MAC install ?'s
MAC install ?'s I'm startin to think about gettin macs for my car. I can't get LT's because they would not give me enough ground clearance. Anyway, I'd like to install the headers myself if possible, to save money.
My ?'s and concerns:
1. On MTI's website it says the following "2000+ LS1's require an emissions system retro-fit kit ($150). All MAC headers will require O2 simulators to prevent "Service Engine Soon" codes from appearing. Hi-Flow catalytics are OBD-II compatible." Is the retro fit neccessary? and even if I have cats will I still need o2 sims?
2. How hard is it to install the Macs youself. Do you need to lift the engine at all or can you do it from under neath the car? On a scale of 1-10 how difficult is it?
3.I am probly gonna have carsound cats welded onto the ypipe as well as a flowmaster collector. With that set up, should I get pretty good flow and power without rasp.?
4.On MTI's site, they have a MAC header ball flange elimination kit. Is this really worth the 75$ for better flow. Or should I just forget abou this?
Heres the MTI site i've been lookin at if you wanna see what i'm talkin about. MTI Exhaust
any help will be much appreciated
My ?'s and concerns:
1. On MTI's website it says the following "2000+ LS1's require an emissions system retro-fit kit ($150). All MAC headers will require O2 simulators to prevent "Service Engine Soon" codes from appearing. Hi-Flow catalytics are OBD-II compatible." Is the retro fit neccessary? and even if I have cats will I still need o2 sims?
2. How hard is it to install the Macs youself. Do you need to lift the engine at all or can you do it from under neath the car? On a scale of 1-10 how difficult is it?
3.I am probly gonna have carsound cats welded onto the ypipe as well as a flowmaster collector. With that set up, should I get pretty good flow and power without rasp.?
4.On MTI's site, they have a MAC header ball flange elimination kit. Is this really worth the 75$ for better flow. Or should I just forget abou this?
Heres the MTI site i've been lookin at if you wanna see what i'm talkin about. MTI Exhaust
any help will be much appreciated
Launching!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: Evans GA
Re: MAC install ?'s I would say it is a 6 on the scale of knuckle busting. If you could find someone to put them in for around $100 i would say it is worth it. I would say that with a stock long block you probably dont need the MTI things, but it wouldnt hurt, if you are getting a cam you will need them. I have heard that the mac cats suck, so i would deffinately consider some different ones, in fact just get the off road pipe and order the cats at the same time. I really dont know what to tell you about the simms, i have no cats and no simms and i dont give a ---- <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> . But the driver goes up from the bottom and the passenger goes down from the top. YOu will need to take off the valve cover for the passenger. I have heard of lifting the engine, but i didnt need to. Good luck.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Maple Grove MN
Re: MAC install ?'s I got them both in from the bottom. Passenger side was a pain though. My buddy wrestled with it for an hour and then he turned his head to talk to me and it just slipped right in on accident. I would have paid a 100 bucks for someone to do it for me thats for sure. I paid that out in blood anyways. It took us about 13 hours total to remove the manifolds, install the headers, y pipe, locking bolts, rig up and remove the EGR system which still needs to be turned off in the computer by the way. Who knows what that is screwing up. The scary thing is we had a lift to do all this so have fun. It may have taken us a little longer due to our lack of brain function from intoxicating substances. Beer and...see avatar. We were like this --> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[chug]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_chug.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
Re: MAC install ?'s </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by StevieZ:
<strong>Take your valve covers off and go in from the top. Piece of cake.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">How hard is that tho? My experience in engine work is limited to puttin on intake bolt ons..... and some suspension stuff. Is takin off the valve covers hard? Is there a chance to really mess something up ?
<strong>Take your valve covers off and go in from the top. Piece of cake.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">How hard is that tho? My experience in engine work is limited to puttin on intake bolt ons..... and some suspension stuff. Is takin off the valve covers hard? Is there a chance to really mess something up ?
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Re: MAC install ?'s ttt,
Ok, so if i take off the Valve Covers I'll be able to get the Headers in No prob? And i'm thinking I'll probly go ahead and change the plugs and wires while i'm at it. Or should i even worry about that. Then I'm gonna get carsound cats and the flowmaster collector welded into the ypipe.
Now, Since i'm replacing the cats, and collector.... could i just save 200$ and buy the MACs with ORP and just have the cats and collector welded into the ORP.... would that work?
Ok, so if i take off the Valve Covers I'll be able to get the Headers in No prob? And i'm thinking I'll probly go ahead and change the plugs and wires while i'm at it. Or should i even worry about that. Then I'm gonna get carsound cats and the flowmaster collector welded into the ypipe.
Now, Since i'm replacing the cats, and collector.... could i just save 200$ and buy the MACs with ORP and just have the cats and collector welded into the ORP.... would that work?
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Re: MAC install ?'s the flowmaster collector. is just a better flowing collector. apparently the MAC ypipe collector is sh*tty. THe flowmaster collector has better flow, and is supposed to get rid of some of the MAC rasp.
12 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, Fl
Re: MAC install ?'s The install is just a lot of physical work, nothing too difficult. You're just turning nuts and bolts (or snapping them when removing!). I would invest in a can of lubricant and a tube of anti-sieze. The lube for soaking the bolts before attempting removal (ESPECIALLY ON THE MANIFOLDS). The anti-seize for installation, so that next time it wont be such a pain in the ***. Difficulty rating.. 5.5 It's much easier with someone helping you.. headers are kinda difficult to guide by yourself, as the drivers side went in within a minute or two through the bottom, and the passenger side took about an hour of fighting the oil fill cap/nozzle. Word to the wise: pull the dipstick tube out FIRST. It pops out really easy, and pops back in even easier. I can't believe I tried to fight it the whole way <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
I got both headers on without a lift, without jacking the engine up, AND without removing valve covers. As far as the Y pipe, the MAC cats suck bawls, the ORP is raspy, you are better off just having an exhaust shop fab up some duals (H or X). If I hadn't had my Corsa, thats the route I would have chosen. Instead I've got to deal with crappy flowing, banging MAC Y Pipe with the slow-flo cats.
I got both headers on without a lift, without jacking the engine up, AND without removing valve covers. As far as the Y pipe, the MAC cats suck bawls, the ORP is raspy, you are better off just having an exhaust shop fab up some duals (H or X). If I hadn't had my Corsa, thats the route I would have chosen. Instead I've got to deal with crappy flowing, banging MAC Y Pipe with the slow-flo cats.
Re: MAC install ?'s ok thanks, thats alot of helpful info. I'll look into taking off the valve covers and coming from the top. How long did it take you to get the covers off?
Re: MAC install ?'s oh..... 15-20... thats definitely the way i'll do it then.
Would it be worth it to pay the extra money to get them Jet-Hot coated? or is the coating that comes on them good enough?
Would it be worth it to pay the extra money to get them Jet-Hot coated? or is the coating that comes on them good enough?
Re: MAC install ?'s </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> headers are kinda difficult to guide by yourself, as the drivers side went in within a minute or two through the bottom, and the passenger side took about an hour of fighting the oil fill cap/nozzle. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Took me about 45 seconds to guide the pass side in by the top by myself with the valve covers off.Remove the dipstick too(one bolt). The driver side took about 2 minutes by the top. The total time for the job was 5 1/2 hrs in which 1 1/2 hrs was spent wrestling with the original Y pipe that was rusted.Most of the time spent was removing the old stuff.
Take the valve covers off. It will make the job a heck of a lot easier.
<small>[ August 20, 2002, 12:08 PM: Message edited by: StevieZ ]</small>
Take the valve covers off. It will make the job a heck of a lot easier.
<small>[ August 20, 2002, 12:08 PM: Message edited by: StevieZ ]</small>