Mac H pipe w cats vs BBK x pipe with cats??

Chevyguy · 11-14-2001, 06:27 PM

Hey glad to find the new URL for the message board, I was going insane!!!!

Ok so I was studying in the reading room looking at a Brothers performance catalog. I had previously intended to go all Mac for the rest of my exhaust to complement the MAC 2.5" cat back I have now. The original headers and H pipe are getting leaky and need to go by spring.

Now I see the BBK x pipe with cats and start wondering if that is better than the MAC 2.5" H pipe with cats. This is my daily driver so whatever I get gotta have cats. I really like the coated aluminized pipes of the MAC, but maybe more ponies with the BBK and I could get that coated???

Any good H/ X pipe advice for the guys with cats???

Mach 1 · 11-14-2001, 07:00 PM

I run an off-road h-pipe, but it seems to be that BBK makes a much better product than MAC. I would suggest BBK.

1BAD89 · 11-14-2001, 09:51 PM

I would also highly suggest BBK over MAC.

Unit 5302 · 11-14-2001, 10:43 PM

I recommend staying within a specific brand for exhaust products. If you go with MAC headers, get a MAC H pipe. If you go with a BBK X Pipe, get BBK headers.

I have a BBK Highflow H pipe with Cats, it didn't fit the factory headers for ****. It was a couple/three inches off easy. The hangers were welded asymetrical, and at uneven heights, and the one of the pipes was rotated too far causing a misalignment.

I got 2 at my place, both were the same. Actually, Summit screwed me on the deal. They boxed up the part I sent them in a different box and sent it back to me. Lame. What can you do though?

posied88 · 11-15-2001, 01:09 AM

MAC is an excellent product, i run their headers and off road H-pipe. MAC also focuses their production almost completely on exhaust products (that's how they started out) so i'm sure they have a good product. Anyway MAC does make an X-pipe and a prochamber, which is somewhere between an X and a H pipe. The downside of the Prochamber is that it does not come w/ cats.

Chevyguy · 11-15-2001, 09:25 AM

Hmm I had suspected that I should stick with the same brand H/X pipe and headers. The Cat Back fit perfectly to the stock H pipe and left me with a good feeling about the MAC quality. I like my MAC pro billet shifter too. I got a good response about MAC for a cat back system, and wonder why BBK would be better for the Headers/H pipe. The one comment about the poor fit of a BBK H pipe to the stock headers concerns me though.

Phantom5oh · 11-15-2001, 11:57 AM

MAC over BBK... I would go with the MAC products instead of the BBK... MAC makes excelent exhaust products... they know their stuff and they fit perfect, and they last for a long time... I do not care for BBK anything, since everyone I know with BBK stuff has had problems with it, be it instalation or things down the road... don't go BBK, their stuff is "CHEAP"

Steve

haulin'balz · 11-15-2001, 02:14 PM

I'd agree w/ unit as far as sticking w/ the same brand for your entire exhaust.......always easier for the install and chances for exhaust leaks are little to none as opposed to going from bbk to mac to bassani etc etc. Why do some of you think MAC puts out a bad product? That's insane - exhausts are their business. I've hardly heard of someone not being satisfied w/ their Mac's. I guess t all depends on whether you want sound or performance or both. Don't get me wrong, BBKs are good, but Macs are too.

Chevyguy · 11-15-2001, 03:31 PM

My MAC Cat back is not very loud which is a good thing, except when I want to be a punk ( I'm 35 now) then I wish I had flowmasters. Although I am told it makes plenty of noise outside the car. I figure when I put in the 1 5/8 headers and 2 1/2 H pipe it will bark more.

I don't even want to start on my header choice Equal length vs unequal shorties. I'm gettin unequals, so I can reach my plugs. Though long tubes have come to mind occasionally but naaah this is supposed to be a driver!

Mach 1 · 11-15-2001, 04:24 PM

Someone asked why I thought MAC was crap, so Ill answer. Several different speed shops told me to buy BBK, and told me to stay away from MAC while I was trying to order a MAC part. In particular, thier headers were rumored to have "quality control" problems.

I do have a MAC off road h-pipe, and it fits OK. That is the only MAC part I have. I also had a MAC strut tower brace that wasnt even close to fitting and had to send it back.

1BAD89 · 11-15-2001, 06:27 PM

***MAC also focuses their production almost completely on exhaust products

Not true, have you looked at an add lately? And you call BBK's products cheap...LoL. And I'm not backing BBK up because I have them on my car, either. Because I've sold most of the stuff off my car already, because I'm selling it. I've had only good dealings with BBK, my H-pipe fit perfect, my headers fit perfect, etc.. etc....I doubt you'll see any Hp difference between BBK and MAC, but the quality of MAC products are just..well...not good. All the people I know that have bought Mac headers and other mac products are literally disgusted with them. I'd go wth BBk if i were you. JMO. If you had a littlre more cash to spend, "I'd" get Bassani Long Tube headers, and their X-pipe.

posied88 · 11-15-2001, 07:06 PM

When i said that MAC focuses almost completely on exhaust, i did add something to it. I said that is how they started out. i do realize that they have everything from shifters to guages in their catalog, but the experience that i have had along with some freinds has only been good with MAC. It's hard to say that something didnt fit on my car so it sucks because not every car is going to be exactly the same. That is why you will see someone say that their MAC H-Pipe, or what have you, fit perfectly and you will also have someone say it didnt even come close to fitting. Just my .02

Mach 1 · 11-15-2001, 07:32 PM

The reason some MAC parts fit and some dont isnt the car, its the product from MAC. Its called inconsistent quality and has been a MAC problem for a long time. You might get a part that fits, you might not. Take your chances or go BBK, the choice is yours.

Unit 5302 · 11-15-2001, 10:34 PM

Just about any Catback will fit great. There is so much room to play with them and maneuver them into position.

I'd say 50%+ of the MAC users complain about MAC quality, and I will certainly back Mach 1 on the inconsistancy in that brand.

From peeling coating, to poor fitment, to no fitment. Overcharging, poor finish quality, lack of customer service, etc. I've seen many posts on MAC products surrounding all those problems.

I have had personally bad experiance with a BBK product, but as a general rule BBK has a much, much better reputation than MAC for quality.

My opinion is, if you are going aftermarket for your exhaust, chances are you're gonna have a problem or two. The consistant quality just doesn't seem to be their for most manufacturers.

Mach 1 · 11-15-2001, 10:49 PM

well said unit. I think you summed it up perfectly.

Chevyguy · 11-16-2001, 08:34 AM

Hmm, maybe I'll reconsider my opinion of MAC, certianly I will do some more digging before I even get close to buying my Headers and H pipe. Anything that is made by humans can be made wrong, the trick is to keep the mistakes to a minimum. Also how they respond to quality problems is very important. When I put my cat back on, I had already cut my tailpipes off with a sawzall, if the system did not fit etc I would have been screwed

since this is my daily driver, food for thought eh

11-14-2001, 06:27 PM	#1
Chevyguy Backyard Mechanic/Chemist Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Acton MA USA Posts: 435	Mac H pipe w cats vs BBK x pipe with cats?? Hey glad to find the new URL for the message board, I was going insane!!!! Ok so I was studying in the reading room looking at a Brothers performance catalog. I had previously intended to go all Mac for the rest of my exhaust to complement the MAC 2.5" cat back I have now. The original headers and H pipe are getting leaky and need to go by spring. Now I see the BBK x pipe with cats and start wondering if that is better than the MAC 2.5" H pipe with cats. This is my daily driver so whatever I get gotta have cats. I really like the coated aluminized pipes of the MAC, but maybe more ponies with the BBK and I could get that coated??? Any good H/ X pipe advice for the guys with cats??? __________________ 2001 Crown Vic Maurader Airbox/MAF, DR chip Edel IAS shocks Single exhaust :wtf: 93 P-71 Vic interceptor Backup car now 90 5.0 LX Notch SOLD 74 Chevy Laguna type S-3 454 under construction Currently apart undergoing bodywork.

11-14-2001, 07:00 PM	#2
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	I run an off-road h-pipe, but it seems to be that BBK makes a much better product than MAC. I would suggest BBK. __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

11-15-2001, 01:09 AM	#5
posied88 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Anaheim, Ca. Posts: 31	MAC is an excellent product, i run their headers and off road H-pipe. MAC also focuses their production almost completely on exhaust products (that's how they started out) so i'm sure they have a good product. Anyway MAC does make an X-pipe and a prochamber, which is somewhere between an X and a H pipe. The downside of the Prochamber is that it does not come w/ cats. __________________ 3.55 Gears,Posi,MAC 1 5/8 Shorties,MAC Off-Road H-Pipe,Flowmaster 3 Chamber Mufflers,BBK 65mm Throttle Body,FRPP Aluminum Driveshaft,FRPP B-303 cam,Pro 5.0 Shifter,1 1/2in. Lowering Springs,HPM Subframe Connectors,HPM Driveshaft Loop,Full Saleen Body Kit and Wing,2.5in. Double Cowl Hood,17" Saleen Speedline Wheels. So Cal Wild Horses

11-15-2001, 09:25 AM	#6
Chevyguy Backyard Mechanic/Chemist Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Acton MA USA Posts: 435	Hmm I had suspected that I should stick with the same brand H/X pipe and headers. The Cat Back fit perfectly to the stock H pipe and left me with a good feeling about the MAC quality. I like my MAC pro billet shifter too. I got a good response about MAC for a cat back system, and wonder why BBK would be better for the Headers/H pipe. The one comment about the poor fit of a BBK H pipe to the stock headers concerns me though. __________________ 2001 Crown Vic Maurader Airbox/MAF, DR chip Edel IAS shocks Single exhaust :wtf: 93 P-71 Vic interceptor Backup car now 90 5.0 LX Notch SOLD 74 Chevy Laguna type S-3 454 under construction Currently apart undergoing bodywork.

11-15-2001, 11:57 AM	#7
Phantom5oh Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 334	MAC over BBK... I would go with the MAC products instead of the BBK... MAC makes excelent exhaust products... they know their stuff and they fit perfect, and they last for a long time... I do not care for BBK anything, since everyone I know with BBK stuff has had problems with it, be it instalation or things down the road... don't go BBK, their stuff is "CHEAP" Steve __________________ 95 GTS 03 DR 650SE Sgarzi's Machine Works

11-14-2001, 09:51 PM	#3
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	I would also highly suggest BBK over MAC.

11-14-2001, 10:43 PM	#4
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	I recommend staying within a specific brand for exhaust products. If you go with MAC headers, get a MAC H pipe. If you go with a BBK X Pipe, get BBK headers. I have a BBK Highflow H pipe with Cats, it didn't fit the factory headers for ****. It was a couple/three inches off easy. The hangers were welded asymetrical, and at uneven heights, and the one of the pipes was rotated too far causing a misalignment. I got 2 at my place, both were the same. Actually, Summit screwed me on the deal. They boxed up the part I sent them in a different box and sent it back to me. Lame. What can you do though?

11-15-2001, 02:14 PM	#8
haulin'balz The Notorious One Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: NY Posts: 51	I'd agree w/ unit as far as sticking w/ the same brand for your entire exhaust.......always easier for the install and chances for exhaust leaks are little to none as opposed to going from bbk to mac to bassani etc etc. Why do some of you think MAC puts out a bad product? That's insane - exhausts are their business. I've hardly heard of someone not being satisfied w/ their Mac's. I guess t all depends on whether you want sound or performance or both. Don't get me wrong, BBKs are good, but Macs are too. __________________ 1990 5.0 LX Hatch - all the usuals and much more. Running low 12's @ 112-115mph (1.78 60') all day long! Damn this thing's fast!!! [url]"http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?1959"my ride[url]

11-15-2001, 03:31 PM	#9
Chevyguy Backyard Mechanic/Chemist Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Acton MA USA Posts: 435	My MAC Cat back is not very loud which is a good thing, except when I want to be a punk ( I'm 35 now) then I wish I had flowmasters. Although I am told it makes plenty of noise outside the car. I figure when I put in the 1 5/8 headers and 2 1/2 H pipe it will bark more. I don't even want to start on my header choice Equal length vs unequal shorties. I'm gettin unequals, so I can reach my plugs. Though long tubes have come to mind occasionally but naaah this is supposed to be a driver! __________________ 2001 Crown Vic Maurader Airbox/MAF, DR chip Edel IAS shocks Single exhaust :wtf: 93 P-71 Vic interceptor Backup car now 90 5.0 LX Notch SOLD 74 Chevy Laguna type S-3 454 under construction Currently apart undergoing bodywork.

11-15-2001, 04:24 PM	#10
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	Someone asked why I thought MAC was crap, so Ill answer. Several different speed shops told me to buy BBK, and told me to stay away from MAC while I was trying to order a MAC part. In particular, thier headers were rumored to have "quality control" problems. I do have a MAC off road h-pipe, and it fits OK. That is the only MAC part I have. I also had a MAC strut tower brace that wasnt even close to fitting and had to send it back. __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

11-15-2001, 06:27 PM	#11
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	***MAC also focuses their production almost completely on exhaust products Not true, have you looked at an add lately? And you call BBK's products cheap...LoL. And I'm not backing BBK up because I have them on my car, either. Because I've sold most of the stuff off my car already, because I'm selling it. I've had only good dealings with BBK, my H-pipe fit perfect, my headers fit perfect, etc.. etc....I doubt you'll see any Hp difference between BBK and MAC, but the quality of MAC products are just..well...not good. All the people I know that have bought Mac headers and other mac products are literally disgusted with them. I'd go wth BBk if i were you. JMO. If you had a littlre more cash to spend, "I'd" get Bassani Long Tube headers, and their X-pipe.

11-15-2001, 07:06 PM	#12
posied88 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Anaheim, Ca. Posts: 31	When i said that MAC focuses almost completely on exhaust, i did add something to it. I said that is how they started out. i do realize that they have everything from shifters to guages in their catalog, but the experience that i have had along with some freinds has only been good with MAC. It's hard to say that something didnt fit on my car so it sucks because not every car is going to be exactly the same. That is why you will see someone say that their MAC H-Pipe, or what have you, fit perfectly and you will also have someone say it didnt even come close to fitting. Just my .02 __________________ 3.55 Gears,Posi,MAC 1 5/8 Shorties,MAC Off-Road H-Pipe,Flowmaster 3 Chamber Mufflers,BBK 65mm Throttle Body,FRPP Aluminum Driveshaft,FRPP B-303 cam,Pro 5.0 Shifter,1 1/2in. Lowering Springs,HPM Subframe Connectors,HPM Driveshaft Loop,Full Saleen Body Kit and Wing,2.5in. Double Cowl Hood,17" Saleen Speedline Wheels. So Cal Wild Horses

11-15-2001, 07:32 PM	#13
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	The reason some MAC parts fit and some dont isnt the car, its the product from MAC. Its called inconsistent quality and has been a MAC problem for a long time. You might get a part that fits, you might not. Take your chances or go BBK, the choice is yours. __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

11-15-2001, 10:34 PM	#14
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	Just about any Catback will fit great. There is so much room to play with them and maneuver them into position. I'd say 50%+ of the MAC users complain about MAC quality, and I will certainly back Mach 1 on the inconsistancy in that brand. From peeling coating, to poor fitment, to no fitment. Overcharging, poor finish quality, lack of customer service, etc. I've seen many posts on MAC products surrounding all those problems. I have had personally bad experiance with a BBK product, but as a general rule BBK has a much, much better reputation than MAC for quality. My opinion is, if you are going aftermarket for your exhaust, chances are you're gonna have a problem or two. The consistant quality just doesn't seem to be their for most manufacturers.

11-15-2001, 10:49 PM	#15
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	well said unit. I think you summed it up perfectly. __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

11-16-2001, 08:34 AM	#16
Chevyguy Backyard Mechanic/Chemist Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Acton MA USA Posts: 435	Hmm, maybe I'll reconsider my opinion of MAC, certianly I will do some more digging before I even get close to buying my Headers and H pipe. Anything that is made by humans can be made wrong, the trick is to keep the mistakes to a minimum. Also how they respond to quality problems is very important. When I put my cat back on, I had already cut my tailpipes off with a sawzall, if the system did not fit etc I would have been screwed since this is my daily driver, food for thought eh __________________ 2001 Crown Vic Maurader Airbox/MAF, DR chip Edel IAS shocks Single exhaust :wtf: 93 P-71 Vic interceptor Backup car now 90 5.0 LX Notch SOLD 74 Chevy Laguna type S-3 454 under construction Currently apart undergoing bodywork.

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