Header Reccomendation

DRock9 · Dec 3, 2006

I am purchasing some headers tonight so that I can finally put my Mac H-pipe on and I wanted to go with Mac but I have read bad things about the HTS coating flaking off and rusting, and I was wondering if anyone had any reccomendations on what brand to go with. I wanted ceramic's but I heard it can also peel off and rust so I think I am going to go with chrome/stainless seeing as I will be driving this car every winter until it dies, not a good thing living in Mass. I wanted to get some input on what finish I should get, I have about $225 to spend and also I would like to get some input on whether or not a ceramic coating is neccessary or if I can get by without it.

The stock headers are not ceramic correct? I am currently having no over-heating issues so I don't know what kind of benefit it would give me. Thanks for any and all help!

EDIT: I have pretty much narrowed it down to the 1 5/8" Mac HTS equal length or the 1 5/8" BBK Chrome.

Foxfan88 · Dec 3, 2006

i am running the unequal BBK chrome shorties. they are nice, fit perfect and look nice. are a little blue from head but its not bad. BBKs are nice. really any headers are obviosly better than stock. as long as you get a stainless steel header then they should look great all the time.

i would stick to unequals. more clearance, i think some brands routing with their equals are difference. i dont know about mac, but i had some flowtech equal shorties and the stuck out so far i melted clutch cables. O_O

Daggar · Dec 3, 2006

Shopping thread

--moved to talk--

onefstsnake · Dec 3, 2006

Im running unequal MAC shorties that are Ceramic coated.
1-3/4" Ive had them on for 6+ months and they still look new.

DRock9 · Dec 3, 2006

It seems most people are running unequal...why not equal length? I know the spark plug problem but couldn't you just wrap some insulator or something around them to stop the problem from happening? Don't you get like an additional 5hp from the equal lengths?

EDIT: And with a stock motor, 1 3/4" or 1 5/8"? I am worried the 1 3/4" won't give me enough back pressure.

87Mustang351 · Dec 3, 2006

im going with longtubes on my 351 W build up, will i have the sparkplug problem?

onefstsnake · Dec 3, 2006

DRock9 said:
It seems most people are running unequal...why not equal length? I know the spark plug problem but couldn't you just wrap some insulator or something around them to stop the problem from happening? Don't you get like an additional 5hp from the equal lengths?

EDIT: And with a stock motor, 1 3/4" or 1 5/8"? I am worried the 1 3/4" won't give me enough back pressure.

yes 1-3/4" is too big for a mostly stock engine. I noticed loss of low end power but it did pick up a bit up top. But I do plan on a 331+ down the road.

91ghp5.0 · Dec 3, 2006

Most people, as far as I can tell, frown on equal length. If it was me, i'd get longtubes. If that isn't possible, get BBK shorties (unequal length).

Chuckman · Dec 3, 2006

im running bbk chrome shorties, theyre not bad, espically for the price. if i were doing it again though i might go with the ceramic coated frpp's, but i dont think the have as a thick of a flange on em. i was also considering mac's when i did em, just cause the rest of my exhaust is mac, but the multiple piece flanges worried me cause i know ill eventually be swapping heads on this car.

DRock9 · Dec 3, 2006

I would have done longtubes if I didn't already have an H-pipe for shorties, and why are equal lengths generally frowned upon? They give you a decent ammount more HP over unequal.

soontobefastfox · Dec 3, 2006

DRock9 said:
I would have done longtubes if I didn't already have an H-pipe for shorties, and why are equal lengths generally frowned upon? They give you a decent ammount more HP over unequal.

+1 I've never heard that

But anyways I went with equal length shorty headers because I wanted to be able to change my spark plugs with ease. But orginally I had purchased BBK long tubes, but they hit my Mcleod SFI bellhousing. So I went with the BBK equal length shorties and a custom x. And realistically between the equal vs. longtube there is not much hp difference, many will beg to differ though.

DRock9 · Dec 3, 2006

Yea the power difference between equal and longtubes wouldn't be much, but i would think the difference between equal and unequal would be noticable.

91ghp5.0 · Dec 3, 2006

there is usually no diff in equal/unequal, but they are a PITB to get on/off. dont even think about spark plugs.

OrLackThereof · Dec 3, 2006

I have equal-lengths and I like em. I run 45 degree plugwire boobs, with Taylor sleeved insulators over them and they hold up to the heat just fine. I can change all 8 plugs in about 30-40 minutes, taking my time and antiseizing and gapping each plug. You just need a swivel plug socket, a wrench, and if you can get hold of one, a plug socket with an external hex-head on the end, that you can put a wrench on....that one helps a LOT. And with the anti-seize on the threads, all you have to do is break it loose and you can take it out by hand...so it might be a PITA the first plug change, but the ones after that will be MUCH easier.

In my opinion, its not worth it if youre gonna buy headers and go unequal....Only reason I run equal-length is because I bought the car with em, truth be told I'd go with longtubes in a heartbeat if I didnt have to buy another midpipe...I like my O/R X too much!

ryan218 · Dec 3, 2006

BBK shorties is what i hear are nice. (unequal)

jrichker · Dec 4, 2006

FMS stainless steel shorties - best fit, finish and materials for your dollar. I have 4 years on mine as a daily driver and they work great and still look good.

soontobefastfox · Dec 4, 2006

91ghp5.0 said:
there is usually no diff in equal/unequal, but they are a PITB to get on/off. dont even think about spark plugs.

I beg to differ. BBK recently redesigned their equal length shorties where I was able to slide them in with the engine in (not jacked up) and all the spark plugs were relatively easy to put in and take off.

fox-gt · Dec 4, 2006

double post

fox-gt · Dec 4, 2006

I chose BBK ceramic unequal because I heard there were clearance issues with equals. I ended up with clearance issues with my unequals.

I had to dent the header and get new motor mounts. The coating held up half way decent through the dent damage.

soontobefastfox · Dec 4, 2006

66mustang93 said:
I chose BBK ceramic unequal because I heard there were clearance issues with equals. I ended up with clearance issues with my unequals.

I had to dent the header and get new motor mounts. The coating held up half way decent through the dent damage.

really when did you install them?

Header Reccomendation

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