Stillen exhaust - gain vs loss?

FricFrac · 06-05-2009, 02:24 AM

I've got my Stillen Cat back, high flow cat and G3 intake on order however I do have a question about the cat back exhaust. I know Stillen puts a lot of research into their products but the cat back exhaust is about 40 lbs heavier than stock. Isn't that the equivalent of loosing around 4 hp from the additional weight? So while the gain on the dyno is around 18 hp the net effect is about 14 hp? I guess the good part of the weight gain is that its below the COG....

initialgemini · 06-05-2009, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

I've got my Stillen Cat back, high flow cat and G3 intake on order however I do have a question about the cat back exhaust. I know Stillen puts a lot of research into their products but the cat back exhaust is about 40 lbs heavier than stock. Isn't that the equivalent of loosing around 4 hp from the additional weight? So while the gain on the dyno is around 18 hp the net effect is about 14 hp? I guess the good part of the weight gain is that its below the COG....

Taking off weight doesn't add or deduct horse power. It relieves a load on the engine while driving.

travisjb · 06-05-2009, 02:30 AM

It also shifts weight back and this car is front heavy. But yes, I would also prefer to have a lighter cat-back for more power/weight.

Unfortunately also, Stillen has a proprietary bolt/flow pattern, so not like you can pick up another muffler and attach... would have to get one custom fab'ed, which is not such a bad idea!

I'm interested to hear what josh/stillen would say...

azn370z · 06-05-2009, 02:59 AM

I didn't know the stillen is about 40 lbs more than stock. I wonder how much the berk will weigh. I know the nismo is about 10 lbs lighter than stock.

Brazilbro · 06-05-2009, 03:30 AM

40lb?? thats a lot weight is this true

import111 · 06-05-2009, 09:36 AM

I was under the impression that the Stillen catback along with every other aftermarket catback was lighter than stock.

wstar · 06-05-2009, 09:53 AM

Nah most of the reasonably-priced catbacks will be heavier than stock if they're adding power. They kinda have to be, because they're adding more diameter of piping throughout. That said, the weight is down low and to the rear, which is helpful for the car's balance anyways. If you want to shed weight in the exhaust, you'd probably have to buy one of the (much more expensive) Ti exhausts.

Modshack · 06-05-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

I've got my Stillen Cat back, high flow cat and G3 intake on order however I do have a question about the cat back exhaust. I know Stillen puts a lot of research into their products but the cat back exhaust is about 40 lbs heavier than stock. Isn't that the equivalent of loosing around 4 hp from the additional weight? So while the gain on the dyno is around 18 hp the net effect is about 14 hp? I guess the good part of the weight gain is that its below the COG....

Ummmm.......When I put my Stillen on I weighed every component as well as the stock parts. The Stillen system came in at 7 lbs more than stock.

wstar · 06-05-2009, 11:43 AM

That sounds a little more reasonable than 40. I never weighed any of mine.

travisjb · 06-05-2009, 12:05 PM

I'd guess that t+7 is right too... unfortunately I too did not weigh them

Worthy to note that the other muffler I had made from a local performance shop in Phoenix weighed ~half as much as the Stillen muffler and had 3" pipe. I think Stillen used heavy gauge metal, heavy tips, extra gusseting, etc. Not a slam on Stillen at all, just an observation that they decided to trade off weight savings in their design process - perhaps to improve reliability???

Josh@STILLEN · 06-05-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

I've got my Stillen Cat back, high flow cat and G3 intake on order however I do have a question about the cat back exhaust. I know Stillen puts a lot of research into their products but the cat back exhaust is about 40 lbs heavier than stock. Isn't that the equivalent of loosing around 4 hp from the additional weight? So while the gain on the dyno is around 18 hp the net effect is about 14 hp? I guess the good part of the weight gain is that its below the COG....

As posted in another thread, I apologize FricFrac that you got some incorrect information regarding the STILLEN cat-back exhaust. Here's the weights of both systems.

Stock Exhaust

Muffler Section - 26.8lbs (highly inefficient)
Y-Pipe - 11.6lbs
Resonated Y-Pipe - 15.6lbs
Total: 54.0lbs

STILLEN Exhaust

Muffler Section - 39.6lbs (proven huge hp gains)
Y-Pipe - 11.3lbs
Resonated Y-Pipe - 14.4lbs
Total: 65.3lbs

Difference: +11.3lbs and 18whp

Also note that the weight is at the lowest point of the car, over the rear wheels, which will increase traction.

Phimosis · 06-05-2009, 04:28 PM

hmm. I'll take your word, but I weighed my rear mufer section last night on a new-ish digital scale and got 36.2 lbs. I did it by holding the unit and standing on the scale, took 3 measurements each and each time was within .1 lb. Weird.

semtex · 06-05-2009, 05:30 PM

FricFrac, completely off topic, but your avatar has been driving me nuts because it's out of focus, so I downloaded it and adjusted the focus. Please use it. I mean, it's entirely up to you, obviously, but FWIW, here you go.

BerkTech · 06-05-2009, 05:43 PM

We are still in the test phase with our exhaust but we are working to make it as light weight as possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by azn370z

I didn't know the stillen is about 40 lbs more than stock. I wonder how much the berk will weigh. I know the nismo is about 10 lbs lighter than stock.

wstar · 06-05-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

FricFrac, completely off topic, but your avatar has been driving me nuts because it's out of focus, so I downloaded it and adjusted the focus. Please use it. I mean, it's entirely up to you, obviously, but FWIW, here you go.

lol, Mr Sensitive Eyes

06-05-2009, 02:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 229	Stillen exhaust - gain vs loss? I've got my Stillen Cat back, high flow cat and G3 intake on order however I do have a question about the cat back exhaust. I know Stillen puts a lot of research into their products but the cat back exhaust is about 40 lbs heavier than stock. Isn't that the equivalent of loosing around 4 hp from the additional weight? So while the gain on the dyno is around 18 hp the net effect is about 14 hp? I guess the good part of the weight gain is that its below the COG....

06-05-2009, 02:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	It also shifts weight back and this car is front heavy. But yes, I would also prefer to have a lighter cat-back for more power/weight. Unfortunately also, Stillen has a proprietary bolt/flow pattern, so not like you can pick up another muffler and attach... would have to get one custom fab'ed, which is not such a bad idea! I'm interested to hear what josh/stillen would say... __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

06-05-2009, 02:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 490	I didn't know the stillen is about 40 lbs more than stock. I wonder how much the berk will weigh. I know the nismo is about 10 lbs lighter than stock. __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

06-05-2009, 09:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	Nah most of the reasonably-priced catbacks will be heavier than stock if they're adding power. They kinda have to be, because they're adding more diameter of piping throughout. That said, the weight is down low and to the rear, which is helpful for the car's balance anyways. If you want to shed weight in the exhaust, you'd probably have to buy one of the (much more expensive) Ti exhausts. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

06-05-2009, 11:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	That sounds a little more reasonable than 40. I never weighed any of mine. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

06-05-2009, 03:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
Brazilbro A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,131 Drives: Juke/240Z Rep Power: 848	40lb?? thats a lot weight is this true

06-05-2009, 09:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	I was under the impression that the Stillen catback along with every other aftermarket catback was lighter than stock.

06-05-2009, 12:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	I'd guess that t+7 is right too... unfortunately I too did not weigh them Worthy to note that the other muffler I had made from a local performance shop in Phoenix weighed ~half as much as the Stillen muffler and had 3" pipe. I think Stillen used heavy gauge metal, heavy tips, extra gusseting, etc. Not a slam on Stillen at all, just an observation that they decided to trade off weight savings in their design process - perhaps to improve reliability??? __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

06-05-2009, 04:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
Phimosis Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Oildale, CA Posts: 412 Drives: 2013 911 4S Rep Power: 416	hmm. I'll take your word, but I weighed my rear mufer section last night on a new-ish digital scale and got 36.2 lbs. I did it by holding the unit and standing on the scale, took 3 measurements each and each time was within .1 lb. Weird.

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