Your Opinion of Mac Headers?

KG88GT · 08-19-2002, 04:20 PM

I am thinking about doing the exaust in my Mustang, anyway I saw a good price on some mac headers (shorties for ease of working on the car). I have never heard of them how good on a scale from 1 to 10 are they and any other info you might have would be greatly appreciated.

KG88GT

Shelby428cj · 08-19-2002, 04:33 PM

I just got mac headers on my stang Friday and I love them they sound really good !!! A CLOSE friend on the board told me about them and he has a bad arse car sooooo I trusted him enough to have them put on.

SCOTTLT79 · 08-19-2002, 05:16 PM

Can't speak from experience but I was in the same place you are a month or so ago. I was asking so many questions. I've heard nothing but bad things about MAC headers. I've heard that they always leak and are a pain in the a#@ to put on. I was going to go with the BBK until I backed out and just went with the h pipe and the catback. But within a few months when I decide to do it, I'll be buying BBK, heard nothing but good stuff about them.

srv1 · 08-19-2002, 05:51 PM

i have the unequal shorties. so far they are ok. when i bought them, the flanges were not even straight, not even close. on a scale 1-10, i will give it a 6.

Shelby428cj · 08-19-2002, 05:56 PM

HMMMM wow maybe I got hosed I might have to have a talk with Eric4Nitrous!!!!! heehee

gofastmercury · 08-19-2002, 09:41 PM

I have had my full lenth mac headers on my 93 for about 2 years and 50K now. I been quite happy with them. The gasketless collector does leak, but not horribly. I would change that, but thats it. Never even blew a gasket out yet. They went in really easy, too. Oh, I do drive my car in the winter, and all over the place, not once have I bottomed them out.

HiFlow5 0 · 08-20-2002, 07:18 AM

I've had both MAC and BBK and found the BBK's to be far superior in quality. I don't like the individual flanges on the MAC headers cause they warp and you can't line up the header bolts without a pry bar. I did that and the welds broke at the collector and caused a nasty ticking. Go BBK for the same price as the MAC's! Just my 2 cents.

VeNuM · 08-20-2002, 12:39 PM

Get the BBK ones, much better for the money. I can vouch for that too Hi Flow 5.0.

WADS56 · 08-20-2002, 01:04 PM

My mac long tubes suck. I had to weld the header to the flange because they forgot to, I had to bend one tube to get it to line up with my exhaust port, I had to grind on the so called 3" collecter to make it 3", and I can't get the ******* things out without pulling the engine (lakewood bellhousing). They are now wraped with 5 coats of silicon header paint. Now the look sweet.

86GT · 08-20-2002, 01:07 PM

You're paying for what you are getting. Cheap price for cheap quality headers. I've had shorties and longtubes, both are poor quality. The cost was the only factor in purchasing them.

Mostly
Always
Crap

mysweetlx · 08-20-2002, 01:12 PM

I'm surprised there haven't been more "Mac sucks" replies.

I personally have MAC LT's and the only problem I've had is that the driver side header rubs on the steering shaft (which I'll be taking care of in a few weeks). BBK's are good too though, bt alot more expensive.

bigred90gt · 08-20-2002, 03:26 PM

I have a set of MAC equal length shorties, and they were a pain in the arse. Me and a friend spent almost 10 hrs cutting our knuckles in his garage, bending the individual flanges, trying to get them to line up with the exhaust ports on the heads, and then had a hell of a time getting the bolts to tighten down with the lack of room. After all of that I fired it up and had the nastiest leak you have ever heard. Once they were on, they posed no problem until I got my X pipe. I had to cut the x pipe and weld a sleeve on it to get it to seal at the collector. I definately suggest going with the BBK's.

Sonics2042 · 08-20-2002, 03:35 PM

How much for MAC equal-length shorties? Mine were only about 175 (although I did get em from a guy who knows a guys whose brother....)

I have MAC cat-back exhaust, and it isn't that bad, but the quality I have seen from my BBK stuff makes me want to get a new exhaust.

However, MAC Headers + Pro Chamber + Cat-Back is a pretty nasty (the good nasty) sounding setup.

Thanks,
DoranW

Scrapla · 08-20-2002, 04:37 PM

I bought MAC equal lengths and the quality is poor, the indivdual header flages are a pain and you gotta pry them and they were really a pain to get in, just my .02

mysweetlx · 08-20-2002, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sonics2042
However, MAC Headers + Pro Chamber + Cat-Back is a pretty nasty (the good nasty) sounding setup.

Thanks,
DoranW

That's the set up I have......and nasty it is!

Mustang_289 · 08-20-2002, 07:59 PM

Got complete MAC setup - cost was major issue.. Really wanted Basanni but MAC was cheaper. Went with long-tube headers - only complaint I've got is drivers side steering linkage rubs.

Hey mysweetlx - what are you doing to fix your steering linkage rubbing? Are you replacing the motor mounts?

08-19-2002, 04:20 PM	#1
KG88GT Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Pueblo, CO, USA Posts: 43	Your Opinion of Mac Headers? I am thinking about doing the exaust in my Mustang, anyway I saw a good price on some mac headers (shorties for ease of working on the car). I have never heard of them how good on a scale from 1 to 10 are they and any other info you might have would be greatly appreciated. KG88GT

08-19-2002, 04:33 PM	#2
Shelby428cj Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 510	I just got mac headers on my stang Friday and I love them they sound really good !!! A CLOSE friend on the board told me about them and he has a bad arse car sooooo I trusted him enough to have them put on. __________________ Karen Wells, Moderator The Mustang Works Magazine http://www.mustangworks.com 1969 Mustang (Project Rice Eater) 1999 Silver Mustang Saleen S281 (SQ car for stereo contests) SQ Goddess My Stereo Bro "tireburner163"

08-19-2002, 05:51 PM	#4
srv1 Get down..... Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Room 103 Posts: 2,095	Mac is cheap i have the unequal shorties. so far they are ok. when i bought them, the flanges were not even straight, not even close. on a scale 1-10, i will give it a 6. __________________ Cobra brakes are on! Finally..... ------------------------------------------------

08-19-2002, 05:56 PM	#5
Shelby428cj Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 510	HMMMM wow maybe I got hosed I might have to have a talk with Eric4Nitrous!!!!! heehee __________________ Karen Wells, Moderator The Mustang Works Magazine http://www.mustangworks.com 1969 Mustang (Project Rice Eater) 1999 Silver Mustang Saleen S281 (SQ car for stereo contests) SQ Goddess My Stereo Bro "tireburner163"

08-19-2002, 09:41 PM	#6
gofastmercury Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: calgary alberta canada Posts: 366	I have had my full lenth mac headers on my 93 for about 2 years and 50K now. I been quite happy with them. The gasketless collector does leak, but not horribly. I would change that, but thats it. Never even blew a gasket out yet. They went in really easy, too. Oh, I do drive my car in the winter, and all over the place, not once have I bottomed them out. __________________ 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

08-19-2002, 05:16 PM	#3
SCOTTLT79 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Raynham, Ma, USA Posts: 189	Can't speak from experience but I was in the same place you are a month or so ago. I was asking so many questions. I've heard nothing but bad things about MAC headers. I've heard that they always leak and are a pain in the a#@ to put on. I was going to go with the BBK until I backed out and just went with the h pipe and the catback. But within a few months when I decide to do it, I'll be buying BBK, heard nothing but good stuff about them.

08-20-2002, 07:18 AM	#7
HiFlow5 0 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Springfield, Ma, usa Posts: 706	I've had both MAC and BBK and found the BBK's to be far superior in quality. I don't like the individual flanges on the MAC headers cause they warp and you can't line up the header bolts without a pry bar. I did that and the welds broke at the collector and caused a nasty ticking. Go BBK for the same price as the MAC's! Just my 2 cents. __________________ NewEngland Auto www.baystategearheads.com -91 Mustang Coupe, ex 4cyl (sold) -99 F150, 3" lift, 35" Procomps, Magnaflow exhaust

08-20-2002, 12:39 PM	#8
VeNuM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 464	Get the BBK ones, much better for the money. I can vouch for that too Hi Flow 5.0. __________________ 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

08-20-2002, 01:04 PM	#9
WADS56 gear banger Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: CHICAGO Posts: 1,144	My mac long tubes suck. I had to weld the header to the flange because they forgot to, I had to bend one tube to get it to line up with my exhaust port, I had to grind on the so called 3" collecter to make it 3", and I can't get the ******* things out without pulling the engine (lakewood bellhousing). They are now wraped with 5 coats of silicon header paint. Now the look sweet. __________________ 79 Hatch: NA 347, Stage 2 Canfield Heads, Victor JR. Intake, Blueprinted Holley 750 HP, Solid Roller Cam, Shooting for 10's on motor 93 LX: Tremec, dual friction clutch, fms flywheel, Hedman shorties, O/R H-pipe Ricer hater's club member #49

08-20-2002, 01:07 PM	#10
86GT Sniffed too much n20 Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Ont, Canada Posts: 1,018	You're paying for what you are getting. Cheap price for cheap quality headers. I've had shorties and longtubes, both are poor quality. The cost was the only factor in purchasing them. Mostly Always Crap

08-20-2002, 01:12 PM	#11
mysweetlx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New York Posts: 248	I'm surprised there haven't been more "Mac sucks" replies. I personally have MAC LT's and the only problem I've had is that the driver side header rubs on the steering shaft (which I'll be taking care of in a few weeks). BBK's are good too though, bt alot more expensive. __________________ Damn this thing's fast!

08-20-2002, 03:26 PM	#12
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	I have a set of MAC equal length shorties, and they were a pain in the arse. Me and a friend spent almost 10 hrs cutting our knuckles in his garage, bending the individual flanges, trying to get them to line up with the exhaust ports on the heads, and then had a hell of a time getting the bolts to tighten down with the lack of room. After all of that I fired it up and had the nastiest leak you have ever heard. Once they were on, they posed no problem until I got my X pipe. I had to cut the x pipe and weld a sleeve on it to get it to seal at the collector. I definately suggest going with the BBK's. __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

08-20-2002, 03:35 PM	#13
Sonics2042 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 381	How much for MAC equal-length shorties? Mine were only about 175 (although I did get em from a guy who knows a guys whose brother....) I have MAC cat-back exhaust, and it isn't that bad, but the quality I have seen from my BBK stuff makes me want to get a new exhaust. However, MAC Headers + Pro Chamber + Cat-Back is a pretty nasty (the good nasty) sounding setup. Thanks, DoranW __________________ What I have: 1990 Red Mustang 5.0 LX: [BBK X-Pipe]-[MAC Cat-Back Exhaust] [MAC Cold Air Intake]-[BBK Equal Shorties] [3.55 Gears]-[Cobra Intake Manifold (Upper and Lower] [E-303 Cam]-[Granetelli Mass Air Flow Sensor] [Front and rear sway bars]-[New black carpet and seats.] [Adjustable Fuel Regulator]-[T5 Conversion w/ K. Cobra Clutch/Hurst STS] [Cobra Throttle Body]-[130A Alt. Conversion] Thinking about: Aftermarket Heads! Vortech A-Trim

08-20-2002, 04:37 PM	#14
Scrapla Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 532	I bought MAC equal lengths and the quality is poor, the indivdual header flages are a pain and you gotta pry them and they were really a pain to get in, just my .02

08-20-2002, 07:59 PM	#16
Mustang_289 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 512	Got complete MAC setup - cost was major issue.. Really wanted Basanni but MAC was cheaper. Went with long-tube headers - only complaint I've got is drivers side steering linkage rubs. Hey mysweetlx - what are you doing to fix your steering linkage rubbing? Are you replacing the motor mounts?

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