BBK or Mac?
- Thread starter 1988WHTGT
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04sleeper
Founding Member
Both have problems. MAC has VERY POOR quality but the collectors are big and make good HP but sometimes leak or blow out gaskets.
BBK's have much better quality but have small "ball joint" collectors and don't make as much HP but seal better and are easier to install.
My opinion. Get shorties for a street car, get LT's for a track car. The few extra HP are not worth the downsides IMHO.
BBK's have much better quality but have small "ball joint" collectors and don't make as much HP but seal better and are easier to install.
My opinion. Get shorties for a street car, get LT's for a track car. The few extra HP are not worth the downsides IMHO.
Yea, I was kind of thinking about that too.....I have BBK shorties now...how much of a sound difference will LT's make?
04sleeper
Founding Member
Depends on how you define difference.
Sure it will sound different. But it depends on what brand you buy and tube configuration as well.
In my experience with both BBK and MAC LT's, the BBK's were quieter than the MAC's. I feel it was due to the tubing thickness. (MAC=14 gauge steel and BBK=16 gauge steel).
Sure it will sound different. But it depends on what brand you buy and tube configuration as well.
In my experience with both BBK and MAC LT's, the BBK's were quieter than the MAC's. I feel it was due to the tubing thickness. (MAC=14 gauge steel and BBK=16 gauge steel).
I have BBK shorties and BBK O/R H right now.....was wanting to go to some sort of Longtubes with an O/R X
I chose MAC because the entire exhaust system is ball and socket and can be easily removed if necessary without cutting, prying & etc.. I have seen no issues with blowing out gaskets with mine. The only complaint I have is I drive the car 90 miles round trip 3 days a week and the exhaust note gets to me after a while.
04sleeper
Founding Member
The downfall with ball and socket is the small openings. I was refering to the 3 bolt flange style with gaskets.
A friend of mine had 1 5/8" FRPP shorties on his NA 331 w/ AFR 185's etc... and switched to 1 3/4" BBK LT's. Both with x-pipes.
He gained Nothing from the swap.
So he wasn't going to give up and switched the ball socket collectors for 3 bolt style Flowmaster collectors and picked up 15 RWHP. Then he had them ceramic coated again.
By the time it was all said and done he had over $750 just in the headers.
A friend of mine had 1 5/8" FRPP shorties on his NA 331 w/ AFR 185's etc... and switched to 1 3/4" BBK LT's. Both with x-pipes.
He gained Nothing from the swap.
So he wasn't going to give up and switched the ball socket collectors for 3 bolt style Flowmaster collectors and picked up 15 RWHP. Then he had them ceramic coated again.
By the time it was all said and done he had over $750 just in the headers.
just a side note
Brenspeed off of ebay is a very good company to deal with, brent(the owner) is really quick with responses and shipping and did all the work to get me new gaskets from bbk when i let him know one of mine was torn, no questions asked. as you can tell thats where i got my longtubes from, im still waiting for some money so i can get my prochamber put in with it.
Brenspeed off of ebay is a very good company to deal with, brent(the owner) is really quick with responses and shipping and did all the work to get me new gaskets from bbk when i let him know one of mine was torn, no questions asked. as you can tell thats where i got my longtubes from, im still waiting for some money so i can get my prochamber put in with it.
Honestly, the difference between mac and bbk headers are not going to make a lot of real life difference in performance. Nothing worth writing home at least.
You need to base your decision off of quality and longevity, especially if you're under a budget, which you are, or you'd already have the bassani's installed.
The bottom line is, the "majority" of mac headers have serious problems with re-installation. My buddy had TONS of issues re aligning them every time. Finally they cracked, and that was that.
simply put, you will NOT have those issues with the bbk headers. they're of a fantastic quality.
honestly though, for a little more, you can get the stainless ford racing headers. Nice pieces. summit has them for $225ish. I bought the ceramic units for $309, but I'd def do ford racing or bbk.
You need to base your decision off of quality and longevity, especially if you're under a budget, which you are, or you'd already have the bassani's installed.
The bottom line is, the "majority" of mac headers have serious problems with re-installation. My buddy had TONS of issues re aligning them every time. Finally they cracked, and that was that.
simply put, you will NOT have those issues with the bbk headers. they're of a fantastic quality.
honestly though, for a little more, you can get the stainless ford racing headers. Nice pieces. summit has them for $225ish. I bought the ceramic units for $309, but I'd def do ford racing or bbk.
stangjunkie
New Member
- Nov 15, 2004
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Alright, now I'm not worried about which brand....its if I want to keep shorties or go longtubes....
$uperstang
New Member
I have the MAC 1 3/4" long tubes but you can debate this topic all you want. The only reason I got them instead of BBK was that BBK did not make a LT for an AOD. I think the MAC's are sweet but the BBK chromies are also good. Final words, either one is a great header if it were me and I had a 5spd I would go with the set that I could find the better price for!
TrunkFunk
Banned
Hissing Cobra
Founding Member
I bought Mac's complete system. It included 1-3/4" longtubes, 2-1/2" off road H-pipe, and 2-1/2" cat-back system. The headers bolted up perfectly. However, they hit the rag joint on the steering shaft and interfered with my starter. I had to buy a smaller starter and a Flaming River steering shaft to fix these issues. The off road H-pipe and cat-back system have been flawless.
srothfuss
Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row
04sleeper
Founding Member
TrunkFunk
Banned
srothfuss said:
Yes I did !
It arrived at my house on Tuesday.
Installed it after work.
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