5.5 Gen Headers in 2016?
 

Okay so my car was totaled. It's at the yard with my Cattman headers #Unicorn left on there and I might not be able to get them off before I release the car to progressive. What are the options for headers these day that don't involve cutting and modification? I heard OBX has a new OBX R Headers. Do those need modification? Heard OBX Altima SE R headers work? Fill me in...I haven't had to worry about this since my Cattman Gen 3 Headers ***Busts out in tears*** MY CAR!!!

Got hit from the back while on the highway slowing down...Driver wasn't paying attention. #RIP

You're throwing 800 dollars away, get the gd headers. Idk why you didn't have it towed to your house, originally.

Is everyone OK? That's first and foremost! Thank the lord for that. Now Call the police and file a report! These welds in these cars can buckle easily.

Screw the headers they've probably buckled or could've cracked along the seam welds.


Edit: if it were me it would just give me one more thing to add onto the final bill for their insurance company to cover!

Even if they want you to replace those headers with something so it's still a "complete car" totaled or not, a set from the junkyard will solve that. Some insurance companies may go that route. Either way leaving those cattmans on should not be an option you are willing to accept. Hope it works out man

Thanks guys, they are giving me 2100 for the car. I'm gonna buy it back, take all my parts off, and swap it out on the new Max I got. I hope the cattmans are okay. I didn't see any extensive damage, I only hit the wall on passenger fender. I'm hoping exhaust is okay.

I thought this was worth a bump because the original question was never answered. What is the best option these days for improving the stock exhaust? I've read a bit that 4th gen manifolds/headers fit but is this a good solution?

I am just starting a VQ HR swap into my 5.5 gen and would like to put a good exhaust system on before I install the new motor. Can I use 7th gen headers? Do such a thing exist in the CVT era? What about 07+ Altima headers?

Obx altima headers, buy you have to modify the y

Does the insurance company know it's modified? Probably not?

Strip out every single illegal mod before giving it to the insurance company. Otherwise you risk retaliation from them.

Mods like headers will definitely get you into some kind of trouble if they decide to inspect the car. Risking getting into insurance fraud problems... Not fun

<-- Canadian member

The 09+ Max and 07+ Alti upper oil pan is taller than the previous gens. I'm pretty sure no exhaust from a previous gen will work.. Unless you're swapping in a fwd HR and swapping oil pans anyway.

I am swapping in a '13 Maxima motor and from what I understand I need to keep my 5th gen oil pan. It makes sense that the revisions in the oil pan affect the fit of any headers...

Since Cattmans and Hotshots are so hard to come by, I guess OBX is a reasonable option despite what I've read about their fitment. That said, should a guy just get some eBay knockoffs if I'm going to be dealing with poor fitment anyways?

Somebody talk me out of these eBay Headers

Not an expert in any way and just quickly glanced over the listing, but this jumped on me: he mentioned that they are TIG and MIG welded. MIG in my opinion has no place in manufacturing this product, it should be TIG only. Correct me if I am wrong. If this bolts on and he can warranty that, should be an Okay product.

Well he would have to modify the y-pipe on that to make it fit. Actually thinking of going this route myself. Not seeing many more options here.

I actually ordered that exhaust last week. No options these days. I'm gonna have my local custom exhaust shop make a custom y pipe and bend 3" ss tubing for the cat back along with relocating 02 bungs

The only other option is OBX at the moment. OBX@Sparktec I've heard from a good source that somebody intends to make some decent ones (I've got no details) but what those might cost is anyone's guess.

Good on ya for taking the plunge, hopefully you get a few years out of them. I'm no welding expert but from what I've read in several places regarding these headers (fitment aside) is that they'll likely crack eventually at a weld due to improper welding procedures. Here's a link discussing proper SS welding procedures.

Based on what I've read up to this point, I wish they'd sell the pieces for the headers unwelded and take them to a local welder.

Hopefully the install goes smooth. Guessing flanges are gonna have to be relocated. I couldn't wait any longer since I'm sitting on a kinetix manifold, nwp bb tb, nwp spacers, 4" intake, gtr injectors, safc2, and a new zt2 wideband.

@freezer & Justin89.....how are those Altima headers holding up on your 5.5 gen? I’m looking for an option too, but like y’all said.... there really isn’t much of a choice. Are the heads staying together and working ok?

i found a guy on eBay selling some obxr heads for the 5.5 gen but he wants 700, so not sure which route to take...

I found a set of brand new Cattman's this April and snagged them up. I would just gut cats and avoid eBay headers, wait for a set of decent headers

I actually stumbled upon a Facebook post within a couple of hours of me for a set of brand new 6th gen headers for dirt cheap, but I just gave the guy a lead back here to the org