performance exhaust

[HxC240z]

I'll Be honest. I dont know much about exhausts or cars (yet) for that matter. I am looking at a new exhaust because my 240 is finally in roadworthry running condition so it is due time to get an exhaust and drive it. the only performance exausts I can find are on the motorsport Z store. I need headers back and I decided I like the 3 into 2 headers but Im not sure which exhaust is best for perfomance

Aluminized Turbo Exhaust System, 70-78 Z With 3-2 Headers http://www.thezstore.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=15-6301&Category_Code=PEC02

or

Twice Pipes Exhaust, 70-78 Z With Headers

http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/PEC09/15-6030

and will the twice pipes fit to the 3-2 headers

[Ed]

Hi, first off do you plan on doing any other modifications to your engine? Cam, ignition, carbs? If not I would suggest you keep your original cast iron exhaust manifold. Take it to a good performance exhaust shop where they use aluminized steel tubing and custom bend the entire exhaust. Go with a 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 maybe a resonator and you will be a happy camper. No need to fix something if it aint broke.

Also, do a search around here on exhaust systems and you will find out that those pre-fabricated systems are not all they are made out to be.

$.02

[beandip]

What Ed said , I agree with. It's a balancing act changing the exhaust system , or porting the head , or installing a cam . What cam ? Are you going with injection or keeping carbs , triples maybe ? Before you start changing things , remember these cars are performance cars to start with. Not saying you cant improve them. You will not get but vary little more performance with headers and the large plumbing , if you don't install a performance cam . To make the engine breathe and take advantage of the cam , you need larger valves and with the cam , if it is at all radical you need more compression . So the head needs worked to raise the compression. Now because the engine needs to spool up to the higher revs , due to the cam and because it can breathe better at the upper RPMs . A electronic ignition is needed . So changing to the headers and large piping , alone , mostly will just make the sound louder. Seat of the pants DYNO will feel like the engine is stronger and it will sound cool . The headers will put much more heat in the engine bay . Just a few thoughts. Gary:rambo:

[Midnight-280Z]

i went with a custom exhaust. i think this is cheaper and also better. 1975 280Z 2 1/2" aluminum pipings with no cats or resonator going to a magnaflow mufller. total cost with bending and installation 200 bucks

[HxC240z]

I agree that if it ain't broke don't fix it, but one problem it is broke, the piping itself is rusted through in a few spots and broken free and as for the manifold it has a few large cracks in it and leaks a bit.

I wasn't just looking for a loud sound, I hate that loud muffler on a cheap "sport tuner" (POS accord ) or whatever they call it.

I was looking for something that breathed better because I plan on slowly turning it into a performance car doing cams and all that jazz I was just thinking "why go with a cheap exhaust now and then buy a better one later when I have money to fix it up". Since it all pretty much needs replaced I figured buy a nice one now and only buy one exhaust to save $.

Should I buy a nice stock manifold and go with a custom exhaust or just get the headers?

you've changed my mind about the prefab exhaust

Thank you for your input everyone

[HxC240z]

Can anyone direct me to a good perfomance exhaust shop in kent ohio area?

[Ed]

If you are going to do more modifications in the future then a proper exhaust is your first step. Spend the money and buy a ceramic coated header. Or buy the naked manifold and have it high temp powder coated. If you don't protect it now a year from now you will wish you had. Painted headers often flake after a while and start to rust and look crappy. Once you get the headers intalled take it to a shop and have that custom exhaust built.

[240ZGL]

I have the twice pipes, It's not a good fit. I really like MSA and all the guys there are great but this system is not what it should be. The pipes are not bent right to give a proper fit. I have worked with them for hours and there just not going to work. The 2 rear S pipes going to the rear glass packs are the same size and bends. They run into each other. I'm doing this fit on a lift so the I can work with the system. They need a new shop to make the kit and to fit it to a real car. The set up seems to be a best guess as to what will fit. Now I just go hold of a rear megaphone system that was made by Clifford 6=8. It a new old stock set up, they don't make this anymore and I was lucky enough to find one. The pipes bends are not just good there perfect. Like I said, it's just the rear portion of the whole system. Two tube with 2 bolt flanges that tuck close to each other and side by side that fall just under and behind the rear diff. They then sweep around to the side and cross one over the other to the chrome megaphones the fit perfctly into the body exhuast cut out. I will post some pics this weekend. It's nice to find they took time back then to make a great set up. I'm going to copy them and use my glass packs for a street set up.

[240ZGL]

Here is a pic of the setup, more to come.

[Arne]

If any of you have followed my posts in other exhaust threads, you'll have noticed that I normally recommend having it done locally, not buying a pre-built system. Well, I'm here today to say that I'm having second thoughts about that, now that I am in need of a system on my own car. It seems that all the local muffler shops around here have gotten greedy. I have talked to several of them and received quotes of anywhere from $375-600 for a 2 1/4" aluminized system. I figure this should be $250 max, but can't find anyone to do it that cheaply here in the Eugene, OR area. Shoot, I can buy a MSA package with the 3-into-2 header and shipping for less than what they want to charge me for the header back alone. Then I could eBay my Hooker header and be money ahead.

I really would prefer smaller than 2 1/2" for my stock L24, but may have to settle for that anyway, just on cost alone.

[a7dz]

Arne;

Too bad you are not running a stock manifold. I would just bend two of those up to match the one out of mine. The pipes are all good but, the mufflers are marginal at best.

[240ZGL]

The problem with most muffler shops is they don't have a mandel bender, so a 2 1/4 pipe gets bent down to a 2 and it screws up the flow.. Here are the pics of that meg set up I got last night.