I was wondering which exhaust and intake set up is the best for a 3.3l 2wd XE? i was looking for aset up with nice agressive sound that will give my terra power.

I went with the Airaid intake LINK and since my exhaust was brand new (stock) I decided to just get a new muffler. I bought a Borla muffler off Ebay, for @$80 and had a local muffler shop install it for @$30. I love the sound and noticed a big difference in acceleration.
Enjoy your X!

Personally I don't think the airaid is all that great as it uses a lot of the stock parts. I'd recommend a FIPK or Volant.

Exhaust wise all the cat-backs work pretty good, but the cheaper option is to just go to a shop and have them install a muffler (flowmaster, borla, gibson - whatever you'd like). I'd also recommend having the stock piping replaced with 2.5" pipe so it can flow a bit better - my Gibson has 2.5" piping and I've not noticed any drop in low-end torque.

The combo of an intake and exhaust does make some power difference, but don't expect too much or you may be dissappointed. Also don't expect any mpg gains.

It sounds a lot better than stock, though.

I went with an AEM Brute Force intake and Glasspack exhaust with 2.5 pipes. I love it, just an opinion.

I am using the K&N FIPK and a Calmini cat-back exhaust. The sound is great. I am not sure about how much of a power gain there actually is, however, the midrange seems stronger.

QUESTION . are you guys running 2.5 right off the manifold ? , or after the cat? I am using FIPK 2 with an gain of 22hp rear wheel and Borla cat back with an gain of 15

Mine is just a bolt-on cat-back, and you are getting nowhere near that large of a power gain.

Airraid and flowmaster original 40 w/2.5 from Y pipe back. I chose the airraid because it uses a lot of the stock parts. Either way these mods are mostly for sound may help HP a tad, but not that much. I noticed a bit more mid range pull, but nothign significant. I have yet to check MPG b4 and after as i'm a bit heavy on the throttle now, it sounds great.

If you want Performance and cheap, you can't beat an exhasut cut out, have one welded before the muffler and then you can cap it off when you want it to be quiet. There are also power plates so you and open and close the cut out from inside the Xterra.

Why yes I am getting that kind of gain. But in additon to the Borla and FIPK2 I am using an Tornadoe and 13mm wires. How to get an hotter spark when I return to the beach. We have an dyno at the shop on base. Borla stated I could reach as much as 25 . So for both parts it was an gain of 33 and about an 1/4 of tank . But I am getting ready to upgrade tires to BFG 31 and I expect to loose all of that .

There's no way you're gettin a gain of 37 RWHP w/an intake and exhaust, sorry. I mean the supercharged Xs don't even have 37 more HP than NA Xs. You're telling me that an intake and exhaust will equal more output than forced induction? No way. I'd really like to be able to pay less than $20/every HP gained. If only it were that easy....

Ok buddy, just to let u know, your tornado is doing just as good as my throttle body spacer(NONE AT ALL) That thing isnt doing anything for you.

so the throttle spacer is an good deal ? I have been looking at gernatlli? Does it still fit with
FIPK2.

I think he was saying that it was a waste of money

I forget who, but someone brought up a very good point before about the Tornado. You have a free flowing intake and you are going to block it with the Tornado. ( I forget his exact words, maybe someone can jump in). Oh yea I will not believe you are getting 37 more HP with out dyno's from before and after. Just because the box says 15 more hp doesn't mean you are getting it.

maybe he isn't telling us something maybe he has one of those ADD 20 HORSE CHIPS FROM EBAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah right,
I had a v6 2000 mustang and put true dual exhaust, k&n cold air, new plugs and wires, and had the timing slightly adjusted and only got 18 horse, so i say bs

good luck on adding any more than 20hp without MAJOR mods...so far all i have is the NISMO cold-air intake, and a electric fan off of a Volvo, and im probably hangin around a 10hp increase, i dont expect exhaust to get me anymore than 5hp.

PS, i think your little precious dyno is broken.

Back on target, I have the Nismo Intake and Flowmaster 40 Series Muffler. All the other guys are right, you will notice a small bit of difference and a slight increase in mpg, but without throwing on headers, cams, a turbo, a chip replacement etc. etc., all you really get is a nice sounding XTerra. And for some of us, that is all that matters.

Stillen intake and Magnaflow out

I have the Volant Intake and Flowmaster 40 Series Muffler which I have been very happy with.

Tom