Z1 Motorsports H-Pipe?
 

Has anyone replaced their factory Nismo h-pipe with this full 2.5" version from Z1?

https://www.z1motorsports.com/z1-pro...t-p-16779.html

Curious to know if the flow improvement would actually yield any worthwhile butt dyno results or tangible numbers. $300 isn't bad and the OEM h-pipe looks pretty shrimpy. Know people have done full mid-pipe swaps, but any info or experience anyone can offer on this would be greatly appreciated!

UPDATE

Ended up buying after discovering a leak/broken weld on the OEM Nismo H-pipe. Got it installed last Friday and it sounds PERFECT - deeper tone but still quiet enough for daily duty and driving around town under the radar. However there are two things to address:

1 - once the system warms up after ~20 minutes of normal driving, it seems to expand to a point where it vibrates against the chassis at certain RPMs (from a stop, low 2K)

2 - the shop RTV'd the heck out of the slip joints but I can swear the right one is leaking once the system warms up and is under heavy throttle


I'll give it a 3/5 all in all. It sounds great but has some fitment issues that need to be addressed. I might get it welded and see if that helps but TBD.

i'm in the market for this as well and was curious of thoughts on it. seems like a no brainer tbh & it's only $300

Looks ok except for one thing. It has no flex pipes. I consider that unacceptable and it would definitely cause a lot more vibration and resonance. Furthermore, I question the longevity of the pipe without a flex section. Not much of an upgrade IMHO.

Lots of exhaust systems are sold without flex pipes - Fast intentions, Invidia, Greddy , Injen, Stillen, etc. I understand your concern, but think given the success and high regards for the above brands its not as detrimental as you think. Also the OEM Nismo H-pipe is like 2" ID at most, vs a full 2.5" here, that alone would be decent flow improvement.

I mainly wonder if this suffers the same slip joint leaks reported on their Y-pipe. Can anyone speak to that?

Invidia exhausts used to have flex pipes but seem to have been replaced by a slip joint and spring design. This still does the job but it is a cheaper option. Borla also has the same design. At least it allows for some play for engine flexing on acceleration and such. I personally think not including flex joints in an exhaust mid pipe (per OEM design) is cheaping out. You’re free to buy what you like but if your paying the money, they should include proper flex pipes. Just saying.

PS: Flex pipes are very expensive and eliminating them is just a way for exhaust fabricators to save some serious cash. But quality does suffer in the long run.

Anyone here who actually has experience with this part? Looking for firsthand accounts/input to make this decision

My first exhaust was an AAM true dual exhaust. It performed well. Their's is way more expensive than the Z1. I think anything will be an improvement over OEM and I would not worry about the flex pipe. To each their own as I have been running a FI exhaust without any issues for five plus years. I have seen lots of exhaust where the flex pipe ends up damaged and gets holes in them. $300 is a pretty cheap upgrade.

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:iagree:

Close to 5 years with the Stillen exhaust here, no flex pipes no problems. I didn't want flex pipes for the exact reason you mentioned. They are always the first thing to get damaged or rot out and start leaking.

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So do I really have to be the guinea pig? NO ONE else here has one?

LMAO, I am sure others have it but they may not be on the forum and just silent. I don't want to sound insensitive but $300 on a mod that has a 90% chance of being an improvement is not being a guinea pig. If you can't afford to eat some products in the name of performance you can't afford to upgrade your car. Between me and Jarblue we got enough parts collecting dust that we could sell them and buy another Z.

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You’re not wrong on any counts there - this is just the 4th or 5th exhaust setup I’ve had on the car in pursuit of something that sounds decent and isn’t too loud so hoping for some firsthand endorsements. Not a problem of affording just a problem of spending too much in one area over and over - could have a brand new Amuse exhaust at this point! Guess we’ll just see how it sounds/feels without it and go from there.

Well flex's do help as well as the catalytic support bracket.

Want your exhaust to last you? keep one of these.

The resonance at 3k will something over time, an additional hanger or rubber isolators wont hurt.

The only time I would trust running pipes and solid Y is if they're made of thick steel but then you're putting the strain on the header flange.

I'd get the AAM one if you want an H pipe. There will be no significant impact to performance unless you do a whole cat back exhaust. If you want something that's a bit cheaper but still pretty good check out the Garage line X pipe cat back.

@ranrich i was looking at these as well. did you decide to purchase? the nismo R tune exhaust is an upgrade H pipe (2.5" ID) with flex pipes. as far as i have seen it is the only other exhaust than AAM that offers an H pipe and flex joints instead of X or Y.

Not yet - decided to see how I felt with the full OEM system first. Just got the exhaust on this past Thursday but discovered a leak at the drivers side test pipe - manifold so have to address that to know how it really sounds.

Will keep you posted if I buy, but if anyone else pulls the trigger first please share your thoughts!

Replied in your other thread but what info do you need? I’ve run stock cats or ART pipes hooked up to z1 h pipe or AAM s line mid pipe hooked up to Nismo OEM muffler or amuse exhaust and every combination of such in between. Send me a DM.

i just received my Z1 H pipe in the mail today, hoping to install by sunday.

i am running shorty headers, high flow cats, and now this H pipe with the stock midpipe and stock nismo muffler.

hoping this will give me the sleeper sound i am looking for, will try to post some video clips once installed.

I will definitely say that asking the forum and generally doing your due diligence is the way to go. I hope you find what you're after. I went with the SCS Exhaust, and will post up results shortly.

Give it a quick Google search incase it's what you're after. Cost about $350 all-in.

UPDATE

Ended up ordering after discovering the OEM h-pipe has a broken weld by the passenger flex joint while investigating a maddening rattle. Should be here this week and installed next week. Will update the original post with pics and sound clips.

i got my Z1 H pipe installed on monday finally. was fighting with the exhaust nuts from the mid-pipe to the h pipe.

noticeable sound increase at low RPM's including startup. not much difference above 3000 or 3500 RPM vs stock H pipe, stock mid pipe, and stock nismo muffler. should be back at the dyno in around 3-4 weeks to get another baseline before i install nitrous. can report back at that time with any HP gain. def feels like low end torque has picked up slightly but no doubt that is my brain justifying the purchase.

:happydance:

Sound clips please!

Bumping this for the millionth time because I added my review to the first post

Very good. i ordered this yesterday. looking for a little more sound out of the factory Nismo exhaust. i believe the factory sound isnt bad but always thought it would better if it were a tad louder.

have a clip of the exhaust by chance?

I will when I pick the car up from the shop later today!

A couple updates/notes:

• I called Z1 about the clearance issues and this can happen if the pipe is installed upside down, checked under the car and sure enough it was contacting the underbody on the passenger side slip joint area (thanks to my local shop for that one)

• While its back at the shop to be adjusted for clearance I'm having them weld the slip joints - If you want to go cheaper, I'd recommend JB welding this area because the RTV just doesn't form a solid seal here

Fingers crossed that this adventure comes to a close after today. Its so damn hard to get these engines to sound good.

thanks for the notes. i'm with ya on the sound of the VQs, its primarily why on my last two Z34s i've kept the exhaust stock. some exhaust i've heard on these cars are usually too loud and often times loud in a very annoying way.

Slip joints are called that because they allow for movement of the pipes when the engine is thrashing around. That movement will now be eaten by another part of the car/exhaust.

No update’s or sound clips?

I am not sure if this helps any. Since AAM was mentioned.

I currently have the AAM full S-Line exhaust and Berk HFCs. Note: I tried the original Nismo Muffler with the HFCs and the AAM mid-pipe. It was too quiet for me. I wanted to see the difference in sounds. I am happy that I went back to Full AAM.

Exhaust clip from Youtube in case anyone would like to listen... It's a bit louder in person too based on the clip below. How hard you press the loud pedal also affects the volume of the exhaust note for me while driving. I have no regrets going with AAM.

Note start at the 30-second mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiJvO0BTC1g

Long awaited sound clips of this setup with a 2nd gear fly-by and soft launch through 3rd:

https://youtu.be/4klIRhWMbBo

https://youtu.be/dSZQrCJLeRw