BBK one-piece flange or MAC individual flange long tube headers.

Fox Body · 04-02-2001, 11:24 AM

I ran into some money and was considering swapping my headers for some 1 3/4" long tubes. I have 1 5/8" shorty MAC headers that are individually flanged. The ones from BBK are one piece flange headers and specify '79-'93 351w.

So these are my concerns/questions:

1) I don't know if it's such a good idea in the long run to have individual flange long tubes. (concerned about installation/warping).

2) I'm not really sure at this point if long tubes would help or hurt the car's performance. (Large amounts of exhaust air flow isn't ALWAYS better).

3) HAS ANYONE USED EITHER MAC OR BBK LONG TUBES? LIKES/DISLIKES?

4) What is the diff. b/t full length headers and long tube headers?

Thanks for your input.

-------------------------------
'79 Mustang Coup
4" Cowl
Weld wheels (15x6;15x8)
Stock 5.8L
C4 w/ shift kit
1 5/8" MAC shorty headers
Holley 750 CFM
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters
8.8" Rear end w/ 3.55 gears (Now that's more like it!!)

Front: 225/60/15 Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II
14 x 4” K&N air filter (getting the Xtreme setup soon)

"Red, thou art my companion. Hasten now your quickened metamorphosis to Green that I may conquer all who dare abide there beside me. May they be left thither behind burnt black." ---Fox Body

[This message has been edited by Fox Body (edited 04-02-2001).]

n20lx · 04-02-2001, 07:49 PM

Had both. I had to use a pry bar to get the Macs to line up every time after the first install.

stangbang · 04-02-2001, 08:03 PM

n20lx is right! I also had to use a bar to persuade the macs on and the hts coating SUCKS! I am going with the bbk jet hot coated long tubes.

Bob · 04-02-2001, 10:02 PM

BBK's fit great on my car. I've had headers on a lot of different cars, and my opinion is that the one piece flange is the only way to go.

------------------
1985 Mustang GT

'85 GT 13.20 @ 105.8 / '72 Mach1
Long list...check website!!
My Website

86GT · 04-02-2001, 11:10 PM

I had MAC shorties, and I thought they sucked. Anytime I had to take them off, I always had to use a pry bar to put them on. The MAC long tubes I have now are the same way, they were a pain to install.

My brother's car has BBK long tubes with the one piece flange. They've lined up everytime, and to be honest, I think it'd take a lot to make that flange warp. I'd go with them if I were you.

LX XLR8R · 04-03-2001, 10:05 AM

i agree that the MACs are a lil harder to put on but mine never leak..thats more than i can say about the BBKs i seen..so i hope thier easy to take off and put back on cuz you will be replacing gaskets alot..even back in the day when people bought single flange headers they would hacksaw them individual to make them less prone to exhaust leaks

------------------
1987 black notch(ex 4 banger)
DSS 306 w/ main support...Elderbrock 6028 heads..gt-40 intake..24# injectors...70 mm tb..77 pro-m...accel 300+..mac full legnth..tremec w/ pro5oh...full MAC exhaust,off road h-pipe,long tubes, catback...ron davis radiator..subframes, control arms...CFDF II..o yea holley FPR sucks..dont buy one..
AIM=onesillynotch

DemonGT · 04-03-2001, 01:10 PM

the mac long tubes i just installed were a pain to..but it makes everything that much more fun and interesting..if every single car part just went on super easy...it would make it boring and no fun..the challange is the fun of it...and are you guys talken bout using a pry bar to get the headers to line up with the h pipe..cause i just use my hands..haha

------------------
'91 GT,91K,T-5,air silencer removed,racing clutch(previous owner put in so dont know what kind),K&N air filter,Aiwa deck,power acoustic amp,2 12" pianeers,Mac long tubes,Cat-back,off road H

Future Mods:3.73's,Pro 5.0,Shifter knob,FMS 9mm wires,E303 cam,cobra intake

LX XLR8R · 04-03-2001, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DemonGT:
...and are you guys talken bout using a pry bar to get the headers to line up with the h pipe..cause i just use my hands..haha

nope..its after you take them off for the first time, the first and last primary need to be pryed to get the first 2 bolts in the heads..(i.e. the very first bolt and the bolt in the back)once those 2 are in the other 6 go right in

------------------
1987 black notch(ex 4 banger)
DSS 306 w/ main support...Elderbrock 6028 heads..gt-40 intake..24# injectors...70 mm tb..77 pro-m...accel 300+..mac full legnth..tremec w/ pro5oh...full MAC exhaust,off road h-pipe,long tubes, catback...ron davis radiator..subframes, control arms...CFDF II..o yea holley FPR sucks..dont buy one..
AIM=onesillynotch

LX XLR8R · 04-03-2001, 01:38 PM

woops
------------------
1987 black notch(ex 4 banger)
DSS 306 w/ main support...Elderbrock 6028 heads..gt-40 intake..24# injectors...70 mm tb..77 pro-m...accel 300+..mac full legnth..tremec w/ pro5oh...full MAC exhaust,off road h-pipe,long tubes, catback...ron davis radiator..subframes, control arms...CFDF II..o yea holley FPR sucks..dont buy one..
AIM=onesillynotch

[This message has been edited by LX XLR8R (edited 04-03-2001).]

dinomite · 04-03-2001, 02:06 PM

Don't you need a new H pipe with long tubes? If so, do they make long tube H pipes with high flow cats?

DemonGT · 04-03-2001, 04:25 PM

yes you need a new h pipe for long tubes..you need a shorty h pipe..and yes they make them with high flow cats..Mac makes a shorty h pipe with high flow cats..there $370..pretty pricy for a h pipe..i just got off road

------------------
'91 GT,91K,T-5,air silencer removed,racing clutch(previous owner put in so dont know what kind),K&N air filter,Aiwa deck,power acoustic amp,2 12" pianeers,Mac long tubes,Cat-back,off road H

Future Mods:3.73's,Pro 5.0,Shifter knob,FMS 9mm wires,E303 cam,cobra intake

04-02-2001, 11:24 AM	#1
Fox Body Mustang Maniac Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: GA, U.S.A Posts: 2,266	BBK one-piece flange or MAC individual flange long tube headers. I ran into some money and was considering swapping my headers for some 1 3/4" long tubes. I have 1 5/8" shorty MAC headers that are individually flanged. The ones from BBK are one piece flange headers and specify '79-'93 351w. So these are my concerns/questions: 1) I don't know if it's such a good idea in the long run to have individual flange long tubes. (concerned about installation/warping). 2) I'm not really sure at this point if long tubes would help or hurt the car's performance. (Large amounts of exhaust air flow isn't ALWAYS better). 3) HAS ANYONE USED EITHER MAC OR BBK LONG TUBES? LIKES/DISLIKES? 4) What is the diff. b/t full length headers and long tube headers? Thanks for your input. ------------------------------- '79 Mustang Coup 4" Cowl Weld wheels (15x6;15x8) Stock 5.8L C4 w/ shift kit 1 5/8" MAC shorty headers Holley 750 CFM Edelbrock Performer RPM intake 2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters 8.8" Rear end w/ 3.55 gears (Now that's more like it!!) Front: 225/60/15 Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II 14 x 4” K&N air filter (getting the Xtreme setup soon) "Red, thou art my companion. Hasten now your quickened metamorphosis to Green that I may conquer all who dare abide there beside me. May they be left thither behind burnt black." ---Fox Body [This message has been edited by Fox Body (edited 04-02-2001).]

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04-02-2001, 07:49 PM	#2
n20lx Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1998 Posts: 495	Had both. I had to use a pry bar to get the Macs to line up every time after the first install.

04-02-2001, 08:03 PM	#3
stangbang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: brunswick,ohio Posts: 135	n20lx is right! I also had to use a bar to persuade the macs on and the hts coating SUCKS! I am going with the bbk jet hot coated long tubes.

04-02-2001, 10:02 PM	#4
Bob "Old School Gearhead" Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Peru, Illinois Posts: 617	BBK's fit great on my car. I've had headers on a lot of different cars, and my opinion is that the one piece flange is the only way to go. ------------------ 1985 Mustang GT '85 GT 13.20 @ 105.8 / '72 Mach1 Long list...check website!! My Website

04-02-2001, 11:10 PM	#5
86GT Sniffed too much n20 Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 1,018	I had MAC shorties, and I thought they sucked. Anytime I had to take them off, I always had to use a pry bar to put them on. The MAC long tubes I have now are the same way, they were a pain to install. My brother's car has BBK long tubes with the one piece flange. They've lined up everytime, and to be honest, I think it'd take a lot to make that flange warp. I'd go with them if I were you.

04-03-2001, 10:05 AM	#6
LX XLR8R Dirk Diggler Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: SLOATSBURG, NY Posts: 1,931	i agree that the MACs are a lil harder to put on but mine never leak..thats more than i can say about the BBKs i seen..so i hope thier easy to take off and put back on cuz you will be replacing gaskets alot..even back in the day when people bought single flange headers they would hacksaw them individual to make them less prone to exhaust leaks ------------------ 1987 black notch(ex 4 banger) DSS 306 w/ main support...Elderbrock 6028 heads..gt-40 intake..24# injectors...70 mm tb..77 pro-m...accel 300+..mac full legnth..tremec w/ pro5oh...full MAC exhaust,off road h-pipe,long tubes, catback...ron davis radiator..subframes, control arms...CFDF II..o yea holley FPR sucks..dont buy one.. AIM=onesillynotch

04-03-2001, 01:10 PM	#7
DemonGT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 879	the mac long tubes i just installed were a pain to..but it makes everything that much more fun and interesting..if every single car part just went on super easy...it would make it boring and no fun..the challange is the fun of it...and are you guys talken bout using a pry bar to get the headers to line up with the h pipe..cause i just use my hands..haha ------------------ '91 GT,91K,T-5,air silencer removed,racing clutch(previous owner put in so dont know what kind),K&N air filter,Aiwa deck,power acoustic amp,2 12" pianeers,Mac long tubes,Cat-back,off road H Future Mods:3.73's,Pro 5.0,Shifter knob,FMS 9mm wires,E303 cam,cobra intake

04-03-2001, 01:38 PM	#9
LX XLR8R Dirk Diggler Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: SLOATSBURG, NY Posts: 1,931	woops ------------------ 1987 black notch(ex 4 banger) DSS 306 w/ main support...Elderbrock 6028 heads..gt-40 intake..24# injectors...70 mm tb..77 pro-m...accel 300+..mac full legnth..tremec w/ pro5oh...full MAC exhaust,off road h-pipe,long tubes, catback...ron davis radiator..subframes, control arms...CFDF II..o yea holley FPR sucks..dont buy one.. AIM=onesillynotch [This message has been edited by LX XLR8R (edited 04-03-2001).]

04-03-2001, 02:06 PM	#10
dinomite The Dude Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,262	Don't you need a new H pipe with long tubes? If so, do they make long tube H pipes with high flow cats?

04-03-2001, 04:25 PM	#11
DemonGT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 879	yes you need a new h pipe for long tubes..you need a shorty h pipe..and yes they make them with high flow cats..Mac makes a shorty h pipe with high flow cats..there $370..pretty pricy for a h pipe..i just got off road ------------------ '91 GT,91K,T-5,air silencer removed,racing clutch(previous owner put in so dont know what kind),K&N air filter,Aiwa deck,power acoustic amp,2 12" pianeers,Mac long tubes,Cat-back,off road H Future Mods:3.73's,Pro 5.0,Shifter knob,FMS 9mm wires,E303 cam,cobra intake