Help me choose between these exhaust pieces

[crazy_canuck999]

I want to order a full exhaust in june, and have narrowed it down to :

-MAC 2.5" catback (for LX so I wanted this one with the chrome tailpipes)
-BBK or MAC shorty headers (leaning towards equal-length)
-BBK or MAC O/R H-pipe (I live in Victoria, don't need to worry about cats)

Basically what I'm leaning towards now is BBK headers + h-pipe with a MAC catback, but am also thinking possibly to go all MAC to have everything matching. What type of experiences have you guys had with these products (fitment/quality), and what would you recommend. The prices are close, so I just want to go with the better overall product. If I put this exhaust on and a set of underdrive puliies at the same time (on a basically stock motor), what type of a rwhp increase am I looking at? will it be noticable?

 

[Michael Yount]

Having browsed the posts for some time, there are consistently more people that aren't happy with their Mac purchases than BBK. Not to say no one ever has a problem with BBK stuff, but the incidence is much lower, especially with headers. Based on that, if it's a toss up, I'd go with BBK.

On a mostly stock car, the biggest single difference you can make is to change the rear gear. You'll feel a bit with the changes you're thinking about - but the exhaust system changes on a stock engine will be more about the sound it makes than actually picking up a bunch of power. Shorty headers will make virtually no difference at all; some folks complain of losing bottom end when they make exhaust changes on a mostly stock motor.

Biggest bang for you buck? Put gear in it, and then a cat-back (for the sound). Next would be doing something about the lower intake manifold - have tmoss port it for you.

 

[Demented4.6]

well first off mac headers are a hit and miss.. They are pretty much junk and don't properly mount up without some force..

here is what I have it it works NICELY!!
BBK ceramic coated shorties
BBK H-pipe ( soon to be X-pipe )
and a new mac cat back with lx tips..
it sounds awesome and is bery easy to work on if need be. one tip on the headers- DO NOT use the supplied gaskets. go to the parts store and buy a quality metal reinforced gasket. i was lazy and used them and blew both sides in less than a month

 

[crazy_canuck999]

BOWTIE - did you go with the un-equal or equal-length shorties?

 

[Matts89LX5.0]

I never had a problem with Mac Unequal length headers, but have heard that some people do have problems.

Matt

 

[tmoss]

I got some MAC "P" head headers in the head package I bought. The headers did not align well with the head bolts, so I broke out the carbide burr and elongated the mounting flange holes in the headers before sending them to Jet-Hot for coating. So, mine did not fit that good either. Could be using them (heat cycles and stress related to installing them) causes them to take a new "set".

 

[Michael Yount]

Tom - not sure if they were individually flanged or one piece - but any individually flanged header seems to have problems with alignment - even my stock HO headers did. The Mac are notorious for it. For that reason I only select one-piece flanged headers. The other issue is alignment of the head port with the header primary tube from a flow perspective - probably just a nit though. And yes, heat cycles do seem to move things around a bit.

Have you had your new set up dyno'd yet?

 

[Demented4.6]

BOWTIE - did you go with the un-equal or equal-length shorties?

unequal

 

[tmoss]

Have you had your new set up dyno'd yet?

Not yet but soon. SOTP has me smiling big time. I think MAC's are all individual aren't they?

 

[04sleeper]

Yes all MAC headers are individual. If were up to me I wouldn't go equal length anything. The maybe 1 or 2 lbs. of torque you "May or may not pick up" is not worth the hassel bolting them on or how they run closer to your plug wires. If you are going to spend the money on BBK you might want to consider FRPP ceramics. They are Stainless Steel and Jet Hot Coated "By Jet Hot". They also have a lifetime warranty and have the one peice flange.
That being said on a mostly stock car I would get the H-pipe and the cat-back but hold off on the headers until you get some head work done. They will only hurt you.

 

[Michael Yount]

Crazy - to 89sleeper's point - my car (mild combo - alum heads/cam/intake) LOST 3HP with a switch from the stock HO headers to Ford Racing shorty's. Unless you're gonna go into the internals on yours (heads, cam, etc.), long tubes are the only headers worth adding given the power level you're at.

 

[sxystev0]

i have basani ceramic shorties, h-pipe, and flowmasters dumps. really loud i can tell a difference on power too

 

[87GTPrimer]

If your going to trow out the cats anyway, just get a set of BBK 1-5/8 longtubes with the matching O/R H-pipe. You'll pick up some real horsepower and have a nasty sounding exhaust to go with it. And its just a little more than the shorty setup. Just be prepared to spend a day wedging them in. But it sooo worth it. Good luck!