MAC Longtubes?

95mustanggt · 01-23-2003, 08:45 AM

Good, bad, ugly?

Mustang_289 · 01-23-2003, 08:54 AM

We've got MAC long-tubes, pain to put in, have problems with drivers side #2 tube (I believe) rubs the steering linkage. I've heard the same think with BBKs and other lts. If you're going with long-tubes and you can afford it - get them JetHot coated! We decided against it - but now looking at the headers starting to rust with the HTS coating, we wish we had spent the money on JetHot coating.

You will also need to extend the O2 sensor wiring on the right side as the O2 sensors are now a little further back. You can do this one of two ways - get an O2 extender - or simply add some wire, make sure it's the same guage, and you use shrink wrap tubing to make it water tight.

VeNuM · 01-23-2003, 09:22 AM

If I had the choice I'd go with the BBK's. I think their headers are much better than MAC's. You can get them coated from the factory too. ~Brian

Tony Frank · 01-23-2003, 10:28 AM

I have macs on my 85 GT, and they are really good. i like them a lot. there are a lot of people that dont like mac stuff, i have had thier full exhaust system and it was a great system.

and definatley go with the ceramic coated ones that they sell.

95mustanggt · 01-23-2003, 02:15 PM

I know a guy who'll sell me the long tubes and the H-pipe for a couple hundred bucks. I haven't looked at them yet, but the guy said there is some surface rust. I'd like to install them myself.

Dave_mustang_50 · 01-23-2003, 05:39 PM

I`ve had my long tubes on for about 4 years and theres only small areas of surface rust under the car. I have heard that some people havent been so lucky. I did go through a few clutch cables due to headers too close to the cable.

bad85gt · 01-23-2003, 07:20 PM

Ive got them too, no clearance problems other than it IS impossible to get them out of my car with the motor bolted down, but thats because of my 2 piece bell housing being in the way, putting that aside, I like them

gofastmercury · 01-24-2003, 12:33 AM

I had mine for about 4 years. I like em. The 02 plugs will fit, you have reroute the wires, its kind of a pain, but if you have the original instrustions, it tells you how. I also wish I had them coated. I only burnt one clutch cable in all this time, so I can't complain. I think a couple of hun is a good buy.

86GT · 01-24-2003, 09:15 AM

I've had MACs and BBKs in my car. The MACs were the worst ones to install and remove, they had to basically come out with the motor. The BBKs were somewhat easier, still needed the motor lifted about 2". Neither one rubbed the starter or the steering shaft (luckily). O2 sensors were the usual for LT headers, needing a 6" or so piece unless you are able to move the harness for the O2 sensor by the firewall and run it down over the bellhousing (Worked for me, didn't need any extensions then).

Of the two, its hard to choose. The BBKs made it easier to remove the spark plugs, but that 1 piece flange concerned me, what if it warps? (It never did, but the thought remained.) They are the chrome ones, but you could never tell now, they are rusted as bad as the MACs.

The MACs, rusted out almost completely (all they had was their HTS coating which just keeps them looking good on the shelf). They were the pain to install, harder to get at some of the plugs, but their individual tubes made for peace of mind, and they are usually cheaper.

I will note that on my car an H-pipe for BBKs will not work on MACs. I have a 2 1/2" Cat pipe (MAC) and it wouldn't work on my BBKs, nor would the O/R pipe(BBK) work on the MACs. I think when I install my new setup, I'm gonna run the MACs for now, since they'll work with the cat pipe, and get an O/R pipe for them, and sell off the BBKs. It really comes down to which one you like best, and how much you want to spend.

Ackbar00 · 01-24-2003, 02:27 PM

I have the 1 5/8 longtubes and the are a *****!!!!! to work around. The are showing sign of rust and generaly dont look pretty. Now with that being said, it boils down to 2 things: 1. How often are you going to be working in the engine bay? 2. How little do you have to pay for them? If you are just going to put them in and not do alot more and the price is right, I would say its a good deal. If I had to do it over again I would get shorties, or a nice set of longtubes like Bassani(Those are kick *** but like 500$)

95mustanggt · 01-25-2003, 05:35 PM

Thanks guys. Project was halted due to new purchase

Details

01-23-2003, 08:45 AM	#1
95mustanggt Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Kamloops, BC Posts: 2,875	MAC Longtubes? Good, bad, ugly? __________________ 1995 Mustang GT 20016 F150 Lariat Super Crew

01-23-2003, 09:22 AM	#3
VeNuM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 464	If I had the choice I'd go with the BBK's. I think their headers are much better than MAC's. You can get them coated from the factory too. ~Brian __________________ 1989 Black Mustang GT Hatchback, Underdrive Pulles, Electric Fan, Cold Air Intake, Headers, Offroad H-Pipe, Magnaflow catback, Steeda Tri-Ax, Fluidyne Aluminum Radiator, Timing at 14*, 3.73's Coming not so soon: 408w Ricer Hater's Club Member #59

01-23-2003, 10:28 AM	#4
Tony Frank Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Brooklyn originally, but Grand Rapids now Posts: 309	I have macs on my 85 GT, and they are really good. i like them a lot. there are a lot of people that dont like mac stuff, i have had thier full exhaust system and it was a great system. and definatley go with the ceramic coated ones that they sell. __________________ Grand Valley State University Senior Accounting and Finance Major 1985 Mustang GT 19,000 ORIGINAL miles, E-303 cam, edelbrock performer RPM intake, holley 600 cfm carb, MAC headers, windage tray, 8.8 rear end with 4.10 gears, 4"cowl hood, 5lug conversion, 04 Mach1 wheels. http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?1501

01-23-2003, 02:15 PM	#5
95mustanggt Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Kamloops, BC Posts: 2,875	I know a guy who'll sell me the long tubes and the H-pipe for a couple hundred bucks. I haven't looked at them yet, but the guy said there is some surface rust. I'd like to install them myself. __________________ 1995 Mustang GT 20016 F150 Lariat Super Crew

01-23-2003, 05:39 PM	#6
Dave_mustang_50 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: New Port Richey, Florida Posts: 483	I`ve had my long tubes on for about 4 years and theres only small areas of surface rust under the car. I have heard that some people havent been so lucky. I did go through a few clutch cables due to headers too close to the cable. __________________ 1969 Mach 1 351C with a c6(for now) Sold 92 Rag Top GT Procharged & intercooled DSS 331 LC Holley Systemax 2 Intake, Edelbrock RPM Heads,E 303 ,blow thru air meter, race bypass, 42 pph injectors,65mm tb,1.7 rr, Mac long tube headers w/off road H pipe, Force 2 catback, TKO,Pro 5.0, K&N, Alum DS,3 core radiator, subframe connectors,3.73`s, Nitto DR`s and a Heavy Foot.

01-23-2003, 08:54 AM	#2
Mustang_289 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 512	We've got MAC long-tubes, pain to put in, have problems with drivers side #2 tube (I believe) rubs the steering linkage. I've heard the same think with BBKs and other lts. If you're going with long-tubes and you can afford it - get them JetHot coated! We decided against it - but now looking at the headers starting to rust with the HTS coating, we wish we had spent the money on JetHot coating. You will also need to extend the O2 sensor wiring on the right side as the O2 sensors are now a little further back. You can do this one of two ways - get an O2 extender - or simply add some wire, make sure it's the same guage, and you use shrink wrap tubing to make it water tight.

01-23-2003, 07:20 PM	#7
bad85gt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In front of this thing Posts: 34	Ive got them too, no clearance problems other than it IS impossible to get them out of my car with the motor bolted down, but thats because of my 2 piece bell housing being in the way, putting that aside, I like them __________________ Purpose Broken Racing Team Breakin stuff since 2001!

01-24-2003, 12:33 AM	#8
gofastmercury Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: calgary alberta canada Posts: 366	I had mine for about 4 years. I like em. The 02 plugs will fit, you have reroute the wires, its kind of a pain, but if you have the original instrustions, it tells you how. I also wish I had them coated. I only burnt one clutch cable in all this time, so I can't complain. I think a couple of hun is a good buy. __________________ 93LXcopcarSOLD14.3@96 @ 4500ft 2.02 60ft on street tires. my 67 ranchero NOT A 390 ANY MORE! 460! 3.70's cast manifolds, comp cams 262H, performer, 750DP 100K out of 79 F250 NEW(oct20/02)14.58@95mph 2.3 60 ft corrects to:13.86@100 66 merc comet351w, isky roller 600 lift 268/260@.050, vic jr. 700DP, 5000stall, 4.56's c-4, 3400lbs with driver 12.3@110 @ 4000ft 1.69 60 ft corrects to:11.69@115

01-24-2003, 09:15 AM	#9
86GT Sniffed too much n20 Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 1,018	I've had MACs and BBKs in my car. The MACs were the worst ones to install and remove, they had to basically come out with the motor. The BBKs were somewhat easier, still needed the motor lifted about 2". Neither one rubbed the starter or the steering shaft (luckily). O2 sensors were the usual for LT headers, needing a 6" or so piece unless you are able to move the harness for the O2 sensor by the firewall and run it down over the bellhousing (Worked for me, didn't need any extensions then). Of the two, its hard to choose. The BBKs made it easier to remove the spark plugs, but that 1 piece flange concerned me, what if it warps? (It never did, but the thought remained.) They are the chrome ones, but you could never tell now, they are rusted as bad as the MACs. The MACs, rusted out almost completely (all they had was their HTS coating which just keeps them looking good on the shelf). They were the pain to install, harder to get at some of the plugs, but their individual tubes made for peace of mind, and they are usually cheaper. I will note that on my car an H-pipe for BBKs will not work on MACs. I have a 2 1/2" Cat pipe (MAC) and it wouldn't work on my BBKs, nor would the O/R pipe(BBK) work on the MACs. I think when I install my new setup, I'm gonna run the MACs for now, since they'll work with the cat pipe, and get an O/R pipe for them, and sell off the BBKs. It really comes down to which one you like best, and how much you want to spend.

01-24-2003, 02:27 PM	#10
Ackbar00 Rebel Fleet Commander Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Huber Heights, OH Posts: 1,003	I have the 1 5/8 longtubes and the are a ***!!!!! to work around. The are showing sign of rust and generaly dont look pretty. Now with that being said, it boils down to 2 things: 1. How often are you going to be working in the engine bay? 2. How little do you have to pay for them? If you are just going to put them in and not do alot more and the price is right, I would say its a good deal. If I had to do it over again I would get shorties, or a nice set of longtubes like Bassani(Those are kick * but like 500$) __________________ 1993 Mustang GT, PTK w/ T-64 - My Cardomain Webpage 11.25@123.5 on only 8 psi. 10.84@121 on only 1 headgasket "The Truth is, Your the Weak, and I am the Tyranny of Evil Men!"

01-25-2003, 05:35 PM	#11
95mustanggt Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Kamloops, BC Posts: 2,875	Thanks guys. Project was halted due to new purchase Details __________________ 1995 Mustang GT 20016 F150 Lariat Super Crew

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