Nismo exhaust, drop in KN filters and HPS
 

Is anyone using this combo? Picking up a nearly new Nismo exhaust (not the S tune) and the KN's tomorrow, excited. I understand it will not be much louder than stock, and thats OK with me, I am hoping for it to be a bit louder all around but not overboard. The HPS is next, I understand it will help a bit as well.

It won't really be noticable louder, it will sound slightly different. I suggest if your not happy with the sound try the washer mod, that will do much more to add volume.

Thank you Nismo#91, I will see how this sounds and move on from there. This is my weekend toy, I like doing things one step at a time with quality components, been reading up here quite a bit! The Nismo exhaust will cost me $350.00 and it came of a brand new Nismo with less than 3k miles on it, so it should be new, we will see today. I figure if it is not loud enough, I should be able to offload it without losing too much money.

My DD, ironically, is a stage 2 2009 Mazdaspeed3, but thats a different story.

I had this combo in various forms on my old Z. The Nismo exhaust, in either form S-tune or not, won't increase volume except by a barely noticeable amount, but it does change the tone quite a bit. Gone would be the rasp of the stock exhaust, and you'll notice that as your revs climb to 3500-4000, where the stock exhaust gets louder, the Nismo stays lower in tone (perceivably being quieter) but it opens up more from 5000 and up, being quite a bit deeper and more roaring than throaty like stock. That's the best way I can put the difference into words. I hope this helps, it's definitely a nice setup, cheap, reliable, good looking. Thumbs up!

Thank you, that is exactly what I am looking for, it should do the job for me, I will try to have it installed this weekend! Got the KN filters already, gotta install those too.

You need to hi-flow or de-cat to really get the thing to open up sonically, just changing the cat back is pointless without removing those chokes in the middle of the "throat", so to speak.

FYI currently running cosworth panels, standard airbox, berk HFC then a Cobra CBE. Sounds much more aggressive now. Thinking about the Stillen long air intakes...

DT