On the newer Maximas, you can go to Stillen for many good performance products. One is their K&N free flow cone filter. However, if you'd like to leave the engine compartment alone, you may want to just buy a K&N "panel" (same as stock) filter. When combined with Stillen's exhaust system, they make a noticable difference to the car's throttle response and acceleration. K&N is really the best thing to go with and is a worth while investment for any automobile.

Before making more engine output enhancements, you'll have to alleviate the stock muffler's restrictive backpressure. Going with a system aft the catalytic converter (for smog emmsions compliancy), promotes more flow and helps the top-end immensely. You could conceivably go with a straight pipe system (disregard a muffler altogether), but talking to some muffler shop experts, almost all newer imports such as the Maxima, requires a bit of backpressure, for a more efficient engine combustion. I would recommend names such as Borla, Sebring, Greddy, Momo (if you can afford it), or Stillen's offerings. Nevertheless, stick with a stainless steel one to ensure a lifetime quality and and reliability. A bit of a warning though: the increase in exhaust vacuum can cause a roncous exhaust note likened to an NSX and measuring up to a full 87dB's at full throttle.

Once you have the exhaust system squared away, a great way to extract more HP's from the stock block is to get it "breathing" better. The stock air filter's performance is restricted by the shape of its housing and the filter material itself. An aftermaket high performance air intake filter will give you the benefit of maximum effective airflow. Its semi-conical shape (like a velocity stack) allows the air intake speed to increase as it enters the engine's induction system. The special filter has an aluminum base and filters out air-borne particles while enabling larger masses of air to move down the intake tract. By ingesting a much larger volume of air, which is proportionally added to the air-fuel mix, the engine obtains the required oxygen to run more efficiently. I believe Stillen is the only on mass produces these without costly custom fabrication.

A full exhaust system replacement can run you upwards around $400. A cheaper alternative is buying Stillen's 4" chrome exhaust tip and have it welded on to an inexpensive "high-performance" muffler.

There is a Stillen high-flow throttle body available for later model Maxima's. This means better breathing by less restriction and power gains when installed in conjunction with the cone filter and exhaust.

Sound Files:
GReddy exhaust from the interior - '96 SE
GReddy exhaust from the exterior - '96 SE
GReddy exhaust from rear - '96 SE
GReddy at idle - '96 SE
From Maxima Owners and Enthusiasts Page

'85-'88
All you need is a muffler place and a place that does throttle body modifications. There are a few places in Riverside, California, but there can be one near you! The muffler place is needed to assist with a cat-back exhaust. Sorry you header people out there! The 300ZX engine wasn't really made to turn sideways for the front wheel drive task that the Maxima was destined for. So, they had to do some really funky things to make it work. One of them is that the header twists around the engine on the bottom. So, to create a design to widen it was a larger task than several companies wanted to fool around with. You'll just have to settle for a cat-back exhaust. I have a 2 1/2 pipe going cat-back with a Super Turbo muffler and a chrome tip on it. The Super Turbo muffler is made by Dynomax and it's been pretty durable. You can find it at any of the Dynomax dealers or a Super Shops near you.

As for the throttle body, just remember that many of these that you see in catalogs are taking your original throttle body and then widening it out. Why is it only restricted to certain cars? Well, it isn't. In fact, many of the companies don't do it themseleves and just contract out to some machine shop somewhere. Again, wherever you know that does the work for other cars may do it for you too. The process involves boring out the throttle body and manufacturing a new valve cover inside. Street racers do this all the time to get the edge in drag racing because on the outside, it looks like the regular throttle body!

And the rest of the intake? Well, from there, go to K&N. They offer an air filter to fit right back into the stock place and it's reusable. Hey, why not?

And, this is all 50 state legal! The throttle body won't come up in the smog check, neither will the cat-back exhaust or the new air filter! Performance numbers? Try going 85 at just under 3000 rpm! It gives you new life after 75 mph!

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