This is my final question before I decide on which headers to buy so please help me out. I don't plan to ever make more than 350 rwhp/rwtq. I do not plan to port the heads. That should give you an idea of how the headers need to perform. I only plan on a full exhaust and the CC502 cam(218/224) for mods

O.k., before you say, "shorties suck, get Long tubes" please help me pick between these two headers. I've narrowed it down to MAC or RK Sport Midlength headers. I DO NOT WANT LONG TUBES.

They are both '94-'95 style single cat "mid length" headers.

The MAC's that I'm looking at are Jet Hot coated inside and out for both the headers and the Y-pipe. They are 1 5/8" Primaries. $561 shipped to my door.

The RKSports are Ceramic coated on the Headers I believe inside and out but the Y-pipe is not coated. They are 1 3/4" primaries. $590+ shipping from Tbyrne.

Both headers use a 2 1/2" Y-pipe.

The MAC's obviously have awesome plug access, and I've heard good things about them, but the ONLY thing holding me back is the 1 5/8" primaries

The RKSports look very nice, but I've heard the coating may not be the best, only the headers are coated not the Y-pipe, and I'm not sure that the inside is coated on the headers, and they will probably cost me about $70 more than the MAC's. They are 1 3/4" primaries however.

Any horror stories from either header?

Help Please.
Dan

 

i'd go with the MAC'S...better reputation..

also, did you look at Arizona Speed and Marine headers??

they are arguably the best headers out there..

 

Thanks for the reply.

The RKsports are supposedly the same as the AS&M headers, but the coating might be a little different.

Dan

 

I'd probably get the macs. I was going to get the mac's but found some used SLP's cheap.

http://www.sandersonheaders.com/letsgettech3.htm
They don't list a lot of specific details, but I have always believed there is some truth to that document.

I also agree that there isn't a significant difference between AS&M and RK sports, but i've never directly compared the two in person.

-brent

 

i like SLp myself....but hey thats my opinion....i figured since my car wa origionally a Slp car minds well keep it that way

 

id go with the rksport headers. the difference between the rk's and the as&m's is that the rk's are only coated on the outside, whereas the as&m's are coated inside/out

the rk's have 1 3/4" primaries vs. the 1 5/8" for the macs. i had mac's on my Z and cant complain about them, but i only went with them cause they were cheaper than the rk sport / as&m ones. hth

 

I love my SLP's and they look very similar to the RK's and AS&M's. i'd go with the RK's

 

i had a set of rksports, the coating is ok, but its not JET HOT.
they worked good, THE Y PIPE IS COATED. plug access is not very well. i sold mine to get jet hot lt/true duals.
jesse

 

Go with the RK Sports.

By the way, I don't think much of that article applies to our engines. Look at an LS1, even. Those guys are making GREAT low end and top end on 1 7/8" headers, and that is supposedly for a big block only. I think that 1 3/4" is definitely not losing out to 1 5/8" primaries almost anywhere in the RPM range.

 

honestly in your situation, it probably doesnt really matter, with <350rwhp, go with the one you like the best. the macs,rksports, or even shorties they will all be within 10rwhp/10rwhp throughout the entire powerband.
now if your goal was >350rwhp you know what we would recommend...... LT
JIMHO
jesse

 

Why are you dead set against LT's.Is your car lowered?They would be my choice....wait they were my choice.

 

i would never say shorties suck people who say that are misinformed.my car with edelbrock shorty headers made 337rwhp with the hotcam now i switched to jet hot long tubes but only because i got my heads done and went with a 230/236 112 xe cam. shorty's rock

 

You have a valid point, their example graphs where generated using a BB and they don't actually list the 'small tube' diameter or exact length versus the longtubes they refer to.

I would never go out and claim that the RK sports are better than the mac's only above 5600 rpm. The crossover rpm of the 1 3/4s become beneficial isn't going to occur at the same rpm on our motors, but the same trend will occur.

That sounds accurate to me. My car sees part throttle low rpm the majority of the time. Even if we assume that the RK's become beneficial at 4000 rpms WOT, your only giving up a small amount of peak power for better low end (and even better low end PART throttle) which is what a street motor sees the majority of the time.

Plus the mac's do produce results. Joe Spena (95ramairTA) and Frank (12scdz) have proven that. Joe has since switched to longtubes i believe as he gets ready to do some head work and a wild cam.

Either one will be a great choice.

-brent

 

stereomandan, sent you a pm.

 

I think I will be going with the MAC's because of the results that joe spena saw and some others on here and fbody.com .