MAC Longtubes

Kris · Feb 2, 2010

Here's the scoop. Right now, I have fox body BBK long tube headers on my car, with a BBK offroad X pipe. The clutch fork rubs a tad on a header tube.

A buddy of mine has a set of MAC longtubes for an SN car. He doesn't know any other details though such as primary size, outlet, or a model number.

Will they fit up fine with my X pipe?
Am I getting ripped off, or is this a good trade?

I personally love the sound of the car as is, but I'd rather have a set of SN long tubes so the clutch fork doesn't rub anymore.

Addermk2 · Feb 2, 2010

imho, you should just pull out ONE of your headers (preferably drivers side) and try to slide the mac header down in there. Its going to be hard to get a definite answer from anyone here about the fitment because you will have to find someone who was, at one point, in the exact predicament that you are.

my best suggestion, and probably the best answer, is what I posted above

Kris · Feb 2, 2010

That's what I'm hoping for, someone who has, or had, this combo.

Yea, I have to lift the engine a teensy bit to get the fox longtubes in, I'm sure I'll have to do it again on the SN longtubes.

OnyxCobra · Feb 2, 2010

I'd switch for the correct headers, and buy a new midpipe if necessary. I didn't need to lift my engine to get the drivers side MAC header in, but on the pass side was a whole different story.

Kris · Feb 2, 2010

Yea, the passenger side is where I had the problem.

Are yours long tubes? Did you have to take the steering shaft out?

The mid pipe is less than a year old and I really like it... If anything, I'll bend it to fit. I had to a little for it to fit my BBK fox long tubes.

Addermk2 · Feb 2, 2010

why is everyone so concerned with taking the steering shaft out??? its a single bolt...

I'd pull my engine out if I had to!

LAFENATU · Feb 2, 2010

Why not have your buddy measure them to make sure they are 1 5/8" headers before you go any farther?

OnyxCobra · Feb 3, 2010

Kris said:
Are yours long tubes? Did you have to take the steering shaft out?

I have MAC long tubes. Yes i disconnected the steering shaft and the drivers side LT slid right on, then just reconnect it before you bolt the header down. On the pass side I had to jack up the engine quite a bit and also remove the pass side motor mount.

ProKiller · Feb 3, 2010

i have bbk fox tubes now. didn't have problem with drivers side at all. passengers side was another story, had to take out the starter and jack the engine up and tilt down the tranny to get it fit. its damn close.

i'm not a fan at all of MAC exhaust products so i would stick with what you have. last i checked the mac headers don't have a solid flange which leads to more leakage problems. i would actually try to get a fox bell housing. it moves the clutch fork position slightly so you don't have that problem. thats more work obviously though.

LAFENATU · Feb 3, 2010

ProKiller said:
last i checked the mac headers don't have a solid flange which leads to more leakage problems.

use a good gasket like a Mr. Gasket Ultra Seal with Stage 8 Header bolts and your leak problem is solved.

Passenger · Feb 3, 2010

OnyxCobra said:
Kris said:

Are yours long tubes? Did you have to take the steering shaft out?

Click to expand...

I have MAC long tubes. Yes i disconnected the steering shaft and the drivers side LT slid right on, then just reconnect it before you bolt the header down. On the pass side I had to jack up the engine quite a bit and also remove the pass side motor mount.

did you really have to disconnect the motor mount? My passenger side slide right in. I have no smog/egr or anything though.

LAFENATU said:
ProKiller said:

last i checked the mac headers don't have a solid flange which leads to more leakage problems.

Click to expand...

use a good gasket like a Mr. Gasket Ultra Seal with Stage 8 Header bolts and your leak problem is solved.

fuck Mr. Gasket. Get something actually worth a damn.

Addermk2 · Feb 3, 2010

ProKiller said:
i have bbk fox tubes now. didn't have problem with drivers side at all.

ofcourse you dont.. the OP has an SN, and an SN transmission... you have a tremec 3550.. which has a fox bellhousing. since it moves the location of the clutch fork, you naturally WOULDNT have problems

OnyxCobra · Feb 3, 2010

Yup, had to unbolt the motor mount from the engine, cause the header slide up from what would have been in front of the motor mount and there's no way you could lift the engine enough to not remove the motor mount. It really sounds a lot harder than it was though. I don't have EGR or Smog either btw.

I tried fitting fox BBK LTs on my car before i got the correct ones and they didn't even fit close. They were 1 3/4" but still, the drivers side came down way too low, was hitting the clutch fork cover and wouldn't allow the steering shaft to reconnect, not even close. I didn't even try the pass. side at that point.

As far as just throwing a fox bell housing on your car I don't think you can, the trannies use different length input shafts.

Passenger · Feb 4, 2010

I see. I didnt have any clearance issues with my clutch fork, but I'm using a foxbody tranny setup. I did have to clearance the ear on the bellhousing that the clutch cable runs through however

Kris · Feb 4, 2010

Welp I'm about work on the car. Headers are headers imo as far as longtubes go. Size matters lol. My only concern is the x pipe fitting up but I can always bed it.

Passenger · Feb 5, 2010

If its too narrow, you can always cut it apart and reweld it (assuming you can weld, or know someone who can)
Or you could be ghetto, put a ratchet strap on each side and pull the pipe apart until it'll meet up with the collectors :d

I don't recommend that last bit, haha

Kris · Feb 5, 2010

Well, it didn't work out as I had hoped for.

We had to jack the engine up a lot to get the old long tubes out. We also had to removed the steering shaft. But that was easy, one bolt and it had been removed previously because it had fresh grease.

The new long tubes fit in with ease. The biggest thing that sucked was individual flanges. Suck badly. Most fit into place but the ones that didn't were a pain to get.

So the longtubes are now in. Here comes the bad news. We fot my bbk offroad x pipe up, and it fit fine except, the drivers side that connects to the header is almost 2" too short the the spread is also about 2" close. So, I gotta take the x pipe to and exhaust shop and see if they can rework it for me.

For the time being it has an offroad h pipe on the car and I hate it. The spund sucks and its too quiet. Plus, my car hates it. It won't hold an idle. The idle surges worse with this setup than it did with the fox bbk long tunes and bbk x pipe. Only thing I can think of is the h pipe on the car now has my buddies O2 sensors on and and they may be bad but they are in wayyy nicer condition than the ones I had and were using.

But, the clutch fork no longer rubs or hangs up and it has me smiling now.

Passenger · Feb 6, 2010

I have MAC LT's and MAC o/r H pipe on my car as well, with Dynomax Ultraflow mufflers. I hate the way it sounds as well.

As for your idle problem, I'd look under the hood for that problem, I don't think its going to relate to the o2 sensors. My '95 idled just fine without them (Had to extend them about 8")