I got my car inspected (MD safety) and everything was fine except the front pads and rear rotors that (although they pass inspection) need change AND the middle exhaust (the tube connecting the muffler and the cat converter.
I have the choice of welding it or replacing it. I plan to keep the car for a few years so ... the reason!
The reason for a Y pipe and a B pipe. Something for the intake later.
Now the questions: I looked around for some Y pipes but there are 2 kinds: CA and federal. The thing is that my car is ... funny. How's that? It was bought in VA, the VIN number is not California BUT when I looked for tutorials to change the knock sensor, the intake manifold doesn't look like those in the tutorials (follow the link for pictures) http://rapidshare.com/files/126931294/pics.zip.html
I realize that for the knock sensor I should take the intake off but what about the Y pipe?
What should I do? What kind of Y pipe should I get?
Also, what vendors do you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

 

intake manifold means nothing for whether your car is CA or FED. And why are you messing with the knock sensor if its fine? You didnt mention it was bad in the inspection?

Anyways, seems like you have good reason to get a good performance exhaust. Go with either a budget y-pipe or you could order a cheap one off ebay. I wouldnt mess with the $$$ of catman unless you are going allout and buy headers too. That is in the 4 digits tho for that setup. For the cat back, I would go with either a greddy sp2 or an Apexi WS. both sound good. The exhaust sticky has lots of video clips tho of different setups.

I will comment on the manifold when the pics are done downloading...btw next time just host the pics on flickr or photobucket...much easier.

 

saw the pics...

first off, the intake manifold is the same as all stock maximas, second, what are we suppose to be looking at at the close up pics, third, clean your engine bay!

 

MD has 2 kind of inspections
1: Safety - due only when you buy a car
2: Emissions - due every 2 years
I forgot to mention that the knock sensor is bad ...
As far as I've seen, my car has the extra "thing" (circled in red) that doesn't seem to be connected by bolts to the intake but looks like one piece:







Here you have the part circled in red, the green thing shows the space as it looks like in the tutorials and the blue is the remaining space:




Going back to exhaust, I'll leave the cat as it is, the muffler is aftermarket already so I'll replace only the Y pipes and the pipe with the resonator. I'll have to trust you (and a lot of other on this forum) that a cheap one from ebay is just as good (for a few years) as a "regular" one.

 

incorrect
99 cali spec has swirl valves, which this guy obviously has cause of the actuator on the side of the lower. which will really **** him off when installing his knock sensor, cause he will morethan likely have to take off the upper and lower to access the ks.FTL

 

My bad, I must have been out of it when I posted. I forgot about some 99s having swirl valves. now im not sure but dont only CA 99's have swirl valves? and if so how do you explain the non-CA VIN?

About the ebay ypipe. I have never used one but I hear most people have no problems with it. Ive heard one, maybe two cases of fitment issues. I personally have a budget y pipe that I bought used 2 years ago for $160. I love it but its pretty easy to find them cheaper now days.

 

Non Ca VIN AND bought (new) in VA ... I checked the Carfax before buying it ...

 

maybe a motor swap. check vin on the block. but i think even some non-cali spec cars in 99 had swirl valves.

 

As far as I've understood, the Y pipe should be the same no matter what year/spec and I'm about to order it from ebay.

BUT

The B-pipe ... I have no idea. I read some threads and I went here:

http://www.walkerexhaust.com/catalog...letypescrn.asp

and after choosing make, model and year I had a few choices none of which match each other (I mean catalog numbers for the B-pipe). I know that my car was manufactured in late 98 and the VIN is JN1CA21D8XT209179

Where can I find a B-pipe for my car?

Thanks for all the help!

P.S. Tonight I'll check the VIN on the engine!

 

The y-pipe is different for FED and CA spec. They have different exhaust manifolds.
Also the b-pipe is different for 95/6 and 97-99. Its hard to just find a b-pipe instead of a catback. Either have a shop mandrel bend you a b-pipe or contact lss exhaust (aka budget). Youll have to seach budget contact info cause i dont know it off the top.

 

My 99 has swirl vales and its a non cali car? Hmm thats messed up.

 

But on eBay (and other sites), they sell the Y-pipe WITH the headers (exhaust manifold), won't that solve the problem (even if my engine is Cal spec ... ) ?
I thought that problem is solved ...

Anyway, any suggestions for the B-pipe?

 

Ya I honestly dont know which ones came with it... maybe its later production 99's?

Yes the problem is solved if you replace the headers too. But that is a more difficult task but if you are up for it then

 

http://thewrx.netfirms.com/lss/frame.htm>systems>maxima>b-pipe
or have a local shop fab one up for ya

 

I'll go ahead and buy the stuff. A friend of mine (mechanic) will work on them. If there will be something wrong, IT'S YOUR FAULT!

I'm just kidding, thank you for all the help/suggestions!

P.S. One last question: what would you recommend for engine oil/filter and transmission oil?

 

I use castrol gtx with a mobil 1 oil filter for the engine. I use Amsoil Synthetic GL-4 MTF for the tranny (pricey tho, 9/quart)
Read in the fluids and lubricants for more info on that.

 

I tried to call them - I got the answering machine. I left a message - they didn't reply. I'll need that thing by the end of next week, any other suggestions?

Thanks!

P.S. I'm talking about http://thewrx.netfirms.com/lss/frame.htm and the B-pipe

 

If you dont get headers all you need is the front manifold.

 

I already ordered the headers and the Y pipe (which by the way I didn't need, I just wanted to change it). I NEED the B-pipe (for the inspection). My temporary tags are good for 3 more weeks but after next WE I won't have time to do anything that's why I need the B-pipe as fast as possible.

 

BUMP!

Any suggestions for the B-pipe?

 

BUMP!

PLEEEEEEASE!