I just received a set of the newest OBX headers for the 1995-2001 Maxima. They look generally impressive, welds are good, inside tubing and ports look good - I am surprised. There were two coupler gaskets and two exhaust port gaskets included - kinda cheesy stuff.

The downpipe from each exhaust port is 1 3/4" O.D. The 3-pipe collector goes into a 1 7/8" pipe. The Y-pipe is only 2" O.D. The openings for each exhaust port have been ground to match. The rest of the external openings also have been ground smooth. There is no apparent weld flash or splatter visible.

Attached are a group of flash photos for the assembly, and some more odds and ends from my garage. I have a Pathy TB /spacer, a couple of 90mm Q45 TBs, and a Pathy intake manifold awaiting surgery. Heh.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1792.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1793.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1794.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1795.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1796.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1797.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1798.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1799.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1800.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1801.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1802.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1803.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1804.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1805.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1806.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1807.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1808.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1809.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1811.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1813.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1814.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1815.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1816.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1817.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1818.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1819.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1820.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1821.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1822.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1823.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1824.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1825.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1826.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1827.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1828.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1829.jpg
Pathy TB
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1830.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1833.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1835.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1836.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...s/Dscn1837.jpg


Whew.... If there's anything else I can contribute before these bad boys get chopped up, let me know!

 

oh man. thats gorgeous! u going to add serious power with those headers and the nitrous. How much did it cost you for the headers? they arent equal length are they?

 

They were $345 delivered from eBay. The only parts I'm using is the two 3-tube collectors, and I'm not concerned about equal length - just better flow.

They do seem well made, though. OBX went to a lot of trouble to clean up the ports and welds. We shall see...

I'm going to get the 3-tube collectors blended into my 3" Warpspeed exhaust system - I should have zero back-pressure, and the 90mm exhaust cutout could be fun.

 

the y-pipe isnt.

The headers definitely look good for the price, but I'm either going with the hotshots right now ($300 shipped) or the cattmans this summer...

 

Grey99, I wonder if those headers will help me with my rear mount turbo setup. hmmmmm better flow = quicker spool perhaps



Where are you getting the hotshots for 300shipped?

 

www.hotshot.com

Going out of business sale.

 

[QUOTE=streetzlegend]Grey99, I wonder if those headers will help me with my rear mount turbo setup. hmmmmm better flow = quicker spool perhaps

Somebody here has been building special turbo flapper valves to speed up turbo spooling. Some Kansan from Howard KS, I recall - Mcookson, maybe. Maybe he can help. I'll look for details.

EDIT: try this link for more info: http://kansasmaximas.6.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=73

 

What is the model number for VQ30? because if this is true, and they still have hotshot for 4th gens at $300shipped. im ordering it right now.

 

I'm fairly sure the headers are the same for 95-03 so those should work for you. EGR does make a difference, as the hotshots have to be modified to accomodate it IIRC. I e-mailed them this morning and haven't heard back yet. You have to send in payment via check or money order as they don't take CC anymore.

 

Harol, thanx for the link, very very interesting. After installing and having everythign welded, i was later told by someone that, they could have made the piping right before the turbo flange to become smaller diameter to produce. This way, there is more pressure built in the entire exhaust and gasses shoot out of the pipe and into the turbo with alot more velocity, too bad it was too late to do that. maybe i can do it in the future. thing is, im not sure if that extra backpressure will hurt me at top end.

Wat do u mean by EGR does make a diff?

 

Check his valve - it switches out at some point, so there is no extra backpressure. One position for spool-up, another for higher RPMs. Contact him directly - he does some weird Nissan stuff - like a Q45 in a 300ZX...... I like him - he's nuts. You're pretty far out on the curve, and so is he.....

 

perhaps i shall contact him.

lol that was funny "he's nuts. You're pretty far out on the curve, and so is he....."

 

I had this thread stored - maybe it will help:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=458401

 

Well, it's true, isn't it?

I kinda wish I lived in Florida - your crew seems to have all the fun in the winter.

 

oh man. the winter is when we mod lol. we take a break during the summer and just do little common mods and tune ups and stuff, then comes winter and we do the hardcore stuff (3.5swap, rear turbo, 00vi's, replace head gasket while engine still in the car lol, etc...) lol.

 

My back shivers when i remember doing that oh god, lol

 

Bah....there's no crying in auto mechanics.

 

Grey99, these OBX headers you got have a 2 1/6 diameter pipe after the flex that goes into the Cat. Are you going to be replacing that flex and putting a wider pipe? I think this is the only bad thing about these headers (and the fact that theyare not equal length), and in my case might hurt power slightly. But i think it can easily be soloved by taking it to my local muffler shop and having them put a new flex joint with wide pipe and weld it to the same flange that goes to the Cat.

 

check the thread in my sig for different headers

 

That's exactly what he's doing. He's going to Meguyer (sp*) the OBX headers onto his 3" WSP collector/flex.

 

...............

 

grey99max did you hve any difficulty installing the rear obx header? It seems that it would be hard because the rear header is connected to the y pipe.

 

Not when you cut it off and weld a flange to it, then couple it to the existing 2" Warpspeed downpipes........ My shop will "McGuiver" the parts together...

 

I think you're correct - these headers have good 3-tube collectors and good positioning of their outlets - but the main Y-pipe is too darn small for a 3.0 N/A, let alone something with spray or boost, or a 3.5L. The collectors look good - really good - the pipe seems to be a thick-wall material, but I haven't figured out how to mike it. Guess I can do that when cutting time is here!

The overall workmanship is impressive, and all inlets and outlets have been ground smooth and free of splatter. OBX got their stuff together here - except for that small Y-pipe tubing...

 

oh ok but say you didnt cut it off would you be able to get it in there as one piece?

 

1. I haven't installed anything - I just got the box last night, when I did photos. I'm still waiting on the OEM gaskets for this little project.

2. I think the rear section would install jest fine - the front collector is removable to make overall installation easier, I believe. You would have to work the rear collector up into the engine bay with everything else attached, so I'm just guessing, of course.

 

That's what I'm talkin' about - that would beat shoveling snow for three months straight. And waiting for the spring rains to wash off the 6" of sand from all the streets and highways......

 

Finished getting the headers in (OBX) and put her back on the road yesterday...Nice! So much more room to work under the hood without those mammoth manifolds thrown away, now just need to hook up my O2 Sims...
Don't know about 1/4 times or Dyno, but seat of pants feel is a definite thumbs up! (Plus they are so shiny and pretty according to the wife...it is her car though)

 

good luck with the headers, I can not wait to see what you do with a 3.5

 

I wonder if they will make a sound difference without high-flow cat and catback. I wish I can just delete the precats and not get the extra bees-in-a-can that comes with y-pipes (other then cattman of course)

EDIT: Anyone have sound clips of them?

 

i should have mine on my car in two weeks. well see the difference vs a ypipe as my car will be on the dyno after the clutch is broke in.

 

How was the fitment?

 

I just ordered some, so I will let you guys know exactly how they fit, with detailed pictures.

 

Which seller on ebay are you guys picking these up from? I know there is OBX's old design and their new design and I am alittle scared of buying a set on ebay and getting the older crappier design.

 

I always loved the way headers look, im going to be installing my Hotshots and doing my 5spd conversion next week. Im really excited! The OBX headers look very good quality, Goodluck and let us know how it performns...

 

I decided to go for the OBX install this weekend - got this far, but had family visiting Sat-Sun, so more to come..





The car is up on a forest of jack stands with Rhino ramps in the rear, I have a 3-ton jack holding up the transmission so I can drop the crossmember, I've gotten the heat shields off front and rear, the MEVI is fully removed to get it out of the way, so things are progressing. The rear manifold is truly going to be a b1*ch to get out. Crossmember, engine mounts, existing Y-pipe - lots of stuff.

Hopefully I can get-er-done this week.

 

best of luck with that! Just so you know if the two mounts (timing cover and tranny) on the sides of the engine bay are good, the tranny/engine need not be suported by jackstands. They can hold the engine/tranny just fine.

 

I figured they would hold the weight if needed, but I used the jack to hold up the engine/tranny to take the load off the crossmember bolts and motor-mount bolts. I think I can take out those bolts and drop the crossmember OK, then see about removing the jack.

The rear exhaust manifold is a pain, isn't it?

To the guys who have changed heads and timing chains with the engine in the car,

 

Sweet lemme know how this rolls .

 

Not a lot of room is there!

When I put my Cattmans on I did not remove the crossmember, but pulled the intake off the top and worked from below and above, but major pain to take the heat shield off that I recall (the rear one of course).

So maybe now with these headers you'll hit 12's...