Longtube header decision

TxCobrA98 · Jul 14, 2009

okay guys, well most of you probably know im in the middle of my second DOHC rebuild for my car. well i should be finished with the engine tomorrow after my valve spring compressor tool comes in. my question though is what headers should i go with? if you guys can, let me know a few of the pro's con's towards each brand header as I don't know much about the BBK LT's that i have.

Right now, im running a MAC long tube, MAC off road hpipe, 40 series flows. Im debating on putting my BBK long tube headers in place of the MAC's.

I know quality wise, the BBK's are better. The BBK's are also ceramic coated I believe, not quite sure. I am mainly after the performance aspect and the sound aspect. Ceramic coating or not, doesn't bother me. My MAC's aren't rusted or anything and ive been running them for 6 months.. Unless ceramic coating has more benefits than i think (heat dissipation, etc..)

Anyways, please let me know what you guys think is the better choice here, BBK or MAC. Performance/Sound/Quality. MAC off road hpipe will be use, as well as 40 series flowmaster mufflers.

Thanks guys!

uncltrvlnmatt · Jul 14, 2009

You are better off with the ceramic coated headers. The ceramic coating keeps the heat in the headers, which creates better exhaust velocity, which makes more power. Also you won't burn you hands on them.

But since your car is lowered, they will scrape everything. So I will take them off your hands for saaaaaay $25.00 shipped.

TxCobrA98 · Jul 14, 2009

well, i already had MAC long tubes and they scraped everything so its nothing new haha.

and ive been listening to videos on streetfire with similar setups and the BBKs sound no different. so ill probably try these BBK's out since they are better quality.

uncltrvlnmatt · Jul 14, 2009

[TxCobrA98 said:
]
well, i already had MAC long tubes and they scraped everything so its nothing new haha.

and ive been listening to videos on streetfire with similar setups and the BBKs sound no different. so ill probably try these BBK's out since they are better quality.

Now on a serious note. If you want to sell your MAC LT's let me know. I may be interested in buying them.

TxCobrA98 · Jul 14, 2009

well, ill see what my dad wants to do but we also are building that 97 cobra which will need exhaust.

uncltrvlnmatt · Jul 14, 2009

[TxCobrA98 said:
]
well, ill see what my dad wants to do but we also are building that 97 cobra which will need exhaust.

AHhhh, o.k.

OnyxCobra · Jul 14, 2009

I'd probably swap to the BBK's myself...

2slo95fiveoh · Jul 14, 2009

Yeah i would swap to the ceramic coated BBKs, I've heard MACs quality isn't quite what BBKs headers are, and if you can drop some
underhood temperatures in the process, then why not?

TxCobrA98 · Jul 15, 2009

true that, yeah im pretty sure they are ceramic coated. right where the collectors are, there is a bit of rust forming but i think i can clean it off.. i think ill give them a shot, if i dont like them, ill just swap back...

i love having a tubular kmember, haha.

BlkoutGT · Jul 15, 2009

Does your mac ones work good? its like the saying if it aint broke dont fix it. But if the BBKs your getting are bigger or somthing then I would make the switch, but if they are the same then why bother when you could just get your Mac ceramic coated for like less than 200 (I paid 140 to get my shorties coated, so being a bigger header, more money to compensate) Just a thought.

wytstang · Jul 15, 2009

Only difference between Mac and BBK is the header flange. I have Mac L/T sitting in my closet waiting to be ceramic coated but the quality is just as good as my bbk shorties on the car now. I'll also say that the macs have less welding splatter then my bbk's do.

MustangChris · Jul 15, 2009

Mikey has BBK headers and they put the welds on the INSIDE of the tubes (to connect the tubes to the header-gasket part where it bolts to the heads) ... that restricts flow for the sake of being "pretty." Mikey was very vocal about his dis-liking of BBK headers...

look into SLP. my friend has MAC and they leak, but thats on a 2003 V6... also, i have a mac intake and have no problems.

SLP ceramic coated long tubes are what im getting, i suggest the same for you

TxCobrA98 · Jul 15, 2009

okay, just to put it out there, lol. im not looking to spend any more money, this engine has about 3k i figure in the first build and ive just dropped 2k alone on the machine work and gasket sets + machine labor. not including little things that add up to another 500 or so. therefor, i am not looking for anything but a swap here hah. i appreciate all of the ideas and info but i can't afford a brand new set of headers when i have two sets lying in my garage and a pair that are already ceramic coated.

chris, i will keep the weld issue in mind, i did not know this. thanks for that info, that does seem pretty illogical of a thing to do just to make them pretty....

BlkoutGT said:
its like the saying if it aint broke dont fix it.

and i like to follow that saying as well. my thinking is just quality and fitment more than anything. MAC's fitment sucks, i had to get a butane (sp?) torch and bend the EGR lines to make them fit onto the EGR flanges in my long tubes and they still BARELY fit. not saying the BBK's wont do this, but this is an alternative fix to a whole day of trying to just fit the EGR lines. thanks for the info though.

Dalamar · Jul 15, 2009

Trey, you should cap that EGR crap off.

Javi · Jul 15, 2009

MAC MAC MAC.

IIRC realitygt has/had BBK lts and they rusted with in a few days.

I have MAC CC and they still look good to me.
MAC used to have crappy quaity, but here recently they came back with some good stuff.

So....MAC

Also you are going to scrape anywhere you go, Your car is Slammed.

TxCobrA98 · Jul 15, 2009

hehe yeah, scraping is no biggie. maybe ill just go back with the MAC's then... ahh decisions decisions..

OnyxCobra · Jul 16, 2009

I'd still have to say from what I've seen BBK quality is superior to Mac, the solid flange on the BBK's was enough to make my decision.

TxCobrA98 · Jul 16, 2009

im mainly concerned with fitment and quality.. sound and performance are pretty important too though lol. those EGR lines suckkkkkkk to put on. and Jeff, i should cap them off. what is all required to do an EGR delete?