I am looking at a set of MAC mid headers and was wondering how much HP I would give up as opposed to a set of say, pacesetter long tube headers? Also, how much easier are the mids to put on than the long tubes?

Thanks,
Travis

 

If you don't have emissions run the long tubes, believe me you wont want to do it all over again. Also if you get longtubes get the ones without the egr hook up and at the very least get some coated, but stainless would be the best. my uncoated pacesetters are rusting badly after 1 year, ill probably have to replace them in another 2 years

 

emissions isn't an issue, but from what I was reading, the MAC mids are good up till about 400hp, and I probably won't make that much with the car anytime soon. Would MACs from a 97 camaro, work on a 95 T/A?

 

It's not an issue of how much power you have now. Lts will provide more power. If no emissions requirements I'd go with LTs. Bearing in mind that federal law says you're not to change the number or position of your cats--which you would be doing if you go with headers that change the position of the cats. Having said that: if no one ever catches you, no harm, no foul.

 

i had a set of AS&M mids, and now a set of jet hot long tubes, i should have went with long tubes the first time, the exhaust sounds alone makes the purchase worth while. a suggestion though, dont lower your car with long tubes, they will hit speedbumps and other road annoyances....

never get uncoated headers! transamdriv3r, i am sorry to hear about your rust
Jet-hot has MANY locations to recoat headers, for a price that doesn't break the bank!

Pacesetter LT's are easier to install than hooker or jet-hot, but plug access is a little tougher. i have no issues getting to all plugs from the top with my jet-hot LT's

 

from other posts, people have said that the MAC mids, are just as good as the LT up to about 400HP. Is this true?

 

While there is no real world data to use to debate, support, or validate this claim, I'd say it's credible.

 

I have been following these debates for awhile now on various websites. IMHO the collectors on long tubes are generally of a better design than on the mid or short tube headers. If the collectors of each were of the same construction and quality I doubt there would be that much of a difference. I do believe the long tubes will produce more torque in the lower rpm ranges.

 

I recently swapped to 1 3/4" longtubes from 1 5/8" mids, this time of year I can not get enough traction to be able to tell the difference but my gut says that given the way the car performed with the 1 5/8" mids they can't be giving up that much power. Biggest reason I swapped was the particular b-body mids I had required removal to change the number 6 plug and last fall when the car tried to launch hard the passenger header hit the frame causing maximum knock retard the whole pass.

 

I have always been a firm believer that long tubes are the only way to go even from stock to full out its just a no brainer. Everyone i knew said long tubes so thats what i did and ended up with a set of jet hots for my dads t/a. When i heard the sound difference between ours and a buddys edel**** shortys it was a immediate that from now on only go long tubes. Since last year getting my own fbody to work ive had enough time to save up for some headers. After looking at the pricing it was looking like i would more then likely have to go with the pacesetters on the cheaper side. At the time my winter beater took a dive well the mod money went out the window so i had to work back up and again. I then found a deal on a set of AS&M Mids in a 1 3/4 primary and the usual 1 5/8 as found any other mid size header. There coating from what ive heard is awesome and holds up over a long period of time. So i picked them up used with the matching y-pipe. So it will be interesting to see how they compare to dads car in person since they have the long tube primarys in a smaller package for better clearance. Only thing i could see them holding back in the collecter and ypipe is 2.5" opposed to the full 3" back on a long tube setup. Yeah im pissed i didnt get long tubes but for the money i paid i got the next best thing!

 

"Only thing i could see them holding back in the collecter and ypipe is 2.5" opposed to the full 3" back on a long tube setup."

That is the problem from what I have seen. No one makes a really good short header except Dyno Don for the 3rd Gens which is the best I have seen to date. That is why I have decided to make my own short/mid tube headers. They will even have the cone in them and the proper size collector which is 2.75" according to PipeMax for my combination.

 

I used a 3" collector with a cone along with about 20" of 3" pipe before reducing down to 2 1/2" with a smooth transition piece. The headers, x pipe along with full 2 1/2" mandral exhaust netted 17 rwhp 17 lbft on the dyno.

 

My install went as good as could be expected,the plug access was great,they came w/emission hookups but i eliminated the air pump,and the claim of 28rwhp was accurate as my trap speed went from a one time best(100.7)but mostly 99.5 to a best of 103 and consistent 102.I also got mine coated in/out by TOP GUN COATINGS and it was worth every cent.Also i might have picked up more h.p if i had used my Borla(2.75) y but i went w/ the one that came w/the Macs.Also the sound is great and i,m still running a cat.Btw my car is stk.height.

 

so why not LT's with emission hook ups? living in CA i really dont want to get away from the emissions hook ups.

 

Technically even if a longtube has emissions hookups it is not legal in ANY state much less CA.

As BUBBA pointed out federal law says you can not change the number or position of converters.