Name Brand Exhaust Mods or Custom Built? Pro's and Con's?  

BoostedS15
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Post #1 post 19th October 2002 - 03:25 PM
Hi,



Was just after some advice from people who have tried various exhausts mods. I recently bought a new 200sxGT and was looking at all the Blitz and HKS exhaust systems and was thinking of going a 3.25inch from the turbo back with a hi-flo Cat and a straight thru Muffler. I was wondering if a custom mandrel bent would preform better than a mass manufactured component? I would like the exhaust to have a nice note and I have heard that the name brands are a bit quiet? Has anyone heard good things about the Blitz air pods? I've been told that they see a dyno'd improvement of 15kw at the wheels? Just by changing a pod? And 25kw at the wheels by changing the exhaust? Thats a lot of extra hp for bolt on's. Any advice or experiences?

thanks. :?
S14a_On_Boost
Post #2

Dood you don't want to go 3.25" i would only go 3" that is a resonable size exhaust. If you start running REALLY high boost then you can look at goin bigger. Blitz air pods are good but expensive. As for the who the exhaust is mad by. These days Mandrel Bent is available everywhere and is a production type of exhaust. You can get a custom HKS or Blitz exhaust which produce a nice note and are quite load.



Just my thoughts

resin
Post #3

HAHAHAHAHAH 15 KW BY CHANGING AIR FILTER!@#!@#!



thats the most amusing thing I've read all day. You might be lucky (and I mean it) if you get 5kw by running no air filter at all. 15 is just stupid

Mcleod
Post #4

On this occasion, I'll correct you resin biggrin.gif



Some factory air intake setups are incredibly restrictive, you put a good pod/cold air intake setup that actually breaths really well on say, a 180SX, and the boost will then rise because its breathing easier, therefore alot more power.



Sure, the power doesn't come exactly because of the air filter, but if its your first mod and it allows a bit more boost, then you'll see those results.

mattson
Post #5

Hey dude.. if your on the gold coast Ashmore mufflers make great systems for very good $$$....



I got my setup for $1400 and it's a full stainless system from cat back with a mild steel dump pipe off the turbo.. it sounds the part, it looks the part.. I got a 5hp gain from adding the full system.



Prior to that it was only a 3" cat back job.. it was extremely loud and probably not really beneficial to power.. maybe 5hp from stock...



Some people reckon you can get between 10 to 20kw gain from a decent exhaust.... but I think it mainly depends on the car... I reckon 10hp (approx 7.5kw) is a fairly fair statement...



Nissans might benefit from a decent HKS or NISMO system, check out http://www.japanesemotorsport.com.au they have great 2nd hand cat back systems which will do a great job with a high flow cat and dump pipe...



If you want any more info.. just PM or e-mail [email protected]



Cheers,

Anonymous
Post #6

QUOTE
HAHAHAHAHAH 15 KW BY CHANGING AIR FILTER!@#!@#!



thats the most amusing thing I've read all day. You might be lucky (and I mean it) if you get 5kw by running no air filter at all. 15 is just stupid




I'm the second to criticise resin then...



As Mcleod said, factory systems are often very restrictive.



5-10 extra KW wouldn't be a hard gain to find on a factory turbo...

BoostedS15
Post #7

Thanks for the on going help guys, I actually watched the dyno on the airfilter and saw the difference, but at $445 it not a cheap air filter system! Worth it thou, and with a 3inch exhaust and hi-flo cat, I've had all sorts of quotes, ranging from $2000 for a Blitz system to $1600 for a custom job, but that's seems good Mattson, I'll go and see them. Unfortunalty I am unable to mod just yet, as my baby has developed a shudder at idle, and Nissan are scratching their heads over it, if I mod it you know what they will say! Even thou its an existing problem, I hope to have it fixed in the next week or so. So far they have replaced my computer and injectors. Also got a problem with the synchro hub in the gearbox, she won't go into 5th at high speeds 160+. They didn't believe me of course, untill we put it on a dyno and showed them. Guess my baby's got a few teething problems! I do have the end picture in mind and I can save like buggery in the mean time! biggrin.gif Ohh and have the stereo fitted! smile.gif

Mcleod
Post #8

ha ha! @ not being able to change into fifth at 160+ km/h!



The mechanics were probably looking at you thinking "what the hell are you doing going that fast anyway!" tongue.gif



mmm.. unfortunately, gearbox problems with an S15 really isn't uncommon tho!

BoostedS15
Post #9

HAHAHAHA yeah I kinda got that look, like WTF! But hell its a PERFORMANCE car! It will go from 4th at 180 across into 6th , but 5th is having a tea break and just being damn ignorant. At least it was tempremental and ficked up when it was at the Doc's. But they have to report it to Nissan Japan and document all repairs as it is an uncommon fault. Meanwhile I wait.............and wait.........you'd think for $50000 you would get some customer service. HEHEHE 2000km on the clock.

BLU200
Post #10

Hey all,



IMHO, some of the Jap brand names are just extra expense for the brand name. There's plenty of good Australian exhaust shops.



Read a little about Todd's car.



http://users.bigpond.net.au/performance200/

http://users.bigpond.net.au/performance200/history.htm



The exhaust was done by CES. The air filter is a King Dragon, and about 1/4 of the cost of the Blitz filter. (I think mine cost me $120? from Redcliffe Dyno & Performance)



Cheers guys.

GaryD
Post #11

The thing with the mass produced ones is theyre made specifically for each car, and are designed especially for each make/model. A lot of testing goes into these systems, and thus you get the high price tag. either way going 3" should make a decent difference. Also from what im told, nissan wont care too much if u get another exhaust on it. i think they will only void the warranty on your stock exhaust

BoostedS15
Post #12

I couldn't agree more garyd, I think you seem to pay for Research and Development, and the fact that these companies rely on these bolt ons to be the best they can be or ........no sales. The thing that scares me off going to 'insert joes exhaust's name here' is the fact that you might save a few hundred dollara BUT, unless you witness the entire A to B job, what corners are cut while you arent there.....to me I've decided Piece of mind is worth a few extra $$$. Agree?

Mcleod
Post #13

It's reasonably contraversial...



There are a *few* workshops out there that do very good exhaust systems for a decent price which will compare to the big jap names.. all depends what you're looking for in the end I guess.. I had my previous car's exhaust fitted by Robb Bliss Exhaust at Zilmere, 3" turbo back and it served me very well.

BoostedS15
Post #14

Hmmmm I think I might go for a name brand, I have looked at the websites etc, and I think for the price I might stick with a Blitz system....BUt LOL i have been known to change my mind........hehehehe laugh.gif

CoopS
Post #15

At least there are tried and true systems in Australia for your rice cooker, like bigger rice bowl, and extra steaming attachments, but spare a moment for us poor chaps who own the best of british assembled, german designed, brazillian engined supercharged pickup cars. Where do we get a garunteed result of increases at the wheels? I mean I'll trade 1 kw if I can get away with just a new exhaust instead of some stainless steel waste of money. But I guess I'm not turbo so it's not as important for me.



See you on the road!

avalonea
Post #16

well depending on what you want realy,



me i have nice 2.8" mendral from turbo back with a HUDGE silance+ resonator. hence why its whisper quite and i like it that way 1 less thing to be defected on,



tho the kits are good as garyd said they go thu testing.





hum.



`josh

BoostedS15
Post #17

im currently saving my $$ for a blitz system and a few other mods, pod etc. i think i'll stick with name brand, mainly due to the R&D performed. :shock:

DODGI
Post #18

I always prefer to have custom fabrications & try to steer clear of the name brand stuff (for exhausts & filters anyway) because I don't believe that the extra 1-2 hp gained is worth the cost....usually at least $1000 difference between a custom fabricated exhaust from the turbo & a name brand system...i mean, thats more than the cost of a digital boost controller, & you would gain alot more usable power/driveability from installing one of those...Having said that, name brand (Blitz etc) do look the part!!!!!

CoopS
Post #19

after being humilated 5 years ago by a poo brown sigma station wagon with nitros, I have decided that looking the part is much better than being the part. cause if I had to look like that to win.. I'd rather lose.

the red krawler
Post #20

QUOTE
after being humilated 5 years ago by a poo brown sigma station wagon with nitros, I have decided that looking the part is much better than being the part.  cause if I had to look like that to win.. I'd rather lose.




*shrug*

I'd rather a shitter that hammers than a show car thats slow :?



Having said that, I'd actually rather a compromise of the two - something that goes hard but doesnt look totally crap. Which is where Brutis2 comes in smile.gif

Hoon
Post #21

If you buy a pre-made zorst, then I suppose your buying a design that's been proven and tested on that car. So, if you want to spend the bucks on that, and it's alot more money that just having one built, then go for it. Remember that maybe the Blitz zorst for a S15 was maybe used with a different turbo than the one you got? Maybe they have different pollution regs in Japan? Dont' forget the different RON in the petrol.



I prefer custom built systems, it's cheaper, and you can always modify it without thinking "I don't want to ruin this $1500 buck zorst".

Disco Lou
Post #22

Yeah i have heard that Robert Bliss does a damn good job. My father got a zorst and bleed valve fitted at John French Subaru and they did an awesome job. (mind u he has a rex not an s15) They also service a few other makes and models 2.



As for the custom jobs, r they all flow tested and dyno tuned etc?

BoostedS15
Post #23

I think the thing that held me back from going custom was exactly as disco lou said, the 'unknown flow etc'. and for the price wise i got a full turbo back blitz exhaust system, plus hiflo cat all fitted for under $2000. The best custom job quote i got with a hiflo cat was 1580. So the extra $400, i consider that a worthwhile investment. Plus it just looks mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm laugh.gif laugh.gif Gettn blitz pod at same time! and a few "other" accessories hehehehhehe :wink: :wink:

DODGI
Post #24

QUOTE
I think the thing that held me back from going custom was exactly as disco lou said, the 'unknown flow etc'.  and for the price wise i got a full turbo back blitz exhaust system, plus hiflo cat all fitted for under $2000. The best custom job quote i got with a hiflo cat was 1580. So the extra $400, i consider that a worthwhile investment.  Plus it just looks mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  :lol:  :lol:  Gettn blitz pod at same time!  and a few "other" accessories hehehehhehe  :wink:  :wink:






Wow, that custom quote is expensive! Trouble is, when u go to an exhaust shop with a nice car looking for a custom job, they see the car & go 'he can afford it' & then proceed to rip you off (I've had this attempted on me so many times it aint funny!). That said, you should probably be looking at no more than $900-$950 for a full S15 system including hi-flo cat & dump pipe off the turbo.. With a stock turbo etc the difference in hp would be next to nothing, even with a bigger turbo if the custom job was good it would probably only be(at most) 5hp down on a 'name brand' system (it may even be better, depending). Which leads me to......how many other mods could u afford with the extra $1000? Boost Controller etc, etc.....

BoostedS15
Post #25

Yeah dodgi, I considerd the $400 a wearable cost for Research and Development, and for the juicy looks.............but $1000 , mate i had 6 quotes and never got close to that. I agree completyly with the nice car he can afford it quotes, but all were around the $1650 mark for custom. Otherwise if it was such an extreme then yeah it is literally the cost of a boost controller and some rice bits. ahhh well bring on the blitz i say! i dont see hpw the apexi can be $1000 more than blitz, now THATS unreasonable.

ThunderBolt
Post #26

I've got a mild steel 3" m/b system fitted at Aussie Exhaust at Albion. Cost me $850 fitted with everything except a dump pipe. High flow cat, hot dog resonator and straight through muffler. Sounds pretty sweet and a little cheaper than the system I had on the previous car which I didn't like as much.



Don't know how much difference it has made to power, but it feels faster.

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