This is a must read for those who want headers....
03-13-2008, 07:19 PM
#1
This is a must read for those who want headers....
Hey Guys (And Larsim)!!
Ive been talking to our homie Brian at Cattman recently on progress on the headers. Unfortunately things have been pretty tough on him on the progress. Please see info below from one of our earlier conversations.
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Catts [mailto:bcatts@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 1:01 PM
To: 'Collins, Gary'
Subject: RE: Cattman Performance Customer Receipt/Purchase Confirmation
What has killed our recent progress
is something really weird that happened. I was referred by one of my best
customers in, shall we say, a mid-Atlantic state, to a "Nissan-friendly"
manager (drives a Z) in a local salvage yard who could help me get the stock
pieces (to cover both transmission types) that are very useful at the outset
of a header design (and would cost way over $1000 to buy new). We talked on the phone, he was enthusiastic, I offered to pay but he insisted he'd send
the parts and we'd settle up later on the shipping, and I'd return the parts
when we were done with the design.
OK, this is great, I thought, we'll be able to rock and roll right away
(this was early January) But the parts didn't ship as soon as he'd said,
that stretched to 2 weeks. Then supposedly they shipped, but never arrived.
After much delay, he says he's checked with UPS and they had the wrong zip
code and were just sitting down at the local UPS office... Then he said
he'd sent them out again, but when I called for tracking numbers he didn't
have them, left them at home, etc. and finally would have his buddies put me
on hold forever every time I called.
It doesn't seem like this guy ever did anything he said he did, but waiting
for these critical "phantom" parts has cost us over 2 months. I was always
pleasant and appreciative, never pressured the guy (because it was such a
fantastic favor), so I cannot figure out why he'd jerk us around this way -
the only obvious motivation would be an intentional effort to delay our
project. I just can't figure people like that out.
Brian
I asked Brian if there is anything that me and the homies could do to help him out with this BS. He sent me a list of goodies that could really help out with his project on the headers.
1 front exhaust manifold from any 05-06 Maxima
1 rear exhaust manifold from any 05-06 Maxima
1 rear pre-cat from any 04-06 Maxima
1 front pre-cat from an 04-06 Maxima w/ 5-speed auto tranny (this precat
does not have a secondary O2 sensor port near the outlet where it bolts to
the y-pipe, the port is on the y-pipe)
1 front pre-cat from an 04-06 Maxima w/ either 6M or 4-speed auto tranny
(this precat has a secondary O2 sensor port near the outlet where it bolts
to the y-pipe)
Can we start looking at local salvage yards for anything above that could help him? If we do find anything, please PM Brian or me. Thanks homies!!
PS: As our great friend Arnold would Say.... Now Thats Teamwork!!
Ive been talking to our homie Brian at Cattman recently on progress on the headers. Unfortunately things have been pretty tough on him on the progress. Please see info below from one of our earlier conversations.
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Catts [mailto:bcatts@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 1:01 PM
To: 'Collins, Gary'
Subject: RE: Cattman Performance Customer Receipt/Purchase Confirmation
What has killed our recent progress
is something really weird that happened. I was referred by one of my best
customers in, shall we say, a mid-Atlantic state, to a "Nissan-friendly"
manager (drives a Z) in a local salvage yard who could help me get the stock
pieces (to cover both transmission types) that are very useful at the outset
of a header design (and would cost way over $1000 to buy new). We talked on the phone, he was enthusiastic, I offered to pay but he insisted he'd send
the parts and we'd settle up later on the shipping, and I'd return the parts
when we were done with the design.
OK, this is great, I thought, we'll be able to rock and roll right away
(this was early January) But the parts didn't ship as soon as he'd said,
that stretched to 2 weeks. Then supposedly they shipped, but never arrived.
After much delay, he says he's checked with UPS and they had the wrong zip
code and were just sitting down at the local UPS office... Then he said
he'd sent them out again, but when I called for tracking numbers he didn't
have them, left them at home, etc. and finally would have his buddies put me
on hold forever every time I called.
It doesn't seem like this guy ever did anything he said he did, but waiting
for these critical "phantom" parts has cost us over 2 months. I was always
pleasant and appreciative, never pressured the guy (because it was such a
fantastic favor), so I cannot figure out why he'd jerk us around this way -
the only obvious motivation would be an intentional effort to delay our
project. I just can't figure people like that out.
Brian
I asked Brian if there is anything that me and the homies could do to help him out with this BS. He sent me a list of goodies that could really help out with his project on the headers.
1 front exhaust manifold from any 05-06 Maxima
1 rear exhaust manifold from any 05-06 Maxima
1 rear pre-cat from any 04-06 Maxima
1 front pre-cat from an 04-06 Maxima w/ 5-speed auto tranny (this precat
does not have a secondary O2 sensor port near the outlet where it bolts to
the y-pipe, the port is on the y-pipe)
1 front pre-cat from an 04-06 Maxima w/ either 6M or 4-speed auto tranny
(this precat has a secondary O2 sensor port near the outlet where it bolts
to the y-pipe)
Can we start looking at local salvage yards for anything above that could help him? If we do find anything, please PM Brian or me. Thanks homies!!
PS: As our great friend Arnold would Say.... Now Thats Teamwork!!
03-13-2008, 09:15 PM
#8
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Displaced New Yorker in Southern, MD
Posts: 10,202
That's why I have a cattman sticker in my engine bay to support his efforts...
03-13-2008, 09:31 PM
#10
03-13-2008, 09:35 PM
#11
ANd I agree with Chern...
Brian is one out of a hand full of suppliers who actually take care of his clients good. We need to see what we can do. I told him I would supply the upper and lower manifolds and then this weekend I am going to robb a few salvage yards at night.
03-13-2008, 10:26 PM
#12
03-14-2008, 10:35 AM
#15
sorry for going off topic but grim.... didnt i run u one time i ny?? it was in brooklyn by the ups building ... i had a champange 6th gen with the greddy exaust... i think you was with ya son .. if it was you
03-14-2008, 07:03 PM
#18
I dont have son..... lol
But we can go at it whenever brotha!
03-14-2008, 07:05 PM
#19
Ok ok back to the topic at hand....
Lets start looking around...
Ive found 6 yards out here. Mainly in the BK area so im going to call tomorrow morning and see if they have any Maximas there.
Lets start looking around...
Ive found 6 yards out here. Mainly in the BK area so im going to call tomorrow morning and see if they have any Maximas there.
03-14-2008, 11:07 PM
#20
03-15-2008, 08:57 PM
#21
Check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissa...mZ230231848825
This kind of thing is looking better and better.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissa...mZ230231848825
This kind of thing is looking better and better.
03-16-2008, 07:23 AM
#22
aka The Doom Ship
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 1,788
Speaking of which I have a buddy that I convinced to buy the ebay headers. And let me tell you, the build quality is right on with the Hotshots. I think he only paid like $125-$130 and I couldn't believe how nice the build quality was. It's a no brainer to me. He hasn't installed them yet though plus he's a little secretive about his mods so...
Check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissa...mZ230231848825
This kind of thing is looking better and better.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissa...mZ230231848825
This kind of thing is looking better and better.
03-16-2008, 07:32 AM
#23
Check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissa...mZ230231848825
This kind of thing is looking better and better.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissa...mZ230231848825
This kind of thing is looking better and better.
03-16-2008, 08:38 AM
#26
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Displaced New Yorker in Southern, MD
Posts: 10,202
Hotshot owners retired and shutdown the business (less than 10 sets I know of were installed on a 6th Gen Max). I was the first to install a set of the Hotshot Headers that were originally made for the 2005 Nissan Altima SE-R, it was a direct bolt up with no modification and look striking similar to the ones on Ebay...
Here is what the Hotshot headers look like (The 04+ Max has five O2 sensors though!):
03-16-2008, 11:24 AM
#27
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (16)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 2,761
.....
1 front exhaust manifold from any 05-06 Maxima
1 rear exhaust manifold from any 05-06 Maxima
1 rear pre-cat from any 04-06 Maxima
1 front pre-cat from an 04-06 Maxima w/ 5-speed auto tranny (this precat
does not have a secondary O2 sensor port near the outlet where it bolts to
the y-pipe, the port is on the y-pipe)
1 front pre-cat from an 04-06 Maxima w/ either 6M or 4-speed auto tranny
(this precat has a secondary O2 sensor port near the outlet where it bolts
to the y-pipe)
Can we start looking at local salvage yards for anything above that could help him? If we do find anything, please PM Brian or me. Thanks homies!!.....
1 front exhaust manifold from any 05-06 Maxima
1 rear exhaust manifold from any 05-06 Maxima
1 rear pre-cat from any 04-06 Maxima
1 front pre-cat from an 04-06 Maxima w/ 5-speed auto tranny (this precat
does not have a secondary O2 sensor port near the outlet where it bolts to
the y-pipe, the port is on the y-pipe)
1 front pre-cat from an 04-06 Maxima w/ either 6M or 4-speed auto tranny
(this precat has a secondary O2 sensor port near the outlet where it bolts
to the y-pipe)
Can we start looking at local salvage yards for anything above that could help him? If we do find anything, please PM Brian or me. Thanks homies!!.....
03-16-2008, 12:18 PM
#28
03-16-2008, 12:20 PM
#29
Speaking of which I have a buddy that I convinced to buy the ebay headers. And let me tell you, the build quality is right on with the Hotshots. I think he only paid like $125-$130 and I couldn't believe how nice the build quality was. It's a no brainer to me. He hasn't installed them yet though plus he's a little secretive about his mods so...
$200 for headers??? That just seems "cheap" to me??
Hey Chern.... How much did you pay for your Hotshots when they were avail.?
03-16-2008, 12:20 PM
#30
03-16-2008, 01:45 PM
#31
Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Clarksville,TN
Posts: 84
SPeaking of ebay headers....I actually just ordered them on friday night, guess i can be a guinea pig eh? Well anyways Ive been looking at them for a while and reading on them and sick of waiting for someone to develop headers, and from what ive learned these will bolt up directly with the maxima with no fitment issues. And personally IMO, headers all do the same thing, and most the time you pay for name. But being these are generic cheap headers, I am curious to see the quality of craftmanship on them when i receive them. i'll prob go by the machine shop at work and see what they think of the welds/materials and what not. They were only $150, that included shipping. So yeah ill keep updated on them and let yall know how it goes....and as chern said...the resemblance on the ebay headers vs hotshot headers is pretty dead on(from what i can see)...so im optimistic about this...
Also questions for those of you that do have aftermarket headers.
1. was there in EGR valve on them? if not, did you have one made or just get rid of it altogether?
2. Chernmax, i noticed you said the 04+ max has 5 o2 sensors, where there five on the hotshots? howd you work that?
Well anyways Ive been looking at them for a while and reading on them and sick of waiting for someone to develop headers, and from what ive learned these will bolt up directly with the maxima with no fitment issues. And personally IMO, headers all do the same thing, and most the time you pay for name. But being these are generic cheap headers, I am curious to see the quality of craftmanship on them when i receive them. i'll prob go by the machine shop at work and see what they think of the welds/materials and what not. They were only $150, that included shipping. So yeah ill keep updated on them and let yall know how it goes....and as chern said...the resemblance on the ebay headers vs hotshot headers is pretty dead on(from what i can see)...so im optimistic about this...Also questions for those of you that do have aftermarket headers.
1. was there in EGR valve on them? if not, did you have one made or just get rid of it altogether?
2. Chernmax, i noticed you said the 04+ max has 5 o2 sensors, where there five on the hotshots? howd you work that?
Last edited by jinyumax; 03-16-2008 at 01:49 PM.
03-16-2008, 05:34 PM
#33
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Displaced New Yorker in Southern, MD
Posts: 10,202
SPeaking of ebay headers....I actually just ordered them on friday night, guess i can be a guinea pig eh? Well anyways Ive been looking at them for a while and reading on them and sick of waiting for someone to develop headers, and from what ive learned these will bolt up directly with the maxima with no fitment issues. And personally IMO, headers all do the same thing, and most the time you pay for name. But being these are generic cheap headers, I am curious to see the quality of craftmanship on them when i receive them. i'll prob go by the machine shop at work and see what they think of the welds/materials and what not. They were only $150, that included shipping. So yeah ill keep updated on them and let yall know how it goes....and as chern said...the resemblance on the ebay headers vs hotshot headers is pretty dead on(from what i can see)...so im optimistic about this...
Also questions for those of you that do have aftermarket headers.
1. was there in EGR valve on them? if not, did you have one made or just get rid of it altogether?
2. Chernmax, i noticed you said the 04+ max has 5 o2 sensors, where there five on the hotshots? howd you work that?
Well anyways Ive been looking at them for a while and reading on them and sick of waiting for someone to develop headers, and from what ive learned these will bolt up directly with the maxima with no fitment issues. And personally IMO, headers all do the same thing, and most the time you pay for name. But being these are generic cheap headers, I am curious to see the quality of craftmanship on them when i receive them. i'll prob go by the machine shop at work and see what they think of the welds/materials and what not. They were only $150, that included shipping. So yeah ill keep updated on them and let yall know how it goes....and as chern said...the resemblance on the ebay headers vs hotshot headers is pretty dead on(from what i can see)...so im optimistic about this...Also questions for those of you that do have aftermarket headers.
1. was there in EGR valve on them? if not, did you have one made or just get rid of it altogether?
2. Chernmax, i noticed you said the 04+ max has 5 o2 sensors, where there five on the hotshots? howd you work that?
Yes look at the picture closely, there are 3 on the headers and 2 located just behind the high flow cat. The Hotshot kit came with wires to extend the length since the two 02 sensors are relocated farther aft now...
Last edited by chernmax; 03-16-2008 at 05:40 PM.
03-16-2008, 06:14 PM
#34
SPeaking of ebay headers....I actually just ordered them on friday night, guess i can be a guinea pig eh? Well anyways Ive been looking at them for a while and reading on them and sick of waiting for someone to develop headers, and from what ive learned these will bolt up directly with the maxima with no fitment issues. And personally IMO, headers all do the same thing, and most the time you pay for name. But being these are generic cheap headers, I am curious to see the quality of craftmanship on them when i receive them. i'll prob go by the machine shop at work and see what they think of the welds/materials and what not. They were only $150, that included shipping. So yeah ill keep updated on them and let yall know how it goes....and as chern said...the resemblance on the ebay headers vs hotshot headers is pretty dead on(from what i can see)...so im optimistic about this...
Also questions for those of you that do have aftermarket headers.
1. was there in EGR valve on them? if not, did you have one made or just get rid of it altogether?
2. Chernmax, i noticed you said the 04+ max has 5 o2 sensors, where there five on the hotshots? howd you work that?
Well anyways Ive been looking at them for a while and reading on them and sick of waiting for someone to develop headers, and from what ive learned these will bolt up directly with the maxima with no fitment issues. And personally IMO, headers all do the same thing, and most the time you pay for name. But being these are generic cheap headers, I am curious to see the quality of craftmanship on them when i receive them. i'll prob go by the machine shop at work and see what they think of the welds/materials and what not. They were only $150, that included shipping. So yeah ill keep updated on them and let yall know how it goes....and as chern said...the resemblance on the ebay headers vs hotshot headers is pretty dead on(from what i can see)...so im optimistic about this...Also questions for those of you that do have aftermarket headers.
1. was there in EGR valve on them? if not, did you have one made or just get rid of it altogether?
2. Chernmax, i noticed you said the 04+ max has 5 o2 sensors, where there five on the hotshots? howd you work that?
I spent an hour reading the Altima guys header threads. Nobody can seem to get headers on without a CEL. Someone had an expert look into it and it was believed that the CEL is because the high flow and lack of sufficient back pressure. This is something headers are designed to do, so it is believed that it cannot be fixed. SAFC is the only way according to Altima community...
Last edited by Hilbe; 03-16-2008 at 06:16 PM.
03-16-2008, 06:43 PM
#35
Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Clarksville,TN
Posts: 84
Ahh i see, thanks chernmax. Only thing i saw with the ebay headers is that i didnt see a 5th o2 sensor coundnt really tell from the pics, if not...it wont be a problem putting one on there. Then theres the CEL issue that im worried about but will have to just wait i guess to see how that turns out..
Also the (EGR)Exhaust gas Recirculation valve, did the guys with after market headers just not use it anymore?
Also the (EGR)Exhaust gas Recirculation valve, did the guys with after market headers just not use it anymore?
03-16-2008, 07:39 PM
#38
03-16-2008, 08:08 PM
#39
aka The Doom Ship
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 1,788
I wouldn't have fully trusted the ebay headers myself until my friend bought them and I saw the build quality for myself. I see no advantage of Hotshots or Cattman's for that matter and this is coming from someone that has Hotshots.
Let me say this though, he hasn't installed them yet but from the way they look I can't imagine any problems. We'll see.
BTW I have Hotshots and have the CEL. Doesn't bother me much though but I did invest in a OBD scan tool to clear the codes every now and then.
Let me say this though, he hasn't installed them yet but from the way they look I can't imagine any problems. We'll see.
BTW I have Hotshots and have the CEL. Doesn't bother me much though but I did invest in a OBD scan tool to clear the codes every now and then.
03-16-2008, 08:26 PM
#40
Nations 1st 6th Gen Turbo
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Displaced New Yorker in Southern, MD
Posts: 10,202
Ahh i see, thanks chernmax. Only thing i saw with the ebay headers is that i didnt see a 5th o2 sensor coundnt really tell from the pics, if not...it wont be a problem putting one on there. Then theres the CEL issue that im worried about but will have to just wait i guess to see how that turns out..
Also the (EGR)Exhaust gas Recirculation valve, did the guys with after market headers just not use it anymore?
Also the (EGR)Exhaust gas Recirculation valve, did the guys with after market headers just not use it anymore?
I've had a CEL light on for 2 years with the headers and IMO as long as it's not flashing, I don't worry about it. My tuners told me the same thing. I throw my OBD2 reader on it every month and it's always a code for the MAF sensor...
Last edited by chernmax; 03-16-2008 at 08:40 PM.