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-   -   MAC's definition of quality. (http://forums.mustangworks.com/showthread.php?t=1271)

LOCASH 02-19-2001 08:05 PM

MAC's definition of quality.
 
About a month ago I was whining about a header leak ("exhaust leak from hell"). Well I bought Earl's gaskets, Stage 8's and 2 extra sets of gaskets because I am in Italy and it takes 2 weeks for anything to get here. Blah, blah, finally I get a chance to take them off and take them to a machine shop and guess what....the F***ing thing is cracked near a weld. Fantastic. Now I get to deal with McCarville Ford and MAC. McCarville "will let me know" when "they hear from MAC". Pretty standard. I won't hold my breath. bye-bye $140. The moral of the story...you get what you pay for.Total costs:headers $140 s+h, earl's gaskets and stage 8's (which by the way work quite nicely)~$67.00, 2 extra sets of gaskets ~$40.00, endless hours of frustration-priceless.

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86 GT T-tops, AOD, B&M shift kit and hammer shifter, ROH wheels, K&N, Timing,MAC headers, 2.5 off road H, 2.5 American Thunder, 87 spindles, rear disc,SS lines, BBK 1.5, poly bushings, Steeda G-trac and subs, Strut bar.
"DRIVE LIKE YOU STOLE IT!"

2FastLX 02-19-2001 08:24 PM

I just bought a full MAC exhaust system and the (so called) chrome tips and headers rusted almost immediately. I've emailed them (went to MAC directly) a few times with pics of the tips and a copy of the invoice and haven't heard any good news as of yet other than we'll replace the tips. It has been a few weeks now since my first contact with them when they told me this and I'm starting to get a little ticked off myself. It'll definately be the last piece of MAC exhaust I ever buy.

DemonGT 02-19-2001 08:53 PM

that sounds kind of odd to me that you paid $140 for Mac headers....i have Mac long tubes and they ran me $220

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1991 GT,T-5,air silencer removed,racing clutch(previous owner put in so dont know what kind),K&N air filter,Aiwa deck,power acoustic amp,2 12" pianeers,UPDATE: Just got my Mac long tube headers and Cat-back

By the time summer comes ill have full Mac exhaust,new shifter knob and what ever else i can afford

Mach 1 02-20-2001 01:05 AM

I have heard bad stories about MACs quality from some reliable sources. It appears to be true. The only think MAC i have is my off road h-pipe, and it doesnt fit real good, but other than that, the quality seems acceptable.

As far as your header crack goes, simply get the crack welded, probably cost you $5.00, or whatever kind of money they use in Italy.

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1993 GT/AOD
'93 Mustang GT

rtz 02-20-2001 01:12 AM

Are BBK's any better?

I'm going to be getting some chrome shorties soon. Who makes the best?

I need a hi-flow cat X pipe too. Who makes the best one?

IMPULSERACING 02-20-2001 01:59 AM

BBK's chrome shorty's look like $h!T I bought a pair and the quality sucked so I just returned them. I know have a pair of MAC Even though the coating does wear off fast I've had them on an off three times and the only problam was one of the collector bolts stripped. I e-mailed MAC they responded in one day with a phone number. When I called they asked me for my name and address and said they'd ship me out a collector bolt kit. I thought that was really cool.

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92' LX Hatch 5 spd Edelbrock Performer Intake, pro-m 75mm MAF, 70mm T.B., 24lb injectors, 190lph, Mac fenderwall cold air induction, mallary ignition and coil, Cobra 1.7 rockers, 373:1 gear, upper and lower control arms, supersubs, 50/50's, front drag springs, no sway bar, battery in hatch, compucar N20 kit

stockrodder 02-20-2001 02:07 AM

if you get anything but ceramic coated headers... the coating be it chrome or hi temp paint is gonna burn off the first time they get hot. For the tips.. best to go stainless for lasting beauty



rtz 02-20-2001 02:32 AM

Well I thought chrome could take the heat and I can't stand rusty headers. http://www.mustangworks.com/interact...oard/smile.gif

So what is the best coating that will not flake off?

Who makes the best shorty headers these days?

2FastLX 02-20-2001 09:27 AM

I have never seen a set, but I just don't see how you could go wrong with a set of Ford Racing Products shorties. I've heard they are pretty nice.

Mach 1 02-20-2001 10:53 AM

I have the chrome BBK shorties on my car for over three years(unequal length), and the quality is awesome. Some of the nicest headers I have ever seen. They NEVER turned blue, and they still look great. I would recommend them 100% based on my experience with BBK headers.

I originally was going to order MAC, but the guy at the speed shop told me macs quality was "inconsistent" and wouldnt even sell them to me. Then I went with the BBKs.

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1993 GT/AOD
'93 Mustang GT

Patrick Boetticher 02-20-2001 12:14 PM

I would have to go with MACH 1 i have had BBKS on my car for about 1 year they still are nice and shiney and have a slight tint of blue on them (they are just chrome plated) i am very happy with them they have a thick mating surface and nice welds. and they were a great fit and easy to put in. they local expert at the speed shop said MAC is crap. he said install time is almost double and they dont last... he told me to go with FMS.. but i did no thave t money. i got my bbks for 180... a sale at PAW.

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PPG Torch Red 95GT, Ported Explorer Intake, E-303 cam, 75mm MAS, BBK Adj. fuel Reg & gauge, BBK Shorty Headers, BBK H-pipe, March Pulleys, 2 Chamber Flowmasters, Kenny Brown 6 point Roll cage, Kenny Brown Panhard Bar, Powerslot Rotors, Eibach Sportline Springs, 180* Thermostat, 1/2 Plenum Spacer, MSD 6AL, MSD Master Blaster, MSD 8.8 Wires, 19# Racing Injectors, AFS 10.5" Cobra R's, Nitto 555's, Eclipse & JL Stereo System... I just sold My K&N, It looks funny with Stock Air Box & filter!!!

LOCASH 02-20-2001 01:54 PM

Is anyone running the FMS headers? How are they? I am expecting to get hosed by McCarville Ford so I guess I'll just pull up some cash for something better.

Skyman 02-20-2001 02:06 PM

I have MACs on my car and they fit up perfectly no problems.

Skyler

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-1989 Saleen Mustang #406-
TFS Heads, E-303 Cam, Edelbrock Intake, and a whole lot more.
13.2@106mph
-Shooting for 12's and a 351 slowly in the works!

Stock-94 Integra 15.48@91mph

rtz 02-20-2001 05:36 PM

So do chrome shorties rust out or not?

Mach 1 02-20-2001 05:43 PM

No, they dont.

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1993 GT/AOD
'93 Mustang GT

LOCASH 02-20-2001 07:19 PM

I should hope that if they make 10 pairs of headers at least 8 fit well, they are after all,in the exhaust buisness. I can understand if my headers are defective but McCarville telling me that they are waiting to hear from MAC is a bunch of $hit. I don't recall them having to "wait to hear from MAC" when they charged me for them.

Jaydee 02-20-2001 08:03 PM

I've had Mac shorty's on my car since 1996 - No leaks, no rust just the regular blue tint on the chrome from heat cycling. Also have had the Mac hi flow cat pipe on for two years that fits well and the coating still looks decent. I could just be lucky with the Mac stuff, but I have no complaints with it.

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1965 K code coupe - numbers matching - restoration ongoing. 1987 LX notch, stock heads and intake, 3.55's and typical bolt on's 13.89@100.25

GodStang 02-21-2001 10:31 AM

My MAC off-road h-pipe has been great on my car. No problems taken it off once already and fits back snugg. Takes about 10 mins to put up.

Patrick Boetticher 02-24-2001 10:29 PM

I was only stating what the muffler guy in cam said...

rtz 02-28-2001 12:31 AM

Does Mac even make chrome headers?

http://www.macperformance.com/macsto...stangshort.asp


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