Get the long tubes..

My car is DROPPED quite a bit. I have a set of Koni DA coilovers on my car and the front tires are almost tucked. Granted I do have 650lb springs on my car and stiff shocks, but I really dont have any problems with my headers clearancing. I have more of a problem with the Y-pipe than anything.

Pics here

(FYI, the pics are deceiving with the ride height. The car had been sitting on jackstands for 10 months before being put on the ground, and at the time these were taken, the suspension had not settled. The car sits at least an inch and a half lower than what is depicted.)

Mike

 

I have definitely decided I dont want to go long tube. I know they perform better but I dont want to give up any ground clearance or my CAT. I dont mind giving up a few ponies. There are many places I go where I seem to bang the stock exhaust so I know any ground clearance loss will be an issue. I am really looking to get absolutely the best 1 3/4 mid headers such as SLP or RK sportsd as to offset the HP loss.

 

once again let me add rk sports stink. the slip fit primary leaks. the bolted part blows bolts off. my rk sports are now welded shut. the y-pipe on them hangs lowers than my friend's with long tubes. plug access is impossible. regarding five and six being hard, they are all pretty freaking hard.

just do it right the first time. as soon as i feel like buying long tubes i am taking the rk sports off with a plasma cutter.

did i mention i hate them

 

Do you think these issues would apply to the Arizona speed and marine headers as well?

 

My ASM slip fit has NEVER leaked, my ground clearance is outstanding (the lowest point on the car is the pan/K-Member), and I've got no complaints.

 

Same here with RK's.

 

My ceramic coated Pacesetter LTs cost me just over $500 shipped with a Y pipe. Plug access is great, install is CAKE and the headers are every bit as good as the Dynatechs and much better than Hookers. Ground clearance is better than any long tube I've ever seen on an F-body. They were one of the best purchases I've ever made in the hotrod game.

I think you would be a fool not to look into them.

 

They're nice headers, but of the ones I've had experience with, the final finish leaves to be desires (slag in the bolt holes which had to be ground out), and while the ground clearance is pretty good, almost every one I've talked to has had issues on the driver side with the header contacting the floor pan.

 

i do not know how the azsm's would be. there are a ton of people giving you advice, but choose which ever one you like

 

Again how does the primary tube get attached to the RK sport and the ASM left side header. I cant see any fastening system in the pictures.
By the way thanks all for the input.

 

I think that 1 5/8" of MAC primaries a too small for LE2 setup.. Take whatever but with 1 3/4"...

 

I had the RKSports once as well and I thought they stunk. I got the primary to stop leaking but the coating sucked, the back primary rubbed the ac box creating a hole. I got lucky and found some SLP's on a ebay auction for $300. Having already owned and installed SLP's on a previous car I jumped at the deal. Swapped out headers and never had another problem. I used felpro gaskets and breslin bolt and have zero issues. PLug access is better, ground clearance is better, no rubbing, and better coating. I might have bought an old RK design but I can tell you I won't buy or recommend them again.

 

I have RK Sport and like the performance, but dread them when it comes time to change plugs.
These cars have too many things go wrong and break, get the MAC and at least realize easier plug changes and fewer leaks. (slip fit primary)

 

This is off subject, but how much gain can a guy see on a stock car by adding longtubes and an off road Y pipe with a tune???

 

Get the MAC's, mine went in beautifully, with no problems at all. It sounds like you may think that with mids you can keep your stock cats and with lt's you can't...this isn't true. You'll have to replace the y-pipe, with or without cats, regardless of what length you choose. Only SLP uses the stock Y-pipe, others come with new ones. Don't know about RK's, but my MAC's came with the option of a catted or off-road y. I went off-road, and figured if I decided to put cats on, I'd have a shop weld it up with cats of my choice (Carsound or Random Tech) rather than use MAC's cheap cats. Good luck.