I'm torn on what to get next...
 

My Z is basically stock other than AAM Short Tails. I just purchased an HKS Hi-Power Ti exhaust, so that will be here soon. Actually, I'll be going to pick it up soon.

My question is, which should I go with next for the most bang for the buck, as both cost roughly the same... Should I go with the Stillen G3 intake or should I go with the Motordyne test pipes to finish off the exhaust? Or should I go with a different test pipe (resonated preferably)? I want durability and longevity in whichever test pipes I get, and would rather not have to deal with a CEL until I can get a tune which may be for a while.

Many thanks in advance!

I would recommend an Ecutek tune by a reputable tuner with the option to get tune adjustments at no charge as you add bolt on's for some limited period. The drivability will be much improved and you will get a small power increase.

you really cant go wrong with getting either the stillen intakes or the Motordyne ART pipes. the ART pipes are the best cat delete i can think of and they dont throw a CEL. you might want to check your local emission/inspection laws and see if you can get away with a test pipe or not first.

An Ecutek tune would be nice, but am pretty sure that would run more than $600, especially with the required dyno time.

As for emmision/inspection stuff, luckily we don't have that down here in Florida. So that wouldn't be an issue for me.

I am in a similar situation. I currently have the HKS Hi-Power exhaust and strongly considering getting ART pipes.

I think you might notice a significant difference going from short tails to the HKS. Short tails seem pretty loud and the HKS is tame until you put your foot down. I was thinking ART pipes to wake it up a little bit and they also seem more reliable than HFC's which I also considered.

Yeah, I'm thinking the stock cats are more of a choking point than the stock intake is, so will most likely go that route. Though I'm still not 100% certain.

"boost"

The stock intakes are perfectly fine from what I've been looking at. The changing out the cats will for sure help more with the air flow. Each day I consider buying ART pipes more and more. :yum:

No... No boost this time around. Just sticking to all motor.


I've kind of come up with the same conclusion from the reading I've done. I'm still going to do a full CAI at some point, but may actually do the upper and lower manifolds before that once the exhaust is done (keeping stock exhaust manifolds). I think there's more gains to be had from the upper and lower than from the CAI.

Does anyone else have anything to add?

Been said already , either HFC's or TP's I went HFC's because I have to pass emissions in MA, plus TP's are loud IMO.

I'm sitting on my HKS exhaust and concluded that I will go with ART pipes. I considered intakes before, but I will keep them stock until I am ready for a tune. I'm choosing ART pipes over HFC or test pipes because they seem to be the least likely to throw a CEL. I won't pass emissions in CA anyways with either route so I'm going all out. :)

Plus, from what I've been researching, it looks like the HKS with ART pipes will have the least rasp with any other combo of HFC or test pipes. It may not be as loud as the other options but it will have a more refined, throaty sound. They will still open up and be loud when you want them to like when push it or downshift.

Just theoretically speaking on what I am hoping for this combo to do through my research at least. If you happen to install them before mine, let me know lol :tiphat:

Going G3 makes the system incrementally better. Going TP removes the Asthma from our cars.

Even if the gains are identical between the two, TP still gives you more enjoyment in sound (if much louder is your thing). I say the better bang for buck goes to TP.

HFC's!!!!

You think I should go with the HFC's vs the Motordyne TP's? Any reason why?

Well, I bit the bullet and ordered the Motordyne ART pipes.

From my experience of in person and just youtube alone; even with an stock exhaust with art pipes there is already a huge sound difference. Car sounds like its pushing out more air and sound.. I dont like obnoxiously loud exhausts myself; but others do it for the gain.

HFC seems to sit halfway of art/tp and stock cats. You can hear it flow better than stock but not better than art/tp.
Ive heard some art/tp on aam short tails and man; on cold start up its louddddddd

If i can recall one individual had tp and a true dual custom 2.5" catback all the way to the back with a small resonator around the midpipe section and his startup sounded like he was on the pedal warming up the car..
Youtube videos cant do justice to sound, but it would give you an idea.

As for intakes; g3 or z1intakes (no cutting or modifications to the support bracket i heard and 100$ or so difference) they sure do provide alot more sound in the engine bay especially going WOT.

The g3's for me i can hear the air moving inside the piping at around 3k rpm. Sounds quite nice, i havent gotten tired of it yet. I went with ecutek and etune through Seb and it sounded like the tune had dumbed down that sound a little.


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Just drove behind a '16 Z with ARK Grip V2 and regular test pipes yesterday while in the work truck, and it wasn't as loud as mine with the Short Tails and stock everything else. The HKS and ART pipes are said to be even quieter than that combo from yesterday. So I'm not too worried about it being too loud.

Sorry for late response ideas riding out a hurricane. I'm sure you will be happy with your test pipes. I was trying o keep the noise level down thus hcs. But even at wot it can sound obnoxious. I love them though feels and sounds amazing!

[QUOTE=NRGz;3547464]From my experience of in person and just youtube alone; even with an stock exhaust with art pipes there is already a huge sound difference. Car sounds like its pushing out more air and sound.. I dont like obnoxiously loud exhausts myself; but others do it for the gain.

HFC seems to sit halfway of art/tp and stock cats. You can hear it flow better than stock but not better than art/tp.
Ive heard some art/tp on aam short tails and man; on cold start up its louddddddd

If i can recall one individual had tp and a true dual custom 2.5" catback all the way to the back with a small resonator around the midpipe section and his startup sounded like he was on the pedal warming up the car..
Youtube videos cant do justice to sound, but it would give you an idea.

As for intakes; g3 or z1intakes (no cutting or modifications to the support bracket i heard and 100$ or so difference) they sure do provide alot more sound in the engine bay especially going WOT.

The g3's for me i can hear the air moving inside the piping at around 3k rpm. Sounds quite nice, i havent gotten tired of it yet. I went with ecutek and etune through Seb and it sounded like the tune had dumbed down that sound a little

Very well said!!!

From all of the posts and reviews I've read about the ART pipes, they are quieter than both straight test pipes AND high-flow cats. And like I said above, the HKS and ART pipes are known for being quieter than the ARK exhaust and basic test pipes, and the one from the other day was not that loud at all. In fact, it sounded quieter than my Short Tails.

With that being said, my main two reasons for going with this exhaust is because it's supposed to have very little to no drone, and because of the performance increases, especially in the mid-band.



No apology needed. Just curious, whereabouts in FL are you, up by the panhandle?

My brother and I drove up to Jacksonville today to pick up the exhaust, and one of those darn rain bands followed us all the way up. The trip back home was nice and sunny though. 388 miles round trip and still have two "dots" left on the gas gauge.

http://charlest.zenfolio.com/img/s9/...53352103-5.jpg

Niiiiccceeee...I'm in Tallahassee still without power going on day 3. Hurricane was crazy but me and the Z are safe. Jacksonville is 2hrs from me! Yes in the panhandle. What shop you pick up the awesome setup?

Actually, I picked it up from a fellow member here on the forum (IPLG37).

Sorry to hear that you're without power still. That sucks. I know the feeling from back in 2004 when all those hurricanes came through here. I hope you get power back soon!

Thanks! Let me know how you dig the new parts after install.

Will do!

Any updates on the HKS + ART Pipe combo? My ART pipes are coming in tomorrow :)

Yeah, I have an update...

The HKS is installed, the ART pipes are not. Reason being those damn demon bolts. My guy tried everything possible, nearly 4 feet of 1/2" drive extensions, a 3 foot long breaker bar, a 6-point impact socket, and nothing would break that damn bolt loose or even snap it off. Nothing at all.

The HKS is excellent though, both in fitment and sound. At idle, it's nearly silent, under light to moderate throttle it has a smooth mellow note, and under WOT it sings. Keep in mind, it's still going through the stock cats though.

As for inside the car, just a soft mellow tone under any throttle input, and absolutely ZERO drone or interior panel rattles.

http://charlest.zenfolio.com/img/s3/...57781578-5.jpg

http://charlest.zenfolio.com/img/s9/...65216273-5.jpg

http://charlest.zenfolio.com/img/s4/...08776751-5.jpg

http://charlest.zenfolio.com/img/s11...85543901-5.jpg

Damn... Our cars are going through the same process. I have the HKS installed but a demon bolt stopped me from getting the ART pipes on.

It sucks, doesn't it.

As I'm waiting around to get the ART pipes installed, I went ahead and ordered the Z1 CAI a couple days ago. Now I'm just waiting to hear back from Seb (Sebastian) from Specialty Z in CA about purchasing the EcuTek.

Looking good ChopsZ!!!

Thank you, Z-Girl! ;)

It's coming along. After the intake, the ART pipes and EcuTek, I'll probably take a little breather, or rather let my wallet take a little breather.

I want to eventually get the upper and lower intake manifolds and GT-R injectors so I can run E85. I guess it can be done with the stock Z injectors, but it runs them near full duty cycle. I'd like to have the piece of mind of the extra headroom from the bigger injectors.

I'm definitely sub'd for those upgrades!