shorty hedders question

bobbyd

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Sep 8, 2004

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Jun 1, 2005

#1

• Jun 1, 2005

• #1

ok i have some MAC shorty hedders that im trying to put on my car with the stock hedder gasket but i cant put all the botls on. if i start to put them on the back they wont fit in the front and vice versa. will the stock hedder gasket be different and gets on the way or something?

 

89MustangGX

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Jul 3, 2001

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#2

• Jun 1, 2005

• #2

It's most likely the headers are warped -- this is typical of Mac headers. Your best bet (assuming you want to use them and not buy a set of single-flange headers) is to start at one end and then use a prybar in the headers to pull them apart and make them line-up. Try to start the bolts while doing this and hope you never have to take them off again.

 

bobbyd

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#3

• Jun 1, 2005

• #3

thankx for the heads up if i have no other choice i will have to do this thankx

 

bobbyd

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#4

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• #4

oh btw is there a way i can mess them up by bending them or is it real hard to mess them up?

 

89MustangGX

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#5

• Jun 1, 2005

• #5

bobbyd said:

oh btw is there a way i can mess them up by bending them or is it real hard to mess them up?

Click to expand...

I don't think you'll bend them enough for that to happen. If I recall the last time I tried them I had a hard enough time lining them up -- let alone bending them too far!

 

bobbyd

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#6

• Jun 2, 2005

• #6

89MustangGX said:

I don't think you'll bend them enough for that to happen. If I recall the last time I tried them I had a hard enough time lining them up -- let alone bending them too far!

Click to expand...

aight thankx will do this tomorrow

 

I

Insane3D

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#7

• Jun 2, 2005

• #7

When I put on my POS individual flange BBK shorties years ago, I had the same problem. I found it was easier to start the first bolt, then pry on the the back tube with a prybar leveraged against the firewall to get the back one lined up.

Make sure you have gaskets that allow you to drop them on to the front and back bolt, it makes it much easier. The FelPro 1415's are a nice gasket.

Good luck. I finally dumped my BBK's for a set of the FRPP shorties...what a night and day difference with the install...

 

S

slickshift

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Aug 19, 2004

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Jun 2, 2005

#8

• Jun 2, 2005

• #8

I cut slots in the gaskets at the front and back holes
Also the only way I got the MACs to stop leaking was to use 2 gaskets per side
They have to come off soon and will not be going back on

 

bobbyd

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#9

• Jun 2, 2005

• #9

Insane3D said:

When I put on my POS individual flange BBK shorties years ago, I had the same problem. I found it was easier to start the first bolt, then pry on the the back tube with a prybar leveraged against the firewall to get the back one lined up.

Make sure you have gaskets that allow you to drop them on to the front and back bolt, it makes it much easier. The FelPro 1415's are a nice gasket.

Good luck. I finally dumped my BBK's for a set of the FRPP shorties...what a night and day difference with the install...

Click to expand...

thanks for the tips

 

bobbyd

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#10

• Jun 2, 2005

• #10

slickshift said:

I cut slots in the gaskets at the front and back holes
Also the only way I got the MACs to stop leaking was to use 2 gaskets per side
They have to come off soon and will not be going back on

Click to expand...

so seems like MAC headers arent all that great

 

S

slickshift

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#11

• Jun 2, 2005

• #11

bobbyd said:

so seems like MAC headers arent all that great

Click to expand...

That's putting it nicely

 

S

slickshift

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#12

• Jun 2, 2005

• #12

It's difficult to find people that haven't had problems with them

 

bobbyd

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#13

• Jun 2, 2005

• #13

slickshift said:

It's difficult to find people that haven't had problems with them

Click to expand...

gotcha well i got them for a good price so I cant complain about it.

 

I

Insane3D

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#14

• Jun 2, 2005

• #14

bobbyd said:

gotcha well i got them for a good price so I cant complain about it.

Click to expand...

If you are worried about sealing, you can use a little ultra copper RTV around the ports on the header gasket for a little extra sealing. Also, after you get them on, keep a wrench in the car for the header bolts. Everytime you drive it it, then let it cool down, snug all the bolts again. You usually will have to do this at least for a few days, and then they should stay tight.

Good luck!

 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet

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Sep 5, 2001

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Jun 2, 2005

#15

• Jun 2, 2005

• #15

MAC shorties are the ****tiest part I've ever graced by installing them on my car. I swapped for BBK single flange LTs and will never go back. If you don't have a prybar, you can use a broomstick. I put back primary's bolts in first and then pryed the front tube forward using the suspension as leverage.

Chris

 

Flavadave4

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Nov 28, 2003

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Jun 2, 2005

#16

• Jun 2, 2005

• #16

yeh i had the dame problem with mine......a prybar is your freind...otherwise you will be familar with tapping new threads in your heads