Anyone with HFC or Test Pipe regrets?
 

Guys…
I alreaedy have an Invidia Gemini exhaust and am weighing in the pros / cons of the HFC or test pipes. Berk will probably be the product I select. I have a Stillen G3 (Christmas present :happydance: ) waiting to be put on and I am trying to convince my self to get the HFC and install them at the same time. I think I am pretty much sold on the idea of a HFC but just looking for some additional peer pressure to make the purchase.


I am a little concerned with the hiss sound. Is it really a big annoyance or not? A simple Yay or Nay would be appretiated.

What about exhaust smell? Is that only an issue with test pipes or does smell increase with HFC? How bad is it with the test pipes?

I am just looking for the feedback on weather people have regrets or was it totally worth it dispite the hiss or smell? Did anyone take off there HFC/test pipes desite of these things?

I remember with my STi, a HFC was nessessary to get a PROPER tune. Now I know the Sti with the turbo is different than the VQ37 but would you say that the tuning potential is much better with the HFC or test pipes?

I've noticed an awful lot of guys taking off HFC's or test pipes shortly after install.. Hang around the "For Sale" area and they pop up all the time. The major factor seems to be noise (loud), in conjunction with a CBE..

I have Berk Test Pipe installed on my Z for about 5 months now, and I love them. I love the raw exhaust note they make and I noticed a small HP gain. The test pipe does make the exhaust a little louder but at speed my wife and I are able to have conversations while speaking in a normal voice. The only thing I recommend is doing the non-fouler method while installed the test pipe, for preventing the SES light from coming on. Its really easy and there is a post about it in the DIY section.

I have the Gemini too, with the Berk HFC's. I put them both on at the same time so I don't what it's like with only the exhaust, but I love the sound/power as it is. this is coming from an old guy who is not a ricer in the least. the hiss is no big deal at all to me.

Only thing with the test pipes is the smell gets annoying at points....you do get used to it though.

I have Crawford HFC's and I do not regret getting them. The exhaust smell isn't bad at all, I only really notice it on start up while the car is not moving. I have the HKS exhaust, it did make it about 30% louder, and giving it a more throaty sound. And I like the extra top end power. IMO I don't like the way test pipes make exhaust sound unless you get resonated ones. It makes it sound raspy.

Thx vortrex - I mean the gemini is more conservative than some of the other exhaust out there so I was thinking that the sounds wouldnt be too bad.

Good to hear the hiss is no big deal.

With just the CBE..I can cruise around town at like 35-55 is 6 gear and hear very little if no exhaust sound. Is it the same way with the CBE an HFC?

Never heard of Crawford HFC's...where you pick those up at?

Go to the main page and scroll down. Theres tons of sponsors

Test Pipes leave residue all over your bumper, I love the sound/performance, but I am taking Scratch X to my rear bumper once every two weeks to elimate the brown/yellow tint it leaves on my bumper. Im shocked no one ever complains about this..

It does make some rasp but it sounds great imo... I think once i couple it with the stillen exhaust the rasp will go away, just as it did in my old 03 g35 coupe with the greddy evo2 i had on it... not a touch of rasp with the greddy but with stock exhaust there was a ton...

but yes one thing I resent, not regret, is cleaning my rear bumper way more than I should have to, esp with a scratch remover because the brownish tint doesnt come off with just a wash. This is with TEST PIPES, i dont think hfc will do that, or atleast not nearly as much

yup, exactly. I don't hear the exhaust when cruising, even with the windows down. it does have a very deep rumble to it at idle though and of course you can hear it when stomping on the gas or doing downshifts.

I have test pipe but I don't have a problem with residue.

Awesome...

interesting, maybe I am harder on my gas or the win blows the oposite direction by me, lol jk

I let my car warm up every day 5-10 minutes before i drive it, maybe thats why ? My bro has a 03 350 PW and his bumper turns yellowish too!

Anyone else with test pipes want to give there .02 about this ?

I had a '05 PPW 350z with test pipes, my rear bumper got stained too. :thumbsdown:

I've had my Berk test pipes, as well as my Invidia Gemini exhaust installed for 1200 miles now. At first I thought it was a little too loud, but now I actually enjoy the tone and volume just fine. I'm 47 years old so I'm a little more conservative than I used to be.

I have no discoloration on my bumper, and have even moved the tips further in so that they are about 3/4" from being flush with the bumper and still no discoloration. The smell is not an issue. You can tell a difference, but it is certainly not as bad as some make it out to be.

I have had to reset the ECU four times so far due to the CEL thrown. The first time was at 97 miles after install. Second time was about 245 miles more, third time was after another 450 miles and this last time just at 200 miles. I'm not too worried about this either because at some point I plan on having the car tuned at Uprev and they say that they can permanently disable the secondary O2 sensor reading to the ECU.

At idle and cruise the car almost the same volume as stock. Under mild acceleration it sounds fantastic! At WOT throttle acceleration it is quite loud in the cabin but still maintains a great tone.

All in all I'm very pleased with the exhaust note and that it has increased performance a little.

I hope that this helps.

Tony

FI Res Test Pipes & Catback here and no regrets whatsoever.. Sounds just way too good

I don't know, maybe because of the color (PG) it doesnt show up?

That 5-10 minute warm up I bet had at least a bit to do with it, but that's me speaking without knowing.

Chuck, Simple Green will cut right through that crud as well. Just spray it on when you wash your car. That's what I did with my 350, which had Kinetix test pipes. You might find that easier than using ScratchX.

the tips on the exhaust i had were recessed slightly but stains are unavoidable, just a matter of how bad. black paint really hides the stains the best, white is the worst.

May I suggest a mild cleaner wax instead of the scratch X. The Scratch X is far too aggressive for that frequent of use. There are many milder options available.

Mine is white with Beluga resonated TP's. I have no staining after hundreds of miles with them on.

Test pipes will give you cancer. Be prepared.

I've been thinking ART pipes, should keep a nice tone. Not to mention they have cancer absorbing resonators.

Art pipes create Rasp unless you buy the complete motordyne exhaust. (Per Tony at Motordyne. The computer design Hurlwitz resonated tubes only work with their system)
I love my ART'S mated with my Ti look, Top Speed exhaust. It's kinda loud, but sounds great to me.

Get ones with resonators...

Fixed :tup:

I have the Motordyne exhaust already so that is why I will probably stick to the art pipes. Even though they are expensive.

Obviously the stain is most noticable with white cars. My test pipes stain my bumper very bad. Use Meguiars paint restoration which takes it right off. I have HFC on the way which will hopefully reduce it. The exhaust smell does get annoying at times. I have FI CBE and HFC on the way. Should make my car sound so much smoother although i'll def lose some power going from straight pipes to this

I had exoticspeed on my G coupe with FI RHFC'S , loved the sound only regret was selling two weeks after for some nonsense I was dealing with. Kept the cat back installed it on my G sedan and am awaiting my Z1 HFCs to arrive :) .

My advice is to ONLY get ones that are resonated.

Non-resonated pipes/cats will be far raspier.

For me its between choosing a mid pipe or the HFC's.... unfortunately every shop around here wants 5ish hours to install HFC's on my 370Z....Consider the price of the HFC's.. and the install this gets very pricey.

I have the stillen HFC on mine with the AAM shortys. I have had them on for prolly 5000 miles or so lot of highway driving and my bumper is fine, and there is no smell compared to test pipes. Sound is ******* nice throaty as **** at 3500-4500. It is quieter in the top end because i still have the restrictive stock y pipe. Im thinking of getting an exaughst shop to custom make me an x-pipe to take the place of the stock y-pipe. Anyone have experience with this?

I installed HFC two days ago. There is only minor rasp on full throttle acceleration. No rasp at mid range rpm or hiss during deacceleration.
Most important - car is alot faster! I will do dyno in few days but my racelogic shows much better acceleration times from 0 to 100 and from 100 to 200 ( kph ).
Im very satisfied.