F.I. Exhaust vs F.I. Test pipes
 

This is my first post and I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this. I bought my Z about 6 months ago and it already had a fast intentions CBE and test pipes, a 25 row oil cooler and the stillen G3 intake. I obviously want to get all my mods put on before I get it all tuned up.
I'm about to install an underdrive pulley, but I was wondering what you guys thought about dropping the test pipe and stock headers and switching them out for long tube headers before the tune. Do you guys think that the cost of the headers and install will be worth the little bit of horsepower you gain or should I just keep the test pipes?
I understand the sound would be better and there would no longer be any raspiness but I'm just looking at a sheer horsepower outlook.

I'll let the experts have the final say but if you already have test pipes I can't imagine LTH would give you anything worth the effort...unless you do the work yourself and enjoy it. On the other hand if you want every single bit of HP you can get; period. Then sure.

I also don't think the underdrive pulley is worth the effort either. I scaled -published- company dynos and you can see that what HP gains they advertise are real...at the very top of RPMs. Down the line; zero.

http://www.the370z.com/members/arrva...ive-pulley.jpg

So test pipes, F.I. cat back, and Stillen Gen 3s...move on to forced induction or things like coil overs and sway bars; IMHO.

And post some pics! :D

Congrats on the recent purchase and congrats on the goodies it already had!

The headers will outperform the test pipes across the board. The substantial gains are noticeable in the low end and mid range. A nice torque increase as well. The gap will close (to an extent) in the higher rpm range. All of this said, since you already have what you have on the car, I would leave it be. It does not seem advantageous for you to take it all off and spend a lot of money to be slightly better than you are. Don't get me wrong, I love what our headers bring to the table...They are just in another league in cost for parts & install vs. the test pipes.

Hope that this was useful.

Thanks.
-Tony

Thanks guys it did help a lot, and I guess I have to start saving money for some F.I. Turbos lol. I do think it is very cool to see the company themselves actually comment on this, makes it feel like I can trust F.I. and that they actually care So thank you Tony. But I heard some people say that they felt better throttle response from the pulley and feels better shifting so that's why I'm putting it in.

If you can do your own install, the pulley is a no brainer. I'm not sure I would pay to have it installed though. My butt dyno was happy with the result, but that could have just been in my head. Follow the pulley up with a lighter flywheel and the car will come alive.

Yeah I'm going to install it with a friend. No way am I'm going to have someone install a pulley for me

Posts like these are what makes me respect you guys. Pure honesty.

Stole my post. :D

If you want a marked increase in throttle response, get a light flywheel. That, plus a tune makes a world of difference.