problems with mac longtube install

NotchJohnson · 12-06-2001, 10:32 PM

I just got finished trying to install mac longtubes on my car, and couldnt get the damn things to fit into place. I did all the stuff you were supposed to do(unbolt motor mounts and lift the engine 1-2 inches) well 1-2 inches wasnt even close, so we lifted the motor until it touched the firewall, probably almost 4 inches, and they still woulnt fit. We managed to get the drivers side in after taking out the steering shaft, but even that was a ******* mission. The passengers side wouldnt cooperate worth a damn and even without the starter in place, still wouldnt fit. Tomorrow morning I think we are gonna pull the motor and see if its possible then. What really sets me off is how easy the instructions make it look. They it seem like a walk in the park. Has anyone ever had this problem before with these headers, by the way my car is an AOD, which I specified when I ordered. Any input from you guys would really help me out. Thanks alot, John

Five0 · 12-06-2001, 11:36 PM

Hey notch, I just installed those same headers and yes it was a pain in the ars. I fought with the driver side for about 2 hours and the passenger side I could not get to go in. I finally got it to go in from the top but could not get it from the bottom like the instructions said.

I know on mine they went in from the top pretty easy (passenger side only) I tried to do the driver side the same way but it would not go.

Hope this helps.

faststang90 · 12-06-2001, 11:59 PM

friend has a 93 gt aod car we had hell with the drivers side but on the passagers side we undid the motor mount (just passagers side) and rolled the motor up on that side and it fell right in by the way pull the plugs that well help go in from the top

Five0 · 12-07-2001, 12:02 AM

I did not even pull the plugs but I did take the motor mount all the way off.

It slid right in.

NO SLO PK · 12-07-2001, 12:31 AM

Putting the passenger side in from the top was the trick for me. The driver's side header would not clear the steering coupler (aka rag joint) for love or money. I bought a new coupler from Central Coast that gave the needed clearance.

Also, if you have collapsed motor mounts, clearance can be really bad.

Mustang_289 · 12-07-2001, 07:21 AM

I recently installed MAC LTs, removed motor mounts all the way, did remove the plugs for fear of breaking them while sliding headers in place. I cranked the motor up to the firewall and they did go in..

My problem now is on the drivers side, the steering linkage rubs against the header. Has anyone else had this problem?

Five0 · 12-07-2001, 07:42 AM

Yea, me. It's not bad though.

The header on the passanger side also rubs the firewall where it goes under the car.

I do have the convt motor mounts and the motor does sit a little higher so I'm sure that did not help any.

Chevyguy · 12-07-2001, 08:57 AM

Yikes, I had been considering MAC longtubes for my daily driver!!

Do the same problems occur with BBK long tubes as well??

Maybe I'll just get shorties afterall, but I really do want TORQUE

faststang90 · 12-07-2001, 09:29 AM

i got bbks on my car and i had to raise the motor but the went in not has hard as the macs bbks r built different then the macs

NotchJohnson · 12-07-2001, 10:30 AM

Thanks for all the help guys, Ill see what I can do today. John

NotchJohnson · 12-07-2001, 09:11 PM

Well I got them on today, car sounds great and feels stronger too, that prochamber really gives it an awesome rumble. The passenger side went in from the top like you guys stated( and the instructions didnt). Thanks alot for the help. John

Five0 · 12-07-2001, 09:22 PM

Hey man anytime! Just glad I could help.

NO SLO PK · 12-08-2001, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mustang_289

My problem now is on the drivers side, the steering linkage rubs against the header. Has anyone else had this problem?

Read my post above! You can also get a steering linkage from Flaming River.

2FastLX · 12-08-2001, 09:51 PM

Mine rubs too. Buy the Flaming River shaft before you wear the soon to be rusted coating off where it's touching

12-06-2001, 10:32 PM	#1
NotchJohnson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 593	problems with mac longtube install I just got finished trying to install mac longtubes on my car, and couldnt get the damn things to fit into place. I did all the stuff you were supposed to do(unbolt motor mounts and lift the engine 1-2 inches) well 1-2 inches wasnt even close, so we lifted the motor until it touched the firewall, probably almost 4 inches, and they still woulnt fit. We managed to get the drivers side in after taking out the steering shaft, but even that was a ******* mission. The passengers side wouldnt cooperate worth a damn and even without the starter in place, still wouldnt fit. Tomorrow morning I think we are gonna pull the motor and see if its possible then. What really sets me off is how easy the instructions make it look. They it seem like a walk in the park. Has anyone ever had this problem before with these headers, by the way my car is an AOD, which I specified when I ordered. Any input from you guys would really help me out. Thanks alot, John __________________ 89 notch-finally not stock!! ported gt40's, ported cobra intake, 65mm tb, 75mm maf, mac cai, lt's,prochamber, fms 1.6 rr, 125 shot.

12-06-2001, 11:36 PM	#2
Five0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: middleburg, fl, usa Posts: 1,134	Hey notch, I just installed those same headers and yes it was a pain in the ars. I fought with the driver side for about 2 hours and the passenger side I could not get to go in. I finally got it to go in from the top but could not get it from the bottom like the instructions said. I know on mine they went in from the top pretty easy (passenger side only) I tried to do the driver side the same way but it would not go. Hope this helps. __________________ James Cox RHC Member #44 nochevy@hotmail.com 1991 Mustang LX Dart iron eagle block, 4340 28oz 347 crank, 4340 h-beam rods, probe ultra light pistons canfield heads “race ported by Brent Frazier”, solid roller cam and lifters “custom grind”, kooks 1 7/8" race headers, and much more. Engine built by Brent Frazier.

12-07-2001, 12:02 AM	#4
Five0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: middleburg, fl, usa Posts: 1,134	I did not even pull the plugs but I did take the motor mount all the way off. It slid right in. __________________ James Cox RHC Member #44 nochevy@hotmail.com 1991 Mustang LX Dart iron eagle block, 4340 28oz 347 crank, 4340 h-beam rods, probe ultra light pistons canfield heads “race ported by Brent Frazier”, solid roller cam and lifters “custom grind”, kooks 1 7/8" race headers, and much more. Engine built by Brent Frazier.

12-07-2001, 12:31 AM	#5
NO SLO PK Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Arcadia, CA, USA Posts: 731	Putting the passenger side in from the top was the trick for me. The driver's side header would not clear the steering coupler (aka rag joint) for love or money. I bought a new coupler from Central Coast that gave the needed clearance. Also, if you have collapsed motor mounts, clearance can be really bad. __________________ Russ L '91 LX - 331 w/ Procharger '03 Cobra Convertible - Pullied '94 Lightning '65 Mustang Coupe

12-07-2001, 07:42 AM	#7
Five0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: middleburg, fl, usa Posts: 1,134	Yea, me. It's not bad though. The header on the passanger side also rubs the firewall where it goes under the car. I do have the convt motor mounts and the motor does sit a little higher so I'm sure that did not help any. __________________ James Cox RHC Member #44 nochevy@hotmail.com 1991 Mustang LX Dart iron eagle block, 4340 28oz 347 crank, 4340 h-beam rods, probe ultra light pistons canfield heads “race ported by Brent Frazier”, solid roller cam and lifters “custom grind”, kooks 1 7/8" race headers, and much more. Engine built by Brent Frazier.

12-06-2001, 11:59 PM	#3
faststang90 Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: baytown,tx,us Posts: 128	friend has a 93 gt aod car we had hell with the drivers side but on the passagers side we undid the motor mount (just passagers side) and rolled the motor up on that side and it fell right in by the way pull the plugs that well help go in from the top

12-07-2001, 07:21 AM	#6
Mustang_289 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 512	I recently installed MAC LTs, removed motor mounts all the way, did remove the plugs for fear of breaking them while sliding headers in place. I cranked the motor up to the firewall and they did go in.. My problem now is on the drivers side, the steering linkage rubs against the header. Has anyone else had this problem?

12-07-2001, 08:57 AM	#8
Chevyguy Backyard Mechanic/Chemist Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Acton MA USA Posts: 435	Yikes, I had been considering MAC longtubes for my daily driver!! Do the same problems occur with BBK long tubes as well?? Maybe I'll just get shorties afterall, but I really do want TORQUE __________________ 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.

12-07-2001, 09:29 AM	#9
faststang90 Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: baytown,tx,us Posts: 128	i got bbks on my car and i had to raise the motor but the went in not has hard as the macs bbks r built different then the macs

12-07-2001, 10:30 AM	#10
NotchJohnson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 593	Thanks for all the help guys, Ill see what I can do today. John __________________ 89 notch-finally not stock!! ported gt40's, ported cobra intake, 65mm tb, 75mm maf, mac cai, lt's,prochamber, fms 1.6 rr, 125 shot.

12-07-2001, 09:11 PM	#11
NotchJohnson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 593	Well I got them on today, car sounds great and feels stronger too, that prochamber really gives it an awesome rumble. The passenger side went in from the top like you guys stated( and the instructions didnt). Thanks alot for the help. John __________________ 89 notch-finally not stock!! ported gt40's, ported cobra intake, 65mm tb, 75mm maf, mac cai, lt's,prochamber, fms 1.6 rr, 125 shot.

12-07-2001, 09:22 PM	#12
Five0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: middleburg, fl, usa Posts: 1,134	Hey man anytime! Just glad I could help. __________________ James Cox RHC Member #44 nochevy@hotmail.com 1991 Mustang LX Dart iron eagle block, 4340 28oz 347 crank, 4340 h-beam rods, probe ultra light pistons canfield heads “race ported by Brent Frazier”, solid roller cam and lifters “custom grind”, kooks 1 7/8" race headers, and much more. Engine built by Brent Frazier.

12-08-2001, 09:51 PM	#14
2FastLX The Photoshop Guru Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mecca, Indiana Posts: 1,419	Mine rubs too. Buy the Flaming River shaft before you wear the soon to be rusted coating off where it's touching __________________ Project: 1988 Coupe - EFI 5.8L Twin Turbo with Victor intake, Canfield heads, F303 cam, March aluminum underdrive pulleys, TKO (or T56 if funds permit), PBR twin piston calipers and 13" rotors up front, 94 Cobra rear calipers and 12" rotors on the rear, 3.73's, Griggs K-member, tubular front control arms, torque arm and panhard bar, polished 99 Cobra wheels. "The GR-40 kit installation is now complete, and the humble Fox-chassis car will now out-corner and out-stop a ZR-1 or a Viper, and support massive horsepower additions with perfect balance." Griggs Racing ICQ# 42269241

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Edelbrock RPM intake install problems	jruppert	Windsor Power	4	03-04-2004 05:05 PM
HELP: Problems after Paxton Novi 1000 install	Meatman	Windsor Power	3	10-17-2002 06:03 PM
Having problems with vibrations after clutch install Please help.	zepherman	Windsor Power	6	05-17-2002 10:15 AM
Problems with 1.7 rockers and cobra intake install (read)	Ian'sGT's	Windsor Power	12	04-11-2001 08:22 PM
Cold starting problems after Novi 2000 install.	DCON	Windsor Power	1	04-10-2001 10:02 AM