Buying Mac Longtubes 1 5/8th" any opinions?

[stang2004]

Im buying a set of Mac Longtubes 1 5/8th inch with 2.5 inch collector, now ive heard that their quality is hit or miss,,, does anybody else have these longtubes installed on their car? How is the fitment? Ive heard of some problems with rubbing on the steering?

oh its a 1989 GT 5 speed.

thanks

 

[90mustangGT]

Why MAC???

 

[stang2004]

cuz im getting em for 165$

 

[90mustangGT]

Ohhh, that's a good reason I guess... So what about a mid pipe, longtubes won't work with the stock H pipe?

I've heard the same about MAC longtubes. Some say the newer one's arn't as bad. Make sure you have good motor mounts and all.

 

[Matts89LX5.0]

PITA to install....but for the price, why not. Make sure you get a Mac mid pipe for the LTs.

Matt

 

[flying high]

buy bbk, mac sucks to install, quality is so so, my dad has bbk ceramic coated and they fit perfect, i have mac lt and it took me 10 hours to install.

 

[mike93lx]

I have em, they do rub the steering shaft. The fit is good, no leaks or anything. the finish stinks though, they're getting spotty.
overall, i think they're awesome for the money. I'm using them with a 2.5" catless prochamber and I think it sounds pretty sweet.

 

[stang2004]

well i was planning on doing the entire exhaust, so i was going to get the Mac Prochamber, along with the Mac Long tubes. I was going to get BBK longtubes however i heard they wont work with the Mac Prochamber, hence the Mac longtubes.

so basically these long tubes are going to rub against my steering shaft? anyway to prevent that, and is that bad? I was planning on swapping in new motor mounts when i have to jack up the engine for the install

 

[DropTopR]

I have them, and they rub my steering shaft. Kinda sux. As for the install, they weren't too bad, but I had trouble cuz my T56 is much wider than the T5. And ditto for the finish. They're already rusty, and it's just a weekend car. Oh well, I'm gonna replace them with BBK, but I'm waiting till when I swap in the Windsor.

 

[MavericK5L]

Hard to install .. especialy to bolt the cylinder 5 . man. . what were they thinking ..

I love them tho .. with a MAC Prochamber ..

And fair price too

 

[Rick 91GT]

I've put a few sets on Fox Bodies with limited issues, if you have a blowproof bell housing you'll need to grind on it a little to make them fit, lifting the motor up is also a must.

As far as the coating, if they rust you can buy a special paint from Summit Racing, the brand is DEI it works great and will keep them looking brand new, it is a high temp silicone paint.

 

[stang2004]

im concerned about them rubbing on the steering shaft. What does this affect? and should i be worried about this?

 

[Blue89gt]

you can replace the steering shaft (rag joint type) with one of the MM ones or another universal joint type. if you dont have the dough you can fit the header mark it and put a slight dent in the tube to give it clearance. or slightly push the collector in at the bottom so the pipe is slightly closer to the engine.


I have the BBK LT's and the biggest thing is the single flange at the heads. you can warp the mounts at the heads on the macs because they have the individual flanges.

i went ceramic, or you could jet-hot coat n them or the DEI paint.

good luck

 

[Rick 91GT]

I didn't have clearance issues with my MAC 1.625", stock steering shaft, rack and convertible 3/4" drop mounts.

 

[04sleeper]

You say you are going to put Long Tubes on your car when your sig says that you already have BBK equal lengths? And with a 2 1/2" collector? Why? You are not going to make any more power with your mods. Just a poor quality header going on with a lot of problems....no more power and increased under hood temp???? Also harder to change trannys clutch etc...??? I don't get it.

 

[3022FST4U]

I bought MAC 1 5/8" LT's a few months back. They fit fine IMO. Yeah, they are a PITA to install but that is more because they are LT's, not because they are MAC brand.
The finish is a joke, it's more like high-temp spray paint than ceramic coating. Nothing wrong with it, just don't expect it to do anything or last long.
As for hitting the steering shaft, mine did too but that was because my engine mounts were totally shot and sagging. Some new Energy Suspension poly mounts cured that perfectly.

 

[stang2004]

You say you are going to put Long Tubes on your car when your sig says that you already have BBK equal lengths? And with a 2 1/2" collector? Why? You are not going to make any more power with your mods. Just a poor quality header going on with a lot of problems....no more power and increased under hood temp???? Also harder to change trannys clutch etc...??? I don't get it.

yea i have BBK equal lengths, i figured the longtubes would give me some extra power over them? coupled with a mac prochamber and mac cat back... u dont think its worth it?

 

[04sleeper]

If your car still has stock unported heads you will actually be loosing torque and power both. Believe it or not the stock header is better when the heads are stock and unported. I had my car dynoed here at a local shop with stock headers then with 1 1/2" equal length MAC's then with 1 5/8" FRPP shorties. All with a VRS x-pipe and Dynomax cat back with 2 1/4" Mandrel Bent tails. I actually lost 7 hp and 6 ft. lbs. of torque with 1 5/8" and lost 5 hp and 4 ft. lbs with the 1 1/2" equal lengths. Then just to make sure I put the stockers back on and the power went right back up.
You will definately pick up power if you go with the MAC Prochamber and cat back but with stock headers. If you plan on doing head work and intake in the future and then bigger headers are the way to go. But I would wait until you do the work to put them on.

I hope this helps you. Just some things I experienced first hand.

 

[stang2004]

If your car still has stock unported heads you will actually be loosing torque and power both. Believe it or not the stock header is better when the heads are stock and unported. I had my car dynoed here at a local shop with stock headers then with 1 1/2" equal length MAC's then with 1 5/8" FRPP shorties. All with a VRS x-pipe and Dynomax cat back with 2 1/4" Mandrel Bent tails. I actually lost 7 hp and 6 ft. lbs. of torque with 1 5/8" and lost 5 hp and 4 ft. lbs with the 1 1/2" equal lengths. Then just to make sure I put the stockers back on and the power went right back up.
You will definately pick up power if you go with the MAC Prochamber and cat back but with stock headers. If you plan on doing head work and intake in the future and then bigger headers are the way to go. But I would wait until you do the work to put them on.

I hope this helps you. Just some things I experienced first hand.

aight, so i guess ill stick with my Chrome BBK equal lengths, im obviously not going to swap them out for stock so i guess ill just go with the Mac Prochamber and the cat back. I have about 3 exhaust leaks in the catback. Should i feel a nice seat of the pants gain with the prochamber and the catback?

 

[04sleeper]

aight, so i guess ill stick with my Chrome BBK equal lengths, im obviously not going to swap them out for stock so i guess ill just go with the Mac Prochamber and the cat back. I have about 3 exhaust leaks in the catback. Should i feel a nice seat of the pants gain with the prochamber and the catback?

You will get a nice seat of the pants gain with the prochamber and the catback. I know you don't want to hear this but those stock headers will also help give you more seat of the pants feel because you will pick up torque. I know they are ugly but I would put them back on until you get some head work.