new to the SC'd Frontier

[sweet3rdgen]

Hi guys. I have recently purchased a '01 SC'd Desert Runner. I am new to the SC'd VG33, but not to Nissan. I owned a '90 KA Hardbody for 12 years and loved that truck. I now also own a very modified '90 Maxima.

I have been reading around for the past week and want to ask everyone here if my findings seem to be accurate.

I have looked at cold air intakes and it appears that everyone is most happy with the K&N over the Nismo and AEM or Volant. These by definition are actually WAI (warm air intake) since they still have the filter in the engine compartment. Is this all accurate so far? K&N is best?

I have looked at exhaust and this is where I develop questions. It appears that the best exhaust (by popular opinion) is the Nismo exhaust? I have been told Camini, and have heard the names Magnaflow and Flowmaster thrown around, also makes a good exhaust. So I looked into Nismo and West Covina Nissan only lists a Nismo exhaust for the '02-'05 Frontier and "not for supercharged". What is the difference between the '01 and the '02? I have read some threads here where the Nismo exhaust has been installed on a SC'd Frontier without issues. Can someone clear this up for me? Is this "not for supercharged" statement only because it lowers backpressure? Or is there other issues I should be aware of before doing this mod?

Thanks guys

['01 SC in AZ]

Originally Posted by sweet3rdgen

Hi guys. I have recently purchased a '01 SC'd Desert Runner. I am new to the SC'd VG33, but not to Nissan. I owned a '90 KA Hardbody for 12 years and loved that truck. I now also own a very modified '90 Maxima.

I have been reading around for the past week and want to ask everyone here if my findings seem to be accurate.

I have looked at cold air intakes and it appears that everyone is most happy with the K&N over the Nismo and AEM or Volant. These by definition are actually WAI (warm air intake) since they still have the filter in the engine compartment. Is this all accurate so far? K&N is best?

I have looked at exhaust and this is where I develop questions. It appears that the best exhaust (by popular opinion) is the Nismo exhaust? I have been told Camini, and have heard the names Magnaflow and Flowmaster thrown around, also makes a good exhaust. So I looked into Nismo and West Covina Nissan only lists a Nismo exhaust for the '02-'05 Frontier and "not for supercharged". What is the difference between the '01 and the '02? I have read some threads here where the Nismo exhaust has been installed on a SC'd Frontier without issues. Can someone clear this up for me? Is this "not for supercharged" statement only because it lowers backpressure? Or is there other issues I should be aware of before doing this mod?

Thanks guys

Alright I'll throw out my thoughts, I purchased the K&N CAI a while back and am definately a fan, it seems to add a bit of power, a cool sound, and a little more of those precious mpg's. So overall I would reccomend it, other people seem to have similiar views about it aswell.

As for exhaust, i went the custom route and had a shop build my setup using a magnaflow muffler, i believe i noticed a little performance gain (could have been my imagination), slightly better mpg's, and it produced a nice mellow rumble, upon acceleration the exhaust sound is pretty much masked by the SC whine which is a beautiful sound. I would reccomond the setup aswell, especially since it only cost me $170. I have heard good things about the nismo kit though, and it will fit a SC i just dont think they tested it on one during development so it's not listed, but i know it will fit on one if you get the proper application.

I hope this was some sort of help to you.

[NissanTy]

welcome to the board! nice maxima and frontier, i have the K&N intake on my N/A frontier and love it so of course i'd say go K7N for the intake, as for exhaust many people just have a custom exhaust made with a flowmaster or magnaflow muffler, i have a magnaflow catback and love it, as for the nismo exhaust it will work on your truck, they only say it won't work on a s/c due to they never tested that exhaust on a s/c'd truck but it will work and many people are using the nismo exhaust on theiur s/c trucks. good luck with the truck and happy modding!

[2000Fronty4x4]

Yes I have a K&N CAI. I think it was a great purchase and would recommend it to anyone considering buying one. Also I say get a custom exhaust. Go to the local muff shop and they can bend the tube for you and you can select the muffler you want depending on your preference. Not to mention it is cheaper.

[sexy6chick]

So I saw this thread while at work and went online to look it up and see how much they were..$280 at Autozone, I wasn't expecting it to be that much, I don't know why. I'll pick one up in a few paychecks, once i've taken care of some essentials and bills.

[sweet3rdgen]

You always pay for quality. I used to be one of those bargain shoppers that always believed that saving money was best. As I have gotten older I realized that that is not always the case. Sometimes, especially in automotive, buying the right part once for more is cheaper in the long run than buying the less expensive part and having to purchase the same part again a short time later.

[sexy6chick]

Yea I don't mind spending the money..I just have to pace myself before I go broke haha.

[mikev69]

Nat check Evilbay I didnt pay that much for my K&N FIPK.

WOW i just checked the bay they went up $237.85 for the cheepest one ---$282.65 for the rest. Ouch

[NissanTy]

back in 2005 i payed $220 for my FIPK, damn things have went up in price quick.

[2001frontiersc]

I've had the Nismo exhaust installed on my '01 S/C 4x4 CC for about 20-30k now with no issues. I wish it was a tad louder at times, but otherwise I'm completely satisfied. Fitment was perfect, just choose the correct application (crew cab, short/long bed, etc) and you should be fine. I installed it in about thirty minutes working underneath the truck without a lift.