Author: Quoc-Viet
DIY: How to install a 350z Nismo Exhaust
Saturday, May 10th, 2008 @ 12:25 am
I know, it’s fairly simple, but I figured I’d do a “write-up” anyway. We just finished installing Chris’ exhaust on his 350z, he loves it! His personal review is basically @ idle, it is much quieter, but once you get on the throttle, there is a much more deep and “racey” sound to it.
Total Install Time: 2.5 hours (being very relaxed & taking our sweet ass time). This install should be doable in 30 minutes - 1 hour for those who are motivated.
Equipment Required/Recommended:
- Nismo (or whatever you bought) exhaust
- Replacement exhaust gaskets (2 for cat, 1 for mid-pipe, and 1 ring gasket for mid-pipe to muffler) & bolts or a Nismo exhaust gasket kit
- Jack
- Jack Stands
- PB Blaster (especially handy for the exhaust hanger bushings
- Metric socket & wrench assortment (mostly 10, 12, & 14mm)
- Long screwdriver or something to help pry the hanger bushings
- Breaker bar to make removing old nuts easier
- Possibly a Ford Wrench… just in case something gets stuck
- Metal/Aluminum polish if you wish to make things shiny
- Pimp Khakis & a Dress shirt because 350z guys work on their cars in style (optional)
Step 1 - Prep
- Put the car on jack stands. Chris used the front jacking point & the rear diff to raise the car. He also chose to use the jack points (the spare tire jack ones I believe) for the jack stand support area.
- PB Blast the nuts/bolts if you wish. PB Blast the exhaust hanger bushings to make removal easier. Nothing like a lil lube to make it slide in & out quickly.
Step 2 - Remove the old exhaust.
This step is fairly straight forward:
- 2 nuts for each cat to y-pipe connection
- 2 nuts for the y-pipe to mid pipe connection
- 3 nuts for the mid-pipe to muffler connection (one side is double nutted for the ground wire connected to the exhaust)
- 1 bolt for the rear exhaust hanger bushing
The toughest part here was getting the muffler off the exhaust hanger bushings. With 2 people (or 1 person and a jack), pry away @ the bushing against the muffler pipe after spraying it down with some PB Blaster.
Also, be careful w/ stripping nuts - I would highly recommend using 6-pt sockets/wrenches.
Reverse of removal. I would recommend PB Blasting the exhaust hangers a little more if you haven’t already, makes install that much easier. The Nismo exhaust comes with a separate grounding point on the muffler that uses a 10mm bolt & nut, very spiffy.
Step 4 - Clean Up
- Polish/clean up the exhaust if you wish
- Lower car
- Put away tools
- Start car up and pat yourself on the back for a job well done
We even made a video - the video actually sounds quite louder than what the Nismo exhaust sounds like in person, haha - it’s quieter than stock @ idle.
Leave a Reply