[UrbanRedneck]

Well yesterday I finally got time to get my X pipe on, so my Mac LTs/offroad X are now on. Haven't had a chance to put the Stingers on yet, I'll do that on saturday after I work out a coupld bugs.

Don't have time right now to go into my observations from the install, I'll do that later. But holy shit it made a big difference in sound. I didn't know what to expect, but the first, most obvious thing is it is a LOT quieter. Is it normal for headers to make the car quieter? But it sounds a lot meaner, takes 85% of the gayness of the violators away actually, because it is a lot deeper, and the retarded farting/popping/gurgling that it used to make on decel is all gone now. Crusing on the highway it is a lot quieter when you aren't on the gas. I did not expect it to be quieter, maybe that's because it smoothed it out and took away the farting or something.

My other observation is that the car seems to have lost some low end power (which was expected) but deffinitely feels stronger above 3500. The 4.10s should remedy that nicely though. Can't wait to put the stingers on though and see how it sounds. Exhaust smells a little less potent now, I hope it isn't lean. I think the PCM would pick up on that quick though.

BUT I am having a bit of trouble confirming that it is leak free. It almost sounds like I have a header leak at the head, but I can't tell because it kinda sounds like you can hear the exhaust through the pipe, and the engine itself is kinda loud. Saturday after work I'll get under it and get a better listen with a stethescope, or maybe use the smoke machine at work to see if there are any leaks. But I cannot remember for the life of me if the engine has always been this loud, almost like either the injectors or the valvetrain is fairly loud. Do these cars usually have fairly loud engines (not exhaust, the engine itself)?

My final observation is that the Mac headers are pretty damn nice. I didn't have any of the problems that others mentioned (header hitting starter, vibration in steering collum, etc.) they look nice and clear everything fine. The Brenspeed X pipe was a BITCH to line up though, and I still may cut the hangers off it and tweek it some more, but it's pretty close to perfect. All in all I'd reccomend these headers to anyone looking for longtubes. Once I get some bugs worked out (making sure there are no leaks, have to re-center the steering wheel because it is a cunt-hair off from loosening the steering shaft and rack bolts, and putting the stingers on) I'll take videos and pictures and give a better description of the install. Maybe get it dynoed in a few weeks see if I'm over 300 rwhp now.

Ok, that is all.

[IronStomach]

Congrats on the install, did you end up putting them on at home after all?

It's funny you mention how quiet the car is now. I was curious about that last week so had my wife drive the car to the next town over (she drives it pretty damn well...) and I (tried to) followed in her car. Frankly I was pretty surprised how quiet my Mustang was from immediately behind or next to it.

Granted I have zero exhaust mods, but my car sounds pretty loud inside, but not at all from outside. It's obvious Ford did that to satisfy the driver without satisfying other drivers on the road.

Do the OEM headers have thinner walls than the aftermarket ones?

[UrbanRedneck]

Yes I did do them at home. Turns out that after I move a bunch of shovels, a shipping pallet, and the snow blower I have a decent amount of room.

From the factory it uses cast iron exhaust manifolds, so they are obviously thicker walled than the headers.

[qwik48r]

a little tinking noise is common with longtubes.. think about how thick the cast irons are.. they absorb most sound.. the steel isnt thick at all so the individual exhaust pulse can be heard as the leave the exhaust port.

[UrbanRedneck]

I figured as much, that is what I think I am hearing, because it doesn't sound like a leak so much, and you don't hear it in the car or with the hood closed, just if you crouch down near the wheel or stick your head under the hood. It seems like it makes noises in any area where the exhaust makes sharp turns, like in the headers and where the two pipes combine in the X. The smoke machine will confirm though. I noticed a random clunk over certain bumps too that I believe to be those useless hangers on the X pipe that my car doesnt use. Cutoff wheel will fix those this weekend.

[Embalmer]

Originally Posted by UrbanRedneck I figured as much, that is what I think I am hearing, because it doesn't sound like a leak so much, and you don't hear it in the car or with the hood closed, just if you crouch down near the wheel or stick your head under the hood. It seems like it makes noises in any area where the exhaust makes sharp turns, like in the headers and where the two pipes combine in the X. The smoke machine will confirm though. I noticed a random clunk over certain bumps too that I believe to be those useless hangers on the X pipe that my car doesnt use. Cutoff wheel will fix those this weekend.

Hey Urban-

If you have some free time next week and don't mind some driving, hows about helping a brother out installing the same headers? Mine are coming Monday and I already have the car up on stands and almost ready to go. I'm 100 miles west of Chicago, BTW.

[Emay]

Originally Posted by UrbanRedneck BUT I am having a bit of trouble confirming that it is leak free. It almost sounds like I have a header leak at the head, but I can't tell because it kinda sounds like you can hear the exhaust through the pipe, and the engine itself is kinda loud. Ok, that is all.

Urban, glad it worked out, everything start lining up after we talked?

As for your Leak possibility, I think your okay - but if you want to use a 50/50 mix of soap and water, while the car is still cold, spray down the area around both header flanges/gaskets then start the car, if you see bubbles, you got a leak. Gotta move sort of quick, because once the head starts making any heat, the soapy water evaporates quickly.

[GT33]

i feel the same way. My car seems so much more quiet than befor when i had the stock headers. Like there isnt that raspyness to it anymore. I have bbk longtubes with o/r x and borla stingers. Its so much deeper now.

[mikeysgt]

looking forward to hearing the longtube/or x/stinger combo. i was thinking of selling my MAC's to buy a set of stingers but want to hear what it sounds like before then. my car was a lot quieter at idle after my ARH's went on but boy did it wake everyone up when i stepped on the gas haha

[07stanggt]

Congrats

[kraigster]

Congrats on the install, I knew you would, "Get er done". I guess I have had my MACs on for about 4 weeks and It feels like it needs a custom tune. I switched off the rear O2s and have no check engine light but I feel a slight surge taking off when it is cold. I sure did gain a shit load of top end and it sounds awesome.

[UrbanRedneck]

Originally Posted by Embalmer Hey Urban- If you have some free time next week and don't mind some driving, hows about helping a brother out installing the same headers? Mine are coming Monday and I already have the car up on stands and almost ready to go. I'm 100 miles west of Chicago, BTW.

I work 50 hours a week, so my only day offis sunday and half of saturday and I run out of time quick. I would love to help, but 100 miles is quite a haul ya know? But if you want, I can give you my phone number in case you have any questions or need any advice.

Originally Posted by Emay Urban, glad it worked out, everything start lining up after we talked? As for your Leak possibility, I think your okay - but if you want to use a 50/50 mix of soap and water, while the car is still cold, spray down the area around both header flanges/gaskets then start the car, if you see bubbles, you got a leak. Gotta move sort of quick, because once the head starts making any heat, the soapy water evaporates quickly.

Yeah pretty much. Sometimes when something gets aggravating, all it takes is to take a break from it and then with a new frame of mind things work out totally different. I basically got it real close, then used a prybar to center it, held the prybar with my hip while I pushed up on one side and pulled down on another side, then tightened the bolts while performing my circus act. Now I sometimes have a clunk over certain bumps that I believe to be the midpipe hangers hitting the trans crossmember because I tried to tuck it as close to the body as possible. But I will just cut those off, my car doesn't use them.

I have never thought of using soap to look for an exhaust leak, I've always done that for tires though. I am pretty sure it is not leaking, I used the Kooks gaskets that Brenspeed sent with the headers, and I think I am just hearing what qwik mentioned. Tomorrow I am going into work early and one of the other techs and I are going to look at it (it helps to have one guy hold rags over the tailpipes to amplify any leaks), and if I am in doubt at all I can use the smoke machine (made for evap leaks, but works great for exhaust and vacuum leaks too) to test for sure. Once I am positive that I have no leaks, on go the stingers.

One thing I was wondering though. You live right by my brother (he sees you driving all the time, lives in algonquin). Would it be possible one day for me to see your car in person and hear it, just because you're the only person I know nearby (well, you and heavygt) with a 3V with aftermarket exhaust, I'd just like to hear what the header noise sounds like and if your engine is as loud as mine (though the procharger might make that impossible haha).

Originally Posted by GT33 i feel the same way. My car seems so much more quiet than befor when i had the stock headers. Like there isnt that raspyness to it anymore. I have bbk longtubes with o/r x and borla stingers. Its so much deeper now.

I have a theory. I think that a big part of the fact that it is quieter is because the backfiring has been almost completely eliminated, which may have accounted for a lot of the noise. That is probably because the exhaust pulses aren't combining untill the collector, so by the time fuel from one cylinder hits heat from another, it is cooled off and doesn't pop. And less backpressure might have an effect on taht too because the air isn't forcing itself through as much of a restriction (though I don't think that is very likely).

Originally Posted by mikeysgt looking forward to hearing the longtube/or x/stinger combo. i was thinking of selling my MAC's to buy a set of stingers but want to hear what it sounds like before then. my car was a lot quieter at idle after my ARH's went on but boy did it wake everyone up when i stepped on the gas haha

I will try to get a video as soon as I can after installing them, but I might have to mickeyfuck you guys for a while because of my scedule and that I don't have a camera, but I WILL get a video nonetheless.

[Emay]

You sure can swing by anytime Urban..