This weekend I installed my MAC longtubes, prochamber, catback, and removed some of the smog equipment - boy what a pain! It ended up taking around 12-14 hours grand total but the results were well worth it! I wanted to put this post up since you very rarely can find the "after" stories while searching.
I went in from the bottom with both headers - the driver's side was cake - I unbolted the steering rack and removed the convertible bracing and it slid straight in. The passenger's side... well it was another story. After removing the starter I didn't have the car up high enough on the jack stands to stab the header. After getting it WAY up in the air it worked out just fine.
Then came the bolts - I used the bolts that came with the MAC kit and bought some stainless lock washers and a touch of grease on the bolts. The trick to getting the LTs lined was up was to get some 4in long 3/8 - 16 studs (made some with allthread) and put them on either end of the header and hange the gasked (used Felpro 1415). That helped me get lined up. The individual flanges all lined up except for one - I had to push it left to right until it lined up with the exhaust port.
The exhaust bolt behind the powersteering pump was a pain in the butt. We ended up cutting the open end off a box end wrench to get it tightened. 12-point box end wrenches are definately a must. Speaking of "we", definately have help with this project - no way I could have done it alone.
Bolting up the prochamber and the catback was a piece of cake compared to getting the LTs in there - everything lined up great.
Pitfalls I ran into and remaining tings to do:
My dipstick would not fit. I don't know if I'm dumb or what but I could not get it to fit how it used to no matter how I bent it up. I'm about to order #FMS-M-6750-C303 from Summit.
I broke the EGR tube (tube between EGR valve and #2 tube on header) in half. I was trying to bend it about 1/8in in a vice and that sucker just snapped - shoulda used some heat. I got some exhaust bandages and patched it together but I've gotta find another one.
I've also got to "officially" plug the fresh air tube in the prochamber - I've got an exhaust patch and hose clamp over it. Don't want to weld anything to the prochamber - I'd rather keep it "clean".
I need to plug the holes in the back of the heads - I've got a clamped off rubber hose plugging this. Going "wazee" for this.
I've also got to get a short belt to bypass the smog pump (it's not hooked to anything right now). I've got a metallic rattle that is really loud around 2000rpms - with my old exhaust I thought it was a leak but now with the old exhaust and it unplugged it's louder - hoping that bypassing it will clear it up.
Lastly I have to find some sort of heat shield for my starter - it rides EXTREMELY close to the headers - I'm talking like 1/8in or less. When it does go out the header either has to come all the way off the engine or VERY loosely bolted - there's just no room to drop the starter out. Definately getting a mini starter next go-around.
All in all the exhaust was definately a win. It was a lot of work and required purchasing more misc parts than I anticipated but after driving around today... well it was all worth it. Although sound is VERY subjective I think it is awesome. I didn't want anything obnoxiously loud but I definately wanted some rumble and this combo definately lived up to the expectation. It won't attract police but it's definately loud enough to turn heads when I get on it. The power gains are there as well - definately more oomph down low!
Longtubes rock!
I went in from the bottom with both headers - the driver's side was cake - I unbolted the steering rack and removed the convertible bracing and it slid straight in. The passenger's side... well it was another story. After removing the starter I didn't have the car up high enough on the jack stands to stab the header. After getting it WAY up in the air it worked out just fine.
Then came the bolts - I used the bolts that came with the MAC kit and bought some stainless lock washers and a touch of grease on the bolts. The trick to getting the LTs lined was up was to get some 4in long 3/8 - 16 studs (made some with allthread) and put them on either end of the header and hange the gasked (used Felpro 1415). That helped me get lined up. The individual flanges all lined up except for one - I had to push it left to right until it lined up with the exhaust port.
The exhaust bolt behind the powersteering pump was a pain in the butt. We ended up cutting the open end off a box end wrench to get it tightened. 12-point box end wrenches are definately a must. Speaking of "we", definately have help with this project - no way I could have done it alone.
Bolting up the prochamber and the catback was a piece of cake compared to getting the LTs in there - everything lined up great.
Pitfalls I ran into and remaining tings to do:
My dipstick would not fit. I don't know if I'm dumb or what but I could not get it to fit how it used to no matter how I bent it up. I'm about to order #FMS-M-6750-C303 from Summit.
I broke the EGR tube (tube between EGR valve and #2 tube on header) in half. I was trying to bend it about 1/8in in a vice and that sucker just snapped - shoulda used some heat. I got some exhaust bandages and patched it together but I've gotta find another one.
I've also got to "officially" plug the fresh air tube in the prochamber - I've got an exhaust patch and hose clamp over it. Don't want to weld anything to the prochamber - I'd rather keep it "clean".
I need to plug the holes in the back of the heads - I've got a clamped off rubber hose plugging this. Going "wazee" for this.
I've also got to get a short belt to bypass the smog pump (it's not hooked to anything right now). I've got a metallic rattle that is really loud around 2000rpms - with my old exhaust I thought it was a leak but now with the old exhaust and it unplugged it's louder - hoping that bypassing it will clear it up.
Lastly I have to find some sort of heat shield for my starter - it rides EXTREMELY close to the headers - I'm talking like 1/8in or less. When it does go out the header either has to come all the way off the engine or VERY loosely bolted - there's just no room to drop the starter out. Definately getting a mini starter next go-around.
All in all the exhaust was definately a win. It was a lot of work and required purchasing more misc parts than I anticipated but after driving around today... well it was all worth it. Although sound is VERY subjective I think it is awesome. I didn't want anything obnoxiously loud but I definately wanted some rumble and this combo definately lived up to the expectation. It won't attract police but it's definately loud enough to turn heads when I get on it. The power gains are there as well - definately more oomph down low!
Longtubes rock!