Long Tube Headers vs HFC vs Test Pipes vs Art Pipes

NickD

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.

__________________
2010 370z Touring Roadster Monterey Blue
My Z Photo Library

DarkJak

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.

NickD

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)

__________________
2010 370z Touring Roadster Monterey Blue
My Z Photo Library

gomer_110

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).

__________________
'11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions | Stillen | Motordyne | Uprev | CSF | Zspeed | Z1 Motorsports | AST | Swift | SPC | SPL | Whiteline | Hotchkis | Bride | Schroth | Robispec | Cusco | Nismo | Volk | Forgestar | Hoosier | RJM
'17 Titan Bone Stock

NickD

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.

__________________
2010 370z Touring Roadster Monterey Blue
My Z Photo Library

gomer_110

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.

__________________
'11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions | Stillen | Motordyne | Uprev | CSF | Zspeed | Z1 Motorsports | AST | Swift | SPC | SPL | Whiteline | Hotchkis | Bride | Schroth | Robispec | Cusco | Nismo | Volk | Forgestar | Hoosier | RJM
'17 Titan Bone Stock

NickD

Do you pass inspection?

__________________
2010 370z Touring Roadster Monterey Blue
My Z Photo Library

gomer_110

No inspection where I live.

__________________
'11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions | Stillen | Motordyne | Uprev | CSF | Zspeed | Z1 Motorsports | AST | Swift | SPC | SPL | Whiteline | Hotchkis | Bride | Schroth | Robispec | Cusco | Nismo | Volk | Forgestar | Hoosier | RJM
'17 Titan Bone Stock

SS_Firehawk

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...

__________________

NickD

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

__________________
2010 370z Touring Roadster Monterey Blue
My Z Photo Library

red6spd

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

__________________
2010 Base+Sport 6spd: Stillen G3, FI Non-Resonated CBE, FI Non-Resonated Test Pipes, UpRev Tuned, Custom 24R Oil Cooler, JDM Rear Fog-OEM Harness.
???Whp ???WTQ (Will find out come spring time)

NickD

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

__________________
2010 370z Touring Roadster Monterey Blue
My Z Photo Library

red6spd

I have rasp but its really not that bad.

__________________
2010 Base+Sport 6spd: Stillen G3, FI Non-Resonated CBE, FI Non-Resonated Test Pipes, UpRev Tuned, Custom 24R Oil Cooler, JDM Rear Fog-OEM Harness.
???Whp ???WTQ (Will find out come spring time)

NewYorkJon34

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

__________________
NewYorkJon34's Ultimate Z Build

NFSZ86

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 =))

__________________
2010 Nissan 370Z Touring, Sport Pkg 6MT Navi,