I have a few questions on the 96-97 Mac headers, y-pipe, cats system.

1. By my understanding, the headers are stainless steel and the y-pipe is aluminized steel. Is that correct?

2. What configeration are the dual cats in? Together and side by side like the Random Technology y-pipe or seperate down both sides of the car like the 98+ Mac exhaust systems?

3. Am I better off to use the OEM metal gaskets or the 1406 gaskets like other headers?

I've found pictures/information on the 94-95 and 98+ but nothing on the 96-97. If anyone has some good pictures I would appreciate it.

Thanks. Michael

 

I would appreciate any answers, please from anyone with Mac headers. I intend to have a mechanic look over the car to see if he would be willing to work on this project. Answers to the above question would assist him and me.

Thanks.

Michael

 

when i talked to the guy at mac, the passenger side header it the same one that is on the 94-95 style. the drivers side is completely different, i think so that the cats can stay in the original locations, not sure though.

just email them, they got back to me quickly

 

i used the fel-pro gaskets when i did my headers

 

I don't know if you found what you are looking for but I can get you a picture out of thier catalog if you still want to know what they look like. You have to give me till this weekend though because the catalog is at my house and I am at school. Let me know.

Sean

 

The 96-97 style headers come up and "Curly cue" on the drivers side to keep the cats in the stock location, even in the offroad setup. I have these on my car and I am finishing up with my over-the-valvecover spark plug wire install...if you want pictures of my headers, just let me know!!

The headers are not a stainless material...it is some sort of metal with HTC coating on it (kinda low-grade coating if you ask me). The Y-pipe is a side-by-side setup and it isn't split at all like the LS1 style.

The 1406 gaskets WON'T work on your car. The 1406 is just for a standard small-block chevy and these LT1's are anything but JUST a small block chevy. you CAN modify them though and make them work, but the steel ones will work just fine!!! DO NOT USE THE PAPER GASKETS THAT MAC SENDS...MINE LEAKED WITHIN A WEEK!!!

Hope this helps...E-mail me at DubbyZ28Camaro@aol.com if you want some pics or have any other questions...I will be glad to help you out!!

 

The header material is mild steel with a ceramic coating. I wish there was a supplier of (decently priced) stainless headers.

 

I've got a 96' and I'm installing the 94-95 style Macs. There mild steel(I think), the y-pipe is aluminized with what looks like to me some grey paint thrown on it. I had mine coated with the ceramic coating, pretty sure whats on the y-pipe is what comes standard with the headers. From searching I've heard people say it doesnt last more than a year, the factory mac "coating" that is. Pretty sure if ya get the 96-97 style it puts the cats in the factory spot, not sure on that though. You want to use the OEM manifold gaskets, just from what I've heard, they are metal. If you dont have emission tests where u are at I would go with the 94-95 style, just from looking at the drivers side header i dont see how it could flow that well, they are already a small tube header to begin with (1 5/8).

 

Every once in a while I see a set of 96-97 MAC headers on Ebay along with a picture, check there.

 

The 1406 Felpros will most certainly work. Everybody I know uses them , including me. They have the appropriate D port shape and match up perfectly.

I personally don't see how the 96-97 MACs can be much if any better than the SLP 96-97 shorties, which are barely better than the stock manifolds. its just too much of a compromise to keep that driver's side cat in the stock location. Forces you to have a spaghetti-style driver's side header that cannot flow that well. If you are forced to do this kind of header for emissions reasons I can understand, but if you are able to do 94-95 style or even longtubes I'd recommend that over any of the 96-97 style headers.

I have to deal with emissions testing here but they are not overly concerned with cat location as long as you actually do have one on there, so I pass with my FLPs (with the cats in, obviously) w/o any problems.

 

Thanks for the information. Unfortunately, i've already ordered them from LS1speed. I wished I'd known before hand the driver side header would still be clumped together to maintain the cat in stock position. I believe I got a good deal though. I got them to price match from another company at $599. They will also be ceramic coated. THis is the 96-97 style with dual cats and y-pipe.

By the way, I did e-mail Macperformance for information. Their customer service has something to be desired. Although they got back to me immediately they didn't really answer the questions. I was informed the headers were not stainless steel but not what they were. There description of the cat location made it sound like a Random Technology y-pipe. Rather than saying the 1406 gaskets would work or not, they told me all installation materials were provided.

Thanks again.

Michael

 

Does anyone actually have any sort of estimate on the hp the 96-97 style mac headers produce? Anyone ever dyno with them?

Sean

 

So is everyone saying you cna use 93-95 headers if you use a 93-95 y-pipe and 02 sims?

 

Yes you can, but you could not pass a emmisions check. Legally, cats can not be replaced unless they are bad, and they must retain there stock (oem) location. Beware, nation wide testing IS coming.

 

According to who???



We *had* emissions testing here in Florida but it has been abandoned altogether because it was decided (and rightfully so) that all cars purchased anymore meet emissions standards and the percentage of people who tamper with their cars illegally is too small to be significant. So like I said.... according to who?