If you've spent any time in the 370Z and G37 community, you already know the VQ37VHR is an engine worth building. The 3.7-liter V6 makes a strong case on its own — 332 horsepower in the base 370Z, up to 350 in the NISMO — and it rewards bolt-ons more predictably than most naturally aspirated platforms at this price point. Headers are where that reward gets real. They're one of the few bolt-on modifications that move the needle across the entire RPM range, not just in a narrow band where the sensor adjustments happen to play nice.

The factory exhaust manifolds on the VQ37VHR are a compromise. Nissan built them around emissions targets, packaging constraints, and production cost — not outright performance. They get the job done for stock driving, but they're leaving measurable power on the table that long tube headers can recover. The engine doesn't care about any of that factory tuning; give it a clear path for exhaust gases and it will respond. The question is what to run, which coating to choose, and how to plan the rest of your build around them.

This guide covers all of it. What long tube headers actually do on the VQ37VHR platform, how they compare to factory manifolds, what to look for before you buy, and the specific headers Chaser carries for the 370Z, G37, 350Z, and G35.

What Are Long Tube Headers and What Do They Actually Do?

Headers replace the factory exhaust manifolds — the cast iron or steel pieces that collect exhaust gases from each cylinder and funnel them toward the catalytic converters and the rest of the exhaust system. Stock manifolds are compact by necessity; they need to fit within tight engine bay packaging and comply with emissions regulations, which means they're built thick, short, and with minimal regard for flow dynamics.

Long tube headers extend the primary tubes — the individual pipes connected to each exhaust port — significantly further before they merge into a collector. That length is doing real work. It creates what's called exhaust scavenging: as one cylinder expels its spent gases, the pulse of energy traveling down the pipe creates a pressure drop behind it. In a well-tuned long tube design, that drop arrives at the adjacent cylinder's exhaust port exactly when it opens, pulling the gases out more efficiently. The engine effectively helps itself breathe.

On a 3.7-liter V6 like the VQ37VHR, this effect is particularly pronounced because of the engine's high-revving nature and VVEL variable valve lift system. The factory intake side already does sophisticated work optimizing valve timing and lift — give the exhaust side the same freedom and you get an engine that pulls harder from mid-range all the way to the 7500 RPM redline.

Why the VQ37VHR Rewards Long Tube Headers

Not every naturally aspirated engine responds to headers the same way. The VQ37VHR is a particularly good candidate for a few specific reasons.

• High-revving platform: The VQ37VHR is built to rev, with a factory redline near 7,500 RPM. Exhaust scavenging benefits compound at higher RPM, where the engine is moving more air mass per unit of time and the timing of pressure waves becomes more consequential. The gains from long tubes show up across the band, but they're most noticeable in the upper third of the rev range.
• VVEL variable valve lift system: Nissan's VVEL system continuously varies valve lift based on throttle input and load. With factory manifolds, this sophisticated intake-side engineering is partially bottlenecked on the exhaust side. Long tube headers let the engine use its VVEL system more freely — the exhaust no longer constrains what the intake side is trying to accomplish.
• Established tuning ecosystem: After years of Z and G platform ownership in the US, the tuning side of the VQ37VHR is well understood. Getting a proper ECU tune after headers is straightforward, and the gains are documented extensively across the platform community.
• Fitment-friendly layout: The VQ37VHR's transverse V6 layout gives aftermarket header manufacturers enough clearance to run proper primary tube length without extreme routing compromises. A well-made long tube header for this engine doesn't have to sacrifice tube geometry to fit — and Kents took advantage of that with their design for the 370Z/G37/350Z/G35.

In terms of documented performance, dyno data from multiple tuning shops across the platform shows long tube headers consistently producing gains in the range of 10–20 rear wheel horsepower without a tune, with properly tuned setups showing up to 20–28 RWHP depending on supporting modifications. That's not a bolt-on gain you get from intakes or resonated pipes alone — headers are a different category of modification for this engine.

Should You Pair Headers with Test Pipes?

If you're running long tube headers, the conversation about test pipes is worth having before you button everything up. Headers replace the factory exhaust manifolds — the section from the cylinder head through the collector. Test pipes pick up from there, replacing the catalytic converters in the downstream section. Leave the cats in place and you're still running a restriction right after the headers.

Together, headers and test pipes cover the full modification from the ports through the cat section — everything up to where the midsection picks up. The sound difference is significant with both, and the power gains from a proper tune are more complete when the system is fully open rather than still restricted at the cats.

Chaser carries two test pipe options for the 370Z and G37 VQ37VHR. The Kents 370Z/G37 Test Pipes are a clean 2.5″ in/out design that matches OEM piping diameter — straightforward fitment, gaskets and hardware included, no modifications required. The 370Z/G37 Resonated Test Pipes add a resonator chamber to the design, which takes the edge off the drone that some owners notice at highway cruise with an otherwise open system. If you drive the car daily and spend meaningful time at steady throttle on the highway, the resonated option gives you the flow without the cabin fatigue.

Pair with Headers

Kents 370Z / G37 Test Pipes

Fits: Nissan 370Z, Infiniti G37 | VQ37VHR & VQ35HR

• 2.5″ inlet / 2.5″ outlet — matches OEM piping diameter for direct swap
• Replaces the factory catalytic converters
• Gaskets and hardware included
• No modifications required for installation

$235.00

Shop Test Pipes

Daily-Friendly Option

370Z / G37 Resonated Test Pipes

Fits: Nissan 370Z, Infiniti G37 | VQ37VHR & VQ35HR

• Resonator chamber reduces highway drone on full-open setups
• Same direct-fit design as non-resonated — same installation ease
• Gaskets and hardware included
• The daily driver pick when running headers and an open midsection

$285.00

Shop Resonated Test Pipes

What to Know Before You Buy Long Tube Headers for the 370Z or G37

A few things worth having on your radar before the install day.

• A tune is not optional: Running long tube headers without an ECU tune will leave power on the table. If you're also removing the cats with test pipes, expect CEL codes — the downstream O2 sensors will no longer read what the factory map expects and the engine management system will compensate incorrectly. A proper tune via EcuTek, JWT, or a reputable VQ-platform tuner corrects fuel maps, ignition timing, and VTC control for the new exhaust configuration and gets the power the headers are making available.
• HR and VHR fitment — not DE: The Kents long tube headers fit VQ35HR and VQ37VHR applications. They do not fit VQ35DE engines. If your 350Z or G35 is an early DE model, verify before ordering. The HR engines started in 2007 for the 350Z and G35.
• LHD vehicles only: These headers are designed for left-hand drive cars. Right-hand drive fitment is not supported.
• Sound character will change significantly: Long tube headers change the exhaust note at every RPM. Low-end sound becomes more prominent; the top-end pulls harder and sounds more aggressive. If you're pairing with test pipes, the combined result is a loud, open system. Plan your midsection accordingly.
• Installation complexity: Headers are not a one-hour job. Plan for appropriate jack stands, tools, and possibly professional installation if you're not comfortable with exhaust system work. The Kents headers include gaskets, so you won't need to source those separately.
• Shipping time: The Kents long tube headers ship within 2–4 weeks from Chaser Automotive. Build your timeline accordingly.

Final Thoughts: Are Long Tube Headers Worth It on the VQ37VHR?

For a naturally aspirated platform, long tube headers are about as meaningful a performance modification as you can make. The VQ37VHR is already a strong engine — it's high-revving, it responds to valve timing, and it loves to pull to the top of the tach. Headers let it do all of that without fighting a restriction that Nissan built in because they had to, not because they wanted to.

The Kents long tube headers available at Chaser Automotive are built from 304 stainless steel, fit the full range of VQ37VHR and VQ35HR platforms (370Z, G37, 350Z HR, G35 HR), and come with everything you need for installation. The ceramic coated version gives you the same performance with added durability for track-focused builds. Pair either with the Kents test pipes or the resonated test pipes and you've covered the full primary exhaust modification from ports to midsection. Get a proper tune on top of that and the VQ37VHR will tell you it was built for exactly this.

The $640 entry point for the standard headers is honest value for a 304 stainless long tube set with proven fitment across the platform. If you're in the middle of an exhaust build on your 370Z or G37 and you haven't addressed the headers yet, this is the next conversation to have with your build.