I think I've been lied to...
 

For those of you with mostly-stock suspensions and full-length headers, have any of you had any ground clearance issues? The guy I went to see about my exhaust said I wouldn't make it over a single speed bump with long-tubes. I just sorta nodded at the time, but that can't possibly be true...otherwise those things would only be sold to the die-hard racer market and they'd cost a fortune.


Oh, and he seemed very disappointed that I didn't want Flowmasters. Maybe he owns stock in them.

I've never heard of any ground clearace issues with long tube.

Also he's probably a offical dearler of flowmasters. The more he sells the more money he makes.

You shouldn't have any clearance issues if your suspension is stock, even if it was lowered a little, you should be okay.

you'll be fine.

I have had long tubes on my 86 Capri 5.0 since 1988 and only hit them once on a very high driveway. RAY

I have MAC long tubes and Ford C springs which lowered my car about 1 1/2" in the front. If I hit a 4" dip in the road going about 40 mph I will get a scrape every now and then. They don't show any signs of damage though. It's just the flanges that have touch so far. I'm waiting for the flange to be ground away and get into the tubes so I can order some Bassani stepped headers :D

You have to watch out for those covers they have on the underground tanks at the gas stations. Some of those stick up pretty high and I thought I ripped my header off one day when I hit one shortly after I got them installed. I give MAC credit for making a tough header. It's just too bad they look like sh!t a week or two after you install them.

I appreciate the help, guys, but I think I'm going to pass on them for now. I don't want there to be any doubt whatsoever, especially considering I'm putting three or four hundred dollars in labor into these things.


Now that that's settled, the next real question is whether my box-stock 302 needs the additional 5cfm that a set of Flowmasters will provide. :D

ha the flowmasters aren't even the best flowing mufflers on the market for the mustang!!! just as an example the MAC Flow Path mufflers outflow flowmasters... but for some reason exhaust shops push flowmasters... go figure...

steve

You shouldn't have any problems with the stock springs. But if you lower you car you might have some problems. I have H&R supersport progressive lowering springs. I had an offroad H-pipe and i did scrape the hell out of the pass side tube when I went over a bump. This is with a full stop and "rollin" over the damn bump. Now that I have longtubes I don't even attempt to go over a bump.. The longtubes are much lower then my old offroad pipes.

i have full mac exhaust..longtubes off road H and flowpath mufflers..sounds awsome and iv never once had my headers touch the ground..stock suspention

I have full legnths on my 89 and have no problems!

$300 to $400 labor to install a set of headers?!

Dude, come to my house and Ill install them for $50.00

Your getting ripped off, and flowmasters suck. Get dynomax, sound better, fit better and cheaper.

I've had BBK longtubes on several of my stangs and haven't ever had any ground clearance issues. Hell if you're gonna pay that much in labor you better do it right the first time, you don't want to have to pay that again when you decide to go to longtubes later down the road. Most guys love long tubes for extra power and torque but don't go that route because the install is a little more difficult. Since you are having them installed I say go for it.

See, that's what I was thinking; I'd rather just get the exhaust done the way I want it the first time. Plus, I was going to get my clutch and rear main seal done, so I figure they could pull the tranny, put the headers on, and then slap the tranny back on with a new clutch and seal. Maybe that'll save me a little on labor.

300-400 If it goes slow to put in About 3HR I would say MAX!!!!! And a 100HR WAY to Much to pay Find a Guy the is close to you and Help him do it and pay him lik 50-75 Most of the guys I have ment would love to help all ways Fun making a car go fast!!!:D