1. Here, the author shows off the Nismo's uncapped power near Johnson Valley, California. Our '05 Nissan Frontier Nismo has been a favored member of our project fleet for almost three years now. With a potent 4.0L V-6, a sweet electronic rear locking differential, and seemingly perfect proportions, we haven't found a trail that we didn't feel confident attempting. From daily run-around duties to tackling the deserts of Southern California, the Nismo Frontier is well suited to our lifestyle. However, we noticed recently that JBA came out with a set of headers to complement their after-cat exhaust system. We salivated at the idea of increased power and torque in the already snappy package. The rumble of a deeper exhaust note wouldn't hurt either, so we set up a date with the folks at JBA and counted down the days. Once it was go-time, we headed down to JBA's Dyno shop facility in San Diego. After generating some initial baseline numbers, we parked the truck on a lift and the guys at JBA went to town. The install took a majority of the day, but the results were worth every minute. 2. This was the first time we dyno-tested our Frontier on the 33-inch tires. We were curious to see how much the heavier tires and wheels affected our power levels.2. This was the first time we dyno-tested our Frontier on the 33-inch tires. We were curio 3. The JBA Cat4ward header system for '05-and-later Frontier pickups is available with ceramic coatings that are simply beautiful. We also like that they are 50-state smog-legal and that they are mandrel-bent from 409 stainless steel.3. The JBA Cat4ward header system for '05-and-later Frontier pickups is available with cer 4. Here you can see the differences between the OE exhaust manifold and the JBA headers. Notice how the factory units combine two shorter tubes into one, versus the JBA headers, which use a collector flange and (almost) equal-length tubes for each cylinder. This helps smooth out exhaust flow and subsequent performance.4. Here you can see the differences between the OE exhaust manifold and the JBA headers. N 5. Take a look at the back of the 3/8-inch-thick mating flange. These flanges are laser cut from one piece of 409 stainless steel sheet. Once the tubes are welded in place, each flange is finish-ground to ensure a perfect leak-free fit.5. Take a look at the back of the 3/8-inch-thick mating flange. These flanges are laser cu 6. The collector flange features a 2 1/4-inch outlet, plenty big for a 4.0L V-6's output. 7. This is the JBA after-cat exhaust system designed for the '05-and-up Nissan Frontier with a V-6 engine. The system includes all necessary mounting hardware and is designed to be easy to install by end users. We like that it includes a 3.5-inch stainless steel tip and a high-flowing Y-pipe. The system is mandrel-bent from 2-inch stainless steel, or aluminized steel for the budget-minded.7. This is the JBA after-cat exhaust system designed for the '05-and-up Nissan Frontier wi 8. This shot shows the JBA technicians removing the factory exhaust system from our truck. 9. Here you can see the differences between the OE exhaust system and the JBA setup. Aside from the increase in pipe diameter, the JBA system contains a freer flowing muffler and a less restrictive Y-pipe.9. Here you can see the differences between the OE exhaust system and the JBA setup. Aside 10. The only portion of the factory system we reused is the OE catalytic converters. Here, the JBA technician installs the driver-side cat to the new JBA header.10. The only portion of the factory system we reused is the OE catalytic converters. Here, 11. We're not sure why JBA uses a round muffler in the kit instead of an oval type shown in its marketing brochure. Our guess is that someone used the wrong muffler for the brochure's photo shoot. After the fact, we questioned JBA about this, and they assured us that the round-type muffler included with our kit was indeed the proper unit for our truck.11. We're not sure why JBA uses a round muffler in the kit instead of an oval type shown i 12. This shot shows the tailpipe section of the JBA exhaust system. Notice how it tucks nicely up and over the axle, while maintaining critical clearance between the spare tire and the hot pipe. The polished stainless steel tip adds a nice cosmetic effect, rounding out the whole package.12. This shot shows the tailpipe section of the JBA exhaust system. Notice how it tucks ni 13. We had JBA's technician add some tack welds in key areas to prevent unwanted movement. This step, while not necessary, will help prevent leaks in the long run.13. We had JBA's technician add some tack welds in key areas to prevent unwanted movement. As you can see from our testing, we gained 15 lb-ft of torque and 12 hp at peak performance. Not bad for a simple exhaust system. SOURCES JBA Performance Exhaust www.jbaheaders.com Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
