I have Mac headers installed in my car and I love them. I purchased them thru Jet Hot. The installation for them was pretty easy thanks to Jordan Musser who wrote an install guide. When I did my install I didn't need to lift the engine or change engine mounts. The spark plug access is great! The hp/tq that the headers has given me is awesome. You can really feel the difference. If you do decide to get the Mac headers let me know and I can send you that link for the Mac header installation guide by Jordan Musser. If you have any questions feel free to contact me. Good Luck on yor choice. And to 12SCNDZ awesome 1/4 mile time!

 

Only issues with mine were that the O2 sensor wouldn't thread in because a weld on the inside of the pipe interfered, so I had to grind it out some. And the y-pipe didn't mate up to the headers perfectly. Had to put a big bar in the y-pipe and bend it a little.

 

thanks for all the replies guys.

can anyone opine on the spark plug question? i've never done plugs and i don't know about gapping etc.

stephendeli: i got quotes for coated macs from jethot and mac themselves.

 

Get Mac headers or I'll kill you.

 

what cat are you using that bolts on to the mac y pipe?

 

wow...a lotta passion in here for macs...they better be as good as you guys are saying

now who can give me instructions on the plugs? i will be using a new set of ac/delco wires with the macs.

also, where should i buy o2 sensors from? do i need GM sensors?

 

I had to use a univesal cat. I had the flanges welded on. The MAC headers come with the "starter tube" to weld on the front.

Frank

 

Headers are great, you will love them. But get LT's. Only reason I have shorties is because they came on the car.

 

i don't want LT's due to poor plug clearance, harder install, emissions and bottoming out issues. mac is really a mid-length header so that w/b fine for me.

spark plug gapping anyone? bueller??

 

I'm running Pacesetter LTs and I can change all of my plugs in about 30 minutes.

 

Can you elaborate on this starter tube? I seen it on their website but Im not sure how it works?

 

the starter tube is a short section of tubing that is flanged on one end. It bolts to the y-pipe flange. The other end is meant to be welded to your cat. Your cat is welded to your y-pipe from the factory. You just cut it off, or buy a new cat, and weld the starter tube on the front. I cut the rear flange off my original cat and had it welded to the rear of my new cat. Now mine bolts at both ends, which is identical to my MAC off-road pipe.

Frank
CPT

 

My plug access while not as good as Macs isnt bad at all.

Have you installed both LT's and Mids? The Mids I have installed where much harder to do than my LT's.

Emissions equipment is available on most LT headers, unless of course they are so strict you cant move the cat.

I have never bottomed out my LT's even with the car lowered.

Futhermore, I'm not sure of the price on Jethot'ed MAC's, but for around $450 you can get a 1 3/4" RK Sport Midlength headers which will give you close to the performance of longtubes, and better potential than MACs. They are nearly identical to AS&M's for much less. In my opinion, unless your doing only bolt on's to the car dont skip on the header size and get MACS. If you even think you might do a cam, heads, power adder or anything more than a few bolt on's get the RK's or Longtubes. I almost bought MAC's and am glad I didnt since I'll be over 400rwhp soon and the MAC's would be killing me.

-Dustin-

 

Dustin...I wouldn't say they'd be *killing* you. Check out the guy above you.

 

Personally I'd rather spend an extra $50-$100 and get great headers instead of taking a walk down mediocore avenue and having headers restrict the power I was making. I'm not sure where Frank is power wise, but if I was making 400-450rwhp and/or trapping 117-122mph I wouldnt want the idea of having a few extra mph's, rwhp's, or tenths taunting me cause I choose the wrong header for the power level I was at or going to.

Makes you wonder why people like ABA383 are switching to longtubes now that they are in the mid 11's trapping 118's. Because they know after 400rwhp smaller primary mids arent helping you, they are hurting you. He's searching for a little more out of his setup, the two things keeping him from low 11's and perhaps cresting 120mph were the stock WP and small primary headers.

Like I said, planning simple bolt on's only, get the Mac's if you want. Perhaps even a small cam being your limit, get the Mac's. But when there is a better header out there for I think $25 more, that will easily support way more power, why waste the time, money, and effort with something thats going to be holding you back in the long run? Its not like RK's would be hurting you until you made 450rwhp. Either way, each to his own, but I wouldnt waste money on coated Mac's for what...$425 or something, when you can get a better performing RK Sport header, also coated, with 1 3/4" primaries, with much more potential for $450.

-Dustin-