Okay so I'm looking at getting some test pipes for my 04 g35 coupe. I have a couple of questions first, are the test pipes right after the cats or what is the order for the exhaust? Second would it be smarter to wait and save a little more money and get a full exhaust system or would resonated test pipes get the job done? I'm looking to get a little more sound out of the exhaust and add around 10 horsepower with the pipes. Third, I'm looking at some Morgan or Strup test pipes, are those quality pipes or not?

Thanks a lot, Alex

 

Test pipes / straight pipes replace the cats altogether, meaning you will most likely get rasp and there will be fumes. For your second question, it depends on what your looking for. Test pipes will make your car louder and adding on a cat-back exhaust will make it even louder. Each exhaust combination has different sounds so go through here https://g35driver.com/forums/g35-cou...mpilation.html and figure out which combination you like.

 

And just so you know how our exhausts work. It goes from the TWO heads on the engine, to TWO headers, to TWO catalytic converters, to a single Y pipe, to a mid pipe (with a resonator in the middle), to the muffler.
As for buying test pipes or waiting and getting a full exhaust, that is entirely up to you. I got a full catback exhaust (replaces Y pipe, mid pipe and muffler) and ended up really missing the OEM Infiniti sound. However, there are exhausts which sound similar to stock, but louder.
I opted for the stock exhaust plus resonated test pipes. The stock exhaust note will be amplified by the test pipes and the resonators will reduce some of the rasp associated with removing the cats.

FWIW don't buy an exhaust system, just to have one. You'll most likely regret it in the future. Do a ton of research first. Remember, it's your money you're throwing away if you buy something and end up not liking it down the road.

 

So you bought an exhaust system didn't like it and then put the stock back on just with new test pipes?

 

Do test pipes give any power gains? How loud are they on a stock exhaust system? Would like to make more power but don't want the car to be much louder than stock.

 

Gain horse power, lose torque. Only exception are the MD ART Pipes which gain in all areas, with the greatest gains in rpms under 3k. They are louder, some louder than other depending if they're resonated or not. Look up youtube vids of them and make your choice if they're too loud for you or not.

 

They really aren't that much louder than stock. If you're concerned about them being too loud, just imagine your stock note, but a little louder and raspy above 3k rpm. A lot of people hate the rasp but I kinda like it

 

Pretty much as said by DrewDrew.

Low down, test pipes lose, but high up they gain nicely. They do add more noise, but it's a lot of rasp unless you get resonated TP's.

Resonated TP's add less noise/volume, but there is a slight increase from stock.

As DrewDrew said, Motordynes ART pipes are actually an exception to the usual playout of TP's, they are not much louder than stock, but they do gain and don't have the drawbacks of TP's.