather spend 250 for warpspeed or 350 for cattman ypipe

 

You'll still probably need a SAFC or VAFC for the y-pipe if you want the car to run right. The reason the car runs rich with headers is because there's more exhaust flow and no precats. Same with the Warpspeed/Cattman y-pipe.

O2 sims are not that expensive. Maybe $40 tops?

 

Any pictures? That would be helpful for others contemplating these headers or who are attempting the same install. Is it the angle or orientation of the y-pipe flange?

 

to the OP wanting OBX headers lol

 

damn that is nuts! same story here! my custommaxima headers came in for my I35 after a month! first of all, custommaxima.com has HORRIBLE HORRIBLE customer service.. out of 20 or so emails, i only got 5 maybe 6 replies..

ok, so i took out the upper intake manifold, heat shields, crossmember, y-pipe and manifolds, etc all the pain in the a** work at my dads shop, np with that, knowing all that is annoying to take off.. put on the new manifolds, and the y-pipe is rubbing the edge of the oil pan and y pipe is NOT aligning.. anyway, i have no idea what to do to make it fit.. i could beat the y pipe a little to clear the oil pan but the y-pipe isn't properly aligning to the rear manifold and won't bolt up..

what a waste of $210.. i shouldve just hollowed out the pre-cats instead.. this sucks.. but i did install my new ES motor mounts while i was at it too..

 

my car is sitting on the lift at the shop, so i'll post some pictures up to show you'll the problem i'm having

 

you did the same exact thing as me. i got the new motor mounts and honestly im more excited about the motor mounts than the headers. im pissed cuz my car is in pieces and i wanna drive the bish

 

and your right about custom maxima's service. it is absolutely horrible. it takes days to get replies and they dont reply half the time nor can they do a simple thing like keep the customer informed on their orders. it was always a guessing game.

 

oh man that sucks... I didnt even know CM had headers for our cars.... obx ftw I had no fitment issues except for cutting out part of the crossmember and motor mount bracket... which are known issues with the obx headers. It looks so close, I cant imagine there is no way you can force that into place.