convince me to get MAC headers
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,405
From: Kantuckee Yo'
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
Originally Posted by Bersaglieri
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-
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-
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 545
From: Tampa
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
Originally Posted by 12SCNDZ
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
Frank
CPT
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,634
From: Newark, Delaware
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
As for MACS vs. long tubes??? I'm reusing my MAC headers with the new 6" rod, 12:1 compression, 847 cammed, ported head 355. It'll also be sprayed with a 200 shot. I'll let you all know how it runs. Will a low 11 (motor) timeslip qiet all the LT die hards? Maybe a high 9 bottle pass? I know..I know... No matter what the car runs with MACs, there are many that will claim it would run faster with LTs
.
Frank
.Frank
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,287
From: Palm City, Florida
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
Originally Posted by 12SCNDZ
As for MACS vs. long tubes??? I'm reusing my MAC headers with the new 6" rod, 12:1 compression, 847 cammed, ported head 355. It'll also be sprayed with a 200 shot. I'll let you all know how it runs. Will a low 11 (motor) timeslip qiet all the LT die hards? Maybe a high 9 bottle pass? I know..I know... No matter what the car runs with MACs, there are many that will claim it would run faster with LTs.
Frank
.Frank
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,907
From: The Wild West
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
Originally Posted by 12SCNDZ
No matter what the car runs with MACs, there are many that will claim it would run faster with LTs.
Frank
.Frank
Who cares, Joe Overton uses Mac's to run the worlds fastest N/A LT1 time right? Oh wait..no, I dont think he does. Maybe I'll email him letting him know Macs are just as good as LT's and he should swap over to them
Why are folks running better times after swapping to LT's over mids/shorties? Damn I cant figure that out.
Everyone can be as saracastic as they want to prove their point, but just because someone runs something with a certain header doesnt make it the best header of choice for that setup. Hell you could run 9's with stock exhaust manifolds but it doesnt make them better than Macs or Longtubes does it?
So I take it that you Frank beleive you would gain nothing in the 1/4 mile going to longtubes over Macs with that setup? Can you honestly say that?
-Dustin-
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 545
From: Tampa
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
ok, back on topic, i still don't have any idea about the plugs. can one of you please let me know how to gap and if gapping is needed with factory ac delco plugs?
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 470
From: Chicago Suburbs
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
I think that it has been established that LT's do perform better that the MAC Mids. However, if you need to stay emissions legal (like me), you will need to get a decent shorty or midlength header. Sure LT's perform better, we know. No one here is trying to break records on midlenght headers. Basically anything will flow better than those stock manifolds. Taking them for what they are, MAC's are a really good midlength header to stay emissions legal with and get a few ponies at the same time.
foxbat, I believe that the stock AC Delco plugs are pregapped. If not, Haynes Manual says .050 inch.
foxbat, I believe that the stock AC Delco plugs are pregapped. If not, Haynes Manual says .050 inch.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,188
From: Western New York
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
Originally Posted by foxbat
ok, back on topic, i still don't have any idea about the plugs. can one of you please let me know how to gap and if gapping is needed with factory ac delco plugs?
Last edited by sabre81; Mar 5, 2006 at 09:40 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,907
From: The Wild West
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
Originally Posted by StephenDeli22
Taking them for what they are, MAC's are a really good midlength header to stay emissions legal with and get a few ponies at the same time.
-Dustin-
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,188
From: Western New York
Re: convince me to get MAC headers
Originally Posted by foxbat
sabre and stephendeli, thanks for the info.
sabre, sorry if i'm getting confused, but if the NGK's are pregapped why do i need to gap them to .50?
sabre, sorry if i'm getting confused, but if the NGK's are pregapped why do i need to gap them to .50?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post