Looking into doing performance exhaust on the '77 280z, my choice right now is MSA 3 to 2 header TBC coated with smog fittings http://www.thezstore.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TZS&Product_Code=15-6011CH

and MSA performance exhaust

http://www.thezstore.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TZS&Product_Code=15-6021

Has anyone had experience with these products and if so whats your honest opinion? And as a side note if anyone knows of any threads on how to install these parts, or tricks that you know of for installation, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I have the MSA ceramic coated 6-1 header w/o smog fittings and the performance exhaust system. These are really nice products. The header installed with no problems and no clearance issues when the engine was dropped in. The 2.5" exhaust mates up very well with one small problem: a welded-on hanger bracket was not positioned correctly for the hanger on the differential. The supplied muffler is a bit noisy and has a resonance around 3k RPM - don't count on listening to your stereo system too much, it will be overwhelmed by the Symphony in Straight Six. The muffler installs best with center in and offset out; tilt it about 30 degrees outboard at the top for a clean fit up into fender cavity.

Hope this helps.

Jim

Wow Jim nailed it.

The system does drone horribly and the common solution is a glass pack installed in the transmission tunnel.

We had a short topic about branch resonator on hybridZ. It looks promising, look on google and you'll find some good solution I believe.

I have a 3-2 header coated with the turbo muffler. Sound is nice but loud especially at cruising rpm. Fitting is quite good.

thanks for all your help! ill try and post pics when its done

I bought the premium 2.5" exhaust to fit the OEM manifold and put a Magnaflow 4" midpipe muffler in the middle. It's a reasonably well behaved exhaust. It's a bit rumbly at idle (maybe more than I'd like), but it's quiet (enough) when driving. It does drum a bit just after startup when the engine is stone cold.

I had someone with welding skills (a local Z specialist) do the installation. He told me that the fit around the transmission can be difficult, depending on the transmission. Apparently later model transmissions are dimensioned a bit differently and can present a bit of an interference problem for the exhaust -- or so I remember him saying.

got the parts ordered! hehehehehe i cant wait for the install day! >

codyibanez - let us know your opinion after install. Mine's on the way as well, and I'll be sure to note how install / sound is. thnx!

update! just painted the exhaust tubing with high temp ceramic paint. and love the outcome

For my 72 Z I went ahead and built my exhaust system from the down pipe back. My father works at a dealership and when they bring in new wrecked Acuras, they discard complete exhaust systems that have damage. I'll cut the good parts and bring them home with me. They're aluminized steel and won't rust too. So other than the Magnaflow muffler on the back I was able to build it at no cost to me. The performance muffler sounds amazing, doesn't drone, is great at highway speeds, and I can listen to the radio So if you don't like the sound of the Dynomax, I can give you the Magnaflow part #.

Chase

The exhaust I'm building for my restoration is a Stahl header with a 2.5" collector, a 2.5" 304 Stainless builder's kit from MBS, a Vibrant Performance Ultra Quiet 2.5" resinator out into an Ansa "twinstack". It was very costly but will give me a full custom exaust I'm confident will work well. The header was built from a template of my exact E31 head.

On ‎02‎/‎08‎/‎2012 at 10:52 PM, FastWoman said:

I bought the premium 2.5" exhaust to fit the OEM manifold and put a Magnaflow 4" midpipe muffler in the middle. It's a reasonably well behaved exhaust. It's a bit rumbly at idle (maybe more than I'd like), but it's quiet (enough) when driving. It does drum a bit just after startup when the engine is stone cold.

I had someone with welding skills (a local Z specialist) do the installation. He told me that the fit around the transmission can be difficult, depending on the transmission. Apparently later model transmissions are dimensioned a bit differently and can present a bit of an interference problem for the exhaust -- or so I remember him saying.

Do you also have backfire on deceleration at the exhaust?? Popping at exhaust when releasing the gas pedal??

Only when dropping down from maybe 4500 RPM.  Some people like light afterfiring, but I hate it.  It doesn't happen often, though.