Which headers should I use?

[94Pro-5.0]

I have a pair of what I think to be unequal length BBK Shorty headers. I welded to smog fitting closed, cleaned then up and painted them with ceramic.



I also have a pair of Mac equal length shorties. Don't judge by the look of these becasue I will clean them up just as nice as the BBK's. Will these give me a better sound or more performance than the BBK's? I picked them up really cheap.

There only thing that worries me about the Mac's is the large dent in one of the tubes. Will this effect anything? If so how should i go about removing the dent?




Don't say get longtubes because my car is TOO low for long tubes. My X-pipe bottoms out as it is.

 

[Javi]

use the bbk ones

 

[SVTGizzi]

do you plan on taking them off after they are installed? if so, go with the bbks because of the solid flange design. macs have a problem with the single flanges that will warp to your head, so they may even leak if you bolt them up right now.

i bought my macs brand new, but i havnt taken them off yet

 

[Paul]

Screw equal-length headers. They're a PIA and not worth it.

 

[LAFENATU]

use the bbk ones

+1


Mac sucks - the only thing they make that I like is the Prochamber.

.02

 

[fastgtfairlane]

the equal lengths will be worth a few more horsepower. will it be noticeable while driving- probably not. if the equal lengths were a solid flange then i would say use those. in my experience they have not been a pain at all. but i guess it depends on what you call a pain :dunno: brand new the equal lengths cost more but you can buy them cheaper than unequals used. i personally think they look way cooler too but that is just me.

 

[AaRoN]

BBK :coolsmiley:

 

[94Pro-5.0]

yeah, equal lengths do look cooler thats for sure.

i'm not worried about them leaking. if i my new trick flow header gaskets i shouldnt have a problem with leaking.

anyone know what that large dent would be from? It almost looks like they came that way, the dent looks too perfect lol.

thats the only thing i'm worried about with the Macs. I really like the look of equal lengths, but i have heard many bad things about mac :dunno:

 

[Paul]

The comparisons I've seen have not shown that equal lengths are worth any more power. For ease of use, I'd definitely go with the unequals - plus they don't have a huge dent. LOL

 

[fastgtfairlane]

i couldnt attest to what everyone else says cause i truly think about half of what you hear is bs. i was told the same thing about my equal lengths with burnt plug wires and limited access to the plugs. oh and not to mention how hard they were to install. none of which i experienced. look at it this way, at least you have both headers available. i would try the macs first and if they dont work you can use the bbks. ive heard just as many bad things about the bbks as i have the macs :dunno:. i personally wouldnt worry too much about that dent. its not gonna make a big enough difference to worry about.

 

[topless95]

I would say equal length if they had a solid flange, and you were going to take the dent out. I would go with the BBK's since they have a solid flange, less likely to end up w/ blown header gaskets

 

[fastgtfairlane]

btw what did you use to paint those bbk headers. when i got my headers i just put them on but was thinking about taking them off and cleaning them up and painting them.

 

[94Pro-5.0]

I used Duplicolor High Temp Aluminum with Ceramic. It compared it side by side to real ceramic coating and it looks identical. the feel is a little different and i'm sure it wont last as long, but it sure looks great for $5 and a little sanding.

i think i'm going to try and get the dent out of the macs, paint them ceramic and see how they fit. if its a PITA then i'll put the BBK's on. only thing i dont like about the BBK's is the stupid smog thing i have welded up. its ugly.



what bad things have been said about the BBK headers?

 

[LAFENATU]

what bad things have been said about the BBK headers?

BBK is probably the best bang for the buck.

If I did not get a killer deal that I got on a brand new set of FRPP Stainless Shortys...

I would have gotten a set of BBK UNequal lengths, without a doubt.

 

[trav_19]

equal lenghts blow man ....try to change the plugs with them in lol ....and they tend to burn up plug wires ...my friend has to put a new set on every year!!!....screw that!!!!!!!

as for the egr tube to bad you welded it up already if you had the stock nut that was threaded on it from the tube you could have cut the tube to remove the nut then put a penny in there to cover the hole and tighten down it seals great!!!!

 

[SMOKEDURVTEK]

I got my car with mac's. Yes they suck. they warped on me and leak like crazy. Im so ready to put BBK Unequal lengths on. Its just gonna cost a grip cus i might have to take it in to have it done because the middle header bolts require and allan wrench and I can't get anything to fit in there. i would rather do it myself but it is such a pain!

 

[topless95]

^^I like the banner