Long Tube Headers vs HFC vs Test Pipes vs Art Pipes
 

I love that our cars have so many options for performance parts but holy hell how do you know what to go with? I've done about 2 hours worth of searching/reading on here and still can't come to a good conclusion.

Can someone summarize the pros and cons between these options?

I'm sure others are wondering the same thing so it may be good info to have here anyway.

:driving:

Long tube headers will replace our crappier stock headers and cats. Essentially like short tube headers + test pipes, but with a longer length before the tubes merge. This should give the biggest gain (best exhaust flow) and most likely save the most weight, but install is the most complicated. Won't process exhaust fumes.

HFC's will replace stock cats with lower cell count ones to allow freer exhaust flow.

Test pipes will take out the cats completely, so your exhaust won't be processed and the fumes would smell bad, but since it's just a smooth tube, flow would be better than HFC's.

Art pipes are basically resonated test pipes to help reduce rasp, but the rest of the function should be pretty similar.

Thanks for the info! My biggest concern is having a back bumper with burnt/soot spots on it which is why i'm reluctant to get TPs. What option do you recommend for that? Will long tube headers be an issue (i'm guessing yes since exhaust fumes wont be processed)

I've had LTH's and CBE on my nismo for a few months now and NO soot or discoloration on the rear. The soot factor is more dependent on the engine tune (rich vs. lean).

Agreed but doesn't the elimination of CATs (w/out tune) cause the car to run rich or lean? I mean I guess if I tune it the same time as getting rid of CATs I should be okay.

It will lean it out a little bit (lean = less soot). The ECU will try and maintain the ideal fuel to air mix within limits. When I ordered my LTH and CBE I talked to Tony at F.I. and was told that until I go with a CAI I wouldn't need to worry about getting a tune.

The real draw back to any of the options you listed, especially test pipes and LTH's, is that the car is no longer street legal in terms of emissions. That's not to say that there aren't a lot of us running one of the options listed but technically we're all just hoping not to get caught.

Do you pass inspection?

No inspection where I live.

I'm definitely partial to the Header route as it provides the most gains. Not only that, but, both Motordyne and Fast Intentions have exhausts available with cats. The two big downsides is generally the cost of the headers, and the install (cost/difficulty).

Test pipes just seem too rudimentary and unrefined in my opinion. Resonated TP's or ART pipes are a much better option.

HFC's definitely help with the fumes, but they could also rasp like TP's.

It's a guessing game outside of just a CBE change. Now that I have carbon bult up on my exhaust, I don't hear any rasp, but for the first couple months, it definitely had some when it was cold. PPE Headers have rasp, HFC has rasp, and TP's have rasp. Resonators or a damn good exhaust system will help out. F.I. LTH and CBE don't rasp, but that's the magic of staying with the same manufacturer.

Someone should make a thread of known non-rasp exhaust combo's with audio/video...

I already have an Invidia Gemini CBE and Stillen G2 Intakes...sooo am i screwed? lol

The cost of the LTH's plus install was not worth the small gain over test pipes for me.

I didnt really hear rasp when we drove that night. although i had the top down an heard mostly exhausts and wind noise lol

I have rasp but its really not that bad.

I love my F.I 18" cf + LTH combo, sounds awesome

I have Berk TP and FI CBE with 12 inc res I love the sound of it, but as said earlier in this conversation the car is no longer street legal. After a wk of having the install my CEL turn on and that bc the car is running to lean or rich. Now I bought some 02 sensor spacer to see if that fixes the problem in the mean while before I tune the car. But I love the sound of it =))