Disconnecting steering shaft for Mac longtubes

[Grn92LX]

How hard is it to disconnect the steering shaft? My car has no engine or trans in it right now. Is this a pain in the balls to disconnect that shaft? Engine will have new poly mounts when it goes in. I'm looking into mac 1 3/4" longtubes with a 3" collector and a 3" prochamber. Its a '92.

Am I crazy for considering mac longtubes?

Also, what kinda power gains would there be with an equal length longtube header and a non equal length longtube header? I know bbk's are real nice for the money, but aren't equal length. What would I gain by going with an equal length longtube vs a non equal length? Just debating if its worth the extra hassle to put in mac longtubes and run a 3" prochamber instead of bbk LT's? Its a low 11 capable stroker not a 13 second junk BS car

 

[jb89coupe]

I put my mac lt's on with the motor and tranny in, with the heads off.. didn't need to pull the steering shaft (it's easy anyway), just had to loosen the motor mounts and jack the block up a bit and they slid right in from under the car (on a lift). I also had no problem clearing or frying the stock starter like some people do.. maybe the 1-3/4" headers fit differently though.

 

[Grn92LX]

The newer designed mac longtubes have 2 primaries that go around the steering shaft so it needs to be removed to install them. Sounds like you got the older design which seems better.

I did a quick search on corral and i'm hearing way too many complaints with mac LT's. I think im going with trusty bbk's again with a 3" vrs x-pipe.

 

[Labora]

It is no sweat to disconnect. Just try and not turn the steering wheel and wheels. Even then thou it still only goes on one way so it isn't that hard.

 

[meangreen92lx]

Good luck. I've got the 1 5/8 Mac longtubes and had steering shaft clearance issues. Removing the shaft is not a huge deal unless it's frozen up. I had to grind the shaft narrower by the header and shim my steering column in the car to change the shaft angle so the header didn't rub the steering shaft. I'm not sure how the 1 3/4 inchers fit. The Mac headers are ok if you don't take them on and off all the time because of warpage. I like the prochamber mid pipe so thats why I went with the mac stuff. The equal length set-up is also a small benefit. Might gain a little more power with it.

 

[N8Miller]

good luck mike.
i disconnected mine when i put the BBKs in. it was a PITA to get it back on right. heck, for a few months, my car had an upside down steering wheel because i put the steerign shaft back on upside down. But after 1 hr of trying to get it back on right, i was just gonna take it whatever way i could get it.

 

[LQQKIN4COUPE]

on the 1 3/4 MAC's the steering shaft has to pass between the primaries

 

[mfewtrail]

The newer designed mac longtubes have 2 primaries that go around the steering shaft so it needs to be removed to install them. Sounds like you got the older design which seems better.

I did a quick search on corral and i'm hearing way too many complaints with mac LT's. I think im going with trusty bbk's again with a 3" vrs x-pipe.

My brothers 92 GT has the Mac 1 & 3/4'' longtubes on it where the steering shaft passes through the primaries. It hasn't ever posed any "problems" that I'm aware of. I did not install my headers, but it honestly does not look like THAT bad of a job to do.

 

[BaXTeR3221]

Steering shaft is very easy to remove. I took mine out and replaced it with the maximum motorsports version when i was doing the headers. Just a couple bolts, though the ones on the bottom can be a pain to get to.

 

[Grn92LX]

Your mac longtubes fit good then around the steering shaft?

 

[GREG91GT]

I have the old mac LT's and my steering shaft goes between the primaries,its easy to remove the steering shaft,I like the old macs better my passenger side header comes apart so its easy to get to the starter.

 

[ninjacoupe]

I had the 1 5/8 Mac longtubes on the 302 block. Those hit the steering shaft. Don't know about the mac 1 3/4.

 

[BaXTeR3221]

I have no idea what headers i have, sureshot didn't know what they were. They fit pretty well, managed to force the passenger side in without unbolting anything and the drivers side slide in w. the steering shaft out.