BBK vs. MAC Long Tubes? (searched and couldn't find topic)

FastGT94 · 11-19-2003, 10:10 AM

Greetings!

I know this question has probably been asked before but I ran several searches and came up dry.

What are your experiences with BBK ceramic vs. MAC Longtubes.

The poor quality finish of the MAC's isn't a concern since I'd be getting them Jet-Hotted.

-However, how is the CERAMIC BBK finish? (not chrome)

-Also, which set fits better (no rubbing) on a 1994 GT? Which set is easier to install?

-What about EGR and o2 bungs and fitment of the EGR pipe?

-Will they make comparable power?

-Does anyone know if you can pass emissions in Northwest suburbs, IL with Longtubes?

Please list your pro's and con's for BBK ceramic vs MAC Longtubes 1 5/8"

Thanks!
-Dale

Dark_5.0 · 11-19-2003, 11:27 AM

The BBK long tubes have a thick one piece flange and are less likely to leak.

They get my vote.

Ackbar00 · 11-19-2003, 02:04 PM

The BBK will tarnish almost as quick as the MAC lose their coating. Either will work. I would assume that they will pass a sniffer test, but not the visual on emisions. EGR tube, goes into the Hpipe, not the header, it will have to be modified. Power, both will make. They both suck to install, if you want easy install, DONT GO WITH LONG TUBES!! (Unless you get the 5 peice design)

I got some MAC 1 5/8's for sale by the way

jonnyk · 11-19-2003, 08:36 PM

I have the 1 3/4" BBK's on mine and love them. The install was a royal pain but that's the tradeoff with longtubes. Besides, you only have to install them once. I can't speak about the MAC's because I personally would never put a MAC part on my car.

fastang · 11-19-2003, 09:49 PM

I had BBK longtubes on my 95 and they make great power and looked awesome, you could even see them peeking out underneath the car if you were standing far enough away. But they SUCK!!!!! because they burnt up all my damn heater hoses so I had NO ac or heater. There isnt as much room in the engine bay compared to a fox body so the install BLOWS, not to mention that the headers dont have an air injection fitting for your smog pump. So you have to remove the smog equipment which is very illegal or somehow drill a hole into the header, cut the fitting off of your stock header and weld it onto the new one. It just sucks....get legal equal length headers with the fitting already on it. You wont gain THAT much more hp from the longtubes if any at all.

Dark_5.0 · 11-20-2003, 11:26 AM

I agree get BBK equal length headers thats what I got and it took me about an 1 1/2 hours to do the install.

Here is a tip though go to home depot and buy a roll of foil tape and rap up the ends of your spark plug wires so they dont get burned up.

FastGT94 · 11-20-2003, 11:47 AM

So Longtubes aren't worth it? Every other place says they're the best hands down!?!

And I haven't heard of anyone melting their hoses, some talked about a small re-route but nothing that was damaged.

I'm pretty sold on the LT's cuz I heard that equal lengths are just as much of a pain and are even bulkier (wider) and would interfere with more stuff.

-Dale

Dark_5.0 · 11-20-2003, 03:44 PM

Equal length headers are easy as hell to put in and you can use your existing H or X pipe and you dont have to extend the wires on your 02 sensors not to mention all of the ground clearance issues that come with longtubes.

Long tubes make the most power no doubt. But they are a royal pain to install.

Installation of equal length headers goes like this.

Remove old headers.

just drop in and bolt on drivers side header.

un bolt the passenger side motor mount

jack the engine up about 2 - 3inches on the passenger side.

drop in the passenger side header and bolt in.

easy money.

Longtube headers are worth it if you have a stroker/ supercharger/ Nitrous but on a little old 302 the difference between equal length headers and longtubes is very marginal.

It would cost you 209 bux for BBK equal length headers.

long tubes you need a shorter H-pipe O2 sensor extensions and a big bottle of tylenol to take away the head ache you will have after your 8 hour install.

This is just my opinion. Either way good luck

BaLListic · 11-20-2003, 05:56 PM

isnt that a bit over the top? i mean i pulled out my entire engine in 4 1/2 hours on my own in a gravel driveway. Having with no kinda lift... 8 hours heh i guess:-\

Dark_5.0 · 11-20-2003, 06:01 PM

I guess it all depends aon how mechanically gifted you are.

I have seen it take a weekend for "novice" driveway mechanics to install long tube headers.

jrgoffin · 11-21-2003, 12:02 AM

I have a set of BBK LT's which weren't too bad to install, but if you compare them to the MAC's, you'll notice that the MAC's are more of a true equal-length. That may come in to play for some and others may not care. I know I am going to take the BBK's and the H-pipe out of my car and sell them over the winter and get a new set of FlowTech's! The chrome will burn off, so I had to re-coat mine.

11-19-2003, 10:10 AM	#1
FastGT94 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 29	BBK vs. MAC Long Tubes? (searched and couldn't find topic) Greetings! I know this question has probably been asked before but I ran several searches and came up dry. What are your experiences with BBK ceramic vs. MAC Longtubes. The poor quality finish of the MAC's isn't a concern since I'd be getting them Jet-Hotted. -However, how is the CERAMIC BBK finish? (not chrome) -Also, which set fits better (no rubbing) on a 1994 GT? Which set is easier to install? -What about EGR and o2 bungs and fitment of the EGR pipe? -Will they make comparable power? -Does anyone know if you can pass emissions in Northwest suburbs, IL with Longtubes? Please list your pro's and con's for BBK ceramic vs MAC Longtubes 1 5/8" Thanks! -Dale __________________ 1994 Mustang GT 5.0 14.1 @ 98 mph Last edited by FastGT94; 11-19-2003 at 02:11 PM..

11-19-2003, 11:27 AM	#2
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	The BBK long tubes have a thick one piece flange and are less likely to leak. They get my vote. __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

11-19-2003, 02:04 PM	#3
Ackbar00 Rebel Fleet Commander Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Huber Heights, OH Posts: 1,003	The BBK will tarnish almost as quick as the MAC lose their coating. Either will work. I would assume that they will pass a sniffer test, but not the visual on emisions. EGR tube, goes into the Hpipe, not the header, it will have to be modified. Power, both will make. They both suck to install, if you want easy install, DONT GO WITH LONG TUBES!! (Unless you get the 5 peice design) I got some MAC 1 5/8's for sale by the way __________________ 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!"

11-19-2003, 08:36 PM	#4
jonnyk Being stroked is great Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 772	I have the 1 3/4" BBK's on mine and love them. The install was a royal pain but that's the tradeoff with longtubes. Besides, you only have to install them once. I can't speak about the MAC's because I personally would never put a MAC part on my car. __________________ Novi 2000 now spinning off the snout of the 331... Mods Pics

11-19-2003, 09:49 PM	#5
fastang Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: santa ana ca Posts: 1,349	I had BBK longtubes on my 95 and they make great power and looked awesome, you could even see them peeking out underneath the car if you were standing far enough away. But they SUCK!!!!! because they burnt up all my damn heater hoses so I had NO ac or heater. There isnt as much room in the engine bay compared to a fox body so the install BLOWS, not to mention that the headers dont have an air injection fitting for your smog pump. So you have to remove the smog equipment which is very illegal or somehow drill a hole into the header, cut the fitting off of your stock header and weld it onto the new one. It just sucks....get legal equal length headers with the fitting already on it. You wont gain THAT much more hp from the longtubes if any at all. __________________ 98 GT manual trans, Magna Flow exh. old car: 95GT, TFS T.W. heads, Holley Intake, B303 cam, FRPP 30lb injectors, Scorpion 1.6 rollers, 65mm TB, 73mm MAF, BBK Longtubes, Flowmaster cat back, March Pulleys, MSD coil, 9mm wires, Tremec 3550 trans, Pro5.0 shifter,10.5 Motorsport clutch, FMS aluminum driveshaft, weld in subframe connectors. 190lph pump, BBK adj FPR.

11-20-2003, 11:26 AM	#6
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	I agree get BBK equal length headers thats what I got and it took me about an 1 1/2 hours to do the install. Here is a tip though go to home depot and buy a roll of foil tape and rap up the ends of your spark plug wires so they dont get burned up. __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

11-20-2003, 11:47 AM	#7
FastGT94 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 29	So Longtubes aren't worth it? Every other place says they're the best hands down!?! And I haven't heard of anyone melting their hoses, some talked about a small re-route but nothing that was damaged. I'm pretty sold on the LT's cuz I heard that equal lengths are just as much of a pain and are even bulkier (wider) and would interfere with more stuff. -Dale __________________ 1994 Mustang GT 5.0 14.1 @ 98 mph

11-20-2003, 03:44 PM	#8
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	Equal length headers are easy as hell to put in and you can use your existing H or X pipe and you dont have to extend the wires on your 02 sensors not to mention all of the ground clearance issues that come with longtubes. Long tubes make the most power no doubt. But they are a royal pain to install. Installation of equal length headers goes like this. Remove old headers. just drop in and bolt on drivers side header. un bolt the passenger side motor mount jack the engine up about 2 - 3inches on the passenger side. drop in the passenger side header and bolt in. easy money. Longtube headers are worth it if you have a stroker/ supercharger/ Nitrous but on a little old 302 the difference between equal length headers and longtubes is very marginal. It would cost you 209 bux for BBK equal length headers. long tubes you need a shorter H-pipe O2 sensor extensions and a big bottle of tylenol to take away the head ache you will have after your 8 hour install. This is just my opinion. Either way good luck __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

11-20-2003, 05:56 PM	#9
BaLListic Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Asheboro, NC Posts: 108	8 hour install..... isnt that a bit over the top? i mean i pulled out my entire engine in 4 1/2 hours on my own in a gravel driveway. Having with no kinda lift... 8 hours heh i guess:-\

11-20-2003, 06:01 PM	#10
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	I guess it all depends aon how mechanically gifted you are. I have seen it take a weekend for "novice" driveway mechanics to install long tube headers. __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

11-21-2003, 12:02 AM	#11
jrgoffin Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Midwest Posts: 79	I have a set of BBK LT's which weren't too bad to install, but if you compare them to the MAC's, you'll notice that the MAC's are more of a true equal-length. That may come in to play for some and others may not care. I know I am going to take the BBK's and the H-pipe out of my car and sell them over the winter and get a new set of FlowTech's! The chrome will burn off, so I had to re-coat mine. __________________ '90 LX Too many mods... Rear-Disc tech